After finishing the nervous dinner with Helcyon, I came out.

Unconsciously, I patted my stomach. The uncomfortable atmosphere made me neither eat nor drink much, and instead of feeling full, I ended up feeling hungry.

Since the time was not as late as I thought, I unilaterally informed Ascan, who was walking beside me.

“Let’s go to a tavern.”

“Now?”

Ascan’s pupils narrowed. Although he didn’t say anything absurd, his emotions were conveyed through his gaze.

But I spoke without caring.

“I feel like drinking because I’m in a gloomy mood. Since the royal guard is supposed to protect me from today, come along.”

“Didn’t you hear what I said a while ago? You should be careful because the empress’s side might target you.”

“Anyway, you’ll be protecting me by my side.”

For a moment, Ascan looked at me without any counterargument.

I looked at him with a wicked smile.

“If you don’t like it, then don’t. I’ll go to the tavern even if I have to drag you along.”

I was in a sulky state due to Ascan’s words during the dinner. What? Safety doesn’t matter to me? No personal feelings?

Creating a cold wind, I walked faster, leaving Ascan behind.

After a while, Zen, who was waiting in the place we parted, caught my eye. I immediately approached Zen and said,

“Zen, let’s go have a drink.”

“What happened, Your Grace?”

“I’ll tell you later. Let’s go for now.”

“All right.”

Zen nodded, giving a slight bow.

As Zen led the way, I sensed Ascan following behind.

‘Huh, can’t he just leave me alone now that he received an imperial decree?’

Perhaps the royal guard would protect me until I rejected Helcyon’s proposal.

I could now see Ascan’s face without any hindrance until then, but instead of joy, my heart was filled with a twisted feeling.

Let him suffer a bit.

I and Ascan rode in a carriage to a famous upscale tavern in the Kalua Empire.

Unlike ordinary taverns, it was a luxurious place where all rooms were private, allowing the group to enjoy in privacy.

Looking at Zen, who was following a step behind, I asked,

“Zen, want to join me for a drink?”

“How could I share a seat with you, Your Grace? I will guard the entrance, so please enjoy comfortably.”

With a composed attitude, Zen greeted us and stood at the entrance without entering the room.

In an unexpected turn of events, I and Ascan ended up having a drinking party alone, but it didn’t matter.

As soon as I sat down, I ordered almost every dish on the menu. And for the drink, I naturally chose the most expensive liquor.

The owner, who took our order, said with a pleased expression,

“Shall I bring the drinks first?”

“Sure.”

Ice and liquor were immediately brought to the table.

As I grabbed ice with tongs and put it in the glass, Ascan, sitting across from me, looked at me with an awkward gaze.
“Why did you order so much food that you can’t finish?”

“Anyway, it’s my money. I don’t care.”

Although I deliberately gave a chilly response, Ascan seemed completely indifferent.

Puckering my lips, I offered a glass to Ascan as well.

“Do you want a drink too?”

“No, thank you. I can’t drink during a mission.”

Upon hearing that, the imperial decree Helcyon gave to the royal guard to protect me came to mind.

As if there was no reason to sit and drink unless it was a mission, I briskly cleared the glasses with a loud clink.

“Fine, then.”

If it were before, I might have suggested once again to drink together, but now I was in a very twisted state.

In a resentful mood, with no snacks served yet and with the sound of glasses, I filled the glass with liquor and downed it in one go.

I could vividly feel the strong liquor going down my throat.

Unconsciously, Ascan, looking at the liquor bottle, said,

“This is high-proof liquor. You’ll get drunk if you keep drinking like that.”

“What does it matter? Anyway, the captain of the royal guard will protect me, so I’ll safely return, won’t I?”

“Will it always come out like this?”

“What about it?”

With an indifferent gaze, Ascan and I engaged in a silent staring contest, but just then, the staff members entered.

A variety of appetizers were brought to the table. Due to the shortage of space, they repeated the process of taking away and putting dishes until all the plates were placed.

After preparing various snacks and completing their tasks, the staff members disappeared, but I still didn’t touch the food and drank the liquor again.

Looking at this scene, Ascan, narrowing his eyes, said in a low voice,

“Take it easy with the drinking.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it.”

“Why are you angry with me?”

“Why am I angry?”

I looked at Ascan as if asking why, unable to articulate the reason, but it felt like flames were surging from my chest.

“You said in front of the emperor as if you didn’t care about me. You said you had no interest, whether I was safe or not.”

“That…”

Ascan paused for a moment, sweeping his bangs aside in frustration.

His appearance was so fatally attractive that it intensified my anger even more.

With a voice slightly calmer than before, Ascan continued,