Chapter 48

In my life, I’d only ever drunk alcohol once.

It was right after I’d legally become an adult.

I bought a bottle of soju and a can of beer at a convenience store and tried them out of curiosity.

‘I’d just left the orphanage and started living on my own….’

With the director’s help, I’d managed to cover my college tuition and secure a tiny studio apartment. But the monthly rent was on me.

‘At least it wasn’t in the capital, so the rent was cheap.’

Still, cheap one-room apartments were usually the same—cramped and shabby.

Even so, back then I’d been thrilled just to have a place that was mine.

Maybe that was why, on my way home late at night after my part-time shift, I’d impulsively bought alcohol.

And the first drink of my life had been…

‘Seriously disgusting!’

Bitter. Astringent. It burned all the way down my throat. My stomach felt like I’d swallowed a lump of fire.

I couldn’t understand what was supposed to be so good about it.

‘What a waste of money…. I should’ve bought a lunchbox instead. I’m never drinking again.’

But—being urged on in a situation like this, in the middle of all this noisy chaos…it was hard to say no.

Strangely enough, my curiosity stirred.

And the drink Daphne handed me was pretty, too—a lovely shade of red.

“Smells nice, right? It’s made with raspberries! Low alcohol, so it’s easy to drink. Try it!”

It smelled incredible. Fresh berries, bright and sweet, with a faint hint of flowers.

‘Maybe just one sip?’

I was staring into the glass, torn, when Lycian’s concerned voice came from beside me.

“If you can’t drink it, give it to me, Muriel.”

“N-No, it’s fine. I can!”

I hurriedly stopped him from taking the glass out of my hand. It would feel like such a waste not to try even a sip.

‘It’s all part of the experience…!’

With that flimsy justification, I brought the fragrant liquor straight to my lips.

And—

“…!”

My eyes flew wide open.

‘It’s good…!’

The first taste was sweet and refreshing.

It turned slightly bitter and tart toward the end, but not unpleasantly so.

If anything, it balanced things out.

Once I swallowed, the familiar hot, tingling warmth of alcohol spread through me.

It felt nice. Like it was gently warming me from the inside.

‘Is this why people drink…?’

I stared at the liquid left in the glass when something was suddenly thrust toward me from the side.

A chunk of steak, speared on a fork.

“Here, here! Have some food with it!”

“Th-Thank you…?”

I chewed the steak Daphne fed me and glanced sideways at Lycian.

He looked deeply displeased with the entire situation.

“What is this? Are you trying to get Muriel drunk?”

“A welcome party isn’t a party without drinks!”

“Muriel! Try this one too!”

Starting with Daphne, the others swarmed in and began urging more drinks on me.

How were there this many kinds of alcohol? There had to be at least nine.

I ended up tasting them all. Rose wine. Mushroom wine. Apple wine… the apple one had mint in it, maybe; it smelled cool and crisp.

There was even liquor brewed from mandrake!

“N-No! My 120-year-aged mandrake liquor…!”

Apparently, it was Dante’s prized possession.

The guild members tied him up with rope so he couldn’t move and started pouring the liquor into a glass.

“Don’t let the Guild Master drink! If he does, he’ll run off to gamble again!”

“Let’s just keep him tied up until tomorrow morning.”

“How about knocking him out cold?”

“Poor Guild Master oppa. Nikke will give you something to eat.”

“N-Nikke, Guild Master oppa hates avocado—mmph! Mmph!!”

The moment Nikke shoved a chunk of avocado into his mouth, Dante’s face turned blue.

At this point, I genuinely felt sorry for him.

But as the newbie here, there wasn’t much I could do….

“Muriel! Try the mandrake liquor!”

I was completely swept up by the overexcited guild members determined to educate the newcomer on the taste of alcohol.

The mandrake liquor was unbelievably bitter. I took one sip and waved my hands frantically. No way could I drink more of that.

‘Ugh, it’s crazy strong too.’

The others had been fine, but the moment this one went down, my head spun.

My vision blurred dangerously.

This didn’t feel normal.

Am I… drunk?

“Muriel, that’s enough.”

Lycian gripped my shoulder, his voice serious.

I shook off his hand and mumbled,

“I can drink more….”

“Ha! Looks like Muriel’s got some guts! That’s right! Drink up!”

“At a welcome party, you drink till you drop!”

Mad shouts erupted from every direction.

Then a huge mug was planted in front of me, and a deep golden liquid was poured in until it nearly overflowed.

“Here, Muriel! A glass of honey wine!”

“Drink up~ drink up~!”

“Ooooh~!”

I stared blankly at the brimming mug.

The golden liquid shimmered like liquid amber.

‘Honey wine…. Does it taste like honey?’

I reached for the handle, but someone blocked my hand and snatched the mug away.

“…?”

I turned my head sluggishly.

Lycian was lifting the mug to his lips.

Gulp. Gulp.

He drained the entire thing in one go.

Thud!

He slammed the mug down and coldly addressed the room.

“That’s enough. Unless you want to die.”

In an instant, silence fell.

Only the ticking of the wall clock echoed.

“Y-Yeah! That’s enough! That lunatic would absolutely blow up this entire building if he felt like it!”

Dante, who had been suffering through Nikke’s random feeding assault, hurriedly came to his senses and shouted.

“H-Haha… maybe we went a little overboard?”

“Y-Yeah…”

“Let’s call it here….”

The guild members laughed awkwardly and slowly backed away from the two of us.

Lycian quietly rose from his seat, took hold of both my arms, and pulled me to my feet.

The moment I stood, dizziness crashed over me. I staggered—and collapsed straight into his chest.

“Muriel, are you okay?”

“I’m dizzy….”

“Then why did you drink so much? You’re a lightweight.”

It was a scolding—but his voice couldn’t have been gentler.

With his large hand, he slowly stroked from the top of my head down to my waist, then carefully adjusted his hold and lifted me into his arms.

Still carrying me, he looked at Dante and asked a single word.

“Room.”

“Uh, fourth floor. End of the east wing! There’s an empty one there.”

Without replying, Lycian turned and walked out of the banquet hall.

As he crossed the corridor and climbed the stairs, my body didn’t jostle even once.

He moved like flowing water—smooth and unhurried.

Maybe it was because I was wrapped snugly in his warm embrace, but the dizziness gradually eased.

With both arms looped around his neck, I stared intently at his face.

Then, out of nowhere, I blurted—

“You’re handsome.”

“…….”

“I mean it…. When I first saw you, you were so pretty I thought you were an angel who fell from the sky. You know you’re handsome too, right?”

Lycian let out a quiet snort of laughter.

“Yeah. I know.”

“When we go to the market… everyone stares at you. It’s annoying….”

“Annoying?”

“You’re my fox….”

“Huh…? Hahaha!”

I was serious, but he burst out laughing like I’d said something ridiculous.

I didn’t like that. Pouting, I pinched his cheek in retaliation.

Creeeak—

With the scrape of hinges, a door opened.

We must have reached the room.

The interior was steeped in darkness. Even so, Lycian moved without hesitation, as if he could see perfectly well.

He laid me down on the bed and sat beside me. I didn’t like that I couldn’t see his face clearly.

“Can’t you… turn on the light?”

“It’s easier to fall asleep in the dark. Go to sleep.”

“I’m not sleepy. I wanna talk more. I wanna drink more…. Why’d you bring me here?”

“Muriel, you’re drunk.”

“I’m not. I’m fine….”

When I whined and fussed, he sighed. He pulled the blanket over me and said,

“You’re definitely going to have a headache tomorrow.”

“Then I’ll need a hangover cure…. Bean sprout soup with rice….”

“What’s that?”

“It’s bean sprouts boiled in dried pollock broth….”

Lycian fell silent for a moment, as if trying to imagine what “bean sprout soup with rice” even was. I could almost picture him deep in thought.

I watched him for a while, then spoke whatever drifted into my mind.

“Why do people say you’ve got a rotten personality…?”

“…….”

A long silence stretched between us.

I kept rambling.

“Why don’t you get along with Dante?”

“…….”

Without answering, Lycian reached out and brushed my hair back.

“Still… I think you’re kind.”

The hand that had been grazing my cheek like a feather froze.

I blinked my heavy eyelids slowly and continued.

“Lycian…. I don’t know you that well, but you’re really a good person.”

“…….”

“You believed me…. You stayed by my side….”

“…I’ll stay by your side from now on, too.”

At that, I broke into a soft smile. Something warm filled my chest.

Folding my eyes into crescents, I whispered,

“I’m not scared of getting hurt anymore. Because you’re here.”

“…I won’t let you get hurt.”

“Mm. It’s better not to get hurt. You don’t get hurt either!”

Suddenly, I wanted to hug him tightly.

So I pushed myself up and stretched both arms toward him.

Lycian flinched slightly, then let out a helpless laugh—and wrapped his arms around me in return.