“Guess what good stuff I brought?” Dekalorin swept her gaze over the three people in the living room as she spoke.
She wasn’t actually expecting anyone to guess. She just wanted to emphasize it.
As she spoke, she waved her hand, and several antique glass bottles appeared on the table. They contained an amber-colored liquid that sloshed inside. There were also a few bottles of different styles with various colors.
“These are from the royal wine cellar! Perfect for warming up the body!”
However, in Seraphina’s opinion, the expression on Dekalorin’s face looked exactly like she had stolen them!
Astraea glanced at the exquisite bottles on the table and couldn’t help asking, “Dekalorin, is the source of this wine… legitimate?”
“What’s it to you?! Just drink it!”
Seeing Dekalorin’s bold wave, Astraea understood but didn’t say anything more.
“Alright. We’ll drink when Saint Eustacia gets back.” Dekalorin arranged things enthusiastically.
Movira shot her a glance, her tone carrying a hint of teasing. “After knowing you for so many years, I only just found out you have such a soft spot for alcohol. Back when you were still in position, we didn’t meet often, so of course I didn’t know. You can’t drink Black Bath like this. Later when you stepped down…”
“There are plenty of things you don’t know!” Dekalorin replied.
While they were talking, Seraphina curiously picked up one of the bottles and leaned in to examine it closely.
Movira immediately spoke up to warn her. “You’d better not touch this wine. It’s not good for your body.”
“Oh, got it.” Seraphina answered obediently and put the bottle back down.
But deep down she muttered unwillingly, When everyone else is drinking later, I can’t just sit here watching. You won’t be able to stop me then!
She secretly planned to find an opportunity to sneak a taste later.
Dekalorin’s arrival did make the atmosphere much livelier, as if she alone could replace an entire group of people.
That mouth of hers was very good at guiding the conversation. She told interesting stories about the Church and teased a few things about Saint Eustacia’s childhood. Everyone else was pulled into these fun topics.
Time passed quickly amid laughter and chatter. The snacks on the table were quickly finished.
Astraea glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, then stood up and said, “You all chat first. I’ll go prepare dinner.”
When Saint Eustacia returned, the table had already been replaced with a full spread of dishes, their aroma filling the air.
Astraea had just taken her seat. “You came back at the perfect time. We were waiting for you! The wine is already on the table.”
“Come on, come on. Since we’re happy today, everyone should drink a little!”
She picked up a bottle and first poured a glass for Astraea. Although the other didn’t drink much, she still accepted it.
When it was Seraphina’s turn, Movira immediately reached out to block it. “She can’t drink!”
Seraphina tugged at Movira’s sleeve and pleaded softly, her eyes full of longing. “I’ll only drink a tiny bit. Just a small sip, okay? It’s New Year’s Eve today.”
Dekalorin also chimed in from the side. “Yeah, it only happens once a year. A little won’t hurt. It’s not poison!”
Movira looked back and forth between the two of them and could only sigh before compromising. “Only half a cup. No more than that!”
“Okay!”
However, the moment the wine entered her mouth, the spicy stimulation made Seraphina unable to stop herself from frowning. Her little face was almost scrunched up.
Movira saw this and said, “Why don’t you just not drink it?”
Seraphina was indeed feeling a bit regretful at the moment, but when she saw Dekalorin across from her open a new bottle and take a huge gulp straight from it with a completely satisfied expression, she felt unwilling to back down. She forced herself to say, “No need!” and painfully finished the half cup.
As dinner continued, Seraphina drank in small sips.
She found it hard to believe as she picked up the bottle that Dekalorin had already finished by herself and carefully looked at the text on it. It clearly said that the alcohol content per hundred milliliters wasn’t much. It felt like in the eyes of those drunkards at the tavern, this was no different from fruit juice.
Yet Seraphina felt something was very wrong and couldn’t accept it…
Dekalorin saw her pick up the bottle again and thought Seraphina wanted more, so she moved to pour for her. This time Movira’s attitude was unusually firm as she pressed down hard on the rim of the cup.
“I said half a cup is half a cup. Not one drop more!”
Her gaze swept over the two of them with no room for negotiation in her tone.
Seeing her like this, Seraphina also happened to shake her head at Dekalorin, using it as a way to step down gracefully. After all, directly saying she really couldn’t drink would feel too embarrassing.
Dekalorin had no choice but to give up. However, her eyes rolled and she took out another bottle that gave off a fruity aroma.
“We can’t just let Seraphina watch us drink either. Then how about this one! This is fruit wine. It’s basically like fruit juice with only a tiny bit of alcohol!” She looked at Movira, then at Seraphina whose eyes had lit up again.
“Mm… alright.” Movira hesitated for a moment before agreeing. After all, letting Seraphina just sit there watching wasn’t a good solution either.
If it were an adult, they could drink it. The fruit wine tasted sweet and smooth, extremely easy to drink. Seraphina felt that after just one taste she already knew — if she couldn’t drink the other one, how could she not drink this?
She looked at the clear, bright fruit wine in the tall glass and thought to herself that it really felt no different from drinking fruit juice. So, without realizing it, she drank one glass after another.
Because the atmosphere at the dining table was very lively, by the time Movira noticed, Seraphina had already downed several glasses.
Soon the alcohol kicked in. Seraphina began to feel her head spinning and her vision turning a little blurry.
She tugged at the hem of Movira’s clothes beside her and called out in a soft, sweet voice, “Sister, I think… I’m a little dizzy.”
Movira turned her head and saw that Seraphina’s cheeks were flushed red and her eyes were unfocused. She was clearly a bit drunk.
“Didn’t I tell you to drink less? How did you still drink so much!” She immediately became a little angry and lowered her voice to scold her.
“But… I, I…” Seraphina only felt like several Moviras had appeared in front of her. For a moment she didn’t know which one to speak to.
Movira sighed and looked up at the others. “She’s had too much. I’ll take her back to the room to rest first.”
As she spoke, she deliberately shot a glare at Dekalorin. If not for her constant encouragement, Seraphina wouldn’t have ended up like this.
However, Dekalorin clearly wore a teasing smile and completely ignored Movira’s glare as she said, “Aiya, take good care of her, okay? Don’t take the chance to ‘bully’ her!”
Astraea also couldn’t help covering her mouth and laughing.
Movira couldn’t be bothered to respond. She carefully helped Seraphina, who was already having trouble standing steadily, to her feet. Seraphina’s steps were very unsteady and she was almost entirely leaning against Movira, her mouth still mumbling something incoherently.