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“Alcohol.”

A bizarre drink learned from Lady Linne.

Alcohol is often a drink that men enjoy for pleasure, but it can sometimes become a weapon for women.

Especially for Vivian, who took lessons on how to seduce men, alcohol became a sharp dagger.

Of course, she hadn’t yet used it for her own interests.

However, she knew all about how to wield it.

Lady Linne said that alcohol is the magical key to bloom relationships.

That magic didn’t lie merely in flavor or aroma.

Alcohol had the power to open one’s heart, erase distance, and make the presence before one’s eyes all the more beautiful.

With just one sip, warmth surged through the body, and self-control melted away little by little.

Once you overcome the bitterness, a sweet and passionate time unfolds behind it.

And that time, she said, is temptation that no one can refuse.

Unlike water, alcohol sways with the atmosphere and flows deeper.

One can fill up again and again, forgetting all about being full.

The more one gulps it down, the more they reveal themselves and draw closer to the other.

If one can skillfully handle alcohol, no man can resist.

And that falling refers to a physical relationship.

This is when alcohol turns into a woman’s weapon.

The relationship itself may be merely physical, but what follows is the crucial responsibility.

A man who takes a woman’s purity must take responsibility for it, she added.

After all, a noblewoman who loses her purity would have to live alone for the rest of her life.

No family would ever accept a woman who has lost her purity.

Of course, this may not concern Vivian, the lady of Roktana, but the psychological pressure was more important than anything else.

If one takes purity, one must take responsibility.

It was an unwritten rule for a man with virtue.

“…”

…Kyle was more conscientious than anyone Vivian had seen.

Nothing else mattered.

Ultimately, the surest stamp to keep a man was a woman offering her body.

Once, Vivian had felt dirty and unclean about sexual relations… but now, as she was just twenty days away from becoming an adult, she no longer thought that way.

In fact, in the dark corners, she was even looking forward to it.

…Her heart raced at the thought of being with Kyle.

With a strong drink and two glasses in hand, Vivian sought out Kyle’s lodging.

The numerous soldiers sharing the building were at a loss at her sudden appearance.

There was a small murmur and a flurry of gazes.

But Vivian didn’t mind.

In the past, that pressure would have made her hide in fear, but a greater fear existed for her now.

“Lady Vivian, what brings you here…?”

Yanes, sporting a brown beard, asked Vivian, but she ignored anyone’s gaze and approached Kyle’s room.

-Knock, knock.

Vivian knocked on his door.

This act would likely become the talk of the castle by the next day.

This scandal wouldn’t remain confined to the Castle of Rondore.

Those with an interest in Rondore would surely hear of her actions today.

-Knock, knock.

As there was no response, Vivian knocked again.

Then, a nervous groan escaped from inside, followed by footsteps approaching the door, which swung open.

“Ah, who could be… V-Vivian.”

Vivian glanced inside the room.

Willas and Kyle were both sitting up in bed, staring at them.

Vivian took a deep breath and said,

“Martin, Willas, could you please step out for a moment?”

“…You want us to leave?”

“…I’ll allow you to go out tonight.”

It was a blatant request to spend the night in a brothel.

Willas and Martin quickly grasped the atmosphere upon seeing Vivian’s expression and the drink in her hand.

But they had known Vivian since childhood.

Seeing her climb adult’s stairs in such an evident way seemed to come as a shock.

Even more so as her partner was their friend Kyle, which made their reaction even slower.

Finally realizing, Vivian looked up at them.

Once their eyes met, they bowed their heads and said,

“A-Understood.”

Martin and Willas hurriedly packed their things and exited the room.

Now only Kyle remained inside, and Vivian quietly walked into the room.

Her footsteps echoed loudly in the silent lodging.

Just before closing the door, she turned to look back at all the eyes focused on her.

They all seemed to struggle with believing that someone as beautiful as Vivian had approached Kyle first.

Though their close relationship had become public knowledge, they hadn’t anticipated that Vivian was the one to initiate.

“…”

A faint sense of shame enveloped her.

But there was something more important than that feeling.

More than anything, she wanted Kyle.

So she ignored that emotion and closed the door.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

****

“…What are you doing?”

I asked as I watched Vivian quietly transfer light from the lantern to a candle.

Vivian gave no reply.

With slow fingers, she quietly lit up the room.

Then she tossed aside her light outer garment.

What lay beneath looked too revealing to be pajamas and too casual to be everyday clothing.

As I swallowed involuntarily at her round exposed chest, Vivian caught my reaction and offered a subtle smile.

“…Vivian, what are you doing?”

Then she quietly sat on my bed and held up a bottle.

“Can’t you tell? Let’s drink.”

“…”

“You haven’t drunk either. The war broke out after all. But you know, I always pour a drink for my soldiers when they come of age.”

It had indeed been a long tradition.

This was part of Vivian’s effort to win the hearts of the members of the Punishment Unit.

When they became adults, Vivian would pour them a drink.

Yanes had received that honor first.

“…You’ve never poured for me. Especially when you think of our relationship… This doesn’t make sense.”

Vivian silently extended the drink to me.

Her determined eyes stared intently at me.

I was thrown into confusion by her sudden visit, which had disrupted everything.

Breaking through the gazes of comrades to seek me, her indifference to all the misunderstandings and scandals… it all left me perplexed.

“…Get out, Vivian. Rumors will spread.”

“You, take the cup.”

“If rumors spread—”

“-We’re parting soon.”

Vivian declared.

With those words, my heart grew cold.

“…”

“…”

I had hoped she would merely bring up the separation, but hearing it for real made my heart ache.

“…From now on, we won’t see each other. Is this not acceptable…?”

I lowered my gaze and quietly asked.

“Have you accepted it?”

She shook her head.

“…No. But I feel I won’t be able to stop you.”

“…”

“…You told me to prepare for our parting. So accept it. Considering our memories… I can manage this much.”

As Vivian’s voice trembled towards the end, it became evident she was trying to suppress tears.

“…Let’s have a drink before we part. Just one last memory.”

“…”

In the end, I took her cup.

With the small cup in my hand, she opened the bottle.

A pungent aroma quickly filled the room.

Vivian brought the top of the bottle to her dainty nose for a moment and laughed awkwardly.

“…It smells sweet.”

I suppressed the urge to laugh lightly and extended my cup.

Vivian filled my drink.

A deep amber liquid filled the cup.

“It’s honey wine,”

she informed me.

“…Balron recommended it.”

I, too, smelled the fragrance, which was as strong as it was surprising.

“…Here.”

Then Vivian handed me the bottle.

I looked back and forth between the bottle and Vivian.

Then inhaling deeply, I took the bottle and filled Vivian’s glass.

“Fill it all the way.”

As I started to fill it partially, she stopped my hand.

I didn’t want her to get too drunk, but considering that this was our last memory, I felt it was acceptable.

I set down the relatively full bottle and looked at Vivian.

We exchanged looks for a long moment.

In the past, had we been in a position with more contact, perhaps we would have kissed then.

But not now.

I slowly lifted my cup, and Vivian gently nodded, raising her glass as well.

We slowly brought our cups together and drank.

The bitter and foreign flavor crinkled our faces, yet we held each other’s gaze until the very end.

“…Phew…”

Vivian, who drank her cup in one go, let out a strong sigh.

The sweet scent of honey and her usual floral aroma melded beautifully.

Wiping her mouth delicately with her palm and back of her hand, Vivian quickly lifted the wine bottle again.

And she filled my glass the same way.

“…Not too strong?”

I asked Vivian about her actions.

She shook her head.

“Not at all. You must be weak to it?”

Her words stirred a competitive itch within me.

Thinking back, I remembered all the lengths I had gone to make sure I didn’t lose to her.

I’d complain, saying it wasn’t that hard, even when I struggled…

Ultimately, I shrugged and took my cup. Then I filled hers again.

Vivian instantly raised her glass once more.

It was a signal to drink.

Thoughts of “the last” pushed me further.

I drank to forget the pain in my chest.

“Phew…”

Vivian sighed again.

Then she filled her cup once more, but this time, she did not immediately drink it.

Gaining courage from the two drinks, she spoke.

“Kyle, you know, when you’re gone, I don’t think I’ll ever drink again.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah. If I did, I might forget this time I spent with you.”

“…”

“…I’ll think of you every time I see alcohol. So no one can cover up this memory… I’ll try not to drink again.”

With each flicker of the candle, Vivian’s expression seemed to change.

It felt like a whirlwind of sadness, anguish, anger, and relief all mixed together.

She still wasn’t gazing at me.

Her words felt more like reproaches now.

“…I’ll do the same.”

I replied to Vivian.

In the cold northern lands, drinking strong liquor earn a man’s respect, yet I vowed with her.

This notion might be a curse.

Even if I fall in love with another woman or have children… I’ll never drink again.

Vivian finally looked up at me, albeit late.

“…”

Her lips pressed tight, it seemed my words struck her heart, but… she quickly filled her cup again and swallowed her feelings.

“…Alright. If this is the last day we drink, let’s make sure to remember it, Kyle.”

We drank once more.

They say drinking on an empty stomach gets you drunk faster, and I was slowly coming to understand that saying.

Vivian and I continued to drink while having simple conversations, putting my utmost effort into etching this last moment in my heart.

After one more drink, two, three…

A variety of conversations unfolded.

In this rare cozy atmosphere, we talked.

Past stories didn’t skip over either.

And in those moments, I truly felt like we were wrapping up our connection.

As if compressing our shared journey through reminiscences.

Each passing glass filled my palm with strong liquor, making my face tingle.

I felt my vision narrowing and heat rising within me.

Vivian’s cheeks were gradually reddening too.

That pink hue felt strikingly cute.

And in those moments, I’d turn my gaze away, blinking to clear my head.

Just drowning in the bowl as I suppressed my feelings.

“…It’s belated, but I’ve always been thankful, Kyle.”

“…”

With each word Vivian spoke, she was genuinely discussing our parting.

Once again, our memories kept circling back, leaving me dizzy.

“Everything you’ve done for me… I won’t forget until I die.”

I shrugged off the intoxication.

“…You can forget. I’ve done a lot too, but like I said, there were many times we fought, right?”

Vivian chuckled.

“We did fight a lot. At the time, I hated you… it stemmed from misunderstandings, but the emotions were so vivid.”

I laughed too.

Vivian’s gaze held on my smiling lips tightly.

“It’s not your fault, really. Like I said, I would have felt the same if I were in your position. That’s why I bore your nonsense. You really hated me back then.”

“…”

Vivian took a deep breath.

“Kyle, do you know?”

“…?”

“…Actually, I still really hate you.”

Vivian delivered those words in a tone more serious than ever.

Her expression revealed no lies at all.

The bright atmosphere was slowly changing.

“…I hate you, so much… that it drives me crazy.”

“What?”

“…I hate you more than when I misunderstood your father.”

Her hand trembled slowly as she gripped the cup tighter.

The more she spoke, the more I could feel the anger she had been holding back rising to the surface.

I had heard that drinking makes one lose their patience.

If you’re holding in your anger, you can’t hold that back either.

Vivian seemed to be just that.

I waited for her to finish speaking.

And honestly, I partially anticipated this feeling from her.

“I… I hate that you’re trying to leave me.”

Tears welled in her eyes.

The moment she, who had held back tears in front of me since our wager, displayed them, I felt assured that those feelings were not fake.

Yet those tears didn’t fall.

Like magic, they hovered and shimmered but never spilled.

“I’m begging you this much… I’m asking you like this… But you coldly turn away. That’s so hateful.”

Seeing me lost for words, Vivian returned a bittersweet smile. With tears still glimmering, it felt even more painfully radiant.

“I know, Kyle. Letting you go is the right thing. The retainers are saying the same. I should let you go. Everyone has the same feelings, the same thoughts… but I know I’m being stubborn.”

Vivian tried to pour her drink again.

I blocked her hand to stop her from doing so.

-Smack!

At that moment, Vivian’s hand clutched my wrist.

The cup she placed to grab my wrist clattered to the floor.

-Crash! Clang…

She continued.

“I know. You only need to let go. Then everything can be happy. It’s a clean cut for me. I’ll be remembered in history as the one who supported the family, living without want, praised. You might… feel happy without me. Maybe this is the final obstacle we have.”

As if trying to convince herself, Vivian repeated herself.

But her voice grew ever more fragile.

“…Vivian.”

“But… but you know… I…”

Her voice quivered, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

“…I can’t let you go…”

Power left my arm that had been trying to resist her.

I couldn’t push her away.

Whether it was the drink clouding my head or her sincerity, I couldn’t tell.

“I… I’m only happy when I’m with you. You’ve become the standard for my emotions. Back then, when you were angry, I felt joy. When you were sad, I was happy… now, if you’re not smiling, I’m struggling, and when you smile… I feel like I could fly.”

Her hand, which had held my wrist, slowly descended and clasped mine.

Locking fingers, she didn’t let go.

Then, with her free hand, she fiddled with the fabric of her clothes.

She gently tugged the hidden lace, causing her clothes to slide off.

The sweet scent of her skin wafted in the air.

Strength entered my hand at the same time.

Vivian held the trailing fabric with her remaining arm.

Even if she fully revealed herself, it wouldn’t seem as alluring as this.

The slender neck was clearly highlighted, and the hollows of her collarbone.

The gentle upper chest and the curvy waist.

What her garments concealed were merely the full shape of her bosom and her slim belly.

That vulnerable sight shook me.

“…I hate you, Kyle.”

Vivian said.

“…”

She never finished her sentence.

Instead, she whispered softly.

“…Kyle, you said it yourself.”

Her arms slowly fell.

The clothes followed suit, sliding down.

The Vivian I had known since childhood stood naked before me.

“…Tell me you love me.”

As the alcohol buzzed around me, she said.

“…Show it through your actions.”

 

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