episode_0053

Disorderly.

The sky and the ground are entangled.

As if I’ve been plunged into a descent all day long riding an amusement park ride.

Alcohol consumed beyond limits breaks down inside me, tormenting me.

Feeling more than just right… no, feeling very light-headed. Losing sense of time. It felt like only 5 minutes had passed, but it’s been a bizarre experience where an hour has gone by.

In other words… I’m drunk.

…

This feeling is nice.

Sure, the hangover will come as a consequence, and I’ll promise not to drink again.

That’s all.

No matter how much I promise and regret.

I will seek this feeling, and I will seek alcohol again to be intoxicated in this haze.

At least for this moment of drunkenness, worries disappear. Now, I can forget about vague past memories, guilt for not protecting Theo, and fear of the future.

“Your Highness, are you really okay being alone?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll manage on my own.”

“But-”

“If I’m seen wandering around with someone like you, what will people say? Even now… there are many who recognize me, you know?!”

I can’t say my reputation is good.

Still, I am somewhat famous. So, there are people who recognize me.

Would anyone want to see me, who looks like a rich man like Matthias, being supported by someone on the street?

Absolutely not.

I don’t even want to imagine it.

“Well then… I’m off? Please give me good liquor next time too~”

“… .”

Waving goodbye, Matthias reluctantly stepped back with a gloomy face.

“Huah….”

I sighed deeply, more than usual.

Feeling a refreshing breeze brushing against my slightly flushed cheek, I felt refreshed, but I couldn’t walk steadily, swaying and stumbling.

Walking on the well-paved sidewalks of the commercial district, carefully avoiding the edges of the tiles.

It wasn’t a purposeful stride, but being drunk, I cautiously avoided stepping on the golden blocks on the ground. Thanks to that, my staggering became even worse.

Well, as long as I don’t fall, it’s fine.

No matter how absurdly I walk… no matter how disoriented I am… as long as I return to the dormitory, it’s fine, right?

No problem.

Staggering – I manage to walk somehow.

When I look back, the Green Arms sign has faded away without me realizing.

Look! It’s okay, isn’t it? You’re walking well, aren’t you? For a princess, this is nothing.

I burst into laughter at something so trivial. I laughed like a little kid at a small joke.

Then, thud-

A ‘thud’ sound was heard.

I thought it was a huge wall, but there was something much softer and warmer.

It wasn’t an imposing wall or a row of trees.

It was a person.

Fabric… I could smell the scent embedded in the soft clothes.

Black jacket… It was a uniform.

It was ambiguous to call it a fragrance. Still, it was a pleasant smell. A calming scent.

…

After the investigation of all these senses— the sound of collision, the sensation felt throughout the body, the keen sense of smell— only then did the figure of the other person come into view.

Looking up, I saw perfectly balanced facial features without any flaws. The sculpted facial shape, the bridge of the nose, and deeply shining golden eyes were visible.

It was a face that one could believe was crafted by a god, elegantly framed by slightly wavy golden hair.

“You’re handsome.”

“…”

Under the influence of alcohol, I blurt out what I think.

There were no filters.

The slightly flustered golden eyes look down at me.

Yes, I like it when you look down at me like this.

Not anyone else. I don’t like it.

“Hehe. Karl. Kaal~”

I point my finger at the knife.

As I call out his name, I lose my sense of balance.

Thud-

As I stagger and start to fall, the knife catches me.

His hand holding my arm was warm.

…So I felt like I would get even more drunk.

Because it was too warm.

And cozy.

*

“How much have you been drinking?”

Karl inadvertently gave a sharp remark.

A novel from a past life came to mind.

Beatrice de Dalia.

An alcoholic hidden behind a bright facade.

The heroin frequently encountered in the back alleys of the commercial district. A dual appearance, wandering through dangerous back alleys and gambling dens unlike the noblewoman she is.

“Was she originally like this…?”

It was forgotten that she was different from the original since their first meeting.

Carl didn’t expect to see her like this, with the story having changed significantly from what he remembered.

He wanted to see the real Beatrice, who would get drunk and say things she shouldn’t, then be embarrassed the next day, her ears turning red.

He wanted to see the strange sight of her clinging to him, insisting on being called Trixie. Seeing her disheveled like this now made it feel like he was seeing the Beatrice from the novel.

But when they actually met, he felt more bewildered than excited.

Carl let out a deep sigh.

“This isn’t like you at all.”

He looked into Beatrice’s eyes.

Her usually clear blue eyes were swollen with tears.

The moist, swollen eyes were almost overwhelming.

Gulp-

Unconsciously, Carl swallowed his saliva at that gaze.

Though he was tense, he continued speaking to avoid showing it.

“You drank so much that I couldn’t control you… It’s not good for the student council’s reputation, you know?”

“….”

There was no response.

Thinking it might have been a joke that offended her, Carl looked for Beatrice’s reaction.

Her face came into view. Her black hair fluttered under the streetlight.

The atmosphere was different from usual. Unlike the thoughtful but dishonest Beatrice he knew, she seemed bright but concealed a sense of melancholy.

She seemed like the Beatrice he had imagined before meeting her, just as he had encountered in the novel.

The mischievousness that hid her true feelings was absent in the Beatrice he met after the possession. The woman in front of him seemed cool at first glance, but it seemed like she wouldn’t reveal her inner thoughts easily.

“…We’ll meet often, won’t we?”

Beatrice said with a sly smile.

Completely unconcerned about Carl’s complicated feelings.

“Yeah.”

“Come with me.”

“Huh?”

He puts weight on the arm that was supporting him.

Beatrice leans as if she’s about to collapse towards the knife.

“Let’s go together.”

“Where to?”

“To where you were heading.”

“How do you know where I was heading?”

The road from the Information Bureau’s safe house to the academy, where Karl had business, led to his first-class dormitory.

“I don’t know!”

“…”

“I have no idea where you’re wandering around… I have to go with you!”

Then he laughs bashfully.

It was reckless.

“Claudia said she likes drinking alone.”

“That’s right.”

“Did you drink alone today too?”

“Yeah.”

“Until you got this drunk alone?”

“Yeah!”

Listening to Matthias’ story, although he busily poured her drinks, it was as good as her drinking alone.

“Have you ever drunk with a man?”

“Huh?”

“You’re close to the student council president.”

“No. Would I be crazy enough to drink with David senior?”

“David senior… ”

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t say to a dignified noble lady~”

“Oh my. I apologize, Lady Dalia.”

Karl laughed.

It was rude. Still, he couldn’t help but ask.

He couldn’t calm down thinking that other men might have seen Beatrice in disarray.

“Alright, let’s go together.”

“…Where to?”

It was a different dynamic from a little while ago.

Karl spoke and Beatrice asked.

Her face was flushed. Karl thought she must be very drunk when he saw her like that.

Her diminished voice, still commanding eyes, hesitant lips represented her curiosity, anxiety, excitement, and worry.

But Karl didn’t notice her change at all.

“I’ll take you there.”

“…”

“Second-class dormitory.”

“…I don’t really know where it is.”

He knows well. Before becoming an academy student, Karl was an Information Bureau agent, so he already knew every corner of the academy. But he couldn’t reveal that.

“So you should guide me. I’m just going with you. It could be dangerous on the way. Because you’re pretty. Men won’t leave you alone.”

“…Really?”

“Just kidding. But I’ll still take you.”

“You fool.”

The last words were spoken so softly that they were barely audible.

As Karl straightened Beatrice’s crumpled jacket, he said, “Ladies first.”

Beatrice glanced at Karl, who gestured clumsily, then staggered forward. After a few steps, she nearly stumbled. Each time, Karl, who was walking closely behind her, caught her.

Eventually, she ended up leaning on Karl’s arm as they walked.

Whether due to being drunk and forgetting the way or simply not being familiar with the academy’s layout, Beatrice wandered for quite some time before finally arriving at the second-class dormitory.

Karl had known where the dormitory was from the beginning, but he didn’t stop Beatrice from taking the wrong path. There was nothing good about shortening the time they spent walking together.

*

Clack- Clunk-

The sound of the key turning was unusually loud. The sound of the door opening was even louder.

Karl hoped that Beatrice’s roommate, who would hear this noise, would be temporarily absent.

In his arms, Beatrice, who could no longer walk, nestled. She fell asleep in Karl’s arms, as if exhausted from walking up the dormitory stairs, collapsing into sleep.

A situation ripe for misunderstanding.

It was a situation where one could easily suspect Karl, the one who had fed Beatrice alcohol until she was completely drunk.

“Phew.”

Heaving a sigh of relief, the fact that they had safely arrived at the dormitory and that they hadn’t encountered her roommate intersected, easing his tension.

Clatter-

Just as he was feeling relieved, an unwelcome sound reached his ears.

Looking to where the sound came from, he saw a girl with brown hair tied in a ponytail. She was holding a cup, dressed in pajamas.

“……”

“Bea, Beatrice’s room is over there….”

She pointed to the closed door with the hand not holding the cup. For a moment, Karl was confused about which room exactly was Beatrice’s, as he and the girl were facing each other.

The girl with the ponytail walked towards the room indicated without a word and held Beatrice as she walked. There was nothing to say here that wouldn’t be awkward.

She laid Beatrice on the bed in the middle of the dark room.

Clack-

Though the door had clearly been left open, it closed the moment Beatrice was laid down. It was probably her roommate who closed it. She must have guessed the situation and quietly closed the door, thinking she was being considerate.

Frustrated, she pressed hard against her temple with her fingertip. What kind of relationship did that woman think they had?

Then suddenly, she saw Beatrice fall asleep.

She lay there, breathing softly.

With each breath, her chest rose and fell beneath the tightly buttoned blouse and uniform jacket.

Her contraction and relaxation were impressive.

She wondered if it might feel stuffy, or if it would be uncomfortable to sleep and wake up in the same clothes she wore outside. She even entertained the cheeky thought of unbuttoning a few buttons for more comfortable sleep.

…

Karl shook his head, trying to pull himself together.

He covered her with the blanket and tried to leave the room like a gentleman.

It seemed he would be captivated by the beauty of the woman testing Karl’s patience before he could escape.

Thud-

As Karl turned to leave the bed, the delicate hand of Beatrice firmly grabbed his wrist.

“……”

Karl still looked at the sleeping Beatrice with closed eyes and swallowed hard. Her lips parted. A sticky voice flowed from her plum-like lips. If her lips called Karl’s name… he wouldn’t be able to leave this room.

Karl was tense.

He had never been so nervous in his life.

Tense, he focused all his attention on Beatrice’s voice.

“-Oh.”

“…?”

“Theo….”

The name that flowed from Beatrice’s pretty lips was one he had never heard before.

“Sob. Don’t, don’t go. Theo….”

Beatrix’s teardrops fell from the corners of her closed eyes.

“……”

Karl’s face twisted grimly.

He glared at the softly murmuring Beatrix.

Theo was a name not in his memory.

It was a name he had never heard before, but one thing was certain.

It was….

A man’s name.