Chapter 109: Gulp, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 109: Gulp, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp
Embarrassed, I spoke in a voice that was barely a crawl.
“That was only because I drank too much back then. I don’t get drunk off just one glass.”
In the end, I pestered Loik until he filled my glass to the brim again.
The refreshing sensation of the sweet wine sliding down my throat made me feel invigorated.
“Where on earth did you find this?”
“There is a mountain called Pogen to the north, near Arsen.”
Loik explained that he had come across this fruit wine by chance while visiting a temple there.
“I was told the groundwater in that area has this sparkling quality. The villagers brew the alcohol themselves using elfberries.”
Loik mentioned that since it was a flavor he had never experienced before, he thought I might like it and brought back a few bottles.
“I don’t suppose they have wine like this in Rondoris?”
“Likely not.”
Loik nodded after a moment of thought.
So, sparkling water comes out of the northern mountains?
Once someone experienced this exhilarating taste, they would never be able to forget it. If this were properly commercialized, wouldn't it be a gold mine?
While I was lost in these vague thoughts…
A strawberry topped with smooth cream was popped into my mouth. Loik had brought it to my lips before I even noticed.
“I thought it would taste good together…”
It was delicious!
As I nodded in satisfaction, Loik looked bashful yet continued to diligently dip strawberries and feed them to me.
I was busy chewing like a baby bird when Loik’s thumb gently brushed the corner of my mouth.
“You have some cream on you.”
“Oh, thank you.”
The moment I froze at the hot sensation against my lips, Loik licked the cream off his thumb with his tongue.
“Y-you…!”
Why did you eat that?!
As heat rushed to my face, Loik calmly savored the cream and spoke.
“It’s sweet.”
Then, his gaze slowly dropped to my lips.
The sensations I had tried so hard to forget over the past few days instantly became vivid and sharp.
“Though something else is far sweeter.”
Loik’s lips twitched slightly.
Seeing his red lips move like that made my heart start thumping wildly again.
“Does it… hurt today, too?”
The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them.
“Yes, a little.”
As if he had been waiting for those words, Loik rose from his chair.
“So, please…”
Loik’s large hand overlapped mine where it rested on the table.
Naturally intertwining our fingers, he laced them together and pressed our palms flush against each other.
Soon, his soft lips descended upon mine.
*
The fruit wine was stronger than I had anticipated.
By the time Loik tucked me into bed that night, I had almost no memory left.
The next morning, Cecilia, who had arrived early for work, filled me in on the events of the night, having heard them from Sir Perel.
Janet had been thrown into the dungeon.
Berni was also confined to his room as punishment for failing to guard the kitchen properly, but Cecilia reassured me that it was a formal punishment and not to worry too much.
It seemed the detailed testimony from the guard who had been in the kitchen with Reta had been helpful.
The knights had conducted a thorough search of Janet’s room.
While they found several suspicious powders, they said nothing was as problematic as the Black Caribane.
Cecilia mentioned that the Marchioness seemed quite frightened, but in truth, as long as Raphael was fine, I didn’t much care.
“Sister, are you okay?”
Raphael, walking beside me, suddenly asked.
Though I hadn't told him, the quick-witted Raphael seemed to have realized that Janet’s absence was because she had caused a major problem.
“Of course. Why wouldn't I be? Are you okay, Raphael?”
“Isn't it too boring for you here?”
I was trying my best to include Raphael in my walks and tea times, and we ate lunch and dinner together, but…
At an age where he should be running around and playing, the Grand Duke's Castle—where there was no one his age to talk to—must feel incredibly dull to him.
“I’m fine, but…”
Raphael trailed off.
“Why? Is there somewhere you want to go?”
I had already told him he could come along when the delegation went to see the shopping district, so I looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“…Can I go to the training ground again?”
“The training ground?”
“I never missed a day of training when I was at the Academy.”
Seeing his eyes sparkle, it seemed he had found his previous visit to the training ground quite enjoyable.
The knights probably won't like it much, though.
Even Loik had hesitated quite a bit when I first said I wanted to observe their training.
Raphael was still young, but he was undeniably the son of a Marquis, so the knights might find his presence uncomfortable.
However, seeing him ask so tentatively, I couldn't bring myself to say no. Not when that cute face was so full of anticipation.
Should we just go and ask?
“Then, shall we go take a look?”
I took Raphael’s hand and headed toward the training ground.
Most of the knights, including Loik, were gathered there, seemingly in the middle of group training.
Loik’s face brightened instantly when he spotted me.
He reached me in just a few long strides.
“What brings you here?”
“Raphael…”
“It seems he took quite a liking to the training ground.”
I was hesitating, not quite sure how to ask if he could watch for a bit, when a voice called out.
“Oh? Isn't that Young Master Raphael?”
“Sir Demich!”
When Demich, who was standing in the middle of the training ground, shouted, Raphael ran toward him as if delighted to see him.
I looked around, slightly flustered, but surprisingly, the knights welcomed Raphael without a second thought. In fact, quite a few of them offered him playful, friendly greetings.
“It’s fine. Demich will take care of it.”
Loik gently pulled me into the shade.
Before I knew it, Raphael had a wooden sword in his hand and was receiving instruction from Demich alongside the training knights.
I don't think I've ever seen him look so purely excited.
Seeing Raphael so happy made my heart feel full.
“He can come and train with us whenever he likes while he’s at Blenheim.”
Loik spoke tenderly, having noticed my reaction.
“Really? But…”
You haven't forgotten that my brother is the son of Marquis Frais, have you?
“It’s only basic-level training anyway, so it doesn't matter. And…”
Loik rubbed the back of his neck for no reason.
“Is Young Master Raphael not my brother-in-law as well?”
Brother-in-law.
The unfamiliar title made my throat feel tight with a strange tickle.
It was then that I noticed the bandage wrapped around Loik’s hand.
“What happened to your hand?”
As I reached out, Loik subtly pulled his hand away.
“It—it’s dirty.”
Of course, one shouldn't touch an injured hand recklessly, but…
“I just washed my hands a moment ago?”
When I muttered that, feeling a bit slighted, Loik jumped.
“What are you saying? I meant my hand is dirty, of course.”
“I was just handling those guys who were rolling around in the dirt,” Loik added, making a hurried excuse.
“Annette’s hands are, of course, always holy, pure, and clean—mph!”
“I get it!”
I stood on my tiptoes and quickly clamped my hand over Loik’s mouth.
I had seen Hedrick, standing not far away, quietly lowering his gaze.
Loik’s eyes, looking down at me, were curved into crescents.
I gave him a slight glare as I removed my hand, and he spoke as if it were no big deal.
“I rode my horse for a bit too long yesterday… it’s just a slight graze.”
“How can someone who holds a sword every day keep injuring their hands like this?” I said, genuinely angry.
“You should have at least worn gloves. And who rides a horse so long that their hand gets torn up!”
“I told you, it’s not torn, it’s just—”
“A graze or a tear, it’s all the same.”
“This much is fine.”
“Do you think I’m worried about you, Loik? I feel sorry for the horse!”
Loik fell silent, seemingly having no rebuttal.
“From now on, riding at night is also forbidden. What if you trip and the horse breaks a leg?”
“A Sword Master doesn't just trip like that…” Loik muttered, sounding wronged.
Climbing over terraces, tearing up his hands day in and day out, overworking himself and staying up all night…
The more I saw of Loik, the more I realized he had a severe tendency to treat his own body recklessly.
He was the kind of person who, on the day we first met, said he was fine even while blood was gushing from his arm.
I had to be this firm for him to even pretend to be careful.
When I narrowed my eyes at his lukewarm response, Loik finally nodded reluctantly.
“I will be careful from now on.”
Hedrick was now staring off at a distant mountain.
Feeling like I had gotten worked up for nothing, I cleared my throat slightly and asked, “More importantly, have you met with the delegation yet?”
“…Not yet.”
“Why not?”
Loik pouted with a dissatisfied look on his face.
“Those fellows arrived early and put Annette in a difficult position, didn't they? Let them experience the same.”
At those words, I gave Loik’s forearm a sharp smack.
But the cry of pain came from my own mouth.
“A-are you all right?”
A panicked Loik grabbed my hand.
No, I’m the one who hit him, so why does my hand hurt so much?!
His forearm felt like a literal block of stone.
“I’m sorry, Annette.”
Startled, Loik gently rubbed my palm to soothe the pain.
“I should have a body that’s easier to hit.”