In front of me was a glass brimming with orange beer.
And beyond that, what I could see…
Perhaps it was due to the intoxication from the two drinks I had before, or maybe it was the feeling of profound melancholy that couldn’t escape me no matter how fake things were. Either way, today, Polena looked more beautiful than usual.
Her transparent, smooth skin and ruby-like sparkling red eyes.
And… her large, voluptuous breasts that stirred a man’s primal desires.
As I enjoyed the company of such a beauty, I picked up the glass of beer once again.
“I never thought I would feel how great it was to have Polena as a servant like this…”
Thinking this, I gulped down the beer, using Polena’s bright and shining figure as my excuse.
The beer was already lukewarm, barely refreshing at all.
However, I drank it down without hesitation and slammed the glass onto the table.
I was acting far from my usual self.
Expressing her concern over my behavior, Polena spoke to me with a slightly cautious tone.
“Master, you seem quite drunk. Perhaps it’s best to stop here for today…”
“…No, it’s fine. Normally, I wouldn’t, but today, I feel I need to drink a little more.”
“…Huh… Alright, if that’s how you feel…”
Thus, even though she had voiced her worries, understanding my feelings, Polena refilled my beer glass.
And as she thought…
In this moment, I couldn’t help but feel something in me burning black as coal.
Although it was a contract engagement, I was still tied to someone else.
Honestly, I desperately wanted to throw it all away, contract and all… but at the same time, I knew how foolish such a move would be, so I couldn’t bring myself to act on those thoughts.
Breaking off this engagement so easily would render the meaning of our contract moot and would surely have negative implications for my future relationship with Cazerose.
So…
At this moment, all I could do was drink to soothe this feeling.
And at the same time… I had to apologize to her, the one who was not here, the one I promised to protect at any cost.
“…I’m sorry… really… I’m so sorry… Cazerose…”
So, caught in drunkenness, I began to mumble apologies…
And as I reached out for my next drink, I lost consciousness.
*
“Hah…”
Ultimately, Santana, unable to withstand the alcohol, fell asleep.
Seeing him like this, Polena let out a small sigh and slowly stood up from her seat.
“I expected it to some extent… but he truly is having a hard time. Our master…”
In front of others, Santana always displayed a confident and strong demeanor.
However, just moments ago…
And at this moment, seeing him asleep under the influence, no trace of his usual strong self was to be found.
All that was here was a man sorrowfully overwhelmed by circumstances.
Yet, watching such a rare side of this normally strong man,
Polena blushed lightly while maintaining a gentle smile.
“Honestly… he’s quite an attractive man. It’s almost a shame to just watch.”
With that thought…
Polena slowly began to lick her lips as she gazed at the man collapsed before her.
Having seen countless people, this man still piqued her interest more and more.
From the moment they first met, when he solved a problem that seemed impossible with human means, he left quite a strong impression on Polena.
And from that moment onward, watching this man from her side, his every move brought her fresh joy.
His unpredictable actions.
Yet always possessing a determined and strong heart.
But at the same time, a man who could show such a disheveled side for a woman.
Watching him closely,
Polena carefully lifted his body and laid him onto the bed nearby.
“Honestly, I want to just claim him right now… but still, I must hold back for now. His heart has already been promised to someone else.”
Realizing this, she slowly approached him, lowering herself down.
Then she gently placed her hand on the face of her sleeping master.
Warm yet slightly rough…
At the same time, it made her heart race uncontrollably.
Recognizing this, Polena withdrew her hand, suppressing the rush of emotions swelling within her.
“Really… I’m so jealous… to receive so much love from a man like this… Cazerose, you’re a lucky girl.”
With that thought, Polena tidied up the cluttered table and quietly left the room.
Her master’s peacefully sleeping figure burned into her memory…
*
“Well then, I hope to see you again soon.”
“I wish I could stay a little longer…”
“Right? Leaving right after the engagement ceremony…”
The morning after the engagement ceremony, as Estelle boarded the carriage, her mother and Dust expressed their reluctance.
Seeing them, Estelle smiled beautifully and said,
“I would love to, but I have pressing matters back home. Our Rhapsody Region isn’t too far from here, so I will come visit often.”
With that, she turned her attention towards me.
Blushing slightly, she cautiously greeted me.
“Then… I’ll see you next time, Mr. Santana.”
“Yes, I look forward to it, Lady Estelle.”
I responded politely to her greeting, and she only nodded slightly before boarding the carriage and leaving.
Thus…
Finally, feeling the storm had passed, I walked back into the Lord’s Castle, moving through the corridors.
“Ugh…”
“Are you alright?”
Polena, seeing me clutching my head, asked with concern.
To this, I replied, feeling my hangover still pounding in my head.
“This is… harder than I thought. I really should have listened to Polena’s advice yesterday.”
“Well, what’s done is done. I can make you some honey water shortly.”
“Um… please do.”
Feeling regret for overindulging again, I made my way to my room to rest a bit more.
And then…
“Wait?.. Who is that…”
In that moment, I spotted a man kneeling before me.
Recognizing him, I felt my throbbing headache start to lighten.
“Isn’t that the Chancellor Anhalt?”
“Looks like it. He probably just got back from Kalmar Kingdom.”
After the war ended, it hadn’t even been ten days since the engagement selection and ceremony, and here we were.
During that time, Friedrich the Lord had been sorting out the scattered Bohemian forces, while waiting for Anhalt to return from the far northern Kalmar.
Because of this, Friedrich had remained in the castle’s annex until today when he finally received the news of the war’s end.
However, seeing Anhalt return in such a ragged state, I couldn’t help but feel a bitter taste in my mouth.
It was not because of any feelings towards Anhalt… but the shocking news that Friedrich would hear from Anhalt, who had now become a somewhat lacking good friend.
“Polena, let’s follow him. It seems we need to postpone my hangover cure for a bit.”
“Understood, Master.”
*
In front of him, kneeling Anhalt.
As he began to reveal the story, Friedrich’s face turned ashen.
“W-What do you mean? Say it all again.”
“I-I’m truly sorry, your Highness…”
With a pitiful face dripping with tears, Anhalt spoke.
Watching him, Friedrich shouted in a voice filled with shock.
“Explain it properly! Palatinate has fallen?! What exactly happened?!”
“Your Highness!..”
The shocking news flowed from Anhalt’s lips, nearly a month overdue.
Due to the Emperor’s offensive, which occurred before Bohemia’s attack, Friedrich’s territory, Palatinate, had fallen.
Hearing that now, Friedrich felt all the strength leave his body, and he slumped into his chair.
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