Chapter 243: A Long-Forgotten Setting Suddenly Attacks Me
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 243: A Long-Forgotten Setting Suddenly Attacks Me
"Oh, just drinking coffee is so boring. I just remembered—the palace sent over some treats earlier. Let's share them."
Wei'er produced an exquisite gift box.
"Treats?"
"That’s right. Apparently, they’re specialty chocolates from the royal pastry chef. You couldn't buy these for any amount of money. His Majesty sent them over personally as a reward for the President's recent hard work."
Wei'er secretly clenched her fist.
Given the President's love for sweets, once she sees something like chocolate, why would she care about Muen Campbell anymore? Especially with the added bonus of them being 'personally sent by His Majesty.'
"Chocolates? Then let's eat."
Sure enough, at the mention of chocolates, Celicia’s eyes flickered. She stopped grilling Muen and took a step back, looking rather impatient.
Heh heh, when it comes to understanding the President, I, Wei'er, still reign supreme.
Seeing the two of them put some distance between each other, Wei'er satisfiedly opened the gift box.
Row upon row of exquisitely shaped chocolates lay quietly in their individual slots. Each one had been specially molded into the shape of a heart, looking small and adorable.
Celicia reached out with a slender finger, picked one up, and popped it into her cherry-red mouth. A look of pure satisfaction immediately washed over her cold features.
Actually, in moments like this, you’re almost cute.
Watching Celicia’s profile, Muen smiled faintly.
Then, not standing on ceremony, he picked up a chocolate and put it in his mouth.
Bitterness and sweetness, carrying a distinct aroma, immediately melted across his tongue. As his teeth sank in, a potent scent of alcohol mingled with the fragrance of chocolate, rushing straight to Muen’s head and giving him a sudden jolt.
They’re liqueur chocolates?
The liquid center combined with the melting chocolate didn't feel cloying; instead, it felt exceptionally crisp and refreshing. Relying on his body's instinctive experience, Muen could tell almost immediately that this was an expensive, high-end spirit.
The kind that cost over a hundred thousand Emiels a bottle. Just one chocolate was enough to make Muen’s throat and stomach feel a warm glow.
I suppose I should expect nothing less from the royal pastry chef? Although chocolate was considered an expensive luxury in this world, using such high-grade alcohol as a filling was the height of extravagance.
"Exquisite flavor," Muen praised sincerely. "The pairing with the liqueur is pinpoint accurate. It doesn't feel like eating chocolate; it feels like enjoying a work of art. If only we had some of Siston’s top-tier coffee, it would be perfect."
"..."
"..."
Hmm?
Muen frowned, feeling a bit confused.
His high-brow critique didn't get a single response? At the very least, someone should have reacted.
Clatter.
There was a reaction, after all.
But it wasn't the reaction Muen expected. Instead, Wei'er’s hand shook, dropping one of those chocolates—so expensive they’d make a certain broke protagonist weep—onto the floor. Her pretty face was gradually turning rigid.
"Mu... Muen Campbell, what did you say? These... these are liqueur-filled?"
"Yeah."
Wei'er’s strange reaction made Muen even more confused. It was just liqueur chocolate; what was the big deal?
But then, Muen noticed Wei'er’s gaze suddenly bypass him to land on Celicia. Her expression... was slowly turning to one of pure horror.
Muen froze for a second, then immediately turned around to look at Celicia.
In his line of sight, Celicia still maintained the posture of having just put the chocolate in her mouth, lightly sucking her fingertip. She looked elegant and serene.
However, through the flickering candlelight, Muen could clearly see Celicia’s fair face beginning to... flush a deep crimson.
It wasn't just her face; every inch of her exposed skin took on a rosy hue, making this ice-cold beauty look like a peach blossom in early spring—extraordinarily delicate.
Most importantly, those eyes—which in Muen’s memory were always cold and rational—were beginning to thaw. Her gaze turned vacant, her vision blurring.
"Is she... drunk?"
What the hell? She’s drunk off a single liqueur chocolate? Even a breathalyzer wouldn't pick that up!
"The President... she can't handle alcohol..." Wei'er said, her voice trembling.
Muen froze again as a bolt of realization struck his mind, bringing a long-buried memory to the surface. It was the fundamental reason why, in his original plan, he had been forced to use black tea.
[My constitution can't handle alcohol. Not even a drop.]
That’s right, Celicia had said that back then.
But that was so long ago! You can't bury a plot point that deep; the readers will be totally confused! Is a long-forgotten setting suddenly attacking me?
Muen turned back to look at Wei'er, whose cheeks had gone pale with fright. "Since Celicia has a dietary restriction, didn't you check beforehand?" he asked, shocked.
"This was sent from the palace! How would I dare open it privately before giving it to the President?"
"...Does His Majesty know Celicia can't drink?"
"I don't know! I've never lived in the palace, how would I know that?"
Looking at the clueless Wei'er, Muen felt helpless. This was most likely a massive blunder. The King might know Celicia couldn't drink, but the pastry chefs below him didn't, so they sent over these meticulously crafted liqueur chocolates.
As for the other possibility... what would be the point? Would His Majesty really troll his own daughter by intentionally getting her drunk?
"One last question." Muen swallowed hard, looking at Wei'er with a grave expression. "Even if Celicia is drunk, she’s still a high-and-mighty, elegant Princess. A little intoxication just means she’ll sleep it off, right? Nothing bad will happen... right?"
"..."
"Right?!"
"..."
After a heart-stopping silence, Wei'er’s expression turned grave. She gave Muen a deep, meaningful look.
Then...
She turned and bolted!
With a speed so lightning-fast that Muen was left dumbfounded and outclassed, she vanished out the door.
Muen snapped out of it a second later and sprinted after her.
But—
Bang!
The door slammed shut right in his face, nearly breaking his nose.
Muen pounded on the door in terror, only to find mana surging through the wood. Wei'er had even gone so far as to activate the magic formation meant to protect the room.
"Wei'er, what are you doing?! I'm still in here! Open the door and let me out!"
"...I'm sorry, Muen Campbell. I can't open the door." Wei'er’s voice came from the other side, sounding deeply apologetic. "The President is a very bad drunk, so..."
"What the hell..." Muen nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood. "Is that really necessary? It's just a bit of booze. No matter how bad a drunk she is—"
Schwing—!
A piercing ring sliced through the air, cutting Muen off.
Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead. He slowly turned his head. A blade of ice-blue crystal was currently grazing his cheek, having run straight through the room’s heavy door. The supposedly indestructible defensive formation was as fragile as paper before that Ice Blue Sword.
"Mu... Muen Campbell... why... why are you trying to run?"
Celicia’s voice sounded from behind him. It was no longer cold; instead, it was filled with a strange, sweet innocence.
But hearing that voice made Muen’s legs shake so hard he could barely stand.
"Wei'er, open the door! I'm begging you, open the door!"
"I told you, I can't."
"For the sake of world peace, for the safety of Belland, and to ensure tomorrow’s headlines aren't about three city blocks being leveled by a humanoid dragon... someone has to stay inside and keep the President occupied. So..."
Outside the door, Wei'er’s eyes brimmed with tears as she forced herself to look away.
"Muen Campbell... please don't die."