Chapter 3

Ever since I casually asked Callian to fetch some wine from the cellar, I strangely found myself craving makgeolli.

If there’s one advantage to this chilly region, it’s the developed drinking culture.

Perhaps it’s the result of our ancestors’ wisdom in using alcohol to conquer the cold?

But didn’t they say drinking alcohol in the cold makes your teeth chatter?

…Anyway, people in the Winter Territory usually had several jugs of homebrewed liquor in each household.

So, there’s no need to explain how exquisite the cellar in the Duke’s Manor that governs the territory must be.

But I need an explanation.

“Is this everything?”

“Yes, madam. Is there something specific you’re looking for?”

“Uh, is there none of that? White and clear, not made from rice but fermented from grains…”

“I’m sorry, madam. We don’t have such alcohol here. If it’s not in the manor, it’s likely not found within this territory either.”

I’m sorry. The product you’re looking for isn’t stocked in our store ^^

It was a response reminiscent of the overly friendly manual phrases used by call center agents.

The point is, there’s none of it.

There’s grape wine, brandy, whiskey, even beer! Why isn’t there makgeolli? Why? Isn’t makgeolli one of the greatest discoveries in human history? Why isn’t it an invention? Because makgeolli has always been there, waiting for people to discover it…

“Well, then, these two for now.”

The Grand Duke picked up a bottle of grape wine said to have been bottled when he first ascended the throne and a bottle of strong rum known for knocking out soldiers, then headed up to the dining room.

In my heart, I wanted to get drunk on the bed, but that seemed too much like a jobless person, so I didn’t feel like it.

In fact, I’m still unemployed! I was unemployed in my original world too!

“Madam, what type of glass shall I use?”

“Just use a bottle, ah, no, please use the prettiest glass.”

Somehow, it would be difficult to remove wine stains from the blanket.

I don’t know how well-equipped the laundry facilities are here, but I know for sure that the Grand Duchess wouldn’t allow it to be ruined.

However, if causing trouble leads to the exploitation of the servants’ labor, I wouldn’t forgive myself.

You should clean up after yourself!

But why did you do that, Yeongho?

Suddenly, my former boss’s name came to mind, and I felt a surge of anger.

Usually, protagonists who have crossed into another world miss everyone from their original world or past lives, but when I think of my old workplace, I just feel nauseated, and I wish my former boss, who deserves to be struck by lightning, were buried outside the territory’s snowy mountains.

“Madam, here you go.”

“Thank you, Rose.”

If I could go back to my original world for just one day, I’d eat a spicy hot pot with plenty of Sichuan peppercorns.

And then I’d pull Yeongho by the hair and bring him here, and then…

They say when the snow piles up and only your head sticks out, it looks just like a flower.

I hope such a legend comes to life.

“Madam, is something good happening?”

“Huh? No, not really, nothing special…”

“You look happy. Oh, is it because you went to the capital after a long time?”

I couldn’t bring myself to mention the imaginative act of removing my former boss’s shirt at Rose’s smiling words. Well, it was a scenario that wouldn’t bear explaining anyway.

“I thought you didn’t like alcohol.”

“I’m trying to acquire a taste for it now.”

“Does it suit your taste?”

Perhaps because it was aged for several years, it went down smoothly, honey-like.

I missed makgeolli, though. After all, makgeolli, especially when mixed with cider and eaten with green onion pancakes, is incomparable in taste!

The grape wine was sweet like juice, and the rum was a bit strong, but it had the taste of alcohol. It almost felt like this was what it meant to be alive, with a warming sensation on my tongue.

When I first came here, I had no appetite for anything, be it makgeolli or fancy dishes.

At first, I wondered if this was reality, and then I had to make an effort not to lose my mind completely.

It was frustrating to feel hungry in such an unfamiliar situation where I couldn’t even adapt properly.

Anyway, I had to live and do whatever it took, and I hadn’t steeled myself for this situation for that long.

Did something inside me also change when I threw the corset and shattered the window glass?

For now, I just have to live. When you’re alive, you can do anything.

When I’m alive, I can go back, and I can also provide food for our adorable Minsu.

It’s okay to miss the TOEIC a few times, but I can’t miss feeding the cat.

In the worst case, if I have to live here forever – no, let’s not even entertain that thought right now.

As I swirled the glass around, the brown liquor, glistening in the light, swayed gently.

My heart raced at the rich burgundy color. Huh? Racing? Am I already drunk?

Oh, no way. Just by drinking this?

“If you pour it like that, your body will suffer.”

Veins bulge in his hand, and the azure veins and slender bones were distinct along the knuckles.

His voice, which suddenly broke the silence, was so sweet that I almost threw the glass.

When I reflexively turned my head, red lips and a strong jawline caught my eye.

“Ugh, why did you suddenly pop out?”

“…I was wandering around in my mansion, and what…”

“Ah, okay. Okay, I got it. Why did you come? It’s already dinner time, right?”

“Indeed, you have a sharp deductive reasoning.”

Callian twisted his even lips and smirked charmingly. The unlucky guy.

Clearly, a character like that shouldn’t talk too much, but this person was subtly chatty.

“Come to think of it, why aren’t there any servants around? Did Callian eat them?”

“…Yeah. I thought I’d have a drink after a while too.”

“On an empty stomach?”

“It’s not your place to say, is it?”

Callian stared at the nearly empty green bottle.

As for the snacks, neither cheese nor bread with cheese appealed to her. Shouldn’t you pair this soju with a hot bowl of rice soup and tear up some kimchi in it? Oh, I want some kimchi pancakes.

If I had known it would be like this, should I have had a drink in the Toilet room? But rice should be eaten at the dining table, and alcohol should be consumed at the drinking table to give it meaning, shouldn’t it?

“So, what are you drinking then? I’m finishing mine.”

“I thought I’d try this after a long time.”

Callian naturally sat down beside me and placed the sophisticated-looking bottle on the dining table. While we weren’t that close, there was an appropriate level of distance to share a bottle of alcohol, so I allowed Callian’s approach.

Honestly, what would it matter if I didn’t go along with it? I don’t even know how tightly I’m holding onto things, unlike Adriana. I’m just a carefree soul.

“…I didn’t know you drank so much.”

“Let it be. My dream was to map the world with all kinds of alcohol from around the world.”

“I didn’t know you had that kind of dream.”

“I’m kidding.”

The Grand Duke put on a composed face and took a sip of the alcohol. Outwardly, he looked like he didn’t indulge in such games, but without changing his complexion, he drank it skillfully.

It was as if God had crafted the most meticulously detailed features. Gazing upon such a face made the alcohol go down smoother. The epitome of beauty. He might be too old to play around with me, but looking at that handsome face, maybe just for a night, wouldn’t hurt. Wait, what am I saying? Am I really drunk?

“…I know you don’t like me.”

“Whoa, really? You’re perceptive. Uh, no, it’s not that.”

I tried to salvage the situation with a thread of remaining rationality, but when I looked into eyes that revealed nothing about their mood, my words disappeared.

But no matter what, he was Adriana’s husband. Was I being too forward?

However, the tongue ensnared by alcohol didn’t allow interference from the brain.

“I don’t like men who, even if they’re usually gentlemen, get their hands bloody like demons.”

Well, it’s probably the same on this side. But they say sharing a drink makes you half a friend, don’t they?

“Oh no, if blood gets on the carpet, it’s not easy to clean.”

An awkward silence fell.

“How do you clean blood? With cold water, with cold water…”

“Is that really the important part?”

“Is there something more important than that?”

I haven’t witnessed a demon hunt yet, but according to April’s explanation, it’s grueling enough to smell blood from outside the castle walls. It’s like an annual event that the northern lords responsible for guarding the border should handle.

It doesn’t really come around only once a year, though.

“…We’ve never really had a candid conversation like this.”

“Maybe it’s just you? I’m the epitome of candid and charming right now.”

“Aren’t you curious about me?”

“No, um, well, I mean, hmm…”

After all, it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask about chest sizes even between spouses.

“Well, when you suddenly ask, it might not come to mind.”

Well, something did come to mind, but not about chests…

“I have one question to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Do you find me truly intimidating?”

“Intimidating?!”

“Is my demeanor right now?”

Callian furrowed his brow as he looked at me, sitting comfortably with crossed legs on the chair. Oh, how comfortable it is to sit like this in a chair. You can even tilt the spine.

“No, it’s nothing. It’s just that Callian can’t kill me, that’s why. When someone bigger than you is armed and putting on a tough face, it’s usually intimidating, right? But if not that, well, at first, I was a bit scared, and he’s not the type to kill anyone as he pleases, he’s good at his job, good-looking, very good-looking, um, with well-defined features? He’s good-looking, so…”

Callian made a subtle expression as I cupped my cheeks with both hands and rested my chin on them. It wasn’t the usual face he made when looking at a pitiful junior at work – wait?

“Wait a moment.”

His pupils quivered and turned red. A well-ripened apple-red hue that was ideal for describing. His lips hesitated briefly, and ah, I knew this. I’ve seen scenes like this.

“Don’t like me.”

“I like you?”

“Don’t like me.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

Aah! Why is there a sudden plot twist? Is this a cliché romance novel? A light short story? Was it about the Northern Grand Duke with a frozen heart melting for the charming Grand Duchess?

As I brushed my hair aside, beautiful silver locks cascaded down.

The Grand Duke’s firm jaw and beautiful lips couldn’t help but part.

“Your words are strange. We’ve already sworn in front of the Emperor’s Majesty.”

“Ah, leave it at that. Don’t drop any more hints like this.”

Falling head over heels for the incredibly beautiful Adriana was, in fact, enough to create endless fodder for gossip. What nonsense, right?

The idea that looks equate to destiny, and the beautiful Callian had fallen for the beautiful Adriana.