For some reason, it seemed that Gwen, not wanting to leave the business, had taken an extreme measure.

Rose looked at the Grand Duke in front of her.

Seeing the Grand Duke, who was inflated with expectations, made her heart even heavier.

‘Completely burdensome.’

Just when she was wondering what to say,

“Are you guys here?”

Julius appeared.

“I couldn’t properly enjoy it earlier because the seat was uncomfortable. Let’s have a drink together.”

Shaking a red wine bottle that he brought from somewhere, he approached.

“Come on, it’s a wine I specially brought.”

“I won’t drink, so go away… No, just leave it there.”
The Grand Duke lightly pushed away the wine offered by Julius. However, Julius didn’t easily back off. Even though they had feelings for each other, the sight of the two people stumbling around frustrated both of them too much.

If they could leverage the power of alcohol, they might be able to fully express their hidden feelings. Julius looked at the Grand Duke with sly eyes, thinking, ‘What a foolish guy. He doesn’t even know that I’m trying to help him.’ He decided to step forward for his friend, who was in a love crisis.

“Lucas, who asked you to eat with you? I’m going to drink with Serviat Yeongae.”

He emphasized that he would drink with Rose, displaying a relaxed smile.

“Yeongae, will you drink wine with me? We agreed to be friends.”

Julius approached Rose, who was standing still, and then proudly bumped fists with her.

For a moment, the Grand Duke’s expression distorted fiercely.

“You…!”

Certainly, he warned her to stay away from Rose…! Ignoring his warning and approaching Rose. Despite saying that she was the woman to share his future, he seemed eager to engage in a mud fight.

The Grand Duke’s eyes were suddenly filled with vitality.

If Rose weren’t there, he would have spat out curses at Julius.

Not wanting to show a frightening side to Rose, he suppressed his boiling anger and glared at Julius.

He pulled Rose towards him.

The sight of the two people gently bumping fists was unbearable.

“What should I do? Rose is tired and wants to rest.”

With his hand on Rose’s shoulder, he sent a cold gaze.

Rose also didn’t want to spend time with Julius today.

She had many things to ask the Grand Duke.

‘I’m sorry, Princess Mederion…’

Rose avoided Julius’s eyes.

Julius stared at Rose, then raised the corners of his mouth.

“Yeongae, are you tired? I have a lot to say to Yeongae. For example… our Lucas’s first love?”

First love?

Energy filled Rose’s eyes that were blankly staring.

“You… can’t you shut up?”

He, who had been trying to use refined words in front of Rose, ended up swearing.

Spewing out vulgarities while emitting a brutal atmosphere.

“If you say one more word, I’ll tear your mouth apart.”

To bring up the most unwanted memory in life.

Moreover, saying such things in front of Rose?

He wanted to tie Julius’s mouth, who consistently maintained a playful attitude, and throw him into a room.

Unaware of the Grand Duke’s feelings, Rose looked at Julius with a curious gaze.

Julius challenged Rose.

“Let’s not talk about that and have a drink. It’s an opportunity to say things that you couldn’t say while complaining all this time.”

He winked at Rose as if signaling her.
“Could it be that the princess is trying to help me?”

Only now did Rose catch onto Julius’s intentions. She cautiously grabbed the Grand Duke’s arm.

“Your Grace, how about we have a drink together instead?”

The Grand Duke flinched at Rose’s voice. Without hesitation, he nodded when he saw Rose looking up at him.

“Sure.”

Contrary to the growling attitude towards Julius, the Grand Duke was gentle.

‘What a playboy!’

Julius, thinking that the Grand Duke, who was listening to Rose rather than him, was annoying but chose to overlook it with broad discretion.

With a mischievous expression, Julius shook the wine and bumped fists with Rose and the Grand Duke.

“Now, shall we go?”

Rose whispered softly to Julius beside her.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Instead of a reply, Julius winked with one eye.

“What are you two whispering about?”

Duke Artem Grand glared at Julius with an annoyed expression.

He grumbled at the Grand Duke.

“I was about to tell him I wouldn’t spend this night alone thanks to you.”

The Grand Duke’s pupils shook for a moment.

Julius’s words sounded extremely indecent.

‘What? Not spend this night alone?!’

The intentional words from Julius made the Grand Duke’s eyes blaze with anger.

After serving Rose a lot of alcohol, what was Julius planning to do?

‘You.’

He pointed his finger at Julius with curses in his eyes.

‘I’ll kill you.’

It was clear that vulgar words would flow from Julius’s mouth without even listening to him.

Ignoring the Grand Duke’s warning, Julius, with a grumble, led them to the meeting room.

As they entered the meeting room, various snacks and three wine glasses were prepared.

Rose sat down first, and Julius took a seat next to her.

Duke Artem Grand, with a squabbling look, squeezed in between Julius and Rose.

“Uh, Lucas. It’s too cramped.”

He could have said it was narrow, but he chose to express it like that for some reason.

Julius giggled as if embarrassed and made silly excuses.

The Grand Duke, with a serious expression, pushed Julius aside.

“There’s plenty of space next to you. Don’t sit so close; move over.”

Julius giggled and moved aside.

He wanted to tease the Grand Duke more, but since he didn’t make the seats for that purpose, he obediently stepped back.

He skillfully opened the wine and poured it one by one.

“Both Lucas and Serviat Yeongae. You’ve been too busy, and we haven’t had a chance to gather like this.”

After raising his glass, he proposed a toast.

“Let’s spend tonight joyfully. It’s not good to be too rigid with important matters ahead.” The three wine glasses collided in the air with a cheerful sound.

Rose took a sip of wine. Immediately, she felt a burning sensation in her throat.
“This is the first time I’ve had a drink in a long time.”

It was the first since the possession.

Since she vomited everything at the royal palace, to be precise, now was the first time.

“It’s delicious…”

Was the alcohol always this sweet?

With the alcohol she hadn’t tasted in a long time, Rose’s mood significantly improved.

Rose filled her mouth with wine and filled the glass again.

Julius watched Rose with teasing eyes.

“The alcohol is weak.”

There are people who get drunk even with just one drink.

Rose, stumbling with a reddened face, clearly looked like someone pleasantly intoxicated.

When Rose tried to drink more wine, the Grand Duke blocked her glass.

“The alcohol seems weak. Stop drinking.”

Rose pushed away the Grand Duke’s hand that tried to stop her and drank the wine.

“No, I don’t want to stop. I want to drink more.”

Rose placed the empty wine glass on her head and exclaimed in admiration.

“It’s delicious. I want more.”

“Then I’ll bring more. You two stay here, Lucas.”

Julius made way for Rose and the Grand Duke. He didn’t forget to signal, winking at her.

Rose and the Grand Duke tilted their wine glasses as a duo.