~ Chapter : 3 ~
In the original story route, I had managed to dodge this and that, and finally, the Academy graduation party had arrived.
After being left out during the drinking games, instead of quietly heading home, I decided to drink alone.
“From now on, you’re my friends.”
Burning liquor, erupting like a volcano, freezing like ice, cascading like a waterfall…
With one drink, I could see the lavish life I would lead as the youngest daughter of a count’s family. With two more, luxurious hobbies and cultural pursuits unfolded before me. When I borrowed a tray to stack them and drink properly, glittering jewels and expensive food danced before my eyes.
“I’m officially a rich heiress now. They said they’d give me a villa as a graduation gift.”
The villa was as big as a university campus. My sadness melted away, replaced with laughter.
But… someone I had briefly forgotten because of the drinking game started nagging at my mind.
In fact, there was something that had been bothering me throughout the graduation party.
“Why isn’t Camilla around? According to the original story, she should be working part-time at the party right now.”
I got up and wandered around, but even as the party was nearly over, I couldn’t find her.
“My head hurts… I can’t look any longer. I’ll just watch from afar… if it’s fate, we’ll meet somehow.”
So, I slumped near the ballroom and began sipping a new cocktail. My head spun as I called some classmates, but no one came. They really had abandoned me and gone home.
Then, someone approached me.
“Esmeralda, may I join you for a drink?”
It was Rosio—the male lead I had been avoiding all this time.
He carefully sat beside me and reached toward the glass I held. Normally, I would have bolted before he even finished saying my name, but I wasn’t in the condition to do that thanks to the alcohol.
“Wow… how can someone look like that?”
I stole glances at him, admiring his beauty.
Some people claim that even unattractive individuals can be made to look handsome with a bit of subjective perspective—but Rosio was not one of those cases. He was objectively gorgeous, the kind everyone in the empire praised as the most beautiful man.
A face blessed by a goddess, violet eyes gifted by angels, a body sculpted with divine craftsmanship…
Anyway, since I hadn’t run away like usual, I couldn’t outright refuse, so I deflected.
“This is some really strong liquor…”
“If I don’t drink, I think you’ll finish it yourself. You’ve already overdone it.”
Rosio said gently, as if to reassure me.
Just as described in the novel, his party attire was elegant yet dignified, and the way his black hair fell naturally revealed impeccably groomed eyebrows.
It was the first time I’d seen him for so long. Even now, close as we were, seeing him any closer would be dangerous.
His alluring face and restrained aura stirred something in my chest. No, maybe my heart was racing and I was flushed simply from the alcohol.
“Well, fine. We probably won’t meet again, so this much is okay.”
I was about to live the life of a countess without duties, while Rosio and Camilla would build their achievements and love. I handed the glass I was holding to Rosio as a gesture of celebration.
“…So you’ve been uncomfortable around me all this time.”
Rosio took the glass carefully, sipped once, and looked at me.
“If I’ve done something wrong, please tell me.”
Wrong? No, nothing. But saying “nothing” might hurt him, so I hesitated.
“Of course, avoiding you for five years for no reason would be a bit much.”
I came up with a plausible excuse.
“…You’re a genius magician, aren’t you?”
When I said it, Rosio gave a wry smile. Some students were jealous of him because he was so talented, so it was a familiar excuse, even if not entirely sincere.
“That’s a hard reason to accept.”
Rosio fiddled with the glass as he replied. True, it was the kind of excuse only top students obsessed with academics would give, and I had no reason to dislike him without effort.
Moreover, many admired him as much as they envied him. In the newspapers for commoners, they occasionally ran secret polls for the most popular and virtuous noble, and Rosio was always at the top.
Also, he was the unwavering favorite among noble ladies for his looks. Still, I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“Whether you accept it or not, it doesn’t change the fact that I dislike you.”
I looked down, afraid to see Rosio’s expression. Was that too harsh? I immediately regretted it. I felt like I’d hurt an innocent person.
Maybe I should have just stayed a distant acquaintance.
“No, time to make my exit.”
I stood abruptly—but forgot I had orthostatic hypotension and was drunk. Dizziness hit instantly, and I staggered.
“Esmeralda!”
He reflexively stood and caught me. My body leaned back as if dancing. At a breath’s distance, we faced each other. His violet eyes were wide with surprise, lashes trembling.
For a moment, I lost control and brushed my lips against his lightly. I should have just touched with my fingers—but with my lips! The long-held restraint crumbled because he was that handsome.
“I… I’m crazy. I should apologize quickly…”
Yet, neither of us pulled away. If anything, his lips parted slightly, as if inviting me in.
So I went for a deeper kiss, gripping his collar tightly.
Yes. It wasn’t just the alcohol causing this.
“I want to mess you up completely.”
His face, inciting this temptation, was to blame. A melody ran through my head—up, down, up, up, down.
“Haa…”
I pulled back slightly, breathless. He seemed disappointed. After waiting for me to catch my breath, he kissed me again.
Kissing him felt warm and comforting like a winter fireplace, yet also passionate and fiery. When I opened my eyes slightly, I saw his long black lashes and skin that could rival an actor’s.
“Why is he so good at this?”
It was strange. I had said I disliked him, yet he welcomed it. I had avoided him, but now, I was captivated.
“Maybe… I can enjoy this a little more?”
I decided to savor this sweet, thrilling sensation a bit longer. I put my hands on his shoulders and hugged him tightly; it felt like there was no space between us. We kissed for a long while. I wanted to stop, but things kept getting stranger.
All my prior resolve, manners, and sense of propriety…
“No, nothing can be perfect anyway…”
I slowly pulled away, mumbling.
Even if he’s the male lead, isn’t this too much? Unparalleled beauty, magical genius, a powerful noble, massive wealth, inner and outer perfection, a model student… and he’s also good at kissing.
“Huh?”
“Perfect people don’t exist. Surely he has… thinning hair, or…”
Something else. No chance of hair loss, so I swallowed my words and glanced at his lower body. He seemed to notice, and his face flushed slightly.
“You may check if you wish.”
Rosio confidently met my gaze.
Yes, this was insane. I grabbed his hand and led him out of the party. The cold wind didn’t sober me.
If I had found Camilla at that point, maybe I could have stopped myself.
But when I glanced back at the ballroom, it was quiet, the cleanup long done, even the lights were off.
By all appearances, Camilla definitely hadn’t come to work tonight.
“Since we’ve kissed… maybe I can borrow him for just one night…”
I had him get into the waiting carriage and instructed it to go to the Saint Count’s estate.
It was two hours from the Academy by carriage.
Along the way, we kissed passionately, and Rosio protected my head from hitting anything.
When we arrived, my magic responded, and the carriage passed through a gate directly to the entrance of the estate.
Gates required expensive magical materials and were typically only installed by high-ranking nobles, used by family members and a few companions.
When the magic activated and we arrived at the estate, we stepped out, hair disheveled. The staff were shocked to see Rosio.
Driven by instinct, I walked with him to my room, which consisted of a bedroom, living room, bathroom, reception room, and dressing room. Rosio spoke to the maid Jenna, waiting in the bedroom.
“Miss Esmeralda is quite drunk. Please prepare a remedy for the hangover.”
Jenna brought a potion, and as I collapsed onto the bed, Rosio handed it to me, whispering in a low voice:
“Esmeralda, I hope you’re not judging in your drunken state. Please reconsider. After keeping your distance for five years, do you truly want me, even for just this moment?”
I drank the potion under Jenna’s watch. Minutes later, my head cleared. My rational mind and final conscience peeked up.
“…”
Embarrassment and guilt washed over me. Had it been right to bring Rosio here under the influence? But it was fleeting.
“I would be sad if you mistook me for someone else.”
I liked how sensible he looked, asking my opinion while I was sober, and the disheveled clothes from our earlier tussle only fueled desire.
I wanted his lips near my ear, just like before.
I told Jenna there was nothing she needed to do tonight. Once she left, I hurriedly untied his bow on his cheek.
The metallic clasp fell with a click, and my rational mind disappeared entirely.
“Esmeralda.”
“Rosio.”
This time, it was me who brought him down onto the bed.
