Chapter 89
When Chanellica opened her eyes, she frowned. Unlike usual, when she felt refreshed after waking, today she had a faint headache.
Why does my head hurt? Ah, right. It’s because I drank so much beer. I did drink yesterday… it was delicious. But wait—how did I end up drinking? With whom?
Staring hazily at the ceiling, Chanellica began carefully peeling away the fog that clouded her memories. Her heavy eyelids fluttered several times before the events of last night finally came back to her—starting from when she first suggested drinking with Wills.
“……”
Covering her eyes with her palm, Chanellica tried to keep a calm expression, even though no one was watching.
Well, I am a hatchling. That kind of thing can happen.
Her lips twitched as she forced them into a smile.
Tick, tick, tick.
She had never noticed the ticking of the clock before, but now it sounded deafening. She must have heard it repeat countless times, until at last her composure broke down.
Pulling the blanket over her head, Chanellica rolled and twisted in bed frantically. Her face was burning red.
She remembered everything. From start to finish, even right before she fell asleep.
What does being a hatchling have to do with anything? Why on earth did I do that?!
She cursed herself. It was the first time she had ever experienced something like this. Sure, she knew that some people became like wild animals when drunk—she’d seen it plenty of times while working at taverns—but she never imagined she’d be one of them. Whenever she had drunk before, nothing had ever happened… though she’d never drunk that much before last night.
What kind of insane thing did I do…? Was there some kind of spell on the beer? Did I really do all that yesterday?
The thought was shocking. It felt as if there was another version of herself living inside her body.
She clearly remembered everything she had done to Derwin—starting from when she began throwing off her clothes, to the nonsense she babbled, and even the kisses she showered on him while calling him handsome. She wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.
Alright, I’ll just pretend it never happened. Deny everything. Act like it never took place. Lord’s personality isn’t the type to even bring it up anyway.
With a solemn face, Chanellica threw back the blanket and strode into the washroom to bathe. Normally she would eat before washing, but today she reversed the order. Partly because her stomach felt off, but mostly because she wanted to delay facing Derwin for as long as possible.
After scrubbing herself clean, even washing her hair, she sighed as she stepped out. The moment she thought Derwin might be standing right outside the door, her earlier confidence shrank to the size of a fingernail. Still, she told herself over and over that nothing had happened, and opened the door boldly.
“Lady Chanel, you’re awake?”
The maids greeted her at once. As expected, behind them stood her guards, Derwin and Wills. Chanellica flinched slightly, but forced herself not to look at Derwin.
“I got up late. Why didn’t you wake me? I was supposed to have lessons with the maids this morning, wasn’t I?”
“You seemed very tired, so we told the teachers to go back,” one maid explained.
Chanellica’s face stiffened.
Don’t tell me they actually said I overslept because I stayed up drinking with my guard knights? To those strict instructors?
“We only said you weren’t feeling well, so please don’t worry.”
The maid seemed to read her mind and quickly reassured her.
“Then… there’s nothing scheduled for today?”
“All your engagements have been cancelled. Shall we prepare a meal for you?”
“No, my stomach feels off. I’ll just rest.”
She wanted to run back into her room as quickly as possible. Derwin was one thing, but Wills was just as awkward to face. Even if she had fallen asleep midway, he had still seen her start stripping and making a fool of herself.
“Lady Chanel. Would you like some juice that’s good for the stomach?”
She was about to step back inside when Wills spoke up.
Don’t talk to me.
But she couldn’t just ignore him either. Turning her head, she forced a small smile.
“Thank you, but I think it’s better if I don’t eat or drink anything right now.”
“If you feel too uncomfortable, please say so. I only mentioned it because there’s a detoxifying juice I often drink myself, and it works quite well.”
“You? Are you feeling unwell too, Sir Wills?”
Chanellica’s eyes widened. He looked perfectly fine. Even last night while drinking, he hadn’t shown the slightest hint of drunkenness.
Wills chuckled. “I don’t get drunk easily, but I do feel heavy the next morning. That’s why I drink it often—for my liver.”
“I… see.”
Chanellica was about to politely end the conversation and retreat when something struck her. She stopped and glanced at his face.
How can he act so normal, as if nothing happened? Last night, he collapsed because of Lord’s magic.
Until the magic took effect, Wills hadn’t seemed the least bit drunk. Then suddenly, he had fallen asleep. Any normal person would wonder what had happened. But Wills wasn’t mentioning it at all.
Chanellica found it strange. Was his stomach really heavy, or was that just an excuse? His face even looked brighter than yesterday.
Unable to suppress her curiosity, she feigned innocence and asked, “By the way, what happened to me yesterday? I suddenly fell asleep, and I can’t remember.”
“Haha, while we were drinking beer, you nodded off first, Lady Chanel.”
Her eyes blinked in surprise.
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“You’re saying I fell asleep drinking with you? Me?”
“That’s right. You leaned over the table and dozed off. I carried you to bed and left.”
What on earth…?
Chanellica stared hard at Wills, suspecting a prank. But his eyes showed neither jest nor deceit.
Does he really believe that? Just what happened?
Her gaze almost shifted toward Derwin before she caught herself.
Did Lord alter Wills’ memory? If it’s him, it’s possible.
She wanted to ask immediately, but she held herself back with difficulty. If she questioned Lord, it would reveal that she remembered all her humiliating behavior from last night. And she had no idea what he might say about it. No—she had to stick to pretending she remembered nothing.
“Thank you for telling me.”
With that, she darted back into her room, desperate to get away from Derwin’s presence.
At least she hadn’t bumped into him directly. Relieved, she collapsed onto the bed. Since things were already like this, she decided to fuse with the mattress all day. The dull throb in her head hadn’t gone away anyway.
Lying there, she let out a small sigh. After the wave of humiliation had passed, another thought surfaced from the back of her mind.
Why didn’t Lord do anything to me last night? He could have put me to sleep the way he did with Wills.
Her brows furrowed. No matter how she tried not to dwell on him, thoughts of Lord always returned.
If only I could see His Majesty more often, then I wouldn’t be so caught up with Lord…
Even though she was the one who had acted shamefully, she found herself resenting busy Eleusis. After all, wasn’t the whole mess from yesterday his fault in the first place? He was supposed to dine with her, but had broken his promise.
Rumble. Boom!
Her train of thought shattered as a deafening thunderclap tore through the air. Unlike ordinary thunder, this one was vicious, sharp, and ear-splitting.
Chanellica’s face twisted in pain. Compared to the thunder she’d heard on Spicher Island for 199 years, this was unbearable. Probably because now she was in human form. Her sensitive ears felt as if they were about to burst.
“…Huh?”
Curled under the blanket with her hands clamped over her ears, Chanellica suddenly felt a strange familiarity.
That ear-splitting thunder… that stinging, numbing pain in her ears…
I’ve definitely heard this before. Yesterday, wasn’t it?
It had rained all day yesterday, but there had been no thunder. Yet she remembered hearing it. She carefully retraced her memories until she stopped.
Night. It was at night.
A faint memory surfaced. She had heard the thunder, her ears hurt, and she had woken up in pain. Then…
As always, there had been that warm, pleasant sensation in her chest whenever she slept.
That warmth had lulled her back to sleep. But as soon as she recalled it, her eyes widened.
That wasn’t natural…?
She had assumed it was her dragon nature, healing her naturally in her sleep. But thinking back, she realized she had also sensed magic within that warmth. Which meant—it was a spell. And she faintly remembered someone being beside her.
Forgetting even her ear pain, she jumped barefoot to the door and flung it open. Derwin and Wills seemed to have gone to rest, since she was staying inside. Perfect. When the maids asked what was wrong, she hushed them and asked:
“Does His Majesty know how to use magic?”
The maids blinked in surprise at her barefoot question. Looking at each other, they finally nodded, almost amused.
“Yes, that’s right. He can use magic.”
“Ah…”
“You didn’t know?”
“No. He’s never told me that.”
“He’s not very skilled, but we’ve heard he can do a little. Everyone in the palace knows, actually.”
At last, things clicked in Chanellica’s mind.
Ever since she’d come to the palace, Eleusis had been constantly visiting her chambers, whether she was awake or asleep.
But she had never once thought that the warm, soothing sensation she felt while asleep was his magic. She had known he cared for her deeply, but never imagined he was going this far.
Why didn’t he just say so? Why only come when I’m asleep?
Her heart swelled with gratitude. More than ever, she wanted to see Eleusis as soon as possible.
“When His Majesty comes, make sure to wake me. Don’t just let him leave, alright?”
“Hehe. But His Majesty doesn’t like it when you wake up midway.”
Always so thoughtful and gentle.
“Yeah… well, it’s a good thing you didn’t wake me yesterday, when I was drunk.”
Who knows what kind of disgrace she would have made then? Just imagining it made her shiver.
“Yesterday?”
The maid looked puzzled as Chanellica turned back toward her room.
“Yes, yesterday. Why?”
“Lady Chanel… His Majesty didn’t come to the villa yesterday.”
