A raucous noise leaked from downstairs.

Standing in the second-floor corridor, Belladonna pricked up her ears and focused on the loud sound.

Indistinct words reverberated through the castle corridors like a murmur.

‘Just like those depraved priests…’

The people of the Holy See, including the Pope of Pronance, enjoyed drinking wine.

They cultivated vineyards in a corner of the vast papal courtyard to produce grapes directly, owned a huge winery building, and meticulously managed the wines produced in the large underground cellar by vintage.

Even if everything related to food was subject to free will, shouldn’t excessive indulgence be restrained?

Belladonna frowned and turned her body abruptly.

Among them, Cardinal Nicholas was the one who enjoyed alcohol the most, so tonight’s welcome banquet would surely continue until late at night.

‘Escalion…’

Belladonna, who was returning to her room, stopped in her tracks.

Come to think of it, she had never seen Escalion drunk before.

Although wine was often accompanied by one or two glasses during meal times, he never got drunk from that amount.

Then again, there hadn’t been a formal banquet since coming to Griblata…

“My lady? What are you doing here?”

At that moment, Cindy, who was coming up the stairs, spotted Belladonna and asked.

As Belladonna turned her head, she saw Cindy approaching with a tray of simple meals in both hands.

“Are you really sure you don’t want to dine together in the dining room downstairs? It must be a joyous meal with people you haven’t seen in a long time…”

Shake, shake.

Belladonna slowly shook her head.

“If you’re not feeling well, there’s nothing we can do.”

As Cindy said this, Belladonna moved to her room with a small smile.

Cindy, who had set up a simple meal on the table in Belladonna’s room, continued to chatter.

“You know, my lady, all the rare wines have been brought up downstairs! It seems the lord has decided to bring out the good drinks.”

Nicholas must be very excited.

Belladonna snorted inwardly.

Cindy, perhaps feeling sorry for her who couldn’t go downstairs herself, continued to chatter about what she had seen and heard.

“Since it’s the first time someone has officially come to Griblata, it seems the lord is paying quite a bit of attention. When the harsh winter passes and the weather gets a bit warmer, such banquets will be held more often, right? Although this dinner is too small to be called a banquet.”

How was the meal?

Grateful for Cindy’s efforts on her behalf, Belladonna decided to go along with her.

When Belladonna raised both hands in a gesture of eating, Cindy quickly replied.

“Oh, today’s main course was a delicious turkey dish. The chef showed off his skills after a long time! Here, I brought up the most delicious part, so try this first!”

Cindy pulled a plate with a steaming thick leg closer to Belladonna.

Belladonna picked up a fork, poked the soft meat, and held it out to Cindy.

“Huh? Oh, I’m fine! You eat a lot, my lady.”

Cindy waved her hands with round eyes.

But Belladonna shook the fork again and held it out to her.

The turkey dish, sous vide cooked at low temperature and then seared, was such a high-class dish that the servants, except for the lord and lady, wouldn’t dare to even look at it.

She wanted to enjoy a small party just for the two of them, at least for today, with Cindy who always worked hard for her.

When Belladonna exaggeratedly pretended her arm hurt, Cindy hesitantly took the fork.

“Ah…”

Taking advantage of the moment, Belladonna scribbled on the nearby notepad.

[Shall we enjoy our own banquet?]

“B-but, my lady…”

[I want to enjoy myself too. Besides, it’s too much for me to eat alone.]

Saying that deliberately so Cindy wouldn’t feel uncomfortable, she nodded reluctantly and sat down.

“Then I’ll just eat a little!”

Belladonna smiled gently at Cindy, who couldn’t hide her expectant expression.

Cindy continued to move food onto Belladonna’s plate and took small portions for herself as well.

“Ah, I brought up a bottle of wine just in case. Would you like some?”

Belladonna hesitated slightly but soon nodded.

It didn’t seem bad to drink just a little bit to enjoy, not to get drunk like last time.

Cindy, who was pouring wine into Belladonna’s glass, smiled and said,

“That’s right! The lord seems to be in a good mood today, as he emptied many wine bottles.”

Escalion?

Belladonna, who was chewing and swallowing a soft tomato, looked at her with an interested face, and Cindy nodded.

“The person who’s usually so composed, today his skin was a bit red and his eyes slightly… Oh my, I spoke too casually.”

Belladonna shook her head with a smile, indicating it was fine.

It wasn’t bad to hear about Escalion, even if through someone else’s mouth.

[It’s okay, speak comfortably. I always enjoy listening to what you have to say. And you should have a drink too. It’s quite lonely to drink alone.]

“Ah, if that’s the case…”

Cindy, who blushed for a moment, filled her empty glass with wine.

She clinked glasses lightly with Belladonna and then gulped down the wine.

That wasn’t meant to be drunk so hastily.

“Wow, it’s delicious…”

[Have some more.]

“Thank you, my lady!”

Was Cindy’s work very tiring?

Belladonna looked with a surprised face at Cindy, who had cleanly emptied her glass once again.

But she continued speaking with a face more composed than expected.

“When I was about to enter the kitchen to prepare your meal, there were already more than four empty wine bottles on the table.”

Four bottles?

Weren’t only Escalion and Cardinal Nicholas at the dinner table?

“I couldn’t tell which of the two, the lord or the cardinal, drank more… But both seemed quite tipsy. Especially Cardinal Nicholas seemed to be in a very good mood!”

“…”

“That benevolent and loving smile from the afternoon was nowhere to be seen, and he kept laughing senselessly, which somehow felt a bit more friendly.”

Friendly? He was probably just extremely drunk…

Belladonna sighed with an unimpressed face.

“I couldn’t hear properly as I was passing by quickly with my head bowed, but it seemed they were mainly talking about the Holy See. About what thoughts the Pope has, and how he plans to lead the Holy See in the future.”

Did Nicholas give some kind of sermon while drunk? Anyway…

“I didn’t know the lord was so interested in that area. He kept asking questions about the Pope.”

Escalion?

It was surprising to hear that it was Escalion asking questions, not the drunk Nicholas blurting out whatever came to mind.

Was Escalion that interested in the Pope or the Holy See?

If not, it could be that due to the lack of common ground between them, he was bringing up topics that were easy for the other person to talk about.

Escalion, more sociable than expected?

“Anyway, it was a bit unexpected to see the lord drunk. The drunk lord… how should I put it, he has no sloppiness, but gives off a rougher, rawer feeling than usual?”

It seems the rough and raw one is not Escalion but Cindy…

Cindy, whose eyes were now unfocused and who kept grinning, was unrestrained in her choice of direct words.

“Hmm… Or maybe he had something upsetting him?”

“…”

“The side profile of the lord, who kept pouring and drinking wine, seemed somewhat lonely today…”

The drunken Cindy muttered incoherently.

Something upsetting…? Could it be because of me? Belladonna lowered her head with a worried face.

Perhaps Escalion really wanted to use this opportunity to send her away to Astagna with Nicholas for good.

Thinking that, a bitter taste rose to her mouth.

Belladonna lifted the wine glass Cindy had poured and wet her lips.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Ughh…”

“…”

“Mmm… Don’t touch me…”

A few hours later, Belladonna shook Cindy’s shoulder with a troubled face as she had collapsed face-down on the table.

Cindy! What am I supposed to do if you pass out first like this!

She turned her head and lifted the now empty wine bottle.

I didn’t even drink a full glass, did Cindy drink all the rest?

With Cindy sprawled out with her arms stretched, it wasn’t easy to clear the dishes.

Belladonna had no choice but to get up and leave the room.

She intended to ask for help from any servant she could see to clear away not only the dishes from the finished meal but also Cindy.

Just then, the sound of someone coming up the stairs was heard.

Help!

‘Oh…’

Belladonna, who was reaching out and quickly approaching there, stopped in her tracks when she saw who was coming up.

It was none other than Escalion climbing the stairs.

Escalion, with a face flushed redder than usual, stopped and looked up at Belladonna.

“…”

Escalion stood still in place for a while without saying anything, then moved his long legs again.

It didn’t seem like he had taken many steps, but he had already approached and stopped in front of her.

As he came closer, the smell of alcohol wafted strongly, creating a somewhat unfamiliar feeling.

“Did you eat.”

“…”

“Ah, I forgot you can’t speak.”

Escalion, who let out a chuckle, soon moved his body. He slightly changed direction and brushed past Belladonna.

Belladonna impulsively turned and grabbed his arm.

Despite Belladonna’s weak strength, Escalion immediately stopped in place.

“Go to your room.”

“…”

“I hope you’re not going to say you’ve gone deaf too.”

Escalion twisted and pulled out his arm that was held by her.

Belladonna followed Escalion, who had already started moving again.

She heard him sigh as he walked ahead, but deliberately ignored it.

She needed to talk to him before returning to Astagna following Nicholas.

Upon reaching his room, Escalion opened the door without hesitation and went inside.

Belladonna also scurried in after him.

“Hah…”

Escalion, who had entered the room, crossed his hands and took off his clothes, throwing them carelessly.

Belladonna’s gaze was caught by his round shoulders that were slightly reddened as well.

Escalion, who didn’t give her even a glance, went straight into the bathroom, and soon the sound of water was heard.

Belladonna stood blankly for a moment, staring at the bathroom door where he had disappeared, then slowly sat down on the bed.

‘Why did I follow him all the way here…’

His actions, thoroughly ignoring her, brought a sense of frustration.

On top of that, with her voice not coming out, it was even more perplexing how to start a conversation.

After sitting quietly and waiting for a few minutes, the water sound that had been heard stopped, and the bathroom door opened.

Belladonna quickly raised her head.

“You still haven’t left?”

Through the gap in the door where white steam was rising, Escalion appeared wearing a robe.