episode_0048

Around the time of the bombing in the Alcyone Federation.

Just another ordinary Saturday night with no particular plans.

Callia and Ismael were having a small drink together, just the two of them.

“Alright, let’s toast. To the downfall of the oppressors!”

“Cheers!”

–Clink!

Whether you’d call it childish or bizarre. In any case, a toast far from ordinary.

The two, shouting the motto and ideology of the organization they were part of, clinked their glasses together.

The dark red wine in the glass mixed and shimmered vividly under the light.

“The aroma is smooth, and even the color is beautiful. A wine like this must have cost a pretty penny.”

“It’s alright, it’s free. I secretly stole it from the academy dean’s office.”

“…Didn’t you get caught?”

“Don’t underestimate me. If I wanted to, I could infiltrate the royal palace at any time.”

There were few participants, but the menu was quite lavish.

Wine stolen from a high-ranking official’s private storage, thickly grilled steak, scallop carpaccio, caprese salad, and so on.

A perfect composition as a great meal and as a side dish for alcohol.

“Go ahead and eat. Beef tastes best when it’s moderately warm.”

And surprisingly. All of this was cooked by Callia herself.

Dishes made with ingredients she had personally bought despite the already high prices.

A heartfelt feast for only two people in the world.

The first is of course herself.

The second is none other than the person sitting in front of her.

“Oh, this is good. It’s grilled medium, so it’s nice and tender. The sauce goes well with it too.”

“I made it myself. I put plenty of veal stock and herbs in it, so the flavor will be rich.”

“I think so too. It feels like the flavor fills my mouth even with just a little bit.”

As much effort went into it as the splendor of the menu.

Obtaining ingredients with different characteristics and cooking them in the right way is not an easy task.

Even a restaurant chef couldn’t do it alone.

But Callia did it.

Because she wanted it herself.

“I don’t know if it will suit your taste.”

“It’s the best. It’s been a while since I’ve had something so delicious. It’s better than the stew we went to eat together last time.”

“……That’s a relief. It’s worth making it.”

What does it matter if you suffer a little with mere cooking?

The other person is so happy.

How could she spare effort and sincerity for the most important colleague, the person she cherishes, and the person she has feelings for?

Even her fingers, which were hurt from aging the meat and cutting the cheese, didn’t hurt when she saw Ismael’s happy face.

She was even relieved that the man, who always pushes himself, seemed to have regained some peace of mind.

“Eat as much as you want. There’s still plenty left.”

“Then I won’t refuse.”

The two moved their glasses and forks busily. A sip of wine and a piece of beef, even a bite of tomato and cheese.

They fed each other and wiped the marks on each other’s mouths with handkerchiefs, spending an intimate time.

Both of them ate well, so even though they prepared enough food, the plates and bottles were quickly emptied.

“Oh, we’ve already drunk three bottles.”

“I think we’ve had too much to drink. Let’s stop drinking around here.”

“It’s okay. It’s just this much.”

Wait a minute.

Wine originally has a much higher alcohol content than beer or soju. What happens to a person if they drink that kind of alcohol in a row?

It’s simple. As the alcohol decomposition process occurs in the body, a rapid intoxication rises.

“Hey, Miss Callia.”

“Why are you calling?”

I don’t think it’s just this era, but alcohol destroys a person’s vigilance and psychological control.

Even if you don’t get completely drunk, it slows down your reasoning and prevents you from making the same judgments as usual.

In other words, it means that you can easily say things that you wouldn’t normally say.

“Why are you being so nice to me these days? You were so cold when we first met.”

Ismael asked, his face flushed, without finishing his glass.

In a voice that clearly felt drunk.

“You’re always smiling when you greet me, sleeping under the same blanket, and making me meals every day. Isn’t this just like a married couple?”

“…..”

“I appreciate you taking care of me so diligently. But please explain why you’re doing this.”

At work and in the accommodation. They are together almost all day and take care of everything.

From waking up in the morning to going to bed at night, she takes care of him without complaining.

Even real blood relatives wouldn’t do this.

Why would she show such kindness to him, who is of a different race? At first, she was completely businesslike.

He’s grateful, but he doesn’t understand, Callia didn’t answer the question.

She just takes care of the drunk person.

“Do you perhaps like me so you’re doing this?”

“…You’re too drunk. Why don’t you go to bed and rest.”

“Hey, you should answer me….”

Then, after Ismael completely passed out from the alcohol.

She muttered her true feelings in a low voice.

With a disheveled expression that clearly showed that she was drunk, if not as much as the other person.

“Of course it’s because I love you that I’m doing this. You idiot.”

Is he clueless?

Or is he pretending not to know even though he knows?

How can he still wonder why when she expresses her feelings so blatantly in everything she does?

She sighed at this man’s frustration, but she didn’t hate it so much.

Because she already knew that he was like this.

“Who would do this to someone they don’t love.”

She brushed back her disheveled hair. She picked up the passed-out man, laid him down, and stroked his face.

As gently and kindly as if handling a jewel.

With an attitude of cherishing the most precious treasure in the world.

“…Well, I guess I can’t call anyone an idiot either. How did I come to like a man like this?”

Callia smiled bitterly.

She was sure it wasn’t like this at first. She had changed a lot too.

‘It’s already been over a year.’

* * * * *

She still remembered vividly.

The day she first met Ismael.

‘Hey, a beggar came in this time.’

‘A beggar?’

‘Yeah. But he’s a bit of a strange one, so I’m going to keep an eye on him for a while. You’ll be in charge of monitoring him.’

‘…..I understand, Branch Manager.’

A stranger who infiltrated a secretly hidden hideout. Herself, selected as the person in charge of his management and control.

As much as the way they met, their attitude towards each other was very cold.

‘My name is Kang Chun-soo. Please take care of me for the time being.’

‘Please call me Callia.’

That relationship lasted for about a couple of months. A relationship where only business-like conversations were repeated and there was no private exchange.

Ismael, who spouted out mysterious knowledge and political predictions, was not someone who was endearing, even as a compliment.

He was good at his job and had the ability, but he was a dangerous person who she didn’t know his identity or inner thoughts at all.

That’s about the level of treatment he got.

If he couldn’t be controlled, she was willing to eliminate him for the safety of the organization.

The end of that dangerous and uneasy relationship was due to a very accidental opportunity.

‘Mr. Ismael. Are you here–‘

‘Mom….I miss Mom….Why do I have to live like this? Why can’t I go home….?’

Ismael, who had been drunk since early evening and was crying and acting out.

Unlike usual, his voice was weak, and the atmosphere was as if he would collapse at any moment.

The person himself doesn’t seem to remember, but Callia saw it clearly. The sight of him shedding tears and resenting the world and the goddess, filled with longing.

‘You were another me.’

At that time, Callia realized.

In fact, this man was in the same situation as her.

He was a weak being who lost his family and a place to lean on, and was wasting his life with anger and emptiness.

The vigilance that had been built up like a solid wall collapsed overnight. What replaced the empty space was relief, a little bit of goodwill, and a sense of kinship.

If you ask why it even developed into love….To be honest, she’s not confident that she can explain it properly.

Because she herself doesn’t know the cause and motivation for changing like this at all.

“But it doesn’t matter.”

But what does it matter? In the first place, human emotions are not something that has a rational reason.

Humans form fan clubs because criminals are handsome, so there’s nothing strange about falling in love with someone you’ve worked with for over a year, right?

Of course, Ismael was not a very handsome man, even as a compliment. At best, he was neat and tidy.

His race and skin color were completely different from hers.

But for Callia, he was the most wonderful man in the world.

Both his appearance and his inner self.

“Mr. Ismael, no, Ismael.”

She grabbed him, who was panting, and lowered her head to his ear.

He probably won’t hear it anyway, but she still wanted to declare it clearly with her own mouth.

“You’re mine. You were the one who seduced me first, so don’t even think about changing your mind.”

Ismael was the one who indirectly proposed to her by setting up a plan to create a demon nation.

So she will respond to that feeling.

By giving her body and mind without reservation.

“Do you know what? Demons originally have a stronger obsession with their spouses than humans do. They’re afraid of losing their loved ones to other men and women.”

She licked his ear slightly and gave him a sincere warning.

“So it’s the same for you. I will never let you go. From the wedding hall to the funeral hall, forever. The only woman who will be next to you in the future is me.”

He must have been asleep, but for some reason, Ismael’s body shuddered.