111.

Standing on the castle wall overlooking McFoy Manor, I gazed at the familiar cityscape with a peculiar sense of sentimentality. Beside me, Norma stood quietly, his presence a steadying force.

Every day, more people came to the domain. Shops and homes began to light up one by one, their lanterns pushing back the night. Sounds of chatter, laughter, and music filled the air. True to their Western roots, the people were already drunk with excitement long before the festival officially began.

McFoy, once called the “land of death forsaken by God,” now brimmed with the vitality of the living at every turn. Though familiar, this view was one I’d once lost—a sight I couldn’t have seen again if fate had taken its prescribed course.

“Katam was impressive, but now I understand why you love McFoy,” Norma murmured, his face flushed as he looked out at the lively streets.

I didn’t respond, only letting a faint smile touch my lips.

As the crimson sun touched the horizon, painting the bustling McFoy in a fiery glow, Norma turned to look at me with a radiant smile. The passage of time felt palpable, as if the moments that had been frozen since that fateful day were finally beginning to flow again.

The first batch of long-fermented met was unveiled. The casks were opened, and the liquor was poured into cups as large as my face. I raised my cup high, and a roar of cheers erupted from every corner of the castle.

As I downed the drink in one go, the cheers grew even louder, reverberating across the fortress like thunder.

Thump, thump.

It was just a single sip of weak alcohol, yet the sensation coursing through me felt bolder than any drink. Like the courage that comes with intoxication, the reckless confidence I’d shown earlier in front of Jonas began to solidify.

‘I feel like I’ll find a way. Like that day I pulled you from the water, I’ll figure it out somehow.’

An inexplicable certainty smothered my doubts and fears.

With my empty cup marking the start, McFoy erupted into a short festival of free-flowing alcohol. I watched the brightly lit streets for a while before impulsively turning to Norma, extending my hand.

“Come. Let’s go out.”

Norma, as if by habit, took my hand without hesitation.

“Is it all right to leave?”

He asked, a beat too late, just as I was already stepping forward. A fine time to ask.

“How do you know where I’m taking you and still grab my hand so readily?”

“Anywhere,” he replied with a gentle smile, his expression disarming me.

Momentarily at a loss for words, I decided to drop my playful scolding. Truly, he looked like the kind of man who’d follow me anywhere.

“You said you wanted to walk outside the outer walls,” I said nonchalantly, watching his eyes widen in surprise.

Just moments ago, he’d made such bold declarations of his desires in the privacy of the bedroom, yet here he was acting so shy. His reaction made my cheeks heat unexpectedly.

“If you want to explore McFoy’s streets, today’s the perfect day. It’s bustling, and most people here know me well enough to recognize me instantly.”

I caught the corners of his lips slowly curling upward. My mood soared right alongside his.

“But,” I added playfully, tugging on his hand, “you’re not allowed to take off your hood.”

I whispered mischievously, my spirits lifted as high as they could go. It was the same caution I’d repeatedly given him on our journey to Katam. Norma chuckled loudly, catching on to my little ploy.

Hand in hand, we slipped out of the castle, laughter bubbling up between us. The thrill of sneaking out reminded me of my childhood adventures—moments of rebellion against the adults, tinged with exhilaration and excitement.

The crowd-filled streets felt much like the festival markets in Katam. Norma, unfamiliar with both bustling markets and rowdy celebrations, marveled at the sights, his eyes shining like a child’s. He was undoubtedly a flower grown in the safety of a greenhouse.

The only difference this time was that I wasn’t awkwardly clutching the hem of his cloak—I was holding his hand. Realizing this, I nearly gave in to the urge to swing our joined hands in excitement.

My lack of stamina meant we didn’t wander for long before ducking into a random shop. The influx of visitors for my birthday, a day of free drinks, meant the streets were especially crowded. Cloaked and hooded as we were, we blended in easily with the travelers.

The raucous crowd, all lost in their drunken revelry, paid no attention to us tucked in the corner. Even if someone recognized me, McFoy’s people were accustomed to pretending not to notice their busy lord.

Before long, free met was brought to our table.

“You’re not going to drink even a sip?” I asked, watching Norma eye the drink warily.

“Hmm. Truthfully, I’ve never properly drunk before. Both my father and mother were teetotalers, and the Holy Knights don’t encourage drinking,” he admitted.

“You’ve never had alcohol?”

“A few sips here and there, but I didn’t find the taste particularly pleasant.”

Not liking alcohol? Such words were sacrilege in McFoy, where liquor was our pride. His honesty stoked my competitive streak.

“As Lord McFoy’s husband, you must at least try met. It’s sweet and delicious, unlike other drinks.”

“I have a duty to ensure you return to the castle safely, so I’ll pass,” he replied politely.

“It’s sweet and very weak,” I persisted, knowing full well he’d give in. As I rarely pushed for anything, he was just as weak to me as I was to him.

True to form, he picked up the glass.

After a cautious sip, his eyes sparkled. “It’s good.”

“Isn’t it? Now you see why it’s so popular,” I said, absurdly proud of my handiwork.

Norma, with his love for sweets, kept sipping almost unconsciously, while I drained my own glass with enthusiasm. I was gearing up for a long night of drinking when a sudden ‘thud’ startled me.

“…Norma. Don’t play around,” I said flatly, spotting him with his forehead resting against the table. The sound must’ve been his head hitting the wood.

“Norma?”

Glen, standing guard nearby, began to move, sensing something amiss. But before he could act, Norma shot upright, startling me. His forehead, slightly red from the impact, looked normal otherwise.

“Yes, Aisa?”

“Don’t tell me you’re drunk after just a few sips?”

His wide-eyed expression betrayed no answers, but then he leaned closer and whispered in my ear.

“I don’t know.”

Drunk.

The outing ended just like that. It was entirely my fault for pushing him into drinking when he’d initially refused.

Resigned, I raised a hand to call Glen, but before I could, Norma moved faster—as always.

“Ahh!”

Norma scooped me up into his arms in a sudden princess carry, and I couldn’t help but let out a startled yelp. Ignoring my protest, he carried me off. I could faintly hear Glen’s outraged shouts from behind us.

On the lord’s birthday, the lord’s husband had just committed the unprecedented act of abducting their spouse.

* * *

And that’s how we found ourselves drifting in the middle of the eastern lake.

“Good grief… You’re out of your mind,” I muttered, trembling as the last traces of alcohol left my system.

Norma lay sprawled across the flimsy little rowboat, holding me in an unyielding grip. He hadn’t moved an inch for a while now, and I’d assumed he’d drunkenly dozed off.

Staring up at the starry sky, I felt the absurdity of the situation sink in. Never in my life had I thought I’d find myself floating in the middle of a lake at night. From the moment he braided my hair this morning to this very instant, it was hard to believe all of this had happened in a single day.

“You, today… might be the most insane person I’ve ever met,” I said, half in awe.

“I’m not insane. You’re mistaken,” Norma replied, his voice steady and resolute.

He sounded far too clear-headed for someone supposedly drunk, and that realization made a chill run down my spine.

“Fine. I misspoke earlier. But what on earth possessed you to bring us out here? Aren’t you afraid of the water?”

“I’m not afraid of water anymore. When I’m with you, nothing else matters.”

…That was admirable, but it was also undeniable that he had a dangerous lack of self-preservation. This was the same man who once fell into a river on a whim. I clicked my tongue quietly.

We were stranded in the middle of a vast lake, and the thought of anyone seeing this ridiculous scene made my stomach turn. Trying to coax him into returning to the castle, I softened my voice.

“Let’s go back. Even if you’re not afraid, being near water at night is dangerous.”

“Can’t we stay like this for a little longer?”

I’d nearly forgotten how stubborn Norma could be. For a moment, I envisioned us stuck in this pitiful excuse for a boat until Glen inevitably came to find us.

“If I’m being honest,” Norma began, his voice gentle but uncomfortably earnest, “I want to steal you away, hide you somewhere only I know, and be alone with you forever.”

I wasn’t sure if he was aware of my growing unease, but his words made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. There was an innocent quality to his tone that suggested he wasn’t joking.

I tried lifting my head to gauge his expression, but he held me so tightly that I couldn’t see his face. Accepting defeat, I let my neck relax and gave up.

“That’s quite the serious thing to say. Are you planning to kidnap me?” I asked, attempting levity.

Norma sighed softly and shook his head, which only resulted in him rubbing his face against my abdomen since he was still clinging to me. The sensation tickled so much I almost burst into laughter.

“But if I did, you and everyone in McFoy would hate me,” he murmured. “So I’ll just stay like this for a little while.”

“Good thinking. If you tried, it’d be war.”

“Yes.”

Silence settled over us. In the middle of the vast lake, not even the sound of insects broke the stillness. Only the rhythmic sound of his breathing and the steady beat of his heart filled the air.

The warmth of his body pressed against mine was oddly reassuring. For all its absurdity, lying here and staring up at the night sky wasn’t the worst thing in the world. It wasn’t something I usually had the time to do, and that alone made it feel like a rare experience.

Except for the precarious reality of being adrift in a flimsy boat on a massive lake, everything else felt unusually peaceful—enough that I briefly wondered if I could just fall asleep here.

‘I must be the craziest of us all, finding comfort in this situation.’

By now, Glen was probably clutching his head in despair, and the castle was likely in an uproar. Yet here I was, gazing at the stars and snickering softly at the absurdity of it all.

“You should count yourself lucky I’m so soft on you,” I muttered, my voice tinged with laughter.

“I know,” Norma replied immediately, drunk as he was. His quick answer only made me chuckle more.

“I really can’t stand drunkards.”

“And yet, here I am, helpless to resist you. Even Harry Forn is starting to look endearing. There’s no hope for me,” he said, echoing something Erika had mentioned with a strained expression just a few days ago.

“I love you,” he whispered suddenly.

“…”

Right as his words landed, I froze. The intermittent giggles I’d been letting out vanished entirely, leaving me silent in the wake of his confession.