Chapter 326
Chapter 326
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 326
Chapter Title: I'll Pick You (2)
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Countess Jemernai loved her liquor.
The world of alcohol, fermented from grains or fruits.
Perhaps it reminded her of magic—the endless grandeur awaiting anyone who delved into its depths, with no end in sight.
The moment it touched her lips, distinct melodies and harmonies sang in her mouth.
Closing her eyes summoned aromas of clove wood, butter balls, oak casks, and faint cherries.
Fragrances that had crouched in decades of darkness, finally harmonizing, delivered avant-garde, multidimensional thrills.
The countess savored the flavors coating every corner of her mouth before swallowing.
"Haa~ Nothing beats a drink after a long day."
"Sis, where'd you score this brandy?"
"The Lucky Witch brought it. There was some magical crop up for auction at the 'Red Roof Salon,' but she wanted to snag it early."
Magical crops from Ratifundium under Countess Jemernai's estate were usually refined and sent to Malkuth Gallery or the shelves of Jemernai's magic tool shop.
But rare ones from limited, experimental cultivations—like the 'Red Root Geranium' Periwinkle had pre-bought this time—went to the First Red Roof Salon for auction.
"Perfect. No deals with that lady ever go south."
"She's offering double the estimate too. Why wouldn't I sell?"
Anyway, unwinding like this after work, glasses in hand, was one of the twin countesses' favorite times.
Usually, they'd chat about their respective businesses or the twins, but tonight brought a particularly fresh topic.
"Hey, Sis, did you hear? They opened a host club in Malkuth Gallery. Witch-only, apparently."
"Oh?"
It was novel, but not enough to hook Albireo Countess.
If anything, it was so out of left field she wondered if Deneb had any interest in such things.
"And get this—Siu's working there."
"Huh...?"
Albireo unwittingly gaped, elegance forgotten.
As someone who frequented the mortal realm, she knew what a host club was.
A place where rich housewives groped male escorts while drinking, right?
"W-What? Why? Is he protesting or something because he's short on cash?"
Albireo knew Siu's spending habits all too well.
That's why she'd given him an unlimited credit voucher.
A job all of a sudden.
Pouring drinks and putting on shows for witches, no less.
It was utterly absurd.
"Isn't it fun?"
"Fun? You think this is something to take lightly? You're the one who stepped up to matchmake him with the twins, Deneb."
Deneb smirked at her sister's predictable reaction, lifting her glass to savor the aroma.
"I was shocked too, so I looked into it. Turns out the madam there was an old friend of his. Sales were slumping before, so he's helping out. Seems decent enough."
"You should've led with that. You scared me."
"Your surprised face is cute, Sis. Wonder how the twins'll take it—might get jealous?"
Having successfully startled Albireo, Deneb wore a smug grin.
Then—
"Assistant!"
"At a host club—"
"Working?!"
The door burst open without warning.
No one else could barge into the countesses' office so rudely.
Jemernai's darling little fledglings.
Odil and Odet.
Here to pay bedtime respects, the twins had eavesdropped on the conversation.
"No wonder he hasn't been around lately!"
"He got a job?!"
Odil's eyes bulged like she'd cracked a locked-room murder.
Odet chimed in beside her.
"Odil, Odet."
Deneb called their names softly, and the twins scampered out.
—Knock knock
"May we come in, Master?"
"Of course."
The twins were paragons of manners today as always.
After greetings, Odil and Odet rushed to their master's side.
"Master, is it true the assistant got a job at this host club?"
"What's a host club anyway?"
"......"
Everyone knew the twins idolized their assistant.
Whether it was immature puppy love or the start of eternal devotion didn't matter.
As long as they didn't cross lines, Deneb supported them like a parent.
But explaining to their innocent, head-tilted faces left her tongue-tied.
"W-Well, it's... a place where you drink."
"Be precise, Deneb."
"Then you explain, Sis!"
Albireo smiled, watching her flustered sister get a taste of her own medicine, then turned to the twins.
"It's a fun spot where you drink with male escorts."
"Escorts?"
"What's that?"
"Sis!"
Albireo teased like a dad pranking his kids; Deneb smacked her hand in reprimand.
Of course, the explaining fell to Deneb.
"Basically... they pour drinks for you, chat, and sometimes act cute. That kind of role."
The twins reeled from their tiny master's sparse explanation.
From the context they'd overheard, their assistant had taken a job as an escort at a host club, serving witches!
Not just Sharon sis, but any random ones!
"N-No way..."
"How did this happen while we looked away...?"
"Anyway, it's late—off to bed."
Deneb hastily ended the awkward chat, chiding the stunned twins just in case.
"And don't even think of going. Got it, my good twins?"
"Yes, Little Master."
"Good night."
Odil and Odet bowed and finished their respects.
On the way back, their steps were somnambulistic.
Even in their room, their minds raced.
"Odet, alert."
"I know, Sis."
Two days missing right after the trip—where was he?
No meals together.
Even sneaking by night, he was gone, so they couldn't deploy their joint 'Ultimate Assistant Takedown Plan.'
They'd even checked the annex, fearing he was 'playing house' with Sharon sis—no dice.
They were this close to storming in midway.
Who'd have thought he'd get a job in Lenormand Town?
"Odet, hear me out—this could be our chance for a comeback."
"Why?"
"Working at a bar serving drinks means he's getting paid, right?"
"Probably?"
Odil shot up.
She climbed onto a chair, retrieving something from atop the mantel.
A porcelain bird piggy bank.
A bit oddly shaped, but the one they'd diligently filled with allowances.
"Odet, let's smash it."
"Aha! Brilliant, Sis!"
Odet finally grasped her sister's scheme and nodded in awe.
They spread a white sheet and hurled the porcelain down.
—Crash!
—Clink clink clink!
Jemernai allowances were extravagant, defying common sense.
Countless gold coins from nearly five years sparkled amid the shards.
"Hee hee hee."
"Turn crisis into opportunity—buy up all his time."
"Yes!"
Tiphereth Duke loved her liquor.
Sad, she'd tilt the bottle to soothe her sorrows.
Happy, she'd fill glasses to share the joy.
Thus, her glass held life's bitter trials—or a sip of smile to push past them.
Sometimes, the tragedy of denying love.
Tonight's empty-stomach drink tasted especially bitter, laced with the pain of rejecting belatedly realized feelings.
"......"
After erasing all memories of their night together from Siu's mind...
Eloa suffered severe aftereffects.
Mentally and physically—she'd never imagined such torment.
The forcibly invoked contract aggravated her already overtaxed body, making it throb.
Feverish, her bones ached like flu-ridden coughs.
Worst: each pang recalled shards of severed memories.
Save for sleep, she clutched bottles nonstop; empty ones piled menacingly in her room.
"Hoo..."
Eloa sighed, liquor-thick, enduring her pounding headache.
Was Siu still not back from his trip?
She'd vowed to treat him only as a disciple, yet the longer without seeing him, the more she yearned.
Of course, not mere mentor-disciple affection—but poignant longing that betrayed natural order.
To forget, she drank.
Drunk, the longing sharpened, so she drank more.
"Now I can't even tell... what's what."
She no longer knew.
Truthfully, she had unfinished business.
One more to confess her sins to: her dear disciple's lover, Sharon Evergreen.
Erasing memories didn't erase past wrongs.
Siu forgetting changed nothing—her secret bedding of another's lover remained sin.
Her suffering wasn't absolution.
She had to find Sharon and confess straight...
"......"
Eloa rose.
Forcing unwilling steps, she headed to Sharon Evergreen's annex.
—Knock knock
She grasped the knob and rapped.
Deep night, plants asleep—but Evergreen was a witch.
Soon footsteps; the door opened.
"Duke Tiphereth? What brings you?"
"Sorry for the late hour."
Sharon in nightgown looked somber, making Eloa shrink guiltily.
As if she knew of the affair with Siu and was silently judging.
"Care to share a drink?"
"Of course, come in."
In truth, they rarely crossed paths even in the mortal realm.
First meeting marred by Eloa's misunderstanding, leaving Siu battered.
Sharon avoiding her post-Centaur form reveal didn't help.
Why propose drinks so late?
Sharon, puzzled, let Eloa in anyway.