TPCF 41

CHAPTER 41…………..

A little later, the waiter returned with a tray carrying a crystal glass filled with ice and a bottle. Edmund, as if used to the routine, popped the cork and poured the contents into the glass.

Anita frowned as she watched the unfamiliar sight.

After filling the first glass, he picked up another. This time it was from a different bottle. She didn’t understand why he was opening two at once, but stayed quiet—this wasn’t her area of expertise.

Edmund said nothing until both glasses were filled. Growing bored, Anita found herself staring at the crimson liquid rippling inside.

“Here.”

He slid one glass toward her.

“This one is the way to escape all your worries.”

“…Huh?”

“And this one—”

He pushed the other glass toward her.

“—is a magic drink to boost your lacking confidence.”

Anita looked back and forth between the glasses and his face, unimpressed.

“Why that look? Meaning is whatever you choose to give it.”

Meaning is whatever you choose to give it. It wasn’t exactly wrong. After a brief hesitation, Anita picked up the wine glass.

Like anyone trying something new, she raised it to her nose first. A sweet aroma, like raspberries, wafted up.

It smelled not too different from the juice she sometimes drank. Without further hesitation, Anita tipped the liquid into her mouth.

“Wait—already finished?”

Despite the fragrance, the wine was bitter. Anita’s face twisted miserably. She had always assumed, since her parents drank it sometimes, that it must have some special flavor—but it was nothing of the sort.

“Mm.”

She blinked rapidly.

“You okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

She was perfectly fine. Her head was clear, she didn’t feel faint, nor was she about to be sick.

“Maybe I feel a little warm. No… I can’t really tell.”

She touched her cheek absently. It felt warm, but then again, maybe it always felt like that.

“You could’ve taken it slow, you know. But to down it in one go like that…”

Edmund sounded half-exasperated.

“It’s not bad.”

“You look drunk already.”

“I told you, I’m not.”

Anita gave a small laugh and waved her hand. She couldn’t understand why Edmund was worrying so much. In fact, she felt better—much better—than usual. Reaching out, she picked up the glass again.

The taste had been harsher than she expected, but strangely, this time she thought she could handle it. Just as she raised the glass again, someone caught her arm.

“You really look like it’s your first time drinking. Put that down for now—”

“All this fuss over a single glass?”

“Sorry to say this, but you look like the type who’d pass out after one.”

Anita gave a dry laugh, then tugged the glass out of his hand. A few drops splashed onto the table as the liquid sloshed.

“Judging drinking capacity by appearances—that’s a first.”

“Fine, fine. Do as you like.”

Finally conceding, Edmund raised his hands. Anita stared at the glass for a moment before taking another sip. It wasn’t as bitter this time—she even thought she could taste a hint of sweetness. Or maybe she was just imagining it.

“Honestly, I don’t know if it’s gotten rid of my worries.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. But that Charles Bennet guy… he’s really irritating.”

“……”

“About him getting expelled for stalking—was that actually true?”

Anita’s words slurred slightly. Whether it was from the alcohol or because she was speaking faster than usual, Edmund couldn’t tell. Scratching his cheek as if to buy time, he finally answered.

“To be honest, I made that up. It’s not in the admissions agreement or anything. But considering everything he’s pulled so far, I figured they could pin him on at least one thing if they wanted to.”

“Ah.”

Anita nodded as though satisfied. At some point her neatly tied hair had come loose, swaying as she moved. When she dropped her head too far forward, the tips nearly dipped into her glass.

Edmund leaned in, ready to sweep her hair back before it could touch the wine—when Anita suddenly snapped her head up.

They were so close that he could catch the faint scent of wine on her breath.

“Shouldn’t scum like him just be thrown straight in jail?”

His hand, halfway to her cheek, froze.

At that distance, her eyes seemed even clearer than usual—glossy, like polished obsidian.

“Uh.”

“So, is that a yes?”

“Mm…”

Edmund couldn’t give her a definite answer. But he also didn’t have the heart to tell her flat-out no. So, he changed the subject.

“You’ve got really big eyes.”

He was the sort who usually spoke without hesitation, but even for him, blurting out something like that was unusual. He bit the inside of his cheek lightly.

“Ah.”

Anita blinked a few times, then raised her hand, pulling her eyelids open wider.

“I’ve heard pupils dilate when you’re drunk. But since I’m not drunk yet, maybe you’re just imagining it?”