Chapter 42
The next day, Roni grimaced with a face full of hangover, drinking water in big gulps.
How much had she drunk yesterday?
She remembered forcing alcohol onto Allen, but after that, she couldn’t recall anything. What she did remember was Gail, who came with honey water instead of Vivi, handing it to her while saying:
“Big sis, don’t drink anymore from now on.”
Roni quickly accepted the honey water and said,
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t you remember? What you did at the party yesterday?”
With a deep frown, Gail began recounting Roni’s drunken misdeeds. He must have come instead of Vivi just to say this.
Apparently, she had been so drunk that she kept pushing alcohol onto the people around her, singing strange toasts.
Thanks to that, most of the people at the party ended up completely drunk, and the banquet had turned into utter chaos.
What kind of noble party ended up with everyone drinking like that? Even Hild and Vivi had a hard time trying to keep up because Roni kept demanding more drinks to be brought.
“If Allen hadn’t dragged you out, everyone there would have been passed out drunk…”
“…”
“What kind of drinking habit is forcing others to drink? Even Allen had to drink so much because of you that he couldn’t even go back to his dorm. He had to sleep here.”
“Allen did?”
“Yeah. At lunch, make sure you thank him properly. He really went through a lot.”
After saying everything he wanted, Gail took the cup from her, told her to hurry up and wash before coming to the dining hall, and left.
Roni, feeling a little better after drinking the honey water, pressed down on her stomach and headed to the shower.
Vivi, who had been waiting in the bathroom, hesitated when she saw her but soon smiled brightly and attended to her as usual. After a while of hesitating, she softly said,
“My lady, from now on, let’s keep it to just one glass of alcohol.”
“Haha…”
Roni lightly nodded at Vivi’s words.
The truth was, she was weak to alcohol. She rarely drank and had never drunk to the point of passing out.
But yesterday, all the stress she had been holding in had burst out, and she drank recklessly. The more she thought about it, the more ashamed she felt.
Of all things, her drinking habit had to be that. She felt sorry to everyone at the party. Seeing her sinking into self-reproach, Vivi comforted her.
“It’s fine. Everyone was drunk. They won’t even remember.”
“Thank you, Vivi…”
When she entered the dining hall, Leo and Irene gave her a strange look, as if to say we never imagined our Roni could be like that.
Even she had just discovered that she had such a wild side. Awkwardly smiling, Roni took her seat.
Allen, upon seeing her, simply gave a light greeting without saying much. Meanwhile, Gail was tattling to their parents and Allen about how she had drunk so much she blacked out.
Allen’s face stiffened at Gail’s words, but soon returned to its usual expressionless self. Looking at him, Roni thanked him for bringing her back to her room.
“Thank you for yesterday, Allen.”
Allen stared straight at her. She waited nervously for his reply.
After a moment, he showed an unreadable expression—almost like he smiled. But that was all.
“Please refrain from drinking again.”
With those cold words, his face went back to being emotionless, as though he had never smiled.
Roni, having expected such a reaction, dropped her gaze and lowered her head. She didn’t know how to handle the atmosphere between them, and throughout the meal, she wasn’t even sure where the food was going.
As she focused only on her plate with her head down, Allen gave a faint smile again, almost as if he was amused by her flustered state.
Volume 11. Vienna’s Amusement
Chapter 2: The Hunting Festival
The Shalligan family was busy preparing for the upcoming Hunting Festival. The festival was held once a year, at the time when magical energy was at its strongest.
It was a ceremonial event meant to display nobles’ noblesse oblige. Children of each house who possessed magical power were selected to subdue the monsters that had multiplied.
The carcasses of the monsters were then sold, and the proceeds were distributed to those who worked in related trades. For them, it was a grand annual event.
This time, the area brimming with magical energy was the Red Forest in the eastern region. It was already known for its intense magical aura—so much so that even the grass there lost vitality and always carried a reddish hue.
In the original story, it was also the place where Vienna nearly died after falling into a trap.
For Roni, who had no magical power, the Hunting Festival held no meaning. If she went, she’d only be a burden.
So, she just yawned, watching Vivi check the equipment. Vivi was making sure nothing was missing.
Other attendants were groaning as they packed Gail’s weapons, clothes, and banners marked with the Shalligan family’s black eagle.
Even if Roni tried to help, Vivi would surely scold her, so she sat at a distance, sipping tea while watching.
“The Hunting Festival, huh… that really means autumn is here.”
Roni twisted her body in frustration. She didn’t like how quickly time was passing. She had already spent half of her year here, and only about half remained. Gail, next to her, said,
“I’m the one going, so why do you look more depressed?”
“I just… wish time would pass a little slower.”
Roni leaned her face against her arm and murmured languidly. Art school was on break, so she had nothing to do. The magic academy was on break too, but since Allen lived in the dorms, he wouldn’t be coming.
What’s more, he was scheduled to attend the Hunting Festival with Gail. Like Gail, he would also be gone for a while. The Red Forest was quite far from the capital, after all.
Even though Roni had entered the story as a character, she had no magical power, so there was no reason for her to go to the Red Forest. If she went with her weak body, it could cost her life.
At that moment, Irene approached them, her frail body moving slowly.
“Still, I feel relieved knowing Allen is going too. I was worried about sending Gail alone.”
“Mother, do you trust Allen more than your own son?”
Gail pouted as soon as Irene mentioned Allen’s name. Irene, finding him cute, patted his head.
He was only fifteen—it wasn’t easy to let him go. But since Allen, Roni’s fiancé, was going with him, Gail’s safety was assured.
“With Allen by your side, don’t worry too much. Someone like Gail can be carried around in one hand.”
“That’s insulting, sis.”
Gail shot her a glare before sharpening his sword. Thinking about having to part with her beloved younger brother tomorrow left Roni feeling wistful.
It was only a year she had here, and now only half remained. Being apart for so long made her even more reluctant. Ignoring his protests, she hugged him tightly.
“When did you grow up this much…”
“What are you doing? I’m not going off to die.”
“I know. I just feel sad sending off my precious little brother.”
The next day, Allen arrived at the castle on horseback. He greeted Leo and Irene politely.
They asked him to take good care of Gail, and Allen reassured them not to worry. Then, the parents stepped aside to give Roni and Allen some time for farewells.
Roni, fidgeting, pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to him. Allen, who had been staring at her with his usual blank expression, looked momentarily dazed when he saw it.
It was tradition in this country to give a fiancé an embroidered handkerchief before a hunt, as a charm for their safe return.
She knew Allen probably wouldn’t get hurt, but since the story could twist in unexpected ways, she had prepared one. The handkerchief had a four-leaf clover—symbol of luck—and his name embroidered on it.
She thought it was the least she could do. Originally, she had intended to hand it over lightly.
But recently, things had been awkward between them, and remembering how she had once jumped to conclusions by herself made her face burn with embarrassment. Since Allen only looked at the handkerchief without taking it, she explained,
“I read in a book once that a plant called a four-leaf clover symbolizes good luck. I’ll wait here for you to return safely, without injury.”
Since such a plant didn’t exist in this world, she had made up the part about reading it in a book. Allen simply nodded silently. He seemed to like the handkerchief.
Roni tied it around his left wrist herself. The ribbon suited him well.
My Allen looks good in everything.
“Don’t lose it.”
Allen nodded again. She felt disappointed that he only nodded instead of replying—especially since she wouldn’t hear his voice for a long time.
Still, she was relieved he had accepted it at all. She smiled shyly. Somehow, since the party, his atmosphere seemed a little softer, and that reassured her.
Roni stood and watched until the procession disappeared from sight. She felt reluctant, wondering when she would see him again.
But unlike her longing, circumstances soon forced her to follow after them anyway. A compulsion of the original story.
