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Her head gently swayed like grass leaves in the wind.
“Yes?”
She smiled and lifted her head.
“Are you okay?”
“Well, yeah. Why wouldn’t I be? There are two handsome men here too…”
She tilted her chin and looked at the two of them with half-lidded, dreamy eyes.
“You both look like angels in paradise.”
Sophia smiled happily with slightly slurred speech. Mikhail couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“It seems like you’re drunk.”
Killian gently guided Sophia’s half-slumped body into a sitting position, and she replied, “Huh? Me? No way! I didn’t even drink that much.”
“Didn’t you say you’re weak against alcohol?”
“But I’m not weak at all! It’s strange. Why do you think I am?”
She didn’t know that being strong or weak against alcohol was more related to the liver than the soul.
Moreover, Sophia Fraus’s body was apparently extremely sensitive to acetaldehyde, the by-product of alcohol metabolism.
“I’ve even had a bottle of soju… I didn’t like it much, though; I didn’t want to end up like my father.”
Sophia looked at the remaining wine in her glass and continued, “I never thought I’d get tipsy from a light wine served during a meal.”
The alcohol she had consumed was just one glass of wine, and she hadn’t even finished it yet. She hadn’t expected to get drunk from the light wine served with the meal.
Mikhail and Killian began to understand why Sophia was surprised by the three glasses of wine earlier.
“I think I should head back now, Killian.”
Mikhail felt like he would have to make way for Sophia to go inside. They had already shared enough conversation, and the meal was finished.
Mikhail neatly folded the napkin and stood up from his seat. Sophia seemed to have the same idea of seeing him off and got up quickly, but she staggered.
Killian reached out and steadied her trembling body, preventing her from almost falling.
However, it seemed like she was unaware of how close she was to collapsing as she looked at Mikhail with a bright face.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes. It was enjoyable today, Lady Sophia.”
“Hehe, me too.”
Sophia smiled brightly, and Mikhail couldn’t help but chuckle at her innocent laughter. He liked her laughter because it was simple and free from complex thoughts.
She didn’t seem to expect or ask for anything from him, the Crown Prince. Just being in his company seemed to make her happy. She was different from those who sought power and favour by using him to fulfil their ambitions.
“Then, until next time.”
Mikhail bid farewell politely to the intriguing woman before him.
Then, Sophia’s gaze turned wistful, and she approached him with a swaying motion, as if she might stumble at any moment, but she walked surprisingly well.
And then…
“I hope you become a great emperor.”
Sophia tapped his shoulder lightly as she expressed her excitement.
In response to her sudden action, Mikhail stood there like a statue, gazing down at her.
“So, no matter what trials come your way in the future, don’t be afraid.”
Mikhail met her mature, emerald eyes.
Half-opened within her irises, he could see himself reflected.
The sight was peculiar, and without thinking, Mikhail reached out to stroke her cheek.
But in that instant, Killian pulled Sophia towards him.”
Mikhail’s hand froze in mid-air.
“Lady Sophia seems quite intoxicated, brother.”
Killian wrapped his arms around Sophia’s swaying shoulders and stared at Mikhail.
Mikhail lowered his hand, which was suspended in the air, to his back.
“Yeah, I feel a bit that way too. I should probably go now.”
Mikhail quickly bid farewell to Killian and was about to turn away when Sophia seemed to stumble forward, bowing slightly.
Translator: HaileyFranchette. Read on moonlight novels only
“Your Highness, please be careful!”
Her long brown hair cascaded down as she gave a slight bow.
Killian held her back and made her lift her head.
A few strands of her hair fell forward, creating a scattered appearance around her face.
Mikhail chuckled at her sight.
“Have a good night, Lady Sophia.”
He waved goodbye to them and climbed onto the carriage.
Killian, unable to go far due to Sophia’s intoxication, nodded and saw him off.
As the carriage moved away, the Grand Manor of Killian and Sophia soon disappeared from sight.
“…She’s adorable.”
Mikhail leaned against the carriage window and thought of Sophia.
“To become a great emperor…”
He pondered over her words.
It was probably a remark made in the heat of the moment while under the influence of alcohol, yet for some reason, her voice lingered in his mind.
Such compliments were something others frequently said.
‘Has the burden been heavy lately…?
The emperor’s health was not good, so it seemed that he was burdened as the next emperor.
Seeing how she sought comfort in just a few words after getting drunk.
Lost in thought, Mikhail gazed at the fading lights of the Grand Duchy.
* * *
Translator: HaileyFranchette. Read on moonlight novels only
Killian supported the drunken Sophia as they made their way to her room. She leaned halfway on his arm and ascended the stairs slowly. Occasionally, she stumbled and almost tripped, but Killian firmly held her, so she wouldn’t fall.
With each wobbly step, Sophia leaned more into him, steadying herself, and raised her head to look at him.
“Killian….”
She murmured his name with a flushed face due to the alcohol, then continued, taking the next step.
As Sophia moved slowly, Killian accompanied her, helping her up the stairs at a leisurely pace. Though it was just one floor, it felt like an eternity.
Of course, Killian could have easily carried her up the stairs and reached her room in a blink.
However, he didn’t do that because, he didn’t like her today.
Perhaps it was the way she pretended to be close with Mikhail, or the way she countered his words point by point with stubbornness…
Is it some kind of grumpiness?
He reluctantly let her, who was clearly intoxicated, walk up the stairs on her own. He simply supported her, ensuring she wouldn’t stumble or fall.
“Killian….” Sophia kept muttering his name from earlier.
“Why does your name have to be Killian…?”
She even began to pick on strange things.
It seemed like his fiancĂŠe had a rather bad temper, Killian thought.
Fortunately, Sophia safely reached the front of her room after ascending the stairs.
However, just as she arrived at her room, she abruptly turned around.
“Why does your name sound like the name of a protagonist… swindler.””
Her eyes, half-lidded from drowsiness, narrowed at him as if scolding. It seemed like she tried to appear somewhat threatening.
Amused by her puffed-up, slitted eyes, Killian smiled.
But whether she understood that he was smirking or not, Sophia furrowed her brows more fiercely and raised her head defiantly.
“It’s a name with, you shouldn’t do bad things…”
She leaned on Killian’s arm and looked up at him.
What was she saying? After just one glass of wine, her cheeks were flushed.
Curious about her words, Killian furrowed his brow, and in response, she pinched the hem of his shirt at the waist.
It was the spot where a scar remained from the previous incident.
“Don’t go around doing bad or dangerous things…”, she pleaded, her voice trembling as if on the verge of tears.
Killian realized she was talking about that night.
‘Even though I told her to forget…’
He swallowed the words he wanted to say.
Of course, it was impossible to forget something like that just because he told her to. He remembered how pale her face had turned that night. It was impossible to erase that from her memory.
What should he do with this fiancĂŠe?
He hoped that she would think of it as a nightmare from a spring night, something that could be forgotten after sleeping and waking up.
As Killian supported Sophia, he gazed at her quietly.
In response, Sophia also stared intently at his face.
“You’re so handsome like this. There’s nothing to criticize about you, yet my taste has become a landmine….” (T/L: She is so funny, even being drunk.)
Her intoxicated head drooped weakly, leaning against his chest.
“I was deceived… I fell for it completely…”
Sophia struck his forearm weakly with her fist, as if blaming him. But her punch felt as light as a feather.
Killian used his hand to lift her chin, making her raise her head.
“I have lied. At least not to you.”
He met her eyes, whispering tenderly.
In response, Sophia’s pupils trembled.
“I really want to believe those words.”
“Is there any reason not to believe?”
He asked.
Reason?
Of course, because you’re the villain. Because I’ve seen the end of this story.
Sophia quietly pointed to his waist, where the evidence could be found.
Not visible on the surface, but surely there were scars engraved there
“It’s a common occurrence when you work in the military.”
“Look at this. You’re blatantly lying. You’re supposed to be on duty at the military police job, yet you jump in from the terrace. I couldn’t even call a doctor?”
Her furrowed brow scolded him fiercely.
Being drunk, she couldn’t control herself well, yet she managed to feign anger quite convincingly.
He couldn’t really counter that.
“Does that matter so much to you?”
“If it doesn’t matter, then are you even a human?”
Sophia retorted sharply.
Under the influence of alcohol, she didn’t seem to fear the villain, and her courage soared. (T/L: Let’s prepare the funeral of Sophia Fraus. #RIPSophia)