The Scent of Wine and Crimson Lips
The rich, heady aroma. Those crimson lips.
“Why is the mood… like this?”
“Yeah, it’s freezing in here.”
The Youth Association gathering, right after I returned with Kana. The moment I saw Malcolm and Ilena’s expressions from afar, I knew something unusual had happened.
“Welcome back, Roen hyung-nim! The food’s gone a bit cold, but it’s still delicious, so please dig in!”
Unlike Dimitri, who greeted me warmly again, Malcolm looked completely deflated. I hadn’t liked how he’d immediately tried pulling some clumsy mind games the second we met after so long, but seeing him slumped like that made it impossible to just leave him be.
I sat back down with Kana and asked him, “Malcolm, did something happen while we were gone?”
“Must be nice.”
“What?”
“I said it must be nice. Since you and Miss Ilena already know each other inside and out.”
Malcolm didn’t even look at me, just kept staring at his food as he spoke. What was with that sulky reaction? If he was going to be like this, there wasn’t much I could do. I’d thought I couldn’t just leave him alone, but if the atmosphere had sunk this low, it was probably better not to poke at it. Best to avoid bringing up the topic that had caused this mood altogether.
So I left Malcolm be and turned my attention to Ilena, who was watching him with a worried expression.
“Did you eat anything? I tried some earlier—it was pretty good.”
“Mhm. It was delicious. But, um…”
Ilena leaned in close and whispered carefully into my ear.
“Actually, Malcolm asked me what kind of relationship we have.”
So that’s what had happened.
“I added a few details to the story. If I said anything wrong, tell me.”
I nodded silently so Malcolm, who was radiating low pressure, wouldn’t overhear. Then Ilena recited what she had added.
“I told him we meet at night and drink together until we’re both properly drunk.”
She’d basically copied what happened at the market. Saying we meet at night sounded a little risky, but for someone who didn’t know much about human life, it wasn’t a bad improvisation.
I nodded and casually brought some food to my mouth.
“And…”
But the next part was the problem.
“I said we slept together.”
“Pfft…!”
It was a good thing I’d quickly turned my head toward the table’s edge. I’d nearly sprayed the contents of my mouth all over the food!
Slept together? What did she—
“Cough, cough…”
“Roen oppa! Are you okay?”
Kana hurriedly patted my back.
“You were eating just fine. What happened?”
“Hoo… It’s nothing. Really, nothing.”
Once I’d calmed down, I carefully whispered into Ilena’s ear as well.
“Do you even know what that phrase means?”
“What do you mean, what it means? We did sleep together at the inn that time. I just used that.”
“Well, yes, that’s true. But humans tend to use the phrase ‘slept together’ with a much more… specific meaning.”
“What meaning?”
Hearing her genuinely puzzled voice, it was clear she really had no idea. There was no point scolding her now. Once I told her the truth, she’d realize what kind of finishing blow she’d dealt Malcolm.
I didn’t need to explain at length. I ended it in just two syllables.
“Mating.”
“Mat… Hwuek?”
Ilena instantly understood and flinched in shock. Her face flushed bright red in an instant. She grabbed Malcolm’s shoulder and shook him wildly while babbling excuses.
“Malcolm! It’s not like that!”
“What isn’t?”
“When I said we slept together, I meant we slept in the same inn! Not… not that we did it!”
“That? What’s ‘that’?”
“Th-th-that is, um…!”
Kana, who had been watching us with sparkling eyes, narrowed them slyly and whispered to Malcolm.
“Oppa, this is what Ilena unnie means.”
“This?”
“Yeah, this. This.”
Kana made a circle with her left thumb and index finger. Then she straightened her right index finger and repeatedly thrust it in and out of the circle.
Malcolm’s dead, hollow eyes suddenly widened the moment he saw it.
“K-Kana! Where the hell did you learn such a vulgar hand gesture?!”
“Where? From Mom and Dad, obviously. It was their secret signal when we were little and they wanted to do it without us knowing. Whenever they decided to go for it, they’d always exchange that hand sign.”
“A grown woman shouldn’t be making gestures like that!”
“What are you talking about? It’s not like I have anyone to do it with anyway.”
If you’re going to bicker, do it between yourselves…! Having them argue right between me and Ilena was making my head spin.
While Kana and Malcolm were squabbling, Malcolm’s voice finally sounded a little less gloomy.
“Well, at least the misunderstanding’s cleared up. I was worried you and Miss Ilena had gone all the way.”
“Th-that’s a relief.”
“Then since we’re on the subject, let me ask you too. Roen, what exactly is your relationship with Miss Ilena?”
“What kind of relationship…”
In an instant, everyone’s eyes focused on me. Ilena was still looking at me with a face that hadn’t quite lost its red tint. For some reason, even the Legion Commanders sitting at the other table all turned to stare at me at once. On top of the conversation I’d just had with Kana, my mind was a mess.
The only answer I could give in this situation was—
“……I don’t know.”
“What?”
“Ha?”
Malcolm and Kana both let out sounds of utter disbelief at the same time.
“Roen, how can you say that too?!”
“What do you want me to do about it?”
Malcolm started stomping around in frustration, and Kana took it even further.
“Why aren’t you dating? Why aren’t you two dating?! I already told you it’s over, didn’t I?”
Kana pointed at Ilena’s eyes.
“Look at her right now! Can’t you see that look in her eyes? Didn’t I tell you earlier? The way Ilena unnie looks at Roen oppa is completely… Mmph!”
I quickly covered Kana’s mouth before she could finish. But she shook my hand off and declared with a venomous expression.
“This won’t do.”
Kana shot up from her seat. She grabbed both me and Ilena by the arms, yanked us to our feet, and shoved us toward the exit of the village hall while shouting.
“Get out! Go get more drinks, you two!”
Ilena and I walked side by side, but we didn’t exchange many words. We simply walked together in silence. The strange quiet was finally broken when the storage building came into view.
“There it is. That’s where they keep the liquor.”
Ilena pointed at a neat-looking building.
“I’m looking forward to this. Liquor brewed right here in our village.”
“Don’t get your hopes up too high. This is the first batch.”
When we stepped inside the liquor storage, a deep, rich scent of alcohol filled the air. Just standing there breathing was enough to make you feel pleasantly tipsy.
Ilena picked up a small bottle and lifted the lid of a large jar. A beautifully colored liquor was revealed inside.
“The color looks good. The aroma too.”
“Really? When I tried a little earlier, everyone said it was fine. Before we take it back, do you want to taste it first?”
“I’d love a glass.”
Ilena handed me one of the bottles she’d already filled and pointed to a small cup nearby.
“If you think it’s good, then it must be the best. You’ve probably tasted a lot of fine liquor in the city.”
“The color and scent are excellent. Now, the taste…”
The moment I took a sip to properly taste it, my eyes widened on their own. Ilena stared at me intently.
“Why? How is it?”
“I’ve never had liquor this clear and smooth before.”
“Really? You’re not just forcing a compliment, are you?”
“I mean it. Try it yourself.”
I filled the cup again and handed it to her. Ilena slowly brought the cup I’d given her to her lips. Maybe it was because of the rich aroma and the fairly high alcohol content, but the warmth of the drink had already begun to rise.
Suddenly, Ilena’s slightly pursed crimson lips stood out with striking clarity.
After taking a careful sip, Ilena’s expression brightened.
“It turned out really well! It’s much better than before! Huh…?”
The delighted Ilena looked at me with a slightly calmer face.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Ah, no reason.”
Only then did I realize I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off her.
“I was just thinking you did a really good job brewing this. If I could, I’d want to drink it all here in the village, but I bet it would fetch a great price if we sold it outside too.”
“I hope so. By the way, what should we do about this?”
Ilena looked at the extra bottles she’d set aside, seeming a little worried.
“It’s too delicious. I’m afraid if we take this back and start drinking, we’ll end up getting completely drunk again like last time.”
“Why worry about something like that? Don’t. If you get drunk, I’ll take care of you again like last time.”
“Hehe, if you say you’ll do that, then I feel much better.”
“Shall we head back now?”
“Yeah!”
We put the bottles into a small bag and were about to leave the storage when something gently tugged me from behind. Ilena, who had been walking a step behind, was pulling at the hem of my clothes.
“What? Did you forget something?”
“Before we go… just a moment.”
Ilena kept her head slightly lowered for a while before asking me.
“I have a question. Can I ask?”
“Of course. Anything.”
“Earlier, Kana said the way I look at you is strange.”
I nodded silently. Perhaps because she’d had a glass of liquor, Ilena’s eyes looked a little hazy as she asked.
“Tell me. What’s so strange about it?”
No matter how I looked at the eyes with which Ilena was gazing at me, I couldn’t read what she was thinking. As I hesitated, she took a step closer, looked up at me from even nearer, and pressed.
“What does my gaze look like when I’m looking at you?”
My mouth refused to open. But the words I wanted to say were clear. For some reason, it felt like now I could say them with two excuses. One was because of the alcohol, and the other was… because the way Ilena was looking up at me was simply too beautiful.
I set the bag down. Then I carefully cupped Ilena’s face in my hands. Her eyes widened, and her body trembled slightly.
“Wh-why are you doing this?”
Even as she asked why I was acting this way, Ilena didn’t try to resist. That must mean it was okay. So…
“It’s because your eyes are so beautiful. So please forgive me.”
After asking for the smallest bit of understanding, I leaned in.
Softly, I kissed her on the eyes.