Chapter 8

“Andy, don’t you drink?”

“I don’t usually enjoy drinking alcohol.”

“But today seems like a day to have at least one glass, doesn’t it?”

“Especially today. That’s why.”

“Why is that?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Please tell me.”

“When I want to forget something in my head, that’s when I drink.”

“…”

“Even though I ended up here due to an unexpected situation today, I don’t feel like drinking to forget something this bad. That’s why I’m not drinking.”

“Does that mean that the events of today were so impressive that even if I forced myself to drink, I wouldn’t want to forget them?”

“You can think whatever you want.”

“Alright. But…”

“What is it?”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard a man from the Sword Mansion refuse alcohol, no matter the reason…”

“Seeing examples set by those I grew up with has boosted my desire to abstain from alcohol.”

“…I see.”

As soon as I entered the bridal chamber and she gestured for the servants to bring two bottles of whiskey which were almost empty, Asulin asked me why I wasn’t drinking.

I didn’t offer any excuse or justification for my aversion to alcohol, just a few words based on my personal experiences and reflections on the beverage.

She stopped trying to persuade me to drink and poured herself a straight glass of liquor.

Watching her drink as naturally as water made me realize how much her usual tolerance for alcohol was beyond my guess.

I hadn’t seen her drink like this before, while I watched her from afar as an assassin wearing a mask during the war.

The restraint shown due to the unique nature of war made me think that I simply couldn’t see her drinking like this.

“This tastes really good after such a long time…”

Seeing her happy every time she drank, I could tell how much she loved alcohol.

I thought if I had lured her with alcohol, I might have been able to complete my biological father’s order to assassinate her.

But still, it’s not like I didn’t wonder why drinking would be enjoyable in this situation.

“Ha ha…”

I didn’t want to ask Asulin and ruin her enjoyment, so I just racked my brain.

Though she didn’t show signs of intoxication except for slightly trembling eyes, I knew I had to prepare for the moment she would exceed her limit.

Even though my actions were limited in this confined space, I still needed to think about what variables an intoxicated Asulin might bring.

If Asulin fell asleep drunk, I would lay her on the bed and cover her with a blanket, maintaining some distance from her.

And if she had the habit of invading my sleeping space, I would simply move to the floor.

It seemed that despite the limited options, the more desperate the situation, the more plausible the outcome became.

“Andy… What are you worried about?”

Seeming lost in thought, I looked at her silently, but she noticed my subtle change in behavior.

“I haven’t done anything since earlier.”

I tried to act nonchalant, but…

“Liar.”

Asulin retorted with a sarcastic smile, clearly showing the effects of alcohol.

I believed that if she exhaled near me, the strong aroma of alcohol would reach me.

For some reason, if this happened, I felt like her breath would carry the scent of flowers.

‘Why do I keep having these crazy thoughts even though I haven’t had a drop?’

Shaking off the distracting thoughts, I looked at Asulin and tried to come up with an appropriate response.

Her speech was slurred, and her voice was more emotional than usual, clearly showing she was drunk.

But there was one thing I needed to clarify.

“My eyes and expression convey my opinions to you.”

Even if she was drunk, Asulin’s intelligence remained unshaken.

Wow, she noticed my concern even when I was trying to hide it.

“Right? Ha ha.”

Without saying anything, she agreed and smiled, as if she already knew my thoughts.

Tonight, Asulin changed her demeanor multiple times in front of me.

When I first stepped into the bridal chamber, she immediately thrust a sword at me.

To avoid a difficult situation, I jumped out the window, only to find her chasing after me with a cold gaze.

Accepting her challenge, I pretended to be reluctant, yet she showed obvious joy.

Back in the bridal chamber after our practice duel, she openly drank and showed her intoxicated self.

Despite the situation, Asulin displayed all her sides without reservation, showing she trusted me completely.

No, she didn’t just trust me; she outright believed in me.

“I’m not worried at all. Even if I fall asleep drunk here, I believe you won’t harm me.”

This was her direct display of trust in me.

Even though this marriage was a political strategy, I could not deny the fact that she was the sole survivor practicing the sword techniques from the prestigious Sword Mansion.

“Even without seeing you up close, I know that you don’t hurt people who are drunk.”

Her words, slurred by alcohol, were filled with trust rather than suspicion.

…There was no need to go through this charade to make her distrust me.

Was she doing this on purpose to ease my burden?

Her efforts to appear this way in front of me felt like she was making a determined effort to look good.

“…Ha.”

Seeing this, I couldn’t help but let out a light laugh.

Unlike the previous duel, which felt like mutual respect between enemies, the unwavering trust she showed towards me in her drunken state made me laugh.

Even though it was a forced laugh, I quickly covered my mouth to compose myself.

“Aha.”

Asulin paused before taking another sip and then widened her eyes at me.

“Now you’re smiling.”

It was clear that my attempt to hide my laughter was futile.

…

Asulin continued her drunken antics for quite a while.

Seeing her pour and drink the liquor brought by the servants, I felt ashamed of myself for ever thinking otherwise.

Even though she didn’t drink, I could easily tell the value of the whiskey and other liquors disappearing from her lips.

Despite being a noblewoman from the highest echelons of society, she spent money freely on alcohol and necessary training materials.

“If only we had drunk together… It would have been truly wonderful.”

Asulin drank the liquor continuously, quickly emptying the bottles.

If drinking determined social status, she was the emperor himself tonight.

I swear, never have I seen anyone drink Northern famous liquors as effortlessly as she did.

However, even a superhuman like her had limits.

“Next time… We should… drink together…”

With these words, she placed her glass on the table and laid down on the pile of bottles, breathing softly.

She had fallen asleep.

“Phew…”

First, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Not because I enjoyed the victory over the seemingly composed yet deliberately disheveled her, but…

“She looks beautiful no matter what she does, so resisting her was really hard.”

I just gave a brief compliment.

…

Having navigated such a dangerous situation, it would normally be sensible to leave the hazardous area.

But since this dangerous place was where I had to end my day, I couldn’t just escape.

Standing up, I walked over to Asulin, who was sprawled on the other side of the bed.

“She sure is a handful.”

Half-jokingly, I picked her up and carried her to the bed.

Her body, which had intimidated me in the practice arena, felt surprisingly light.

“How does she wield such powerful swords with such a delicate body?”

Curious and genuinely admiring, I laid her on the bed.

She was so sound asleep that I didn’t even notice until I covered her with a blanket.

“Hmm, she looks cute when she sleeps.”

I had never seen her like this before, not even when I had to assassinate her while wearing a mask.

Suppressing the forbidden thoughts, I sat on the floor next to the bed, feeling a strange satisfaction.

“From now on, I should sleep like this.”

Closing my eyes, I prepared for the first night of my arranged marriage, hoping to start each day ahead of her and leave the bed before she wakes up.

“As long as I stay alert, I’ll be fine.”

Whispering to myself, I surrendered to sleep.