Chapter 9

“Do you mean this coal-like thing is dried leaves?”

“Yes, but look at its fragrance and color when steeped,” Kano replied with pride.

Kano’s latest expedition had been a meticulous search for new goods to trade in Romdak. Among his finds was a batch of tea leaves that, despite their blackened, charred appearance, transformed into a clear red brew with a delightful aroma when steeped in hot water.

With this new discovery, Aisa’s schedule became busier than ever, naturally leading her to spend more time with Kano. Meanwhile, Norma, now seeing even less of his wife, wore a picture-perfect smile as he greeted guests at his birthday banquet—though his expression didn’t quite reach his eyes.

But the loss of his wife’s company wasn’t the only trial Norma faced that evening.

* * *

“Drink up! Only those who survive to the end can claim to be true Westerners!”

The atmosphere at the banquet was both raucous and intense, with guests downing drink after drink as if their lives depended on it. In the West, no grand celebration or festival was complete without copious amounts of alcohol. During such events, it wasn’t unusual for the entire region to remain perpetually intoxicated.

“To the lord’s husband!”

Norma’s popularity in McFoy was substantial, but during his birthday celebration, it reached feverish levels. For many, the occasion rivaled even the Founding Festival, with more free-flowing liquor than any other time of year. The revelers saw the celebration as a testament to Lord McFoy’s deep love for her husband.

Norma, however, wasn’t much of a drinker, which kept him from fully participating in the wild festivities. But his reluctance wasn’t solely due to his low tolerance.

* * *

“Next up, Kano! Let’s see what you’ve got!”

His primary reason for avoiding the chaos of the drinking games was to keep an eye on his wife.

With his habitual polite smile, Norma watched as Aisa faced off against Kano with a hearty laugh, challenging him with the same vigor she applied to everything. The two sat across from each other, exchanging drinks and boisterous laughter, while Norma’s golden eyes glimmered with barely concealed frustration.

It wasn’t just jealousy—he felt utterly burned inside.

Aisa was pleased simply by how lively and successful the celebration was, while Kano, well aware of Norma’s gaze, reveled in it. This was precisely why the pirate made it a point to attend every year. For everyone else, it was an awkward dance of feigned ignorance.

As night fell and the lanterns illuminated the hall, the strong remained standing for the final rounds. It was now a matter of sheer endurance.

In the infamous one-on-one drinking battles, the last three contenders were always the same: Aisa, Erika, and Kano.

Surprisingly, Erika often emerged victorious. Known for her fiery spirit during celebrations, she would leave the party triumphantly perched on her husband’s back.

As usual, Kano succumbed first, dramatically toppling backward. The sight drew an uncharacteristically radiant smile from Norma, one of the brightest in recent memory.

The contest reached its peak with Erika poised to claim victory once again.

“Erika, you’ve won. My wife is already drunk,” Norma declared, entering the ring before Aisa could lose her composure entirely.

“Who dares disrupt this sacred—!”

Aisa, thinking someone had snatched her drink mid-battle, was about to lash out when Norma leaned in close enough to catch her attention.

“My love.”

At his gentle words, her reaction was instantaneous.

“Oh, my love!”

Her eyes, half-closed from intoxication, shot open, and she bolted upright, her flushed cheeks brightening further. The sight of Norma’s face instantly banished her drowsiness.

“I missed you! Where have you been all this time?”

She laughed heartily, her face aglow with delight.

Aisa rarely addressed Norma as “my love,” reserving the term for moments of intimacy or drunken affection. Hearing it now melted away all the frustrations that had built up in Norma over the past few days.

Aisa’s vibrant exclamation left the guests momentarily stunned, as if sobered by the unexpected endearment.

“The winner is Erika Seymour!”

A drunken knight, who had somehow taken up the role of announcer, proclaimed Erika’s victory with exaggerated enthusiasm.

“Hurrah!”

The crowd, simple in their pleasures, quickly shifted their focus from Aisa’s outburst to cheering for Erika’s win.

Erika, sluggishly standing with one hand on the table for support, raised a triumphant fist, eliciting another round of cheers that reverberated through the McFoy estate.

Meanwhile, Norma quietly scooped Aisa into his arms and slipped out of the banquet hall, leaving behind the chaos of the drinking contest.

As they made their way back to their chambers, Aisa chattered incessantly, seemingly unaware of how tightly she clung to Norma. Typically shy about being carried princess-style, she displayed no such reservations when drunk. Truly, alcohol was a marvel.

Behind them, faint cheers occasionally echoed, though the night air grew colder as they crossed the courtyard.

* * *

“Aisa, are you cold?”

“Hmm? Of course not. I’m invincible!”

“Haha. That’s because you’re drunk, my love.”

“No way! It’s because I’m truly invincible,” she declared, beckoning him closer.

When Norma leaned in, she whispered in his ear, her voice tickling him.

“I could die and still come back to life.”

Norma lifted his head to look at her. She met his gaze with a smug grin, as if daring him to challenge her claim. His lips twitched into a faint, complicated smile.

* * *

“How strange… This isn’t something to be sad about,” she murmured, blinking slowly at his expression.

“It’s amazing, you know. It just means so many people love me,” she added, her tone proud.

At last, Norma let out a genuine laugh.

“Among all of them, I love you the most,” he said softly.

“Of course, I know that. So why don’t you wipe off that sad look already?”

Her tone turned mock-stern, but her words were tinged with affection. Norma chuckled louder, his steps quickening toward their chambers.

By the time they arrived, the maids had already prepared the adjoining bath with steaming hot water, awaiting their return.

“Well done. Leave us—I’ll attend to my wife myself,” Norma instructed.

The maids exchanged knowing glances, delighted at the prospect of the lord’s husband personally tending to their mistress, and quickly left the room.

“Come, Aisa,” he coaxed.

“I don’t just go when someone tells me to, you know,” she retorted, even as he carried her to the bath. Gently, he undressed her and eased her into the warm water. She remained compliant, though her chatter continued unabated.

“How’s the water? Not too hot?”

He poured water over her neck, watching her closely. Aisa shook her head, then turned suddenly, her eyes lighting up.

“My love! You should join me!”

“…Are you sure?”

Norma gave a sly smile and asked, “Are you sure about that?”

Aisa tilted her head, glancing around the spacious rectangular bath before looking back at him.

“Why not? It’s big enough to swim in.”

Her innocence made Norma chuckle, but the gleam in his eyes betrayed his less-than-pure intentions.

“Then… can we do what we did last time?”

His teasing tone was laced with mischief, and his hand, which traced from her neck down to her waist, carried a heavy implication.

“…Last time?”

“Yes. You said it was too much then, so I held back.”

His touch was slow and deliberate, sliding over her skin in a way that reignited vivid memories for Aisa.

The sound of water had been all too revealing that day—every splash amplified by the echoing bath. She had barely been able to endure the embarrassment, and in the end, she had surrendered in tears, pleading for mercy.

Recalling the past made Aisa’s face burn red, but before she could respond, Norma slid into the tub beside her. His weight displaced the water, which sloshed over the edges in a loud, cascading wave.

The thin robe he wore clung to his frame, revealing every contour. Aisa’s eyes darted about, unsure where to look, before she quickly raised a hand to shield her face.

“Ah…”

Her small sigh came unbidden, and her drunken haze began to clear.

Norma noticed immediately when her endless chatter stopped. His amber eyes narrowed, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

“My love,” he called softly, his voice low and intimate.

Her shoulders gave an involuntary twitch.

“You’re awake now, aren’t you?”

The fingers shielding her face parted slightly, allowing her violet eyes to peek at him. After a brief hesitation, she gave a small nod.

‘How can she be this adorable?’ Norma thought, feeling a sudden, overwhelming urge to devour her whole.

The dampness of her skin made it glisten under the light, her pale shoulders practically glowing with a translucent softness that tempted him unbearably.

Acting on impulse, he lifted her onto his lap, his teeth grazing her delicate shoulder. Water splashed violently, and a surprised gasp escaped her lips.

Norma buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply as if her scent alone could ground him. Aisa, trying to steady herself, placed her hands on his shoulders and closed her eyes, her water-drenched lashes trembling slightly.

“Aisa… wait a moment,” he murmured hoarsely, his breath hot against her skin.

“For what?”

She barely finished asking before she realized his meaning.

The sound of water being disturbed, rhythmic and deliberate, filled the room. His hands moved with practiced restraint near her abdomen, their closeness an exercise in self-control.

His breathing grew heavier, and Aisa, her cheeks flushed, bit her lip.

Norma often tempered himself for her sake, mindful of her limits. Though she didn’t fully understand his method, she appreciated his consideration. She had thought about helping him more directly, but…

Not today. Not yet.

Instead, after a moment of hesitation, she offered a compliment, her voice soft and sincere.

“You’re… beautiful even there.”

The words felt oddly forward the moment they left her lips.

She opened her mouth to apologize, but before she could, Norma froze, his entire body stiffening. A wave of warmth spread between them, and she blinked in surprise.

“…Aisa.”

His voice, thick with emotion, carried a trace of exasperation. He buried his face in her shoulder, taking deep, measured breaths.

When he finally looked up, his chest was still heaving, and his golden eyes were dark with intensity. Without warning, he leaned in and claimed her lips, his hands resuming their exploration with newfound fervor.

Aisa quickly reached for his wrist, whispering something in his ear.

Her words made him freeze.

Their eyes met, hers shimmering with a mix of nervousness and resolve. Whatever she had said seemed to push him over the edge.

Norma’s restraint shattered, and he moved with an urgency he rarely allowed himself.

Her soft cries and the way she clung to him made him feel as if his heart might burst. Though she often struggled with the unabashed intimacy of these moments, tonight she responded with a rare passion, her hands gripping him tightly as she gasped his name.

It wasn’t long before her body gave out, her movements slowing as she succumbed to exhaustion. Even then, Norma didn’t stop, his gaze fixed on her trembling form.

When it was finally over, he pulled her close, holding her tightly against him as a gentle warmth spread between them. Aisa shivered, her lashes fluttering as she buried her face in his chest.

For a while, the only sound in the room was their labored breathing, echoing softly against the tiled walls.

Norma slowly opened his eyes, taking in the aftermath of their fervent encounter—the water in the tub had dropped significantly, and the floor was a veritable flood.

He noticed her back growing cold as the remaining water evaporated and decided it was time to move to the bedroom. Just as he shifted to rise, Aisa pressed against him, stopping him in his tracks.