Chapter 8

What on earth is this……?

The table that had been completely full just a little while ago was now completely empty. The empty dishes had been cleared away, and the glasses of those who had left had also been taken away.

Perhaps this was actually for the best.

Earlier, there had been so many people and the atmosphere had been so lively that it would have been difficult to leave in the middle.

But now it was different.

“Shall we leave as well? It’s already late, and everyone else has gone.”

I said that while straightening my clothes.

“Could we stay a little longer?”

But an unexpected answer came back.

“What?”

“Are you busy? Or do you have something important to do?”

“It’s not that……”

“Then I’d like it if we stayed a little longer.”

Lord Costance’s words stopped me in my tracks again.

I should refuse.

It was easy enough to refuse a request like this.

Yes, I believed that.

But……

Was it because of the man’s position? Or perhaps because of the honor he carried?

Among the people I had met after becoming an adult, Lord Costance was certainly the person with the highest status.

But when I was young, I had seen countless people who were of higher status than Lord Costance.

Some were praised by everyone, while others were despised by everyone.

I had never felt intimidated by them.

“Th-that’s fine.”

But I felt intimidated by this man.

I sat back down and only drank the water in front of me.

Lord Costance had been the one who asked me not to leave, yet he didn’t say anything.

Apparently, he hadn’t stopped me because he had something specific to say.

The jazz music playing inside the café changed.

The lively, exciting fast tempo disappeared, replaced by a rich and sensual melody.

The lights gradually dimmed, making the atmosphere even more intense.

Looking around, I realized that everyone was a couple.

Even the couple sitting at the table beside us laughed happily and kissed several times.

My throat felt dry, so I kept drinking water, but I couldn’t get used to the atmosphere.

Eventually, I pulled the glass of alcohol that I had set aside toward me.

After hesitating, I took a large sip.

……Ugh.

It still tasted terrible.

Rather than going down smoothly, it felt as if my throat were burning.

“Don’t force yourself to drink. Even though it’s a weak drink, it’s still whiskey. It’s quite strong.”

“Ah…… It’s not just ordinary alcohol?”

The effects were beginning to appear.

My body was starting to feel hot, and my stomach felt slightly twisted.

My head became a little dizzy, and my mind felt hazy.

Because of that, I quickly forgot about the strange and sensual atmosphere around me.

Oh, maybe alcohol isn’t so bad?

“Is the alcohol Lord Costance drinks strong?”

I was able to ask the question more casually than before.

“It would be quite strong for a woman to drink.”

“You must be good at holding your liquor.”

“I don’t particularly enjoy drinking. I only drink occasionally. Since I don’t get drunk easily, I usually drink stronger alcohol on purpose.”

“Occasionally? When do you drink?”

“My department head has a rather damnable personality. When that personality affects me as well, I usually soothe myself with alcohol.”

Pfft.

I burst out laughing without meaning to.

No matter how much of a nobleman’s heir he was, apparently that didn’t matter in the military. He openly complained about his superior.

The combination of his stiff and polite nobleman’s speech with such vulgar language was incredibly amusing.

Yes, it was funny.

“Really? Pfft.”

Even though I knew my behavior was rude, I couldn’t stop laughing.

“Ah, ah, I’m sorry. Did I laugh too much?”

I apologized belatedly while wiping away my tears.

Lord Costance said nothing.

Was he really angry?

I raised my head to apologize properly, and Lord Costance’s eyes met mine in the air.

“……Lord Costance?”

Lord Costance didn’t look angry.

Instead, he smiled slightly and his face turned red, as if he were happy.

“It’s nice to see you smile.”

“What?”

“You don’t smile much when you’re working, do you?”

If another man had said something like that, I probably would have been completely bewildered by what he meant.

But Lord Costance was different.

If someone said his face was glowing, I felt as though it really might start shining.

“Lord Costance, you say such embarrassing things so casually.”

Without meaning to, I took another sip of alcohol.

The drink that had been impossible to swallow before now went down surprisingly easily.

Sip after sip, the alcohol disappeared.

Using thirst as an excuse, I ordered another glass of the same drink.

Eventually, I couldn’t even tell whether the alcohol was going into my mouth or my nose.

“I want to hear about Vivy now.”

“My story is the least interesting thing in the world.”

“Even so, it will be the most interesting thing in the world to me.”

“Lord Costance’s story is even less interesting.”

I was having a conversation with Lord Costance, but I had no idea what I was saying.

Fortunately, judging from the affectionate look on his face as he gazed at me, I didn’t seem to be saying anything too strange.

“You’re very drunk.”

“What? Not at all!”

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to get up now?”

“Huh? That’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for you to say! Good!”

Ah.

I had said something strange again.

When I happily agreed, Lord Costance’s expression stiffened slightly.

“Were you uncomfortable here?”

“I don’t usually like places like this. They’re noisy and strange. And being alone with Lord Costance is a little awkward, too.”

What am I saying?

My thoughts and words were coming out completely differently.

Only then did I realize.

I’m drunk.

“Then if I asked you to have dinner with me again…… would you refuse?”

“Probably?”

Ah, damn my mouth!

“……It seems Vivy doesn’t like me.”

Lord Costance let out a deep sigh.

It wasn’t right for such a handsome man with such a promising future to sigh like that.

Anyway, our conversation seemed to be over, so I thought about returning to my seat.

Just then, Lord Costance grabbed my wrist.

“……Lord Costance?”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

“About what?”

“Let’s talk a little longer. This time, I’ll do the talking, so if you feel uncomfortable, you can simply listen.”

Lord Costance looked anxious.

“If you find my stories boring, please tell me. I’ll somehow choose…… stories that Vivy might enjoy.”

“No, you don’t have to go that far……”

“Many things happened while I was in the military. Surely there must be at least one story you would like.”

Why does he look so anxious?

The fingertips of the man holding my wrist were trembling.

If I got up now, it felt as though he might cry, so I carefully nodded.

Lord Costance’s expression brightened slightly.

“……Tell me.”

And so I listened to Lord Costance’s stories.

There were many of them.

Some were so funny that I laughed until my stomach hurt.

Others were so brutal and harsh that I could only stare with my mouth open.

The Lord Costance I had known until now was not a man who would easily reveal his private life.

Yet that man shared his embarrassing experiences and his happiest memories with me.

I don’t remember when the conversation ended.

I don’t even remember how I returned home.

Soon, complete darkness descended.

My head hurt, and my body felt as though it were floating.

When I groaned, a large, cold hand touched my forehead.

The touch felt comfortable.

I think I even told him not to take his hand away from my forehead.

“Ah!”

And finally, when I opened my eyes……

Why was Lord Costance still beside me?

“Yesterday…… I was happy. I mean, I really liked what you said……”

Lord Costance spoke.

He said he really liked it.

“……What?”

I spent about a minute thinking before looking around.

There was no jazz music.

There was no smell of alcohol.

The room was bright and comfortable.

Then I noticed the logo printed on the tissue box sitting on the table.

Clinton Meteor Hotel.

Clinton Meteor.

Wasn’t this not only the most expensive hotel in Kenery, but also the third-most expensive hotel in Toramund?

Why were Lord Costance and I…… here?

“This is warm honey water. It’s honey mixed with water. Apparently, people from the northeastern continent often drink it when they’re feeling unwell. It is actually quite effective.”

Lord Costance handed me a teacup.

I accepted it without thinking, and the blanket I had been tightly holding slipped down beneath my body.

My white sleeveless top was exposed.

Since I wasn’t wearing anything underneath it, some of my skin was visible.

Including…… some very embarrassing areas.

“Ah! It’s hot!”

“Be careful!”

After a brief silence, I hurriedly pulled the blanket back up.

Because I was so confused, I dropped the honey water I had been holding.

It had just been boiled.

The honey water fell onto the blanket, so it didn’t touch my body directly, but I could feel the heat on my hand.

“Are you hurt?!”

Lord Costance was even more startled than I was.

He quickly pulled away the wet blanket.

My legs suddenly felt cold.

Huh? Cold?

I was sure I had been wearing a skirt that reached down to my ankles……

“Does it sting? Is there anywhere that hurts?”

“Th-that……”

“I’ll wet a towel with cold water and bring it.”

Lord Costance didn’t even wait for me to finish speaking before rushing into the bathroom.

He was incredibly fast.

Only a few seconds after entering, he returned with a wet towel.

“Where does it hurt?”

Lord Costance knelt on one knee in front of me as I sat blankly on the bed.

“I’ll do it! I will!”

I snatched the towel from his hand and turned my back to him.

It wasn’t just the sleeveless top.

I was wearing nothing but panties on the lower half of my body.

They weren’t loose, comfortable panties either.

They were slightly small.

The fabric only barely covered me, and even the slightest movement revealed embarrassing lines.

But the biggest problem was this:

Why was I lying on this bed dressed like this?

Could it be……?

With Lord Costance?