Chapter 6 – At the Crossroads of Choice (1) (Part 4)

“Lorraine is… Phew, understood.”

Philip had already lost his fighting spirit. He let out a deep sigh and gestured for Lorraine to follow him. Noticing the small signal early, Alisa shook her head.

“No.”

“…Brigadier General.”

“Is this how you treat guests?”

She blinked her eyes wide. Her expression was evidently natural.

Sigh, Philip sighed again. Then Alisa added teasingly.

“If you keep sighing, you’ll age.”

Giving the disease and offering the cure.

“Who’s saying what to whom….”

When Philip murmured discontentedly, Alisa turned around with a fierce look.

“What?”

“Nothing. I’ll come to call you when the meal is ready.”

Philip bowed more politely than ever. Lorraine hadn’t uttered a word.

Just as she was about to say something, she met Philip’s eyes. He was looking at her with eyebrows lowered in a 八 shape.

Sorry, please bear with it.

I will.

When she nodded, Philip sighed deeply as if he had accomplished the hardest task and left the parlor.

In fact, it wasn’t that she disliked someone like Alisa; it was just awkward because it was her first time encountering such a personality.

“At that time, Arthur lowered his voice and said, ‘If you intend to kill all your subordinates, then go ahead.’ In life, he’s like a very gentle person.”

Her eyes were filled with affection for her husband. Lorraine was smiling softly before she knew it.

It wasn’t like she could relax as she did with family or friends. Still, this level of discomfort was quick to overcome for a first meeting.

“By the way, how is Edwin? I heard his personality is still a mess.”

“Ah.”

At the awkward question, Lorraine shifted her eyes, and Alisa smiled knowingly.

“Honestly, everyone who knows that guy was surprised. Actually… that Philip Lloyd has been with him since childhood, so he lacks objectivity.”

Is it normal to answer every complaint with reason? 

Alisa shook her head as if she was fed up with the friendship between the two men.

“If that guy hadn’t whined, he wouldn’t have thought of hiring a deputy assistant. We even bet on it.”

It was quite fun.

Alisa completely forgot about the time she lost a fortune to Jamie in a bet and got scolded by her father.

Lorraine was simply amazed to hear it. The Marquis and the Brigadier General really seem to have a close relationship. Whether she sensed Lorraine’s gaze or not, Alisa, who was excitedly talking, suddenly came to her senses.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m just like a sister to him.”

“Pardon?”

“Just saying.”

Alisa’s laughter was meaningful.

***

Having grown up watching her father’s lifestyle, Alisa never desired nor thought it necessary to live in the capital.

Of course, she could have worked in the capital if she wanted to, but she insisted on being the head of the border guard, even using connections that weren’t really connections.

The fortunate thing was that Arthur’s job wasn’t restricted by location.

The reason she came to the capital was a letter from the perceptive Jamie.

<…It seems Eddie has someone he likes.>

She had heard that the 50th secretary Edwin hired had lasted a long time, but to think he had fallen for that secretary.

In fact, Alisa was worried whether Edwin Duncan would behave according to his nature even towards a woman he liked.

「Arthur….」

「Why? Is there a problem, Lisa?」

「…We need to go to Lantil.」

She then took her husband and headed to Lantil.

If asked about the outcome of going to the capital, Alisa would say it was worth coming to the capital.

“Would you believe the only thing I miss at the border is Thomas’s food?”

To her serious question, Philip, taking a spoonful of tomato soup, answered firmly.

“You can’t take him.”

“Anyone would think I’m about to kidnap him.”

“Well, you do have a record.”

He added, dipping well-baked baguette in balsamic vinegar and taking a bite.

“For the record, you can’t take Lorraine either.”

Tsk, Alisa replied, chewing the baguette rebelliously.

“What good is seven thousand gold when the boss’s personality is a mess.”

The answer came from behind.

“…Who’s personality is what?”

“General?”

“Edwin?”

Having just arrived, he was impeccably dressed for an outing. Paul, who had approached unnoticed, took his jacket, cane, and hat and disappeared.

“…You’re early?”

In response to the greeting that was more of a quarrel than a greeting, Edwin’s eyebrow arched slightly.

“I’m debating whether to thank you for giving me work when I was bored or nag you for not giving it sooner.”

“Of course… you should say, ‘Thank you, sister.’”

At Alisa’s nonchalant reply, he slowly walked into the dining room and replied.

“Still brazen.”

“And you’re still rude.”

As Edwin sat in his seat, the attendants busily moved around, setting the tableware in front of him. After wiping his hands with a warm towel, he took a sip of port wine.

“…So, did you spy well?”

“There wasn’t anything to steal.”

Smiling with only the corners of her lips raised, Alisa continued speaking.

“Oh, but I think I know why you like her.”

“Alisa.”

Calling her name with a golden glint in his eyes to stop her teasing, Edwin spoke. But Alisa wasn’t one to be intimidated by such threats.

“Take good care of her. She doesn’t seem to have noticed.”

“Alisa Quill, are you planning to get reassigned to the capital today?”

However, Lorraine had lost interest since the two of them started talking nonsense. She only occasionally conversed with Philip, who was sitting next to her.

Hmm, chewing on a steak dripping with blood, Alisa muttered as she watched.

“But not knowing is really a talent.”

Glancing at Lorraine, Edwin whispered.

“…I told you to take it easy.”

“Try creating some occasion to spend a long time together.”

Why is everyone so eager to meddle? 

Edwin sighed, trying to suppress it, and spoke again weakly.

“I’ll handle it.”

***

A week until the wedding of Asiel Dunant and Juliet Roben.

The week-long wedding party was to be held near Bennett Harbor in the southernmost part of Moses, where Dunant’s villa was located. Specifically, after hosting a three-day pre-wedding party on Acté Island with about thirty high-ranking guests-.

“They say the remaining four days will be a party and wedding at the villa near Bennett Harbor….”

Three days is daunting enough, let alone a week.

Lorraine clicked her tongue at the luxurious wedding and suddenly asked Philip, who was sitting next to her.

“Philip… how was your wedding?”

“Mine?”

He placed his pen in the inkwell and squinted his eyes as if recalling a memory.

“We didn’t have a grand wedding. Or rather, we couldn’t.”

Did I touch something I shouldn’t have?

Lorraine wondered if she should say she wouldn’t listen to the explanation even now. Then, as if reading her thoughts, Philip chuckled and continued speaking.

“It was almost like an elopement.”

He spoke candidly about what others might consider a disgrace. Lorraine was so taken aback that she could only stare at him with bewildered eyes.

Then Philip shrugged.

“But Hilde said she remembered the wedding more because it was like that.”

There was no sign of regret on his face.

***

“…I didn’t know my brother would die back then.”

The one who was supposed to become Baron Lloyd was originally his brother, Michael, not Philip.

Why am I telling this story?

Laughing self-deprecatingly, Philip shrugged as if it was no big deal.

Of course, he still felt a bit gloomy when he recalled that day. However, Philip wasn’t so close to his brother that he would spend a day in sorrow.

“In my experience, I think it’s best to avoid excessive formalities, even if it’s not an elopement.”

“Ah….”

“When you try to have everything, you only see what’s lacking. But when you don’t have anything from the start, you notice what you have.”

It’s advice from experience. He clapped the document he was reading shut and stood up.

“Come to think of it, Lorraine, have you ever been on a ship?”

“…Pardon?”

“The train, well, you manage somehow… but you’ll get seasick on a ship….”

“I’ve never been on a boat, and I’ve only been on a train once or twice… when I came from Coeur to Lantil.”

She meant she hadn’t taken it at all since graduating from the academy. Philip held his forehead.

Oh, dear God.

Then, suddenly checking the time, Philip turned on his heel.

“I’ll have to tell Dr. Worcester to get some seasickness medicine ready.”

For Edwin’s love-struck heart, Philip was busy moving today as well.