After finishing the nerve-racking dinner with Helsion, I stepped out.

Without realizing it, I gently rubbed my stomach. The uncomfortable setting meant I barely ate, and instead of feeling full, I was starving.

Since it wasn’t too late, I turned to Ascan, who was walking beside me, and unilaterally declared,

“Let’s go to a tavern.”

“Now?”

Ascan’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t outright say it was nonsense, but his gaze conveyed his feelings.

But I continued, unfazed,

“I’m feeling down and want to drink. Since the imperial guard will protect me starting today, you’re coming along.”

“Didn’t you hear what I just said? The Empress’s side might be targeting you, so you need to be careful.”

“You’ll protect me anyway, won’t you?”

For a moment, Ascan stared at me, unable to retort.

I looked at him and flashed a wicked smile.

“If you don’t want to, fine. I’ll go to the tavern with Zen alone.”

I was still upset because of what Ascan said during dinner. What? My safety doesn’t concern him? No personal feelings?

With a cold breeze, I quickened my pace, leaving Ascan behind.

Soon, I spotted Zen waiting at the spot where we parted. I headed straight toward Zen and said,

“Zen, let’s go grab a drink.”

“Did something happen, my lady?”

“I’ll tell you later. Let’s just go.”

“Understood.”

Zen bowed respectfully.

As Zen and I took the lead, I could feel Ascan following behind.

‘Hmph, bound by imperial orders, he can’t just leave me alone, can he?’

The imperial guard would likely protect me until I rejected Helsion’s proposal.

Until then, I’d get to see Ascan’s face as much as I wanted, but instead of joy, my heart was filled with resentment.

Let him struggle a bit.

* * *

I rode a carriage with Ascan and entered a luxurious tavern famous in the Kalua Empire.

Unlike ordinary taverns, it was entirely composed of private rooms, perfect for enjoying time with just your group.

Glancing at Zen, who was following a step behind, I asked,

“Zen, want to drink with me?”

“How could I sit with you, my lady? I’ll guard the entrance, so please enjoy yourself.”

Zen bowed politely and stood at the entrance without entering the room.

Unexpectedly, it was just Ascan and me drinking together, but I didn’t care.

As soon as I sat down, I ordered nearly everything on the menu. For drinks, I chose the most expensive liquor, naturally.

The tavern owner, delighted, said,

“Shall I bring the drinks first?”

“Sure.”

Soon, ice and liquor were placed on the table.

As I picked up ice with tongs and put it in a glass, Ascan, sitting across from me, gave me a disapproving look.

“Why did you order so much food you can’t even eat?”

“It’s my money. None of your business.”

I replied coldly on purpose, but Ascan didn’t seem fazed.

Pouting, I handed him a glass.

“Want one?”

“No thanks. I can’t drink on duty.”

His words reminded me of Helsion’s imperial order to the guard to protect me.

It felt like he was saying he wouldn’t be here drinking with me if it weren’t for duty, so I slammed the glass down with a thud.

“Fine, then.”

Before, I might have insisted he drink with me, but right now, I was extremely bitter.

Out of spite, I poured a full glass of liquor and downed it in one go, even though no appetizers had arrived.

The burning sensation of the liquor sliding down my throat was vivid.

I grimaced instinctively, and Ascan glanced at the bottle, saying,

“That’s strong liquor. Drinking like that will get you drunk.”

“What’s it to you? The great imperial guard captain will keep me safe, so I’ll be fine, right?”

“Are you going to keep acting like this?”

“What did I do?”

As I locked eyes with Ascan’s indifferent gaze, the waiters came in.

All sorts of appetizers were placed on the table. There was barely enough space, so they shuffled plates around to fit everything.

Once the appetizers were set and the waiters left, I still didn’t touch the food and drank more.

Seeing this, Ascan furrowed his brow and said in a low voice,

“Slow down.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle myself.”

“Why are you mad at me?”

“Why am I mad?”

I stared at Ascan, who seemed clueless about the reason.

I couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but it felt like a fire was raging in my chest.

“You said in front of the Emperor that you don’t care about me. That you don’t care if I’m safe or not.”

“That’s…”

Ascan paused, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

For a moment, he looked so devastatingly handsome that it made me even angrier.

In a calmer tone, he continued,

“What was I supposed to say when they’re offering you the Empress’s seat? If I said we had a connection, even though I don’t remember it, what do you think would happen? It’s not just the Empress or the Manoko family that would be a problem. You could be in danger, not me.”

“But did you have to say it like that?”

I poured another glass and gulped it down.

Ascan looked at me with even more disapproval and said,

“And why didn’t you refuse?”

“You mean the Empress’s seat?”

“Yes. If you like me, why leave room for ambiguity?”

“L-like? Who said I like you!”

One of the most frustrating things was that Ascan had lost his memories.

Who was the one who stirred my heart, and now he’s blaming me for everything?

Stunned, I reached to pour another drink, but Ascan snatched the bottle.

“What are you doing?”

“Eat some food first.”

Ascan glared at me sharply and filled my glass with ice. I noticed the ice in my glass had already melted.

‘What’s the big deal about not eating appetizers that he’s glaring at me like that?’

Pouting, I grabbed a random piece of food from the table and put it in my mouth. It soothed my burning stomach a bit.

Ascan handed me a glass filled with ice and just a splash of liquor.

“I think I’m the one who should be mad.”

“What did I do?”

“You smiled.”

“What?”

“You smiled at the Emperor.”

His words felt oddly curt.

I was dumbfounded. Ascan stared at me with a cold expression, his voice lower as he continued,

“Why do you smile at just anyone? Weren’t you supposed to like me?”

“No, you’re the one who liked me more!”

Flabbergasted, I downed the drink Ascan gave me. Still thirsty, I poured another from the bottle and drank again.

Ascan frowned and snatched the glass away.

“I told you to drink slowly.”

“It’s my choice. And why do you care who I smile at? Are you jealous or something?”

“Who said I’m jealous?”

Ascan gave a sardonic laugh, as if it were absurd.

Even more incredulous, I widened my eyes and said,

“Then mind your own business.”

Just because he took my glass didn’t mean I couldn’t drink.

Stubbornly, I grabbed the bottle and drank straight from it, gulping it down.

It was childish, but right now, I wanted to do the opposite of whatever Ascan told me. I was utterly resentful.

Suddenly, Ascan snatched the bottle from my hand.

“If you keep this up, stop drinking. Drinking so fast will ruin your stomach.”

“Mind your own business. Whether I ruin my stomach or not!”

I reached for the bottle he took, but Ascan pulled back and said,

“Are you already drunk?”

“What? You drink to get drunk, don’t you?”

I hadn’t realized it, but I started feeling dizzy.

Drinking strong liquor on an empty stomach so quickly must have done it.

But I wasn’t about to back down now. Today, I felt like I wouldn’t be satisfied until I was completely wasted.

“Give it back… ugh!”

While wrestling with Ascan over the bottle, I lost my balance.

As I felt my body tilt, I instinctively closed my eyes, only to crash into Ascan’s solid chest.

Snapping back to reality and looking up, I realized our position.

Ascan was half-lying on the sofa, seemingly to catch me from falling, and I was practically on top of him.

Unintentionally, his face was right in front of mine. Long eyelashes, eyes like they were made of moonlight, a sharp nose, and lips, lips, lips…

Ascan’s rosy lips stood out vividly.

Without thinking, I brushed my thumb along the line of his lips. His golden eyes trembled faintly.

“What are you doing…”

“Your lips are pretty.”

They looked like lips I’d want to kiss.

As that thought crossed my mind, my vision grew blurry.

“Uh… why am I so…”

Dizzy?

Before I could finish, I dropped my head.

I passed out. Ignoring my limits and chugging strong liquor must have hit me late.

* * *

Ascan held his breath for a moment. His heart pounded like it might burst.

For a second, he thought Tanashia was going to kiss him. But he had no intention of dodging.

If Tanashia had lowered her head and kissed him…

What would have happened next?

Ascan felt a strange emotion he’d never experienced before. It shook his heart like a storm.

He could no longer make excuses or deny it.

He could lie to others, but not to himself.

With a thud, Ascan, drained of strength, set the bottle down, causing it to tip over and spill.

He looked at Tanashia, breathing evenly against his shoulder.

“…What makes you trust me so much?”

Tanashia wasn’t a fool. The more he knew her, the sharper she seemed.

So why did she never once doubt him and trust him completely?

The Empress, Seruna, and the Manoko family were targeting Tanashia. Logically, she should question whose side the imperial guard captain was on.

Ascan had no ties to the Manoko family, but Tanashia, unaware of this, should have been cautious.

Yet, she trusted him as if it were the most natural thing, never doubting he’d protect her.

Her sound sleep now was proof enough.

If Ascan had any ill intent, even the continent’s greatest weapons dealer wouldn’t stand a chance and would die without resisting.

Receiving such blind faith and trust made him, absurdly, not want to disappoint her.

“Imperial orders…”

Even before meeting Helsion, he’d noticed suspicious figures lurking around the mansion.

He dealt with them easily, but he couldn’t shake the feeling they were targeting Tanashia. Today, he finally understood why.

“Should I have said I was already protecting you before the Emperor’s orders?”

Ascan chuckled at the thought that slipped out and lifted Tanashia effortlessly into his arms.

He wanted to stay like this, but his keen ears picked up a sound.

As Ascan carried Tanashia out of the room, Zen, waiting outside, looked at them in shock.

“My lady…”

“I’ll take her.”

Zen frowned disapprovingly, but Ascan ignored him and walked down the tavern’s hallway.

As he did, a scream came from another room.

“Argh!”

Zen quickly scanned the surroundings, but there was no need for him to act. The tavern was already filled with imperial guards.

Zen noticed this and looked at Ascan with surprise.

Ascan hadn’t called the guards when heading to the palace, but after learning Seruna and the Manoko family were targeting Tanashia, things changed.

Leaving the palace, he left a signal only the guards would recognize, and they were now securing the tavern.

Tanashia was right. As long as Ascan was there, she wouldn’t get hurt.

With that, Ascan carried Tanashia and calmly boarded the carriage.

The oblivious coachman asked,

“Shall we depart, Count?”

“Go.”

Ascan took off his coat and draped it over the sleeping Tanashia’s upper body. Staring at her face, he thought,

‘She said I was kind, pure, and loyal…’

At first, he thought it was impossible. But then another possibility emerged.

As a child, had he hidden his claws around Tanashia, acting like a cute kitten while actually being a fierce tiger?

It was similar to why he wasn’t confronting Helsion now. The Emperor was still necessary, so he let him be.

‘If that wasn’t the case… I would’ve killed him earlier.’

When Helsion proposed the Empress’s seat to Tanashia.

He definitely would’ve killed him.

If he hadn’t been holding back with some hidden agenda…

Suddenly, Tanashia’s repeated claim came to mind.

—No, you liked me more.

Could he have acted to win Tanashia’s love?

Looking at her sleeping face, Ascan suddenly felt an urge to hide her where no one else could see.

Sometimes, looking at her stirred dark emotions within him.

“Tanashia.”

He called softly, but she remained fast asleep.

Gazing at her, he gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and murmured,

“If you keep shaking me up like this, you’ll have to take responsibility.”

The forgotten past didn’t matter. He only wanted to know the truth behind this burning emotion coursing through him.