The Sage Who Drinks 49

Two people dance under the chandelier.

When the darkness shining with black light gets close to the ground, the sun shining with gold supports it with its arms.

When the rising darkness twirls around, the sun pulls its feet back accordingly.

It was the dance of Adela and me.

While the music of the ball flowed from the magitech objects, everyone danced in unison.

However, the reason why Adela and I stood out particularly among them was not just because we were in the center.

“Have you made up your mind?”

As our bodies crossed in sequence, Adela exhaled a sweet breath into my ear.

“…I wonder.”

“You still haven’t decided? That’s a bit disappointing.”

Adela’s lips pouted. It seemed she was displeased that my answer to choose her hadn’t come out immediately.

Soon after, as if guessing the source of my answer, she glanced sideways.

“Really, you’re such a sinful person.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Where Adela’s gaze was directed was the place where we had been sitting until just now.

There, Rinet was sipping juice. Her bored gaze was directed at us. She must be exchanging glances with Adela.

“I can’t believe you stole the Saint’s heart… Do you know that’s extremely sacrilegious?”

“Just as you say.”

“But you still have to choose.”

Adela’s words were heavy.

The command to choose implied leaving only one person. And it conveyed that the subject should be herself.

“You can’t have all women. You know that, right?”

“…Indeed.”

That’s why it’s difficult.

The moment I choose someone, the faces of the women left behind come to mind.

Even I, who am emotionless, would have my heart torn, so I would stop imagining.

‘However.’

Adela had already thrown down the gauntlet. She had finally created the situation I had wanted to avoid.

“…”

Seeing my expression grow heavy, Adela smiled.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you being too stiff?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Come on, we’re dancing now. Step, step.”

Afterwards, we moved our bodies together in silence. Focusing only on movement in silence made my head feel quite empty.

Though that wouldn’t empty my heart as well.

 

After the ball ended.

The remaining schedule was time for people to converse with each other.

Many people gathered in small groups and formed pairs, and there were also those who asked their recent dance partners to go out separately.

But why did the gazes of such people keep turning toward me?

No, there’s no need to ask. I know it well.

“Loran, Loran. It’s been a while.”

Like a dog wagging its tail upon meeting its owner.

A snow-white girl approached me and greeted me happily. The emotion contained in her silver pupils was extremely prominent.

A sign of affection. The Sword Star, Silvia Isolde.

‘Lately, Silvia seems to be getting very close to me.’

The cold impression she had when we first met was nowhere to be found. A soft, snow-flower-like girl was brightening her eyes near me.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes. I was lonely without you, but I managed to endure somehow.”

“…”

Each statement was quite forward. Perhaps it’s natural for Silvia, who doesn’t know social norms.

But, not even caring about the volume, it inevitably drew more attention from the surrounding people.

The fact that the Sword Star and the Third Prince are close is being shown in real-time to influential figures. It was giving me a headache.

The problem was that it wasn’t just Silvia.

“…Won’t you step back since I’m the lead role right now?”

Adela’s words sharply pierced Silvia. It was a chilly tone like when they first met.

Silvia’s small head slowly turned to the side. After exchanging glances with Adela once, she opened her small lips and.

“I don’t want to.”

With that brief answer, she immediately jumped into my arms.

“…?!”

The sound of Adela drawing in a sharp breath.

Simultaneously, murmuring sounds were heard from the surroundings.

A clear romantic gesture. It was an action clearly revealing her affection for me.

-Was the Sword Star of the Sword Angle in such a relationship with the Imperial Prince?

-I’ve never heard of it.

-The Saint is also by the Third Prince’s side.

-But, he danced with the Sage, right?

“…”

While I sighed, envisioning the immediate uproar in society.

Silvia snuggled further into my embrace and murmured.

“You’ve been monopolizing him until now. Why are you still trying to do more?”

“…Are you joking?”

Adela was clearly incensed, but considering the venue, she suppressed her anger as much as possible.

Along with a “Hoo-” sound of breath, she continued speaking calmly.

“You seem to be forgetting your status… Do you know what repercussions such actions could have here?”

“You danced with him too.”

“…”

Adela mentioned status, but if that was to be debated, she herself couldn’t be proud either. When that aspect was pointed out, she didn’t open her mouth.

But seeing Silvia pinpoint that remarkably well, sometimes I wonder about her being ‘pure’.

Silvia, somewhat like the winner’s smile Rinet had shown earlier, curled up the corners of her lips and was about to say something more.

“See, so it’s okay for me to- ACK!”

But.

A hand immediately stretched out and grabbed her cheek firmly, then pulled it up.

“It hurts!”

“Didn’t I tell you not to act recklessly, Sword Star?”

My eyes widened at the unexpected scene. Who could have predicted that there would be someone who could handle Silvia in such a way?

It seemed the same for Adela, as she showed signs of considerable surprise.

Silvia roughly removed the hand holding her cheek and shouted sharply.

“Old hag! I told you not to pull my cheeks!”

“Sword Star.”

“…”

But at the cold designation calling her, she flinched and closed her mouth.

Hearing the term ‘old hag’ that Silvia used, I could guess the identity of the person.

The white hair was similar yet different from Silvia’s silver hair. It was the effect of age. The white hair was neatly tied in a braided bun, which alone revealed her identity as a swordswoman.

Her skin was wrinkled but aging was never emphasized. It was the very embodiment of aging gracefully.

It was the ‘Sword Empress’, the sovereign of the Sword Angle.

The Sword Empress shot a cold glare at Silvia. Her speech and behavior clearly showed the momentum of an elder admonishing Silvia, making one truly feel that the Sword Star was a member of the Sword Angle.

“Didn’t I emphasize not to act rashly here?”

“…Isn’t this much okay?”

“No.”

Her fresh smile didn’t match her age. But because of that, it exerted pressure.

In the end, Silvia wilted like a dog with its tail down and admitted her fault.

“Alright. I was wrong.”

“Yes. You thought well.”

Only then did the wrinkled muscles on the Sword Empress’s face relax. As the situation settled, the gazes around also subsided.

I stood up and bowed politely to the Sword Empress. It was a greeting for defusing the situation, and for the leader of a powerful group.

“It’s my first time meeting you, Sword Empress.”

“Oh my, there’s no need for such words. I’ve seen you several times from afar in social circles.”

“But this is the first time we’re directly conversing.”

“That’s right.”

Huhu, you’re quite formal. The Sword Empress laughed and said that.

“I heard you’ve been taking care of Silvia at the Academy.”

“Your words are exaggerated. The Sword Star would do well by herself without my help.”

“Is that so? The child I know isn’t like that.”

“…”

That’s a fair statement, but did she need to point it out specifically?

Seeing my displeased gaze, the Sword Empress smiled with satisfaction. There was somehow great goodwill in her gaze looking at me, appearing as if she was quite proud.

“Let’s leave the unfinished conversation for later. I need to meet with the Tower Master now.”

“You mean Agria.”

“Yes. As leaders of each group, there are things to discuss… and the Pope of the Order probably went there in advance.”

At that, Rinet, who had been quietly observing the situation from the side, opened her eyes wide.

“Oh, did the Pope really come too?”

“Yes. He said he would stay out of the way so as not to disturb the Saint.”

“Not to disturb me? There’s no reason for the Pope to…”

“Do you really think there isn’t?”

The Sword Empress’s eyes turned toward me as she said that.

-The Pope has also noticed the relationship between the Saint and me to some extent.

As if she was subtly saying that, Rinet also realized and blushed.

The Sword Empress laughed hoho at that sight and took a step.

“Well, you young people handle the rest well. Isn’t youth about such things?”

She said that while waving her hand. Her departing figure left an impression that was somehow friendlier than the weight of a group leader.

“…”

A situation where no one opened their mouth.

Everyone wanted to take the initiative by speaking first, but there was no suitable topic to bring up. That’s why there was a time of silence.

But.

“…Loran.”

In the end, the one who broke such a framework was always the one who cared less about others’ reactions. No, rather the one who was more oblivious.

Silvia, seeing that the Sword Empress had disappeared, slowly approached me and. She opened her beautiful lips to recite what she wanted to say.

“I-“

“Loran!”

However.

The girl’s voice was drowned out by a voice coated in pig fat.

A man for whom the adjective ‘waddling’ was appropriate. Gaius approached me and shouted loudly.

“What are you doing here?”

“Brother.”

My gaze turned to him. I didn’t add many words, but it meant please act within the bounds of common sense.

His attitude toward me in the Imperial Palace hadn’t been too disturbing, but even then, the maids had commented that it wasn’t pleasant to see.

What would happen if he showed an unpleasant appearance to the people here who are unrelated to the Imperial Palace?

Gaius would have also noticed the meaning of my gaze. Nevertheless, he approached me with an even louder voice.

Or more precisely.

“You’re with such beautiful women, huh? Even though you seemed uninterested in female charms. This brother is surprised!”

While saying that, he eyed the three women with a lewd gaze. His sticky gaze was full of lust.

Coldness immediately settled in Rinet and Adela’s expressions. It was clearly crossing a line. Could even the Second Prince handle this?

However, the reason they didn’t react immediately was because Rinet and Adela were individuals who lived within the bounds of common sense. No matter how rudely Gaius behaved, they couldn’t immediately retaliate.

But.

‘It can’t be helped.’

Such a gap would eventually disappear if Gaius continued to be even more disrespectful. Rinet and Adela would use their maximum skills to destroy Gaius.

While I wouldn’t particularly mind seeing that, hurting the Second Prince would bring unfavorable consequences to them.

Therefore, I was about to rise. Considering the dragon blood, I shouldn’t use my power, but now wasn’t the time to worry about that. When it was time to step up, I had to step up.

“Brother-“

“Hey.”

But.

Faster than my words. Much sharper than my words.

There was someone who spat out words with a tone that seemed ready to cut.

“Who are you?”

The Sword Star, Silvia Isolde.

Her white pupils. The whites and blacks of her eyes that were difficult to distinguish. The whites were expanding their territory and devouring all the black parts.

It means she was raising her killing intent. No, at the current rate, it should be seen as a murderous aura.

Directed at none other than.

“Do you want to die?”

Gaius, that is.