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CHAPTER 70
Idris noticed Leticia’s condition around the time she started talking to the wine.
“How were you made to taste so good?”
A hollow laugh escaped from between Idris’s lips as he watched her.
Just a little while ago, Leticia had been conversing with him normally.
Sure, she’d seemed a bit more excited than usual, but her posture had remained upright, so he hadn’t thought much of it.
“Since it’s so delicious, I’ll just have to drink it all!”
Watching Leticia gulp down the wine like beer…
‘…I should probably stop her now.’
He realized he couldn’t let her drink any more.
Of course, it was amusing to see this different side of Leticia. But considering how she’d feel about it come morning, it wasn’t worth it.
Idris reached out to take away her empty wine glass—but Leticia was faster.
She thrust the empty glass toward him.
“Idris, would you pour me some more wine?”
The wine bottle happened to be sitting next to Idris.
“So now you’re using me as your servant?”
Normally, Leticia would never have made such a request. Even if she had, she would’ve blushed and denied it flusteredly.
But this time—
“You’ll do it if I ask, won’t you? Hmm?”
She rested her chin on her hand and smiled at him with eyes that sparkled mischievously.
Her gently upturned eyes, the way her blue gaze met his, her lips stained red from the wine—it was all absurdly beautiful.
Idris laughed in disbelief at his own reaction.
‘…When she smiles like that, how can I refuse?’
In the end, his hands obediently followed her command.
At the same time, he felt glad that Leticia, as a rule, hated things like flirtation or batting her lashes.
If she smiled like this all the time, he would’ve done anything she asked.
Instead, he poured only half the amount he normally would and added a warning.
“This is the last one.”
“You’re not going to selfishly drink the rest by yourself, are you?”
Even in her tipsiness, she wasn’t completely oblivious—Leticia narrowed her eyes and glared at the wine bottle.
Roughly a quarter of the wine was still left, swirling gently in the bottle.
“You said it was prepared for me earlier, didn’t you?”
“If you drink all of it, I think things might get dangerous.”
Because of you—smiling like that.
Idris moved the wine bottle far out of her reach.
“Mmmm…”
Leticia pouted and sipped the wine with her lovely brows slightly furrowed in displeasure.
She seemed to be contemplating something very seriously.
Idris silently watched her.
‘She’s definitely different from usual.’
Ordinarily, Leticia didn’t show it on the outside, but she had a subtle wall around her.
As if afraid to let anyone see her vulnerability.
As if she didn’t want to rely on others.
But now… it felt like that “wall” had crumbled.
Or more precisely—
She was still trying to put up a wall, but it was flimsy—like it would fall apart with the slightest push.
That made her seem both endearing and a little pitiful.
Especially to Idris, who remembered how Leticia had once broken through his own walls first when they were children.
‘It’s because of that bastard, Feydan Farnese.’
As Idris naturally recalled the man who was the root of it all, his eyes turned cold.
Just then, Leticia, who had been deep in thought, suddenly perked up and made a suggestion.
“Then how about we play a game of Truth?”
“…Truth or dare?”
“Before we start, we both have to declare that we’ll only tell the truth.”
Without even waiting for Idris’s agreement, Leticia raised her right hand.
“I, Leticia Cloel, hereby declare I will speak only the truth from this point on. Now, you do it too.”
When Idris just blinked in confusion, Leticia grabbed his hand.
Though it was a hand he’d held many times before, he hesitated for a moment—then followed her lead.
“I, Idris Delua, hereby declare I will speak only the truth from now on?”
“Hmm, good. Very good.”
“What’s next?”
“Now we take turns asking each other questions and answering honestly. If you don’t want to answer or it’s too hard, you have to drink as a penalty.”
“Ah.”
“Since this is your first time playing, I’ll let you ask first.”
“Can I ask anything?”
Leticia nodded without hesitation, as if to say, “Why even ask something so obvious?”
Idris fell deep into thought.
There was really only one thing he wanted to ask.
Leticia’s feelings toward him.
But roundabout hints or subtle probing weren’t his style.
However…
‘If I ask too directly… she’ll just build her walls higher.’
Leticia was already someone who lived behind high emotional walls. If he threw a blunt question at her, she might run away altogether.
‘What do you think of me?’
…Too direct.
‘What do you plan to do after divorcing the Duke of Farnese?’
…With Leticia’s personality, she’d likely give a businesslike response.
After much thought, Idris finally settled on a suitable question.
“What kind of person do you think I am?”
It was vague enough to hide his true intent, but still gave him a glimpse into her feelings.
But then—
“That’s a secret.”
Without a moment’s hesitation or even pretending to consider it, Leticia downed her wine.
As if mocking how seriously he had tried to pick the right question.
It was only then that Idris realized—
‘…So she didn’t suggest this game to ask me something—she just wanted to drink.’
He’d seen her pondering with a serious expression and thought she was being genuine.
‘I totally fell for it.’
A laugh escaped him—half disbelief, half amusement.
Usually, he was the one pulling pranks and Leticia was the one who got swept up in them.
But this refreshing role reversal wasn’t so bad. In fact, it was kind of fun.
Still, she was also a little infuriating.
Idris snatched away Leticia’s almost-empty glass and issued a final warning.
“I’ve been completely duped. This game is void. No more wine. It’s time to go to bed.”
Leticia, uncharacteristically, pouted in protest.
“Hey, that’s not fair! I haven’t even asked my question yet. That’s so unfair!”
Even her lips were adorably sulky.
Idris tried to suppress his laughter and raised both hands in surrender.
“Alright, fine. Ask. But this is the last one.”
As he watched Leticia fall into thought again, he took a sip of wine—
And then her question came flying at him.
“Idris. You like someone, don’t you?”
Cough.
Caught completely off guard, Idris choked and coughed violently as he looked at her.
‘Is she asking because she knows something…?’
But Leticia, flushed with drink and oblivious to his reaction, barreled on with another direct hit.
“You’re waiting to marry her, right? Who is it? Do I know her?”
Her face was so innocent and curious as she asked.
Idris looked at her, his gaze growing heavy.
What kind of feelings prompted her to ask that?
Was it just innocent curiosity, or…
Was it the same feeling he had?
If he said it was you—he’d find out the answer.
“That person is…”
