Chapter 66

After changing clothes and heading to the dining room, the family was already gathered there.

Everyone was enjoying a chat over wine, and the thought of disrupting this cheerful atmosphere made me hesitate. With this in mind, I sat down on the chair Marc had pulled out for me.

"Welcome back, Alicia."

"Good work today."

"I'm back. I'm really hungry."

I responded to their greetings while pressing my growling stomach.

Well, I’ll eat first. I must have gotten hungry from being so irritated.

Marc and Dorothea set the food on the table, said a prayer, and left. The dahlias and baby’s breath decorating the table were beautifully lit by the candlelight.

"Let’s eat, shall we?"

I nodded at Father’s words, clasped my hands, and offered a prayer.

Gratitude for the blessings.

Today’s menu was duck steak, grilled vegetables that added a nice color, vegetable cream stew, and bite-sized quiches in boat shapes. The white bread in the basket was still warm. For dessert, there was an apple tart with caramelized apples that sparkled.

I started with the quiche.

The flaky crust and slightly salty filling went well together, making it delicious. The strong saltiness must be from the bacon.

"Mm, it’s delicious."

"How was work today?"

"Same as usual. What about you, brother?"

While cutting the duck, my brother asked as usual.

I felt like mentioning the princess here, but I held back. I wanted to enjoy the delicious meal first.

"I’m the same as always. Peace is the best."

I really believe that.

I nodded and picked up my cutlery, cutting the duck. The tenderness was evident as soon as the knife went in. I brought a piece with the red wine sauce to my mouth, and it was indeed very tender.

The sweet fat and meat juices spread in my mouth with each bite, making it delicious.

When I brought the glass of red wine to my lips, a floral aroma wafted up.

The cream stew and bread were also delicious, and I might have eaten a bit too much.

Does getting angry really use up energy? I might have eaten more because I was irritated... but it was delicious, so it couldn’t be helped.

I reassured myself and faced the dessert tart.

I put a bite-sized piece on my fork and brought it to my mouth. The apple, which still had some texture, was very sweet, but the custard cream was not too sweet, making it easy to eat. The tart had a firm, solid crust, giving it a satisfying mouthfeel.

"... Alicia, is something wrong?"

My mother’s worried voice reached me as I savored the tart.

Her unexpected words almost made me choke, but I managed to swallow the tart along with them.

"... What do you mean, suddenly?"

"Because you’re eating a lot."

"I always eat, though..."

"Still, something feels different."

Seeing my mother’s certain look, I couldn’t do anything but laugh.

I put down the fork I was holding and took a deep breath. I could see that Father and Brother were waiting for my words.

"... I ran into the princess on my way back."

I tried to state the facts without revealing my emotions, but the expressions on their faces gradually faded.

"First... it must have been tough, Alicia."

Father’s face, which was trying to comfort me, looked very stern. I also saw Mother wiping away tears as she looked down.

"When will that princess leave?"

A muttered voice.

Looking at my brother, I saw a strong anger in his slightly open eyes.

"Joel has to deal with her, and Alicia gets dragged into it. We’re only told to endure a little longer... How long do we have to wait? Honestly, I don’t trust the princess’s behavior."

"Brother..."

My brother spoke what I had been thinking deep down.

How long do we have to wait? When will Noah and I be able to return to our normal lives?

The people around us are bowing their heads... but that’s the same as telling us to endure. Everyone is having a hard time. But for how long?

"If it comes to it, we could move our base to another country, right? What do you think, dear?"

Mother’s words, though her eyes weren’t smiling, sounded far-fetched, but Father nodded without denying them.

"With the current state of the company, we can do business in any country. We don’t have to deal with Anheim to that extent."

"We don’t need to deal with a country with such a princess. Where is she going to marry? I’ll refuse any business with that country too."

Brother, who sighed deeply, also agreed.

I felt guilty for involving them, but... I was relieved that my family was on my side.

Tears welled up as I felt relieved, and I stuffed my mouth with the tart to hide them. It was sweet, but it felt bittersweet—making me miss Noah.

"Anyway, why is she so fixated on Joel? Yes, he is handsome. Falling in love... I guess..."

"Probably, the princess isn’t in love with Noah. It’s not because she likes him and wants to be with him, but because he’s beautiful and she wants to take him... I think that’s the feeling."

At my words, my brother sighed in exasperation.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his thoroughly exasperated tone.

"... Princess Camilla has been spoiled since childhood and raised to be self-centered. When trying to find a marriage partner within the country, everyone showed reluctance, and it wasn’t possible to marry her off to another country. So, they decided to let her spend her life in Anheim, and she hasn’t been involved in diplomacy until now."

Mother’s words were all new to me.

She must have heard them from Grandfather and the others.

"But the Kingdom of Monbrea offered to make Princess Camilla a bridge to Anheim. It’s a newly independent small country that probably wants support from Anheim. Perhaps any country would have been fine as long as they provided support."

Mother, who had returned to her noble demeanor, shared this information while sipping wine.

Father and Brother didn’t seem surprised, so they might have known about it.

"Anyway, we are on Alicia’s and Joel’s side. If the country can’t be relied on, it’s fine to give up on it. So, Alicia, you don’t need to worry about anything."

"That’s right. You haven’t done anything wrong, so hold your head high."

"Alicia, we wish for your happiness. Don’t forget that."

My heart warmed at everyone’s words.

I couldn’t hide the tears that overflowed, and I could barely swallow the sobs that escaped.