As soon as Albert sat down in the empty seat everyone had cleared for him, familiar complaints rang out from around him: "Where on earth did you go? We've been waiting forever!"
"I had to step away to handle a personal matter."
Albert smiled and greeted everyone. As for the grumbling, he didn't mind it at all; he knew no one was genuinely upset about waiting a little longer. Mostly, they just wanted to tease him for being notoriously punctual and yet managing to arrive late.
Chapter 1369