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Chapter 83

Kayden wasn't fond of alcohol.

No—to be precise, he'd kept his distance from it as much as possible.

Alcohol clouded judgment and made one act on instinct.

So he never touched it unless absolutely necessary.

And yet...

Kayden's gaze fell on Emilia, who was peacefully asleep in his arms.

Had he lost his reason after all?

He had no memory of anything after entering the residence.

He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, then noticed something odd.

First, this was indeed his bedroom.

Which meant he must have somehow dragged Emilia—who had been somewhere in the residence—into his room.

He wondered if he was that insane, but he couldn't deny it, given his past record.

It was frustrating that he couldn't swear he hadn't done it.

Just then—

"Mmm..."

At the small sound, he paused and looked down.

Soon, Emilia's lashes fluttered, revealing her light-green eyes.

Meeting his gaze, she blinked as if processing.

Then, her face turned bright red as she bolted upright.

Kayden tried to offer an apology—

But Emilia spoke first.

"W-well, I mean..."

She stammered, as if making an excuse.

"I-I just came in because I was worried!"

At that, Kayden was silent for a moment, then sat up and raised an eyebrow.

"...You came into my room of your own accord?"

At that, Emilia flinched and defended herself.

"No! Well, yes, but..."

Her stammering words trailed off—her ears were bright red.

"B-but Your Grace...!"

She started to recount his wrongdoings, then clamped her mouth shut.

It was too embarrassing to explain every detail of his actions.

Kayden spoke in a serious tone.

"I'm truly sorry, but I have no memory of anything—if you don't tell me what happened, I won't know."

She opened her mouth, then finally bowed her head.

"W-well... it's, it's fine..."

She didn't want to relive what had already happened.

"Nothing happened."

"Emilia?"

Unable to understand her behavior, Kayden called her name.

She had climbed out of bed and was glaring at him, biting her lip.

"B-but still!"

What was done was done—but she needed to warn him to prevent future incidents.

"...Don't come home drunk from now on. At least, at least while you're married to me!"

At her words, Kayden's eyes widened slightly.

He wondered if it could really be that simple—but a laugh escaped him.

He touched the corner of his mouth and answered.

"I'll do that."

---

"Sir Lucas."

"...Yes."

Selena frowned as she looked down at Lucas.

He was sprawled across the sofa, groaning.

She'd sent him on leave out of concern, yet somehow he'd returned in worse shape.

And reeking of alcohol.

Selena asked suspiciously.

"You really did go to the Ernst residence, right?"

"Yes, yes, I obediently went home as Your Highness commanded."

"Then why do you look like this?"

"Who knows."

Lucas continued.

"I just... didn't win at anything?"

"Didn't win? Did you gamble on the way back?"

At that, Lucas let out a hollow laugh.

"If clinging to faint hope counts as gambling, then maybe."

Selena was at a loss for words at his cryptic reply.

Then she spoke with a hint of sulkiness.

"Then sending you on leave was pointless."

After a few seconds of silence, Lucas suddenly sat up.

"That's enough. Since Your Highness has been so considerate, I should pull myself together."

He said in his usual sly tone, as if he'd never been down.

Selena shot him a glare that wasn't quite angry.

Soon, Lucas sat up straight and smoothed his clothes.

Then he asked casually.

"So, was everything alright while I was gone, Your Highness?"

Selena's expression visibly stiffened.

Ah.

She tried to hide it, but Lucas, who had been watching her closely, had already caught it.

He frowned and asked.

"What happened? Did you have a nightmare?"

"...No, nothing like that."

Selena quickly denied it.

"Really? It doesn't seem like nothing."

But Selena turned away without answering.

A suspicious voice came from behind her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I said it's nothing."

Reaching her desk, Selena ran her hand over its worn surface, then clenched her fist.

In a forced casual tone, she spoke to her knight.

"Sir Lucas. Remember that terrible tea you made when you first became my knight?"

After a moment's thought, Lucas asked to confirm.

"You mean the one you scolded me for, telling me never to bring it again?"

"Yes, that one. Can you make it?"

"Huh? Are you going to give me another harsh review?"

Lucas made a face.

But today, Selena wouldn't budge.

"I'll drink it all without a word today."

"Really?"

Lucas asked skeptically, and Selena nodded quietly.

"Yes. I just suddenly felt like drinking it."

---

Meanwhile.

Leaving the meeting room, Count Ernst cleared his throat awkwardly and called out to the Duke of Valen.

"Y-your Grace. Did you make it home safely last night?"

The Count sometimes forgot that his alcohol tolerance was only one glass of wine.

And he'd happened to make a fool of himself on the very night he'd invited the Duke.

That morning, he'd been thoroughly scolded by his wife.

How could you show such disgrace in front of His Grace?

But there was someone who had committed an even greater offense...

"And that Lucas! I told him to attend to you properly, but he treated you like a drinking buddy and had you drink yourself silly!"

The Countess had lamented, and the Count himself had been shocked by the number of empty wine bottles the servants had cleared away.

He'd expected the Duke to be as miserable as he was—

"I made it home safely."

But the Duke looked perfectly fine.

"A-ahem. That's a relief, but I was worried my son might have been rude to you."

The Count conveniently omitted his own rudeness.

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