What It Means for a Man and a Woman to Drink Alone
It was the middle of their first year at the academy.
Lilit, the only daughter of the Duke of Tistina, had been feeling rather complicated lately.
Her childhood friend and unrequited love, Marc Visus, was receiving a massive amount of attention within the academy.
Not only had he stopped a terror attack planned by a group of black mages right after admission, but he had also managed a draw against the future Sword Saint, Seraphina Serion, in a sparring exam just a week ago.
While it was certainly a happy thing that Marc was becoming famous and well-regarded by others, the time she could spend with him decreased in inverse proportion to his rising fame.
Furthermore, Marc's behavior seemed to have changed recently.
It felt as if he had been neglecting her lately...
Even if they weren't lovers, they had spent ten years together.
Lilit felt hurt by his distant attitude.
To make matters worse, Marc was in the Knight Academy while Lilit was in the Magic Department, meaning they rarely crossed paths after enrollment.
If I knew it would turn out like this, I should have forced my way into the Knight Academy, Lilit regretted.
However, a small joy had recently entered her life.
She had found a friend who understood her struggles and listened to her vent about her unrequited love for Marc Visus.
Though she had countless friends, he was the only one to whom she could whisper these unspeakable frustrations.
Rofel Teufel.
They were in the same Magic Department, but because they were in different classes, she had only known him by face when they first entered.
The reason she had noticed him was that he was quite famous among the noble ladies.
The reason was obvious from the moment one laid eyes on him: his face.
Some might find him a bit intimidating, but he possessed sharp eyes, distinct features, and excellent proportions.
Her childhood friend Marc was handsome too, but Rofel had a completely different charm.
Although his background as a minor noble from the sticks held him back, there were plenty of noble daughters targeting him as a so-called "trophy" just for his looks.
Well, not that it matters to me. I only have eyes for Marc.
Still, it wasn't as if she had been completely indifferent.
Whenever she returned from visiting the Knight Academy to see Marc, she would always spot Rofel sweating on a bench near the training grounds.
He's in the Magic Department, and his grades are perfectly average. Why does he work out like that every single day?
He was merely a subject of minor curiosity to that extent.
Then, on a day when her parting with Marc had been particularly cold, she had struck up a conversation with him without realizing it.
And she asked him why he trained so hard every day.
She hadn't expected much, but his answer was surprisingly mundane.
He said that even he didn't know why he pushed himself to the point of exhaustion day after day.
But then, he caught her off guard with a question of his own.
He knew that she, Lilit Tistina, liked her childhood friend Marc Visus.
She had never spoken of it to her closest friends.
Although she hadn't exactly hidden it, hearing it out loud from someone else made her feel strangely embarrassed.
Since the cat was out of the bag, she decided to lay it all bare.
How she had come to like Marc, and the memories they shared.
She poured out the secrets she had kept buried deep inside.
It was a completely new experience for her.
Because she had always prioritized others and tried to get along with everyone, she had habitually suppressed her honest, negative emotions.
Yet, here she was, venting her long-held frustrations to someone else.
The sacrifices she made for others, and the proud moments she kept hidden lest they spark jealousy.
Perhaps that was why, even though she and Rofel weren't particularly close, she felt incredibly comfortable sitting with him in those moments.
For someone who usually did nothing but wait for the moments she could see Marc, she was genuinely happy to have found another routine to fill her days with meaning.
"By the way, Rofel, you don't have any plans today or tomorrow, do you?"
"Huh? Well... not really. There are still two weeks left before the semester starts, so I was just going to work out and wander around."
"Is that so? Just as I thought."
Lilit narrowed her eyes, her lips stretching into a wide grin.
"Great! Then why don't we grab a drink together?"
"...? In the middle of the day? I don't think the restaurants, let alone the taverns, are open yet."
"And just in case you're thinking of it, the dorms are out of the question. Alcohol is strictly banned there."
"Oh, come on. Do I look that thoughtless to you? I'm saying we should drink at my villa!"
A villa.
True to her status as a member of the Duke of Tistina's family, she didn't live in the dorms like the other students.
Having a mansion—a villa—under her own name right near the academy, of all places.
It was a subtle testament to the sheer influence and prestige of the Tistina family.
"Well... I guess that's fine, but... drinking in broad daylight? Hmm..."
The time was one thing, but was it really appropriate for a young man and woman to drink alone in a mansion, even if they were friends?
Besides, he wasn't even a big fan of alcohol in the first place...
It's probably best to decline here.
"What, can't handle your liquor? Scared?"
?
"See, you can't even answer. It's because you're a lightweight compared to me! Scared?"
?
Why, this little...
"I swear, that is the worst provocation I've ever heard."
"Fine! I don't have anything else to do anyway, so who cares what time it is? Let's go drink!"
"Hehe, alright. No backing out later, okay?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she wrapped her arm around mine and pulled me toward the villa.
The soft sensation of her chest pressing against my arm was a bonus.
Since her villa wasn't far from the academy, we arrived in no time.
The problem was...
"...? What? Why is there no one in the villa?"
This was a residence of the famous Tistina family, yet there wasn't a single servant greeting them.
Even if it was just a villa, it made no sense for it to be completely empty.
"Well, who knows? It's still early, so maybe they're having tea somewhere?"
"No, how does that make sense—"
"Whatever! Let's just drink! Who cares about that? Come on, let's go inside!"
That that was my last chance to escape...
...I did not know yet.
I was flustered.
"What are you doing? Aren't you going to drink?"
"Hey... are you sure this is meant for drinking?"
Could this even be called alcohol?
The pungent scent of alcohol didn't just sting my nose; it pierced right through it.
Combined with the strangely ancient-looking bottle, it looked like a high-proof liquor no matter how I sliced it.
A young man and woman, alone in an empty mansion, drinking high-proof liquor...
Hold on...?
Isn't this a bit much for just friends?
"Of course! What else would we do with alcohol, cook soup? Come on! Let's toast! Cheers~"
"No, this stuff is strong enough to be used as a disinfectant... Mmph!"
The glass she had raised for a toast suddenly veered toward me, and she poured the liquid straight down my throat.
"Cough! Hey, what the hell! Cough, cough!"
"Nice! You drink well. So? How does it taste?"
"Th-this... the taste... the taste...!"
"..."
"...is actually good?"
It wasn't a lie.
Although the smell of alcohol was incredibly strong, it was the most delicious liquor I had ever tasted.
As expected of the Tistina family.
To serve such an incredible drink!
"Hahaha! See? Would I ever give you something bad? Here! Drink more, drink!"
She refilled my glass before I even had a chance to set it down.
Unlike me, she barely seemed to touch her own glass, but since it was her loss for not drinking something this delicious, I focused entirely on draining my own cup.
"Ugh... ugh... I can't... drink anymore..."
"Oh? Really?"
"Yeah... I surrender..."
"Oh dear, you're completely wasted. Can you even go back like this?"
"Sorry... I don't think I can... Just a second... like this..."
Zzz... zzz...
"...?"
"...Hmm..."
"He lasted longer than I expected... Choosing the strongest liquor was definitely the right call."
Snap!
She snapped her fingers.
"Alissa?"
"...Yes, Mistress."
With a distortion of light, a maid materialized out of thin air.
"You set up the soundproofing magic thoroughly, right?"
"Yes. I have layered it double and triple, so there will be no issues."
"And the bedroom?"
"...The drugs and tools you requested have all been prepared."
"Good job. I'll call you if there's a problem, so do not disturb us."
"Yes... but Mistress?"
"What is it?"
"...Does the Duke know about th—"
"Stop."
"..."
"Leave."
The maid vanished into thin air.
"Whew... I wonder if using alcohol was the right choice."
Rofel was slumped over the sofa, completely defeated by the alcohol.
Flush with heat from the liquor, he was sweating profusely, his white shirt damp and clinging to his skin, revealing the outline of his body beneath.
Gulp.
Lilit buried her face in the crook of Rofel's neck.
Then, she inhaled deeply, savoring his scent.
Inhale, exhale... Inhale, exhale...
"As I thought... the smell of alcohol masks Rofel's natural scent. Well, this has its own erotic charm, so I don't mind..."
Inhaaaale, exhaaaale... Inhaaaale, exhaaaale...
"Ah... this really is... dangerous...!"
Lilit's hand instinctively slipped beneath the hem of Rofel's shirt.
She felt the firm, well-trained muscles of his chest.
She kneaded his chest as if caressing him, losing herself in the sensation.
"...Ngh..."
Whether it was due to her breath tickling his neck or her slender hand sliding under his clothes, Rofel let out a soft, sultry groan despite being unconscious.
She felt an overwhelming urge to rip his shirt to shreds right then and there.
"Ah! No, no... there's still plenty of time. Fufu... our first time should be in a proper place... ♡"
Lilit slung Rofel's arm over her shoulder and hoisted him up.
"If you think about it, this is all your fault, Rofel... right? So don't think too badly of me."
Whispering into ears that could no longer hear, she took one step after another toward the bedroom.