Chapter 47
“What’s that?”
“What do you mean? It’s something Your Highness should take care of.”
Reina set a box on the table and opened the lid with a proud look. Inside was a faded golden object.
“…That’s what you hit me with and knocked me out.”
Why did he have to say it like that?
“Well… I guess you’re not completely wrong. But instead of calling it that, couldn’t you use nicer words? Like the Holy Grail, a sacred relic, the first gift to mankind… something like that? Why pick the meanest description?”
Reina frowned and shut the lid with a snap.
“So, what do you want me to do with it?” Calhail asked.
Reina smiled slyly.
“Take care of it.”
“Take care…?”
“Return it to the Imperial Treasury.”
“Right now…?”
Reina shrugged.
“You’re free right now, aren’t you? You came back early from the banquet because of Amy anyway.”
“……”
“I planned to return it myself, but if I take this with me to Routezen, the Grail will expose me. So tonight is the only chance.”
“…So on our wedding night, instead of a request for romance, you’re asking me to deal with stolen goods.”
“I was going to sneak it back myself, but as you see…”
Reina spread her sheer nightgown between her fingers. The thin fabric shimmered, and her slender legs showed through. Calhail quickly looked away.
“What about changing clothes? I can bring you some.”
“Amy already packed everything in the carriage. With so much luggage, I don’t even know where it is.”
Calhail frowned, looking at the Grail.
“If you return it and someone catches you, it won’t be a big deal—you’re already royalty. But if I get caught, it’s dangerous. So please, Your Highness. You’re the only one I can trust with this.”
Reina clasped her hands together with a pleading expression. Calhail sighed and put his wine glass down.
“…How do I get in?”
“Yes?”
“I assume there’s a secret passage. You used one last time.”
Realizing he had agreed, Reina’s face lit up. She pulled out a rough map she had drawn and spread it in front of him.
“This is…?”
“The secret passage I used last time.”
Her finger traced over the map.
“If you pull back the ivy here, you’ll see a wall. Press the third brick, and…”
She explained at length the path to the underground storage.
“…So? Think you can return it unnoticed?”
Calhail gave her a sharp look.
“I lived in the palace for years, but even I didn’t know this passage. How do you know it?”
“Well, uh…”
Reina’s eyes darted nervously. Of course, she couldn’t say she knew it because she read it in a novel.
“…Let’s just call it the Saint’s divine gift.”
It didn’t look like Calhail fully believed her, but he didn’t press further. He silently picked up the box.
“…I’ll be back soon.”
He peeked outside, then quietly left. Watching him go, Reina sighed in relief.
“Good. That’s one ticking time bomb out of my hands.”
Bringing the Grail to Routezen was too risky. Better to put it back now, and Calhail had a lower chance of being caught than she did.
“Hope he comes back safely.”
Alone again, Reina rested her chin in her hands and waited.
Time dragged slowly. With nothing to do but wait, her eyes landed on Calhail’s unfinished glass of golden liquor. The crystal bottle sparkled warmly in the light.
‘That’s Father’s precious collection bottle… He only brought it out on special occasions for Calhail.’
If Nicolai gave away this treasured liquor, it must’ve been a serious gesture.
“Does expensive liquor taste different?”
Calhail wasn’t much of a drinker, yet he had downed several glasses earlier. Maybe it was really good.
Curiosity made Reina lift the glass. She took a sip.
The fiery burn shot down her throat.
“Urk!!”
So strong. Beautiful to look at, but the taste was harsh—far stronger than any alcohol she’d imagined.
“Why do people drink this?”
She set the glass down—then froze. Warmth spread from her stomach, tingling through her whole body, giving her a strange feeling.
If Nicolai prized it this much, there had to be something good about it. Worth testing again.
Reina closed her eyes and drank more. The burn was painful, but behind it came… sweetness?
“…It’s refreshing? Or… sweet?”
Each sip left a faint sweet aftertaste. She tried again. Drink, grimace, savor. Drink, think. Soon she gasped.
“Ahhh—!!”
The more she drank, the better it tasted.
“How did I not know about this before?”
At twenty-four, Reina had discovered alcohol.
Nibbling salty cheese with each sip, she nodded.
“No wonder Father loved this so much.”
The golden liquor melted away her tension, and before long she was happily pouring herself more. One glass, then two, then three. Time passed, and Calhail still hadn’t returned.
“Whyy iss hee… soo laaateee…”
Her words slurred. At last, much later, Calhail returned.
“…You could’ve given me better directions.”
The secret entrance wasn’t exactly as Reina had explained.
“It was left, not right. I wasted so much time.”
Even though he had palace privileges, sneaking around as a newlywed groom at night wasn’t easy. Avoiding people slowed him down.
Finally back at Fillonga, Calhail pushed open the bedroom door.
“I’m back. That was harder than expected. How could you even think of doing that alone—”
He stopped mid-sentence.
Reina had passed out on the table, arms folded under her head. Half the liquor bottle was gone. Her thin shoulder was exposed where her slip had slid down.
“…This woman is impossible.”
She had sent him on a mission like a servant, then got drunk and fell asleep. Shaking his head, Calhail noticed his jacket crumpled on the floor.
“I put this on her earlier… Tsk.”
As he bent to pick it up, Reina mumbled in her sleep.
“…Mmm… Your Highness…”
“What?”
He leaned closer.
“You treat me like some drug bottle… You… stupiiiid…”
“…What did you just call me?”
“…Your Highness, you dumb… idiot…”
Calhail’s brows shot up.
“This woman…!”
She insulted, hit, and now cursed at him in her sleep—yet she was supposed to be a noble lady, even a duchess. His eyes fell again on her bare shoulder, the strap sliding down.
Should he fix it? Or not?
Frowning, he grabbed her half-finished glass and downed it in one go.
I can’t just touch her body without permission. But… we’re married. And she’s drunk, defenseless…
‘She trusts me too much. Maybe it’s fine? No, no… stop.’
To steady his racing heart, he drank more, gulping down the rest of the bottle. Just then, Reina’s eyes flew open.
Her bright green eyes met his. She broke into a silly grin.
“Hehe. You’re back?”
She reached toward him, still smiling drunkenly. Calhail stepped back.
“…What are you doing?”
“What do you mean… I’m welcoming my husband home from work!”
“You never cease to amaze me.”
She had insulted him, hit him, cursed him, and now giggled at him like a fool.
And that hand reaching for him—what was he supposed to do with it?
Reject her? Accept her?
While he hesitated, Reina swayed and almost fell. Calhail quickly caught her.
“How much did you drink that you can’t even sit up straight?”
“Hehehe… I was waitinnn for youuu…”
She looped her arms around his neck, smiling like a child.
“…You waited for me?”
“Mmhmm… Of course… It’s sooo important…”
“Important?”
Was she saying he was important? Or just the task of returning the Grail?
