Episode 61
“That’s right, it’s conceivable. For the leader of the Knights of the Sun to hesitate over a single drink, perhaps only half?”
I chuckled sarcastically. I hadn’t planned on it, but it happened.
“Anyway, admitting to having a low alcohol tolerance will not look good.”
“What do you know about my drinking capacity?”
His tone became icy. It indicated that he was becoming agitated.
Oh, how entertaining. Why are you being so serious merely because I made a joke about your drinking?
Suddenly, I burst out laughing. It seemed a little out of control, but I couldn’t stop myself.
“How petty to be upset over something like that.”
I buried my face in the couch.
The calm feeling indicated that the alcohol was permeating my body from head to toe.
How potent was this drink?
They used to say that drinks that are as smooth as fruit juice are harmful. Because you are duped by their sweetness and smell and continue to consume…
It’s a surefire way to get humiliated.
He hurriedly refilled the glass on the table and drank it in one gulp.
“That’s fine?”
For a brief moment, his teeth-gritting frightened me, but I was too inebriated to be scared.
“Not quite yet.”
“What?”
“Just drinking that? There’s still a lot of alcohol left.”
I shook the bottle, which was more than halfway full.
“There’s another bottle here, too.”
I also held out another bottle with the cork still attached.
“I can get more if necessary. Are you not drinking because there isn’t any alcohol?”
I reached out to pick up a bell.
“Leave it.”
He stole it from me before the bell could sound.
“Why?”
I clung to the bell, whining like a child. He effortlessly overpowered me and stowed the bell.
“This is enough.”
“Tsk.”
I surrendered helplessly. I wanted to reclaim the bell, but my body refused to cooperate. I felt as if I were melting.
“You appear to be inebriated.”
“No, no, I’m not.”
I was aware of it as well. Even as I uttered this, my tongue was tangled. My body’s signals were really powerful.
“Drink up.”
I poured liquor into his empty glass enthusiastically.
The sound of the booze flowing into the glass was really pleasing.
“Drink it.”
I pushed the glass, which was nearly full, towards where he sat. He didn’t go for the drink right away.
“There’s no poison, drink it.”
I raised the glass and waved it in front of his eyes.
“Drink it, okay?”
He brushed his bangs aside, grabbed the glass, and drank it down in one drink.
Gulp.
Was that him drinking or me swallowing?
I couldn’t tell any longer. I watched his throat as it swallowed the booze with force.
The backwards bend of his neck, the movement of his Adam’s apple while swallowing, and the little strain in his neck muscles.
Also apparent between his loosened shirt is the curve of his collarbone.
I couldn’t take my gaze away from all of these.
“What are you looking at?”
He questioned as he set down the empty glass, realizing that my gaze had not left him.
I would have inquired what he was asking if I hadn’t been staring at him so intensely.
Even if I had, I would have done so quietly. What exactly am I saying right now?
However, it was too late to stop these thoughts.
“Do it all over again, that thing.”
My mouth finally exposed my train of thought.
“That thing?”
He stared at me with interest.
“Drinking the liquor.”
I clenched my fists and stared at him. He looked at me as if I were a strange monster, his face frozen for a time.
“You’re drunk.”
I let go of my firmly held fists in response to his cold comments. Then I took up the glass again.
“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to…”
Oh, it’s pitiful, very pitiful. If it had been me, I would have done it.
“What are you saying?”
Did he notice my mumbling? His brow wrinkled.
“No, nothing.”
I swirled my hand in the glass I was holding and poured vodka into it.
“If you’re not drinking, then I will.”
“Stop drinking.”
He took the glass from my grasp and drank the half-empty booze.
“Wh-what?”
It’s all mine, all mine!
“How come you’re drinking without asking? It’s mine!”
I confronted him with my dissatisfaction.
“I was saving it because it’s precious.”
I pulled the glass from his grasp. I quickly turned it upside down, but no booze spilled.
“What is this?”
He let out a heavy sigh when I whispered in disappointment.
“You’re already drunk.”
I felt a surge of determination I’d never felt before.
I haven’t had enough to drink! I’m not even drunk yet!
There is no other option.
I opened the second bottle of booze.
Pop.
My ears were filled with a happy sound.
Regardless, I enthusiastically poured liquor into the glass.
Huh? That is not the case.
I was certain I had poured it into the glass, but it was dripping with liquor.
For some reason, I couldn’t stop pouring the alcohol.
“Huh? Huh.”
Finally, I poured until all of the booze in the bottle had fallen out.
I stared blankly at the wine soaked floor.
Why didn’t he stop me even at this point? He should have stopped me sooner!
I stared at him with a furious rather than remorseful expression. He had a serene expression on his face as he glanced down at me.
“You’ve depleted it. Are you happy now?”
He inquired, and I mumbled with a mournful expression.
“…I wasted it.”
Looking at the spilt wine on the floor, I couldn’t help but think it was a waste.
“Do you realize how difficult it is to make this?”
Growing herbs, caring for them, and bottling them. Every single stage requires the use of human hands.
They are unaware of the difficulties of this job since they sit luxuriously and drink.
“You’re a drunk.”
He said quietly.
“There is no more liquor to drink, so please stand.”
Despite the fact that he had obviously consumed more alcohol than I had, his voice was unaffected.
That aggravated me for some reason.
“You did it on purpose!”
“Can’t you see you spilled the liquor?”
With a nod, he pointed at the drenched floor.
“You did it. How come you’re blaming me?”
“You could have stopped it!”
It was his fault that it spilled all over the place. It was entirely his fault.
“I’m drunk, too.”
He replied with a stern tone. He didn’t appear to be inebriated.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
We had a pointless staring contest for a brief moment.
“You’re a petty person.”
“…”
I thought I heard a faint sound someplace, but I wasn’t afraid of such things any longer.
“Stubborn mule.”
“…Let’s see how it goes.”
“I’m saying it because it’s true, why?”
“What’s true?”
“You know far too little about yourself. Your narrow-mindedness, as well as your overly unpleasant nature.”
“I never said I was a considerate person.”
“Shall we then place a wager?”
“…A wager?”
As he stared at me, he smirked. That expression.
His wrinkled eyes appeared to indicate that he would put up with whatever rubbish I was going to spew.
“What kind of wager?”
“That’s…”
I was at a loss for words after blurting out so much.
A wager, a wager. What type of wager could I place on him?
“Granting a wish.”
I exclaimed ecstatically. With the alcohol’s adrenaline surging through me, the words I was spitting out became more and more bold. Despite this, I couldn’t stop myself.
“The one who falls first will be granted a wish.”
“…A wish.”
He narrowed his eyes and seemed to think for a time.
“What kind of wish will you make?”
“Um….”
I crossed my arms and lost myself in contemplation in response to his query. A wish, a wish. A wish, eh?
“If I do win.”
I spun the wine glass in my hands.
“Stop shaking your head.”
“When exactly did I shake my head?”
“…”
Oh? Actually, my head is feeling a little dizzy.
Was I shaking my head instead of whirling the liquor glass?
“Anyway, if I win.”
I stood up straight and said.
“What if you win? How much will you receive?”
He crossed his legs and sat back on the sofa, relaxed.
“How much?Do you only think about people in terms of money?”
Flustered, I inquired.
“Obviously, money is the best! Right? If only I had some cash!”
“…That’s all it takes, isn’t it?”
“Of course!”
In a resentful tone, I screamed out.
For a little period, I found him immensely irritating, staring at me so lazily.
How much will it cost, you ask?
That he was even capable of saying those words. That it’s not just a joke or a way to show off.
As though he could always turn it over. It was quite essential to me.
“Why are you sosilent?”
When he saw my unexpected silence, he inquired.
My head hung low as I continued to talk.
