Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: One Shot
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Luna, who doesn't even get drunk, suggests we have a drink.
Her words are ridiculous, but what can you do?
That's office life for you.
Muttering curses under my breath, I sat on the sofa, shrugged off my coat, and asked,
"You really called me here just to drink?"
"Yeah, so?"
Not her usual dignified voice or tone, but her natural way of speaking.
The same tone I'd only heard on our first night together.
"You good at holding your liquor?"
I shook my head at Luna's question.
Was I the weird one, or was the North weird?
Everyone here was a heavy drinker.
Since they didn't even count beer as booze, treating it like a regular beverage.
The first time I'd called beer alcohol here, Jeff had teased me endlessly about it.
"Not really."
"Good. I prepared something with a low proof."
With that, she gripped the top of a clear bottle and...
Pop.
...opened it.
"Wait... Isn't that vodka?"
Luna blinked at my question.
"Yeah, it is. Why?"
The vodka here was insanely strong.
Even by modern standards, I knew it was around 40 proof, but it felt even stronger here.
"Is that considered weak?"
She seemed to think differently, asking in mild surprise,
"Huh? Isn't it weak?"
Was I the weird one, or was she?
This situation—calling booze over 40 proof weak—felt somehow terrifying.
"Anyway, you've worked hard all this time. I figured we'd drink and get to know each other a bit on this occasion."
With that, she poured into my glass.
Wait, why was the glass that big?
My expression hardened as she filled a glass the size of the ones restaurants give for cola to the brim.
Even for a boss, wasn't this too much?
It was a holiday tomorrow—did she plan to kill me with booze?
She handed me the bottle as she said it.
I forced a smile and filled her glass in return.
Knock knock.
A knock at the door, and it opened to reveal a maid carrying a tray.
"Oh! Right on time."
The maid placed a bowl full of tiny black grains and a small golden spoon between us before vanishing.
I stared curiously at the heap of minuscule black grains.
Something I'd never seen in my life.
It looked like food, but no idea what.
"What's this?"
"This is caviar. It comes in season from the North Sea around this time."
"Uh... Isn't that super expensive?"
I'd heard caviar was pricey even in the modern world.
Something I'd never tasted.
Or more accurately, never even thought to try.
The kinds of places I usually ate at didn't serve stuff like that.
"Now then..."
She lifted her glass with a look like she was toasting. I awkwardly raised mine in response.
And...
Clink.
The glasses touched. I stared at the booze in my glass, then...
...downed it in one go.
A scorching heat bloomed in my mouth, thick alcohol fumes assaulting my senses.
Ugh!
The intense aroma and flavor, hard to describe, burned down my throat as...
Gulp gulp!
...I forced it down.
"Cough! Cough!"
I hacked away, and Luna—who'd barely sipped and set her glass down—looked surprised.
What? Wasn't it a one-shot?
I'd heard the first drink here was always downed in one go.
But seeing Luna hadn't even finished a sip, resentment welled up toward whoever had taught me the North's drinking culture.
"You hold your liquor better than you look. Didn't expect a one-shot."
"Ugh... Cough... Cough... I heard that's the Northern drinking culture."
"Huh? From who?"
"The friend who vouched for me back then."
The bitter aftertaste lingered despite swallowing it all, wrinkling my face.
"Try some of this. It'll help."
She pointed at the caviar with her spoon, so I scooped a bit with mine and popped it in.
"Huh?"
A deep flavor filled my mouth, washing away the booze's bitterness.
"It's good."
Luna looked at me like it was obvious.
"Of course. It's the world's best food."
She closed her eyes, savoring her caviar, and I thought to myself,
Her short hair and neat lashes.
Cherry-like, rosy, beautiful lips.
She really was stunning.
Enough to understand why the crown prince and Black Knight chased her with their lives on the line.
"Your glass is empty?"
She refilled it as she spoke.
"By the way, you said you're from Seoul?"
"Yes."
Cold sweat trickled down my back as she filled my glass to the brim.
No way... She wasn't planning to drink me to death, was she?
Luna was a Swordmaster; she wouldn't get drunk. But I was different.
Maybe from forcing that last one down too fast—my stomach burned, and my head spun.
"Never heard of it. A city on the Eastern Continent?"
I turned my head, trying to focus as she ate caviar.
How was I supposed to explain Seoul?
That it was in another world entirely?
I wracked my spinning brain, squeezing out thoughts, but...
...my mind started going blank.
"Aiden? You okay?"
Luna looked at me with concern.
Seeing her surprised face, I said,
"My head hurts... I think a short rest will fix it."
My body actually felt feverish hot.
"Oh? Yeah, rest up."
With her permission, I slumped against the sofa.
As consciousness faded, I thought,
Ah... I can't fall asleep.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Suddenly slumping against the sofa and collapsing sideways, Aiden left Luna—who'd been drinking and snacking while waiting for him to recover—bewildered.
'He said it was weak, so why the one-shot?'
She enjoyed downing vodka shots in the North, but...
...only with small glasses.
With a big one like this, it meant take it easy, sip while chatting—that was the etiquette. No one chugged it.
"Sigh... This wasn't the plan."
Originally, Luna had wanted to drink with Aiden and hear his honest thoughts.
She wouldn't get drunk, but she'd pretend to be tipsy to learn what kind of man he was.
That's why she'd set up this drinking session, but clueless Aiden—who was weak with booze to begin with—had emptied his glass in one go, leaving her a bit irritated.
'Because he's from out of town?'
Seeing him pass out after downing the first drink, ignorant of local customs, Luna frowned slightly and glared at him.
But with no reaction from him, her heart started to race a little.
Aiden, sprawled limply on the sofa.
Was it because he'd taken her virginity?
Looking at him, Luna felt curiosity stirring alongside the flutter.
His black hair matched hers.
His skin was darker than hers, and his features screamed foreigner.
Something she wouldn't normally do, but with Aiden passed out drunk, Luna picked up her glass and sat beside him.
She wanted to see more of him.
Two people who'd shared their first times.
As the woman whose first time held higher value, it was natural to be curious about the man she'd shared her body with.
Aiden slept with a flushed face, breathing deeply.
His looks resembled an Eastern traveler she'd seen as a child.
Snore... Snore.
Deeply asleep.
His hot breath carried a heavy alcohol scent, but for some reason, it smelled sweet to Luna.
Maybe because she was sipping booze while eyeing his defenseless form?
Luna's heart began pounding hotly.
Memories of sleeping in his arms—warm, cozy... and that day's pleasure—tempted her.
-He's asleep now. Quick and done, no one would know.
-Even if he caught you, he'd probably like it. Men love rolling around with women.
Having lived as a grand duchess since coming of age, she rationalized that a little rebellion now and then was necessary, biting her lip to resist instinct's whispers.
'I can't touch him without Aiden's permission.'
That would make her no better than the worst scum.
Beautiful Luna suggesting something naughty? He'd nod without hesitation and start stripping. But right now, he was just drunk and deeply asleep.
Calming her arousal, she decided it was time to let him rest comfortably.
'We have plenty of time to get to know each other. It's not just today.'
Luna effortlessly scooped up Aiden—who was taller than her—and carried him out of the room.
"Your Grace? We'll take Secretary Aiden."
"No need. I'll take him to the guest room."
Compared to what he'd done for her and the grand duchy, this was nothing.
With that, Luna carried Aiden to the guest room.
She gently laid him on the bed.
Worried he might catch a cold, she tucked the blanket up to his neck, but Aiden shoved it off, feeling too hot.
"Mm..."
"Aiden, you'll catch a cold."
She tucked him in again, but he rolled over and pushed it away.
Luna let out a soft sigh.
"Haa..."
Northern winter nights were brutally cold.
Letting him sleep like this might give him a cold, she thought.
"No helping it."
She stuffed extra logs into the room's fireplace and lit them with flint.
It might get a bit hot, but better than a cold.
As she glanced at sleeping Aiden and headed to her own room,
a faint scent of him lingered on her clothes, drawing an unwitting smile from Luna.