Chapter 30

Episode 30: Whiskey, Alcohol

Chapter 4. The One Who Gives Indulgences to Chloe Garnet.

Unlike her noble and elegant appearance, Daria was a very easygoing and playful woman. Sometimes I wondered if all the cruel rumors I heard in the other timeline were false.

‘But why was Daria so hostile to the nobles who tried to prevent her divorce from Raymond……?’

I thought it was a little strange. If the rumors were true, Daria executed Duke Caroline, the head of a group called the ‘Empress Sect Nobility’, and was hostile to all of its supporters.

The more I thought about it, the more I was confused, so I eventually gave up guessing what happened in the past.

“Oh, my. You look great with that!”

In front of Daria, who clapped and laughed, I awkwardly followed her and raised the corners of my mouth.

“That’s amazing, Chloe. Now, let’s look over there…… There you go. Then, put your fingertips together like this.….”

Since I became Daria’s maid, all I do is gain weight while eating delicious food, chat with her while drinking tea imported from abroad, and take out cosmetics that are good for the skin, one a day, and test them before her…….

And most recently, I was wearing pretty clothes and working as a model for her.

“L, Like this?”

“That’s not it.”

When I stood awkwardly without getting in position, Daria put down the bowl that she was holding; then she walked up to me.

“Two hands like this…… And your eyes…….”

Daria brought my fingertips and put them on my chest. Then, slightly raised my head and fixed my gaze. It wasn’t a very comfortable position, but Daria furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at my slightly shaky head.

“Hmm, Chloe. Your eyes are getting distracted.”

It was time for Daria to hold my cheeks with both hands and fix my gaze again. With a sudden rustling sound, our gaze was shifted toward an uninvited guest.

“Ray?”

“…….”

For me, it was the first time Raymond and I had met since the day I was introduced to Daria. Daria called his name happily, but Raymond blushed with his lips closed for some unknown reason.

“What happened…. Oh my, what kind of crazy thoughts did you think that made your face turn red?”

Crazy thoughts?

While tilting my head because I didn’t understand her immediately, I suddenly realized that the relationship between me and Daria was very close. In an instant, my face became as red as Raymond’s, even to the lobes of my ears.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Raymond coughed a little and glanced at me.

“You’re not really going to make Chloe your mistress, are you?”

Raymond wrinkled his eyebrows and shook his head, as if he didn’t understand what he was saying, even though he said it.

Then Daria burst into a small laugh and stroked my face.

“Oh, my. Didn’t I tell you yet? Actually, Chloe and I already enjoy sleeping…….”

“Your Majesty!”

Recognizing Daria’s mischievous playfulness flowing in the wrong direction, I suddenly stepped back, blocking her words.

“That kind of… Please don’t say anything weird. His Majesty must have misunderstood.”

At my timid excuse, Daria laughed loudly and gently hit my shoulder so that it didn’t hurt.

“What do you mean misunderstanding, Chloe? It’s true that we slept in the same bed last night, right? I’m starting to get a little upset.”

“That’s because Her Majesty suddenly came and woke me up!”

“That’s right, I woke you up at a very ‘late hour’.”

Raymond’s expression as he overheard our conversation became increasingly distorted.

“Really?”

Raymond looked at me and asked.

Of course, it is true that I fell asleep with Daria last night. But last night there was one more truth I couldn’t tell Raymond.

‘Chloe, I know you’re not sleeping yet!’

Daria, who suddenly opened the door and came in, forced me to wake up. I timidly replied that I had been sleeping deeply without dreaming until just now, but of course, nothing worked for her.

‘Look at this, It’s wine from Tarta.’

“But… I was sleeping until just now.….’

‘Oh my, Chloe!  Have you not yet learned that having a drink with your master is a virtue of a good maid?’

‘Does the maid have to deal with alcohol?’

“Of course.”

Daria opened the cap with her unique arrogant smile. Pop, With the cheerful sound, I was briefly mesmerized by the sweet yet pungent smell of alcohol.

In my past life, I had never drank red wine. The reason was simple, because red wine was not Raymond’s favorite.

Kailos forced me to drink Raymond’s favorite, strong whiskey, instead of sweet fruit wine, if I was going to drink.

However, the whiskey that I once had in front of him, was offensive enough that made me spit it out immediately, so I never touched it after that.

On second thought, it was a little strange. He raised me only in Raymond’s taste, but why didn’t he force me to whiskey again after that day?

‘Come on, drink it up.’

Daria’s way of drinking alcohol was quite different from the way others drank wine at parties, but I followed her without doubt. The sweet scent spread through my mouth.

‘How does it taste?’

‘It’s delicious.’

‘Really?’

When I answered, Daria poured wine into the glass I had just emptied.

‘As expected, it’s wine from Tarta. Why did Raymond ban this good thing?’

I asked back in surprise as I saw her smiling while wiping her lips with the back of her hand.

‘What? This is forbidden alcohol?’

‘Of course.’

Unlike me, who was surprised and lost what to do, Daria nodded so calmly.

‘So, today’s work is a secret. You can’t tell anyone, Chloe.’

‘Hold on, Your Majesty, when it’s revealed that you’ve been drinking banned alcohol..….’

“My neck will be cut off. Of course, he will let it slide because I am an empress, but you, who are only my maid, may really die.’

Daria said softly, pouring wine again and handed it to me.

‘Hurry up and drink, Chloe.’

‘Well, I can’t drink anymore.’

“If you don’t drink it, I’ll let him know that you drank Tartan wine.’

“Ha, but……!’

‘If you don’t want to die, hurry up and drink, Chloe.’

I ended up crying and had to drink all the alcohol that Daria gave me. It was late morning when I opened my eyes after losing my memory in the middle, and I was dreadfully lying on the bed.

Daria, who woke up a little later than me, told me that it would be better not to drink again. With an obnoxious addition that I must drink only in front of Raymond if I want to drink alcohol.

Anyway, for that reason, I couldn’t answer last night’s truth and had to hesitate to answer Raymond.

“Your Majesty please don’t misunderstand.”

“…….”

Raymond closed his lips again. When I saw his misunderstanding getting deeper, I felt restless and stomped.

“Your Majesty…”

I looked at Daria for salvation, but of course, Daria enjoyed the situation, ignoring my earnest gaze.

Long after, Raymond sighed quietly.

“It looks like Daria is playing a prank on you.  I warned you in advance, but be careful, Chloe.  Daria is……She is a strange woman in many ways.”

Now I know better than anyone else why Raymond told me to watch out for Daria. Daria was such a strange woman. Something ordinary people dare not imagine.

“And if Daria tries to force you, even though you don’t like it,”

Raymond took turns looking at me and Daria with a very serious expression.

“Ask me for help at any time……”

“What do you mean, Ray?  You are talking as if I am an unscrupulous woman who rapes virgins who know nothing?”

“Isn’t it?”

“Absolutely not!”

Daria proudly crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly.

“I’m glad if that’s the case.”

“More than that, Ray, what’s going on, why are you here in the Empress’s Palace?”

Daria, with a prickly expression on her face, sat cross-legged on her chair.  For a moment, there was a very brief silence.

“……Ah.”

Raymond, who belatedly exclaimed, slipped away from her gaze and replied.

“I was just passing by.”

“Hmm?”

One eyebrow of Daria staring at Raymond rose.

“You were just passing by?”

“Yes.”

I stood in one corner and looked at the suspicious Daria and Raymond’s determined answer. I was afraid that there would be a situation where the two would argue over this and ask me who I think is right.

Fortunately, however, Daria was able to escape that situation by first convincing Raymond.

“Okay. Then keep going on your way, Raymond.”

“Yes, I will.”

Raymond nodded with a stiff look. Then he glanced at me one more time and walked across the bridge between me and Daria. Daria frowned at Raymond with a slightly absurd expression.

Then suddenly, Raymond, who was passing by us, stopped walking and looked back at me.

“Chloe.”

It was a light voice with unknown emotions.

“You gained weight on your face.”

“Yes…”

As he stared at me with only two eyes blinking, Raymond laughed as he curved the ends of his eyes.

“I’m saying you’ve gotten prettier. It looks much better, your expressions and voice.”

“Oh…”

My heart pounded at the unexpected words.