Delia began to chug directly from the bottle of alcohol.

As the golden liquid flowed down her throat, it seemed to cool and relieve her stifled insides.

Wiping the alcohol smeared on the corners of her mouth with the sleeve of her robe, Delia wore a cool smile.

Aaron, watching Delia’s innocent expression, fed her some meat.

“Just accept reality. Life gets easier that way. Why are you working yourself up so much?”

“I can’t live like that. I can’t just give up on Eorenti.”

Delia sighed as if she were purging something deep within her.

A thin breath mixed with the sweet smell of fruit seeped into the night air.

“There’s nothing in the world that’s absolutely impossible. You’ll adjust soon enough.”

“Easy for you to say. Even though you’re the enemy.”

Delia frowned deeply as she spoke to Aaron.

“I hate the commander the most.”

Aaron shrugged in response.

“It’s because we’re enemies. It’s natural for enemies to hate each other. Whatever.”

“I really hate you, I could die from it.”

Delia narrowed her eyes and gave the commander a fleeting glance.

That commander doesn’t take anything seriously.

Whether he’s loathed, or an assassination attempt is made, he doesn’t even blink.

What on earth can I do to shake that commander?

She couldn’t come up with anything, no matter how much she thought.

Damn.

As if trying to shake off her despondent feelings, Delia took another hearty gulp of alcohol.

The alcohol overflowed from the steeply tilted bottle, brushed against her lips, ran down her chin, and soaked her robe.

“Really, Miss.”

Aaron watched the droplets of alcohol flowing down Delia.

Her red lips, slender chin and neck, and even her robe.

The flowing alcohol made Delia’s colour even more intense.

Aaron, releasing a deep sigh, reached out to wipe the alcohol flowing down Delia’s chin.

“That’s enough now. You’re drunk.”

At Aaron’s words, Delia shook her head vehemently.

Her hair, gleaming with a rose gold hue in the red light, waved around.

“No, I’m not drunk.”

“Isn’t that what all drunk people say?”

“No, I’m really not drunk.”

“You’re really drunk. Hand over the bottle.”

“No.”

Delia clung to the bottle in her hand as if it were Eorenti itself.

“Let’s go to bed now.”

“Commander, that’s a dangerous thing to say. Telling a lady to go to bed.”

“It’s just holding hands to sleep. What?”

Delia muttered a small curse at Aaron’s nonchalant joke, reminding her of last night’s nightmare.

“Crazy bastard.”

“Crazy prisoner. So, hand it over. The bottle.”

Aaron lightly clicked his tongue with regret.

He should have known better than to hand over the bottle.

Aaron reached out for the bottle nestled against Delia’s chest.

“No. It’s mine.”

As Aaron grasped the bottle to pull it away, Delia clung onto the bottle with both hands.

The one trying to take, and the one trying to keep.

Delia felt as though the situation was a reflection of reality.

The one trying to steal Eorenti, and the one trying to protect it.

Delia, becoming desperate, clung onto the bottle with all her might.

The poor alcohol was the only thing lost amidst the struggle, sloshing around.

“Really stubborn…”

Aaron, mumbling a complaint, suddenly loosened his grip.

“Oh my.”

As Aaron let go of the bottle, Delia lost her balance and tumbled backward.

Delia clenched her eyes shut from the shock of the fall.

If there had been a hard rock buried in the dirt, her head might have cracked.

But no matter how much time passed, she didn’t feel the cold earth on her head.

Instead, she felt an intense gaze that made her body flush even with her eyes closed.

Delia felt a solid support and slowly opened her eyes.

Aaron was cradling Delia, who was about to fall to the ground.

His ashcolored eyes shimmered in the reddish light, too close.

Their gazes tangled at a distance close enough to touch noses.

The scent of spicy brandy, the smell of burning firewood, and their own fragrances filled their lungs with each breath.

“Commander.”

Aaron forgot to even breathe, taking in the movement of Delia’s lips.

The voice that flowed from her slightly parted red lips was unbearably sweet.

So much so, he wanted to swallow even the sound.

His arms around Delia tightened.

“You’re right, Commander.”

Delia recoiled, her body pressing against Aaron, her eyes fluttering.

The light reflecting off her long eyelashes glowed a fiery red.

“I think I’m drunk.”

Suddenly, Delia found herself loathing the liquor bottle she was holding.

The sight of her foe looking so alluring.

The feel of the man who had captured her being so sturdy.

Clearly, she was drunk because of this damn alcohol.

Otherwise, there was no reason for her heart to be wildly beating over the man trying to steal Eorenti.

She needed to sober up quickly.

Delia pushed Aaron’s chest away with the liquor bottle.

“Commander, finish this.”

Uncharacteristically nimble for a drunk person, Delia extracted herself from Aaron.

She forced herself to look at the distant night sky and spoke in a calm tone.

“I’m going to stop drinking now.”

Aaron gazed at Delia as she pulled away from him.