It was already late at night when the meeting ended. Noelier was barely holding back his irritation.
The leader of the West was exceptionally talkative. They boasted about a husband so much that he almost ended up turning him into a roasted lion.
Having entered the castle, he headed to Zion's room. This time, he absolutely had to check on Eve's condition.
Knock knock knock.
"Eve, are you inside?"
There was no answer. If it were the usual Eve, she would have answered...
Feeling anxious, Noelier knocked once more. But as expected, there was no voice.
Could it be that she collapsed from starving herself?
His heart sank at the sudden thought.
Just as he was thinking he had to get in, even if it meant breaking down the door.
“Oh my!”
A faint voice was heard from afar. It was Julie, Eve's attendant and a rabbit shapeshifter.
Julie kept bowing her head as she greeted Noelier.
"...Where is Eve, no, Madam?"
“Madam Eve?”
Julie blinked her big eyes once.
"If she isn't in her room, wouldn't she have gone to the kitchen?"
“Kitchen?”
"Yes. She asked for a map of the inside of the castle, so I found one for her. I noticed the kitchen area was full of circles."
"Why didn't you follow?"
Julie scratched her cheek awkwardly at Noelier's question.
"I was actually planning to go along, but Lady Eve kept asking if I had anything else to do today."
Julie's cheeks flushed red.
"I thought you were having a good time, so I apologize for the inconvenience..."
Julie trailed off, looking embarrassed. Noelier narrowed his eyebrows as if asking what she was talking about.
“Kitchen?”
Just then, a younger but low voice was heard. Noelier and Julie's gazes dropped downward.
Rachel was frowning and looking at the two of them, though he didn't know when she had come out.
She was on her way out after just putting Sion to sleep, who had been whining that he was scared. She had come to see what was wrong after hearing her brother's knock...
"Why are you going to the kitchen?"
"Well..?"
Julie tilted her head.
What do you mean? I didn't put Julie by ny sister's side for this reason.
Julie said her hobby is reading. I think she'll get along well with my older sister, who likes books. I actually paired them up with the intention of telling them to stick together!
Rachel's red eyes slowly turned toward Noelier. The siblings' gazes met. There was one thing they could guess. Noelier and Rachel quickly headed to the kitchen.
They speculated that there was only one reason why Eve did not eat meat.
It was suppressing the wolf's instincts.
But to think that she, who was so wary of them, went to the kitchen on her own.
'Has she lost her reason?'
Anxiety consumed the siblings. It was not merely because they were afraid Eve would be discovered to be a wolf.
The fact that Eve was a wolf was not a problem. However, it was something Eve had to reveal herself. She absolutely could not be 'discovered'.
They hoped she would reveal it herself, open her heart, and 'choose' them.
It matched Rachel's thoughts exactly as well.
Therefore, what they were imagining had to happen. Their hurried footsteps quickened even more.
They arrived in front of the kitchen. After catching their breath for a moment, the two opened the kitchen door forcefully.
And it stopped abruptly, as if by prior agreement.
"I'm telling you, it's true! Stories like this are really popular!"
Eve shouted in a loud voice. Then Marie asked back, as if she couldn't believe it.
"No way! Even so, is a plot really possible where 'the man who finally became a decent human being after overcoming all sorts of trials turns out to be my older brother whom I lost 10 years ago'?"
"Yes! I'm telling you, this is a story that really works!"
A familiar voice rang out.
The other beastmen and dragons were sitting in a circle with Eve at the center.
"Where did you hear all that, Lady Eve?"
"Haha, I know quite a few stories."
Eve laughed with a playful grin.
The story she told was a common cliché of a 'melodrama' plot that she had seen countless times in her past life.
She never imagined that a phrase she started to break the ice would become this popular.
It seemed that there were no such MSG stories in the world of beastmen.
They found it hard to believe, yet they were curious to hear more. They had been completely captivated by the stimulating flavor they experienced for the first time.
Moreover, contrary to Eve's expectations, the beastmen were incredibly simple. It made all her worries seem pointless.
Eve drank the beverage she was holding, feeling inexplicably proud. It was a drink with a strong grape flavor. She felt light and bubbly every time she took a sip, and she simply felt good.
As Eve took a refreshing gulp, the beastman, who was nearby, filled the cup to the brim.
“Thank you, Aiko.”
Just as she was about to take another shot, Noelier and Rachel, who were standing there blankly, caught Eve's eye.
“Huh? Husband!”
Eve called out to Noelier in a very excited voice. Upon seeing Noelier, the beastmen jumped up from their seats in surprise.
"Leader, you have arrived!"
“What is this situation right now..."
Noelier muttered in a dazed voice.
"Lady Eve was very grateful that she enjoyed the food we made. We were treating her to something nice as a token of our gratitude."
One of the beastmen answered with a happy smile. At first glance, their cheeks were flushed as well. It seemed they had all had a drink together.
Rachel let out a hollow laugh. Noelier felt the same way.
"Husband, would you like a drink too? This is really delicious!"
"As expected, Lady Eve, you have good taste."
The dragon holding the bottle spoke with a proud look on its face.
"This was made using a manufacturing method passed down through our family for generations. Seeing how much you like it, Lady Eve, my father will be very happy as well."
"Oh. Then one more glass."
Eve held out the glass with a nonchalant smile. She giggled as she watched the red liquid filling up.
She kept bursting into laughter. It seemed like it was because she was in a good mood, or perhaps because she had eaten meat to her heart's content.
The dragon who had given the drink looked at Eve with eyes full of anticipation. Eve took a gulp to live up to those expectations.
"As expected of Lady Eve!"
“You’re hot!”
Applause erupted. Since she was praised so highly for everything she did, she felt good enough to willingly drink even a poisoned chalice.
"Lady Eve. So what? What's the rest of the story?"
Just then, Marie, who was sitting closest to Eve, flared her nostrils and spoke.
Just then, Marie, who was sitting closest to Eve, flared her nostrils and spoke.
The story cut off abruptly right at the point where it had become exciting. They were burning with anxiety. They wanted to know how that tragic love would come to fruition, and how it would end.
"That is..."
Eve trailed off. Strangely, the words wouldn't come out well. Her head was spinning. It was because of the alcohol she had downed one after another.
Just as she was frowning, Rachel approached her.
“Sister.”
Then, the beastmen nearby quickly stepped back.
“Our rat rat!”
Eve looked at Rachel with a welcoming expression. Rachel, on the other hand, looked at the cup still in Eve's hand with a troubled look.
"...How much did you drink?"
Rachel let out a deep sigh.
"Ma'am."
Then Noelier called her in a gentle voice.
The moment Eve raised her head to look at him, the glass she was holding slipped from her hand.
Eve blinked blankly as she looked at her hand, which was now empty. It was such a natural movement that she didn't even ask why it was being taken.
"Drinking too much is not good for your health."
Noelier's fingers and hers lightly intertwined. As warmth spread rapidly through her body, Eve reached out her hand without realizing it.
"Husband."
Feeling the warmth spreading through her body, Eve reached out and hugged him. It was an instinctive gesture driven by a desire for warmth, but his body stiffened.
"Gasp...!"
The onlookers let out a startled groan.
It was indeed an act befitting a companion. Who else would ever hug the Leader so abruptly like that? It is something one could not even dare to imagine.
However, contrary to their expectations that the leader might get angry, Noelier's face was incredibly calm.
No, actually, he was pretending to be calm. His heart was pounding like crazy. But she couldn't show that she was flustered in front of them.
The way she hugged him and the way he hugged her were on completely different levels.
His world was turned upside down. It repeated the cycle of returning to normal.
Noelier hugged Eve, trying hard to hide his trembling hands.
"...I think you're very drunk."
“Ugh.”
“Shall we go back to the room?”
Eve didn't answer and rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. It was something she wouldn't normally have done, but fueled by alcohol, she started acting wildly.
"It's warm... I love it so much..."
Eve buried her face in Noelier's arms again.
"...It won’t work.”
Noelier, blushing, muttered as if sighing.
Apart from his heart feeling like it was about to burst, he didn't want to show this lovely side of Eve to others.
“Go to your room.”
"Mmm..."
"Ma'am."
Noelier whispered softly into Eve's ear. Eve mumbled at the sweet voice.
"The story isn't over yet... I just found out that he's her older brother."
Marie nodded vigorously at Eve's words. Of course, in her heart.
"We can do it later, right?"
Noelier spoke in a soothing tone.
"Will there be a later time?" Eve mumbled. "It would be a relief if I didn't burn to death later."
Eve’s face turned into a tearful expression as she recalled the death she had forgotten. Just as the corners of her mouth were about to droop, Noelia gently patted Eve’s back.
"..."
The warmth of body temperature was just as good, even in the warm South.
A smile formed on her lips as if nothing had happened. Noelier, having half-succeeded in coaxing her, lowered his head and met her eyes.
“Are you going?”
"Huh."
Eve smiled broadly and nodded at his handsome face, even from a dazed perspective.
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