It all began when Lariette once again brought over her list of desired dates.
She clung to Asrahan’s arm, saying that since they had already looked around town, they should try something else. However, after being dealt with so sternly by him the night before, the degree of contact was very light.
“I must go to the Imperial Castle today.”
“When will you be back? Are you going to come home at dawn again?”
Like when you were avoiding me. Lariette added the words in a grumbling tone, puffing out her cheeks. Having a guilty conscience, Asrahan slightly averted his gaze as he answered.
“No. I will return early, so please have your meal first.”
Asrahan, too, did not want to leave her behind and go to the Imperial Castle. Having to meet the old emperor and the nobles and engage in pointless conversation was an ordeal for him as well.
“You’ll be back in the evening, right? Then, how about we drink today?”
“Drink… you mean?”
“Yes. Like going to a nice bar in town.”
Lariette, who had been flipping through her notebook, spoke with her eyes rounded as if she had found a good idea.
Asrahan recalled how she had said she would go to a bar in town to drink with that priest bastard, and his brow creased subtly. Every time he replayed it in his mind, his head rang with jealousy.
But as he had thought before, going to a bar in town was still difficult for him. He did not want to face those gazes that gnawed away at him.
The thought that she could do something with the priest that she could not do with him made his mood sink heavily. Asrahan spoke in a cautious tone.
“…For me, going to a bar and sharing even one glass with you is difficult.”
Unlike with that priest. Asrahan swallowed the words.
“I am sorry, Lariette.”
He was afraid that the many restrictions caused by him would wear her down. Because the person she was seeing was the monstrous duke, she might have to sacrifice many things. That weighed on his mind.
But what he was even sorrier for was the fact that, despite all that, he did not have even the slightest intention of letting her go.
In other words, this confession was merely an advance apology for the sins he would continue to commit.
Meanwhile, seeing his dark expression, Lariette continued in a cheerful voice.
“What are you talking about? Of course lovers are supposed to be considerate of each other’s circumstances.”
It had certainly been like that in the countless romance novels she had read. Though she had never experienced it herself, Lariette put on a sly face and pretended to be an expert in love.
“And the place isn’t important at all. Asrahan and me, and alcohol. As long as we have those, wherever we are becomes the best bar with the best atmosphere and a romantic landmark.”
“……”
“So when you come home today, let’s drink together at the house!”
As if to say, why would he say such a thing, she patted Asrahan’s shoulder. Then she spoke in a playful tone.
“I can really hold my liquor, you know. Asrahan, you’ll be surprised later.”
“Is that so?”
“That look says you don’t believe me. Shall we make a bet? A bet?”
Asrahan looked at her with a faint smile. The way she confidently spoke with her chest thrust out was adorable.
Since it was about time for him to leave for work, their conversation ended there. Until the very end, Lariette was busy insisting that in her younger days she had been called Blanche’s drunkard.
Halstein, who had been listening in on their conversation with a pleased expression, began preparing alcohol for them.
‘Something sweet and easy for Lady Lariette to drink… and high in alcohol content.’
With a sinister gleam in his eyes, he diligently chose the liquor. The summit known as resolving the matter of an heir seemed to be sparkling right before him.
Alcohol, night, and lovers. The conditions were perfect.
***
That evening, Asrahan sat in the meeting in an extremely irritated state.
It was because the meeting was dragging on due to a dispute with another kingdom. Judging by the endless war of words, it even seemed likely to continue late into the night.
When he thought of Lariette waiting for him at the mansion, his heart kept growing impatient. The power struggle disguised as a meeting continued, and Asrahan’s patience was gradually shattered.
Seeing Duke Kandel sitting with his arm propped up and repeatedly tapping the table with his fingers, the emperor was seized by fear. Thus, the emperor watched his reaction and carefully asked,
“Duke Kandel. Is something the matter?”
“…How long do you intend to continue this useless debate?”
Asrahan’s cold voice rang through the conference room. Everyone was watching his mood and could not even open their mouths.
“How dare you speak such nonsense to His Majesty!”
Duke Blanche slammed the table and raised his voice. However, when Asrahan, still in the same posture, merely shifted his eyes to look at him, he flinched and trembled.
‘…Lariette’s father.’
He considered giving a warning to the man who dared to crawl up so presumptuously. However, the fact that he was the person who had brought her into the world made Asrahan extremely merciful.
Asrahan turned his gaze away from him and looked back at the emperor. Freed from that distant, heavy pressure, Duke Blanche let out the breath he had unknowingly been holding in relief.
“Must I ask one more time?”
Asrahan continued as if issuing a warning. At that, the emperor hurriedly answered.
“Ahem, as Duke Kandel says, further debate will bring us no conclusion, so today’s meeting shall end here.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
It was a development very unlike the usual meetings, which would continue endlessly once they began to drag on.
As soon as the emperor declared the meeting over, Asrahan rose from his seat and left the Imperial Castle. Watching his disappearing back, Duke Blanche ground his teeth.
“That insolent young brat…”
“Consider yourself lucky, Duke Blanche. You know how vicious Duke Kandel is, so why are you hastening your own death?”
“Is it not insolent for a man young enough to be my son to act however he pleases?”
“Haha, has it only been a day or two? If you wish to preserve your declining house, you would do well to act wisely.”
The duke of Illington, one of the three great ducal houses of the Harshan Empire, clicked his tongue and gave him advice. It was pathetic to see him recklessly defy someone when he had no support to lean on.
Duke Blanche shoved his seat back with a bang and left. He thought that nothing had been going his way lately.
After Lariette left home, the circumstances of the ducal family had become even more difficult. With her gone, the one person who had at least managed the household assets frugally, Raon’s extravagance had worsened.
The duchess blamed the duke for Lariette’s departure, and the duke blamed her, saying it had happened because the mother had failed to teach her properly.
Even amid all that, Raon continued to spend money immaturely, so for the time being, he had been made to work at the Imperial Palace.
‘Where on earth did that girl go!’
He had thought she would return soon because she had no money, yet Lariette had not come back even after several weeks had passed.
He was worried that she might have starved to death somewhere, but Duke Blanche did not regret his actions on the day he had driven her out.
He believed the problem was that his daughter had challenged her father’s authority, not that his decision had been wrong.
Since he had not heard any news of a woman in noble attire being found dead under mysterious circumstances, she must certainly still be alive.
If his daughter returned as soon as possible and wept as she begged for forgiveness, he was willing to mercifully accept her back into the ducal family.
Because I am an excellent father. Duke Blanche thought so, paradoxically.
***
After leaving the Imperial Castle, Asrahan hurriedly boarded a carriage and returned to the Kandel ducal residence. His heart felt rushed at the thought that Lariette would be waiting for him.
“Ah, Asrahan! You’re back? You came incredibly quickly!”
You said you’d be late! Lariette added with a bright smile.
She, too, had hurriedly come out to greet him after hearing the news of Asrahan’s return. Though she pretended to be relaxed, her hair was in disarray from rushing over.
Heheh! Lariette secretly let out her ragged breaths while pretending to laugh. But there was no way Asrahan, who had dealt with all manner of schemes and stratagems, would fail to notice her clumsy acting.
“Did you run here?”
“Me? Run? No, I didn’t.”
Since a noble lady dashing down the corridor was not exactly an ideal sight, Lariette played innocent.
However, to Asrahan, the thought of her having run so hard for him, and the sight of her trying to hide it, were simply lovable. Thus, he smiled briefly and reached out toward her hair.
“There is no need to push yourself to come greet me.”
Asrahan tidied Lariette’s disheveled hair with his fingers. At the tender action so unlike the very embodiment of bluntness, Lariette unconsciously blushed.
‘As expected! He definitely has a lot of dating experience.’
She thought with conviction. If not, there was no way he would be so good at doing subtly heart-fluttering things like this.
‘How many could it be? Three? Five? Don’t tell me more than that?’
Lariette narrowed her eyes as she deduced the number of his past lovers. Looking at his handsome face alone, she felt she could believe it even if there had been more than ten.
And Asrahan, who had no such thing as a former lover, observed her with interest as she stared at him with a rather serious expression.
‘What could she be thinking in that little head of hers?’
He always found it fascinating how varied her expressions were. Of course, he could not even dream that she was suspecting him of having a romantic history.
“Master, My Lady. I have prepared the drinks.”
Halstein appeared with perfect timing. Asrahan nodded and continued.
“Lariette. Please go ahead first. I will change my clothes and come.”
“Mhm, you have to come quickly!”
“Yes.”
After answering briefly, Asrahan returned to his room. It was not only to change his clothes, but also to change his bandages.
Though she could not smell him, the rotten stench caused by the curse was still his shame. Unless it was completely purified, it would remain so forever.
Meanwhile, Lariette excitedly examined the drinking table Halstein had prepared. From luxurious spirits to wine and cocktails, there was nothing missing. Even the snacks, such as various cheeses and fruits, were perfect.
“Who made the cocktails?”
“I did.”
“You did, Halstein? Wow, you even know bartending?”
“I am delighted that I can finally make use of what I learned in order to become an excellent butler.”
Halstein explained with a satisfied smile. Believing that a truly perfect butler ought to be able to do everything, he had learned all sorts of miscellaneous skills.
However, since there was no chance Asrahan would drink cocktails, bartending was a skill he had never been able to present to the world until now.
The butler at the Blanche ducal house had been extremely businesslike, so in Lariette’s eyes, Halstein’s behavior was very interesting. Thus, she looked at him with curious eyes and asked,
“Could you show me how to make a cocktail? I’ve never seen it before.”
“Of course, My Lady.”
Halstein did not miss this good opportunity to show off his skills. Excited, he even displayed flashy tricks, tossing liquor bottles here and there as he made the cocktail. Lariette laughed merrily and clapped her hands.
“What are you doing right now…”
“Master, you have returned.”
Asrahan, who had taken off his formal attire and changed into an indoor shirt before returning, looked at Halstein without hiding his bewilderment.
Despite being over sixty, he was blowing fire over a cocktail with movements free of any excess. This was the first time in Asrahan’s twenty-seven years of life that he had seen such a sight.
Halstein ended the bartending show with a proud expression. Lariette cheered, crying bravo.
“Now that the master has arrived, I shall take my leave. I wish you a pleasant night.”
He offered a meaningful farewell and politely left. Lariette, not noticing anything strange, picked up a glass with an excited expression.
“I’m going to drink this! Halstein’s special cocktail! He said it was sweet.”
“I will have the same.”
Asrahan usually preferred drinking on the rocks, but right now, he wanted to share the same taste and fragrance with Lariette. It was a strange feeling.
“Cheers!”
Lariette clinked glasses with a confident expression. Then she poured the cocktail into her mouth all at once.
“Lariette, are you not drinking too quickly?”
“Ahh! Oh, come on, it’s just a cocktail. It probably doesn’t have much alcohol in it.”
She leisurely swirled her glass and continued.
“And I told you, I’m good at drinking.”
“…We shall see.”
“Why do you keep not believing me? I said I’m good!”
“It reminds me of when you claimed you were someone who did not catch colds.”
Lariette quietly closed her mouth. How underhanded, bringing up the past like that! It had not even been all that long ago, but she still stuck out her lips in a pout to show her displeasure.
It had not been a lie when she said she could hold her liquor.
Back when she had been at Blanche, she had often soothed her frustration and resentment by drinking alone. It had been the only outlet she had.
As Lariette’s face did not redden no matter how many times she tipped back her glass, Asrahan gradually let go of his suspicions.
They sipped various cocktails and continued chatting.
The content of their conversation was very trivial. Ordinary, insignificant topics, such as what fruit they liked or what kind of music they preferred.
It was Asrahan’s first time exchanging such unproductive, inefficient conversation with someone.
That was why it felt unfamiliar, and also special. For the first time, he learned that the process of getting to know someone could be a joy.
Just as his chest was beginning to feel pleasantly ticklish, Lariette abruptly shattered his sentiment with an out-of-nowhere topic.
“Ah, by the way. About Doha.”
“……”
In an instant, the faint smile vanished from Asrahan’s face. Seeing that, Lariette quickly corrected herself.
“I mean, my priest friend.”
“……Yes.”
“We really are just friends, the two of us. Don’t misunderstand. Do…… no, that priest even gave me dating advice. A big part of why things worked out between us is thanks to him!”
Though it had not been Doha’s sincere intention, this was the truth. Because Lariette had innocently believed in his intentions, she felt terribly sorry that he was being misunderstood.
Meanwhile, Asrahan narrowed his eyes and stared at her. Even thinking of him still made strength surge into his arms.
The look in that priest bastard’s eyes that he had seen had absolutely not been the look one gave a friend. However, since he had only caught it in passing for a very brief moment, there was a possibility he had misunderstood.
“So, about that, may I continue receiving treatment from him? If the posture is a bit much, I’ll ask him to change it somehow.”
“……Could you not call another priestess?”
“But his healing was the most effective I’ve ever received in my life.”
Lariette recalled his astonishingly excellent healing. Even when she had been at Blanche, she had encountered various priests, but he was the first whose healing had been that effective.
‘He might become a high priest someday.’
She genuinely thought so. The temple made promotion difficult unless one had the proper years of service, no matter how outstanding one’s divine power was.
That was why she believed that someone of Doha’s skill could rise to an ordinary priest in a few years, and perhaps even to a high priest after a few decades.
With a sunken expression, Asrahan looked at Lariette, who was gazing at him with sparkling eyes.
To be honest, it was a request he truly did not want to permit. However, what frightened him most right now was not his surging jealousy.
It was being hated by Lariette. And as a result, her leaving him. That alone frightened him.
That was why he could endure any anger or jealousy. As long as she remained by his side, he could do so forever.
“Do as you wish.”
Asrahan drained the cocktail that was far too sweet for him in one gulp and spoke. Lariette, delighted, took his hand again and swung it excitedly, then emptied the rest of her drink as well.
Several more toasts followed, and time passed quickly.
And soon, Lariette realized something was strange. She had only drunk this much, yet her body felt oddly hot.
The buttons fastened below her throat felt especially stifling, and her thoughts would not flow properly.
With hazy eyes, Lariette stared at the fruit on the table. Mistaking her gaze as meaning she wanted to eat it, Asrahan quietly pushed the plate closer to her.
“Hehe, Asrahan, as expected. You’re so kind……”
“……Lariette?”
Mumbling the end of her sentence, Lariette suddenly leaned her head against his shoulder. Flustered by the sudden contact, Asrahan softly called her name and lowered his gaze.
And within his field of vision was Lariette’s face, looking up at him with a strangely suggestive gaze.
“Asrahan.”
“……Yes.”
Asrahan answered very slowly. Their eyes had merely met, yet strength entered his muscular thighs on its own.
Then Lariette continued with words he had not expected.
“I’m hot.”
“Yes?”
“I think I’m hot……”
Lariette repeated the words blankly as she abruptly began trying to undo the buttons of her outer garment.
Seeing that, Asrahan felt his head spin. Fortunately or unfortunately, because her hands kept fumbling, the buttons did not come undone easily.
But she did not stop there and found a new method. With her face flushed red, Lariette smiled brightly and opened her mouth.
“Asrahan, take it off for me.”