After emptying the refilled wine, my body felt as heavy as a soaked sponge. I half-slumped over the table and rested the empty wine glass on my cheek.

The coolness was short-lived, and soon the glass became lukewarm.

Hmm, it’s hot. Isn’t there anything cold to drink?

“It seems like Cecilia is getting tipsy.”

Tesmillian’s deep voice reverberated slowly in my head.

It felt like he just mentioned my name. What did he say? He wouldn’t be insulting me right in front of me, would he?

Hmm. I don’t know. I’m feeling a bit dizzy from overthinking things.

Is this what it’s like to be drunk? It’s not that bad.

Lately, there have been nothing but irritating things. Right now, my head is filled with the sweet taste of grapes. I really like it.

“I warned you to be careful about this.”

Well, what do you care!
I wanted to retort to Idreesh’s nagging words, but my heavy-lidded eyes wouldn’t open.

Oh, it seems my eyes are glued shut. Could someone please unstick them for me?

Before long, I let out a long sigh and slumped completely onto the table.

“I warned you to be careful about this.”

Idreesh, in a sudden change of heart, lay on the table, glancing at Cecilia, whose eyes were tightly shut.

Rodeo had already finished his meal and left a long time ago.

Cecilia, who had been continuously drinking the wine and practically emptied a whole bottle on her own, now seemed almost like she was lying on the dining table.

Her face was as red as if the wine had become her companion.

“Well, at your young age, it’s understandable.”
Tesmillion seemed to find even Cecilia’s current state cute.

“I’m not that young.”

Idreesh replied and, in doing so, swept Cecilia’s smooth hair back behind her ear, which she was playing with, seemingly torn between her food and words. Cecilia seemed to feel his touch, and she tried to say something but only managed to move her lips without forming words.

“Idreesh.”

At Tesmillion’s call, Idreesh shifted his gaze from Cecilia to Tesmillion.

“If you want to be with someone, you should be sensitive to that person.”

“Why are you suddenly saying this?”

Tesmillion smiled so subtly that no one would notice, as he recalled times long past.
“A dull knife may appear incapable of causing any harm, but in reality, that’s not the case. Healing a wound inflicted by a dull knife can be even more challenging.”

Idreesh still couldn’t comprehend his words.

Tesmillion, as if understanding him, looked intently at Idreesh. It was truly a gaze they hadn’t shared in a long time.

“Do our Baiho Sapiens not have emotions? It took me a long time to understand, but other Sapiens have hearts as tender as peeled grapes. We wake up in a world we can’t comprehend.”

Peeled grapes.

Idreesh shifted his gaze over Cecilia’s puffy eyes, and even he couldn’t help but smile.

It was truly an expression that suited Cecilia well.
“And therefore, it takes more effort to be with them.”

“It’s only for a purpose.”

Idreesh replied as if making excuses. Tesmillion, having taken the last sip of wine from his glass, motioned to have it refilled, but Vigus stopped him.

“It’s likely to be tough. So, Cecilia will probably be like that all the time.”

Idreesh looked at Cecilia. He knew she had changed recently. It was in a direction that wasn’t good, and he even suspected he might be the cause.

But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand the reason.

“No matter how much you think, if you don’t know, the easiest way is to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Ask directly.”
Tesmillion said that and then got up from his seat.

“I may not have done well, but I hope you have no regrets. I like that guy too.”

“You don’t have to worry about Lord Gaju.”

Idreesh’s firm words made Tesmillion shake his head.

“It seems like you’ve become quite confident too.”

Idreesh’s eyebrows arched.

“Summon Zeros and ask him to take Cecilia to her room. Tell Vigus to prepare light food for her tomorrow.”

With those words, Tesmillion left the parlor.

Idreesh didn’t call anyone. Instead, he picked up Cecilia himself.

The petite figure weakly leaned against Idreesh’s body.
He moved her to her room. Startled, he sent Mirai, who came in to take care of Cecilia, away.

He laid her on the bed. Her ruby-colored hair scattered in disarray on the white sheets.

“What’s going on?”

Cecilia’s eyes fluttered open, revealing how flushed her cheeks and under her eyes were, a result of how much she had drunk.

“You’re drunk. Just sleep like this.”

Idreesh covered her with a blanket.

Cecilia, in her inebriated state, kicked the blanket off in a way that startled Idreesh. The blanket ended up pitifully on the floor.

Idreesh looked bewildered, alternating his gaze between the disheveled blanket pile and Cecilia.

Cecilia weakly blinked her eyes and stared at Idreesh.

“What are you trying to do?”
Idreesh took a deep breath, then shook the blanket vigorously and covered her once again.

“It’s hot!”

Cecilia kicked again, but this time, Idreesh managed to prevent the blanket from falling to the floor.