'This...'
Sylvia picked up something glittering between the well-kept lawns. It was...an empty wine bottle.
'I guess this is a good place.'
Sylvia casually swung the empty wine bottle around. It was sunny, windy, and had just the right amount of shade. There was no way she was the only one who knew about this place. Perhaps some employee had taken a break and forgotten to leave it behind.
'I guess this is a good place.'
Sylvia casually swung the empty wine bottle around. It was sunny, windy, and had just the right amount of shade. There was no way she was the only one who knew about this place. Perhaps some employee had taken a break and forgotten to leave it behind.
Sylvia sat there for a while, looking around to see if there were any other empty bottles left behind. She sighed deeply as the gaze pierced the back of her head.
“...Stop hiding and come out, Randall.”
At those words, a rustling sound was heard from the grass a little distance away, and then it became quiet. When Sylvia turned her head and stared at the grass, Randall, who had leaves stuck to his hair, finally got up awkwardly. He raised his hand and swung his hair once, then left the grass and approached Sylvia.
“What’s going on out there at this hour?”
“That’s what I’m asking. And you follow me in secret.”
Sylvia asked, tilting her eyebrows suspiciously. Randall couldn’t bring himself to say, “I thought I would make you uncomfortable,” and slowly avoided her gaze. After a while of silence, Sylvia was the first to speak.
“...So why did you come out?”
“Ah, that’s it. I can’t sleep well because I changed my sleeping position...”
“The same goes for me.”
"Is that so."
As soon as the two finished their conversation, they again shut their mouths like clams. Sylvia was reminded of her nightmare while talking, and Randall was so worried about Sylvia’s words that he couldn’t sleep. Sylvia unconsciously tightened her hand as she recalled her nightmare, and then she came to her senses with a start at the smooth feeling of her palm touching it.
"Ah."
Sylvia looked down at the empty wine bottle in her hand with a surprised expression. Her gaze was fixed on the wine bottle, and she was lost in a new sense of appreciation.
'Come to think of it, I've never had a drink with Randall.'
She had a drink at a banquet to welcome the vassals shortly after arriving in the North, but she had never had a drink with Randall face to face.
"Come to think of it..."
Then Randall said something along the same lines as she had been thinking.
“I’ve never had a drink with my wife before.”
When Sylvia raised her gaze, she saw Randall’s face with a faint smile. Sylvia blinked in surprise at the fact that he had the same thoughts as her, but eventually as if she had no choice, she smiled like him.
“...That’s right. I can’t sleep anyway, so should I have a drink since it’s come to this?”
At those words, Randall's face lit up like the moon in the night sky.
“...Stop hiding and come out, Randall.”
At those words, a rustling sound was heard from the grass a little distance away, and then it became quiet. When Sylvia turned her head and stared at the grass, Randall, who had leaves stuck to his hair, finally got up awkwardly. He raised his hand and swung his hair once, then left the grass and approached Sylvia.
“What’s going on out there at this hour?”
“That’s what I’m asking. And you follow me in secret.”
Sylvia asked, tilting her eyebrows suspiciously. Randall couldn’t bring himself to say, “I thought I would make you uncomfortable,” and slowly avoided her gaze. After a while of silence, Sylvia was the first to speak.
“...So why did you come out?”
“Ah, that’s it. I can’t sleep well because I changed my sleeping position...”
“The same goes for me.”
"Is that so."
As soon as the two finished their conversation, they again shut their mouths like clams. Sylvia was reminded of her nightmare while talking, and Randall was so worried about Sylvia’s words that he couldn’t sleep. Sylvia unconsciously tightened her hand as she recalled her nightmare, and then she came to her senses with a start at the smooth feeling of her palm touching it.
"Ah."
Sylvia looked down at the empty wine bottle in her hand with a surprised expression. Her gaze was fixed on the wine bottle, and she was lost in a new sense of appreciation.
'Come to think of it, I've never had a drink with Randall.'
She had a drink at a banquet to welcome the vassals shortly after arriving in the North, but she had never had a drink with Randall face to face.
"Come to think of it..."
Then Randall said something along the same lines as she had been thinking.
“I’ve never had a drink with my wife before.”
When Sylvia raised her gaze, she saw Randall’s face with a faint smile. Sylvia blinked in surprise at the fact that he had the same thoughts as her, but eventually as if she had no choice, she smiled like him.
“...That’s right. I can’t sleep anyway, so should I have a drink since it’s come to this?”
At those words, Randall's face lit up like the moon in the night sky.
***
After Randall and Sylvia decided to have a late-night drink, they headed straight for the back door of the Count's mansion's kitchen. Sylvia reached out and turned the doorknob, but hesitated.
“Now that I think about it, of course... it would be locked.”
“Now that I think about it, of course... it would be locked.”
“Sylvia, wait a minute.”
Randall pulled a small pin out of his sleeve after Sylvia stepped aside. He fiddled with the lock with the pin for a moment before the door clicked open. Sylvia looked up at Randall with wide eyes, and he hid the pin and coughed.
“Cough. When I was little, I used to run around here and there with Philia... Let’s go in.”
“You two were a bunch of troublemakers.”
“Not to that extent...”
The two continued their heated debate about the definition of a troublemaker as they hid in the kitchen. Sylvia searched her memory and gathered some of the alcohol and fruit that the servants had hidden. Then she led Randall to a small pavilion on one side of the backyard. Randall asked as he arranged the wine bottle, glasses, and snacks he had brought for Sylvia on the table.
“Sylvia. Are you a good drinker?”
“I don’t know... What about you?”
“I drink well.”
The answer came back readily. Sylvia felt a strange sense of triumph at the attitude that seemed to be stating an extremely obvious fact, and she raised the corners of her mouth.
“You seem quite confident.”
“I was just telling the truth.”
“Hmm.”
“...What are those eyes?”
“Yeah, I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
"Ha."
When Sylvia looked at Randall as if she was looking at a child who was being rude, he flared up. He roughly swept his bangs back with one hand, smiled crookedly for the first time in his life, and said.
“If you really can’t believe it, would you like to make a bet? Who will put down their glass first?”
Sylvia agreed with a mocking laugh as Randall approached her without hesitation.
"Great."
So the drinking match started out of the blue in the middle of the night. And perhaps unsurprisingly, after about an hour, Randall was the only one who was drunk and making a fuss.
“How on earth... are you so fine...”
Randall spoke with difficulty, straining his eyes which were constantly blurry. The table was now filled with empty wine bottles. Because he had refilled them once, there were probably ten bottles. However, Sylvia, sitting across from him, was happily watching him with an unchanging expression on her face.
'Who said to attack me like that?'
She was born with a strong competitive spirit, and perhaps because of her experience as the Demon Lord, if someone dared to attack her, she would have to defeat them to feel satisfied. Randall didn’t know, but Sylvia had been casting a detoxification spell on her body since she had her first drink. So no matter how much she drank, it would be like pouring water into a bottomless bowl.
Sylvia said as she looked at Randall, who was leaning half-lying on the table.
“Are you giving up? If you drink any more, you won’t be able to wake up tomorrow.”
“No. You... asked me to go together.”
Randall muttered inaccurately and struggled to get up. His hair was a mess, and his face was red, but he didn't give up. Sylvia clicked her tongue inwardly at his tearful appearance and snatched the wine bottle from him.
“Just let it be and let it be. What do you want?”
The two had promised to grant the other one what he wanted in exchange for the bet. After all, she had seen Randall drunk enough, and she had also used the detoxification magic trick. It wouldn’t be hard to grant him one thing he wanted. So when Sylvia asked him what he wanted out of kindness, Randall suddenly shook his head.
“No, that can’t be done.”
It was a firm voice, unusual for someone drunk. Sylvia tilted her head, thinking that it was only at times like this that his pronunciation became more precise.
“Are you sure you’re okay? I won’t ask you three times.”
“...”
“What do you want?”
When Sylvia pressed him, saying that this was the last question, Randall closed his mouth. He blinked his eyes more blearily than usual, and after a long pause, he finally opened his mouth.
"Then..."
“...”
“Are you giving up? If you drink any more, you won’t be able to wake up tomorrow.”
“No. You... asked me to go together.”
Randall muttered inaccurately and struggled to get up. His hair was a mess, and his face was red, but he didn't give up. Sylvia clicked her tongue inwardly at his tearful appearance and snatched the wine bottle from him.
“Just let it be and let it be. What do you want?”
The two had promised to grant the other one what he wanted in exchange for the bet. After all, she had seen Randall drunk enough, and she had also used the detoxification magic trick. It wouldn’t be hard to grant him one thing he wanted. So when Sylvia asked him what he wanted out of kindness, Randall suddenly shook his head.
“No, that can’t be done.”
It was a firm voice, unusual for someone drunk. Sylvia tilted her head, thinking that it was only at times like this that his pronunciation became more precise.
“Are you sure you’re okay? I won’t ask you three times.”
“...”
“What do you want?”
When Sylvia pressed him, saying that this was the last question, Randall closed his mouth. He blinked his eyes more blearily than usual, and after a long pause, he finally opened his mouth.
"Then..."
“...”
“I want to kiss you.”
A faint passion was flickering in the green eyes that were staring blankly at the other person. Sylvia felt a little embarrassed as she faced them head-on.
"Hmm..."
Kissing Randall was definitely a pleasant experience. But she couldn't help but feel afraid that she would repeat the same thing in her second life. So, Sylvia struggled for a moment between fear and excitement and then raised both hands as if surrendering.
“Okay. Should I go that way? Or...”
“Madam, you can always stay there.”
At that moment, Randall raised his body with a low voice. At that voice, Sylvia stopped moving, and he smiled faintly as he walked around the table.
“Because I can just approach you.”
With a whisper, Randall reached out and cupped Sylvia's face, lowering his head. Sylvia closed her eyes reflexively. But contrary to her expectations, his lips landed on her forehead.
"What..."
Surprised, Sylvia grabbed Randall's arm. His body temperature was hot even through his thin clothes. Randall started on her forehead, then her eyelids, the bridge of her nose, and her cheeks leaving small kisses all over Sylvia's face. They were not deep kisses, but light kisses that passed by like the fluttering of a butterfly's wings. It was so ticklish that she couldn't stand it.
Sylvia twitched her fingertips and held back a moan while Randall left kisses on her face. Finally, Randall pressed his lips firmly to Sylvia's lips as if he was stamping them, and then he rolled his eyes in satisfaction like a full beast and pulled away.
"Thank you."
"Ha..."
Only after Randel had fallen did Sylvia let out a thin breath she had been holding. Somehow her breathing became rapid, and as she was catching her breath, Randall’s body collapsed and he buried his face in her shoulder.
“Randall?”
Sylvia wrapped her arms around Randall, who was leaning in as if to hug her, and let out a panicked voice. However, perhaps because he was drunk, he just rubbed his cheek lightly against her shoulder and muttered quietly.
“Actually, other than the kiss... I wanted to ask you not to push me away.”
Sylvia's shoulders stiffened at the unexpected words. Randall, who sensed that small movement, trailed off with a bitter smile.
“But I think that’s too... greedy.”
He wants her to come to him of her own accord. He wants her to choose the person called 'Randall' with her own will. It's a little, no, actually very upsetting that she keeps trying to get away from him.
"Thank you."
"Ha..."
Only after Randel had fallen did Sylvia let out a thin breath she had been holding. Somehow her breathing became rapid, and as she was catching her breath, Randall’s body collapsed and he buried his face in her shoulder.
“Randall?”
Sylvia wrapped her arms around Randall, who was leaning in as if to hug her, and let out a panicked voice. However, perhaps because he was drunk, he just rubbed his cheek lightly against her shoulder and muttered quietly.
“Actually, other than the kiss... I wanted to ask you not to push me away.”
Sylvia's shoulders stiffened at the unexpected words. Randall, who sensed that small movement, trailed off with a bitter smile.
“But I think that’s too... greedy.”
He wants her to come to him of her own accord. He wants her to choose the person called 'Randall' with her own will. It's a little, no, actually very upsetting that she keeps trying to get away from him.
Every time that happens, he can take a step closer and close the distance. That's why he couldn't bring himself to say the request, 'Please don't push me away'.
Randall completely lost consciousness after muttering that and fell into a deep sleep. Sylvia held him, who had lost all strength in his body, and stared blankly at the sky. Her heart was beating so fast that she couldn't hear anything else besides that sound.
Sylvia lowered her gaze to Randall without realizing it.
'How...'
How can this person be so consistent? How can he be so consistent... strong?
'How...'
How can this person be so consistent? How can he be so consistent... strong?
The Marquis Glever incident and her rejection. It must have been hurtful, but he never gave in and always smiled again. If she pushes him away, he comes closer.
How big of a heart and strength is that? Does this person know?
Sylvia finally couldn’t control her heartbeat and buried her face in Randall’s neck.
***
'I think it's time to go in.'
Sylvia, who had been holding Randall in her arms for a while to calm herself down, regained her composure and raised her head. She tried to lift herself up while holding Randall in her arms, but it was no use.
'This won't work.'
Sylvia, who had given up quickly, looked around. Fortunately, because it was late at night, the mansion and the backyard were extremely quiet. No eyes were watching, and everyone was asleep. Sylvia, who judged that there was no danger, used a teleportation spell while holding Randall in her arms.
She blinked and her vision changed. Sylvia, who had entered Randall’s bedroom, quickly tensed up her body as she momentarily stumbled when the backrest disappeared.
'No one is there?'
Sylvia, who had confirmed that there was no sign of life in the room again, waved her hand lightly. Then Randall’s body was enveloped in a faint light and floated into the air. Only then was Sylvia able to get up from the floor. She took a deep breath and turned her stiff wrist.
“If it weren’t for that, you’d look like a boulder. Is it because it’s all muscle...”
'No one is there?'
Sylvia, who had confirmed that there was no sign of life in the room again, waved her hand lightly. Then Randall’s body was enveloped in a faint light and floated into the air. Only then was Sylvia able to get up from the floor. She took a deep breath and turned her stiff wrist.
“If it weren’t for that, you’d look like a boulder. Is it because it’s all muscle...”
...Well, his body wasn’t all that great.
Sylvia thought back to the body she had seen and touched of Randall for a moment, then shook her head, wondering what she was doing. Sylvia found Randall’s bed and walked towards it. Randall’s body floating in the air followed her as she walked. And Sylvia was just about to put Randall down on the bed.
“My lord!”
Bam.
“My lord!”
Bam.
The door opened without knocking, along with a loud voice. Sylvia was so surprised that she froze and turned her head away.
"...Uh?"
"...Uh?"
And the other person was equally surprised. Auston, who had opened the door with a cold expression, slowly turned into a look of shock. Similar words came to Auston and Sylvia's minds.
'What did I just see...?'
'Why are you here...?'
A New Series, For You Even Regret Is Luxury, is out now! It's such an interesting story, so I hope you will like it as much as I do! You can check it HERE!
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