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CHAPTER 71…
Idris, as if he had finally made up his mind, opened his mouth to speak—but after moving his lips a few times, he closed it again without saying a word.
Then, he simply poured the remaining wine into his glass and drank it. Cleanly.
Leticia, watching him, let out a small, sulky sigh between her teeth.
“Tch, boring…”
Idris swallowed the answer he hadn’t been able to give, looking at Leticia, whose eyes were now half-closed.
‘In that state, she won’t remember anything tomorrow anyway.’
He didn’t want to confess like this, swept away by the moment.
He didn’t want to pressure Leticia, taking advantage of her drunkenness.
Idris stood and reached out his hand to Leticia.
“You should stop drinking and get some rest now. For the sake of your dignity, my lady.”
“But I want to drink more…”
Even as she grumbled, Leticia obediently stood up with his help.
Seeing her sway, Idris realized her condition was far worse than he had thought.
As he supported her tottering frame, Leticia leaned her face against his shoulder and muttered something.
“…No.”
“What?”
Straightening herself and pushing him away, Leticia spoke again.
“This isn’t right.”
“Why?”
“Because… if you keep doing this… I’ll want to rely on you.”
Idris froze at her words.
Even while she was this drunk and barely standing, Leticia was desperately trying to hold herself together.
Trying not to break down. Trying not to appear weak.
Idris looked at her for a moment, then gently pulled her into his arms again and spoke softly, as if coaxing her.
“It’s okay. You can.”
“No.”
But Leticia shook her head firmly, pushing him away with surprising resolve.
He couldn’t just let her go, not in her condition, so Idris instead held her hand tightly.
“Then… is it okay if I just hold your hand?”
Thankfully, Leticia gave a small nod.
And so, Idris led her to her room, holding her hand.
Of course, she staggered so much that he ended up half-carrying her by one arm.
“Ah! M-my lady?!”
Erin, who had been preparing the bed, was startled at the sight of a completely drunk Leticia—but upon seeing Idris, she quietly stepped out.
Idris laid Leticia down on the bed; she was almost asleep while standing.
‘Good thing she already ate and washed.’
He sat on the edge of the bed, checking her condition.
Then Leticia murmured.
“My shoes… I need to take them off…”
That’s when he noticed she still had one indoor slipper on.
Smiling faintly at her passive request, Idris gently removed her slipper.
He also smoothed down her pajama pants, which had ridden up slightly, revealing her pale leg.
Only then did Leticia fall completely silent.
But Idris couldn’t bring himself to leave. He sat quietly, gazing at her sleeping form.
Then, he frowned slightly. Her hair was a mess, covering her face.
He carefully brushed it aside, revealing the soft, peaceful face beneath.
The eyelids hiding the blue eyes that once bewitched him. The straight nose. And…
Her lips, slightly flushed and sweet with the scent of wine.
The moment a strange heat began to rise in Idris’s golden eyes—
Leticia, who he thought was asleep, suddenly opened hers.
“…Idris?”
The moment her voice slipped through those lips, it felt like something holding him back snapped.
He wanted to get closer.
…No, if he could, he wanted to take her entirely into his arms.
Idris leaned in toward Leticia, who was gazing up at him with defenseless eyes.
Even as his mind warned him not to, his body moved, unable to suppress his desire.
But then—
A hand reached out and stopped him.
“These eyes… I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere before.”
As her soft, pale hand touched his cheek, Idris froze like someone struck by a paralysis spell.
Then, barely moving his lips, he asked:
“…Where?”
Leticia blinked slowly, as if trying to recall a memory.
“A face this handsome isn’t something you’d forget… Maybe I saw it in a dream?”
She giggled softly, as if talking to herself—then drifted off to sleep again.
Once more, Idris was left alone with reality.
Just like that day, when he had become bound to her for the rest of his life.
He looked at Leticia with bittersweet eyes and gently brushed her cheek with the back of his hand as he finally gave the answer he hadn’t been able to.
“It wasn’t a dream.”
“…”
“I’ve been stuck in that moment… always waiting for you, Leticia.”
Waiting for you to wake from that dream.
To open your eyes and truly see me.
Even now. Still.
The Next Morning
“Ugh…”
I woke up with a burning thirst.
But the moment I opened my eyes, a splitting headache hit me.
And at the same time—
“It’s so good, I’ll just drink it all myself!”
—Memories from last night flooded back.
It was time to pay for my sins… with regret and repentance.
“Gasp.”
Like a dam bursting, the memories came rushing back—and my face burned hot.
Talking to the wine and dessert cake. Whining at Idris to pour me more.
And even proposing a game of truth or drink—only to chug the wine myself!
‘…Was I insane?!’
The rest was blurry, but I remembered being supported by Idris all the way to my room.
From the moment I lay in bed, I had no more memories… so I must’ve fallen asleep right away.
‘Aaaaagh! What a disaster!’
I’d always known I couldn’t handle alcohol.
That’s why I was careful not to disgrace myself before marriage—and after marriage, to maintain the dignity of a duchess.
But that wine, which I had enjoyed so much, had pushed me too far…
Thinking of Idris and his endless exasperated smiles, one thought hit me hard:
‘…I’m going to die.’
Knowing him, he would never let me live this down.
‘I’m not stepping outside this room until he’s gone to work.’
Avoiding him wasn’t the best solution, but just for today, I needed to hide.
Not to escape his teasing—but to get some distance from the memories.
Still, I was too thirsty and my head hurt too much to go back to sleep.
Just then, I heard someone moving near the table.
‘Is that Erin checking on me?’
I vaguely remembered her startled face when she saw me drunk last night.
‘Ugh, even Erin had to see me like that…’
We were close, and she knew my inner struggles well—but still, I had an image to maintain.
I sighed and called out softly.
“Erin, could you bring me some water?”
Soon, I heard the sound of water being poured, followed by quiet footsteps approaching.
I reached out from under the blanket and took the cup. It was warm water—perfectly cooled for drinking.
“Thank y―”
But as I sat up to drink, I saw who it was… and froze.
“…Did you sleep well? How are you feeling?”
“I-Idris…?”
I barely stopped myself from dropping the cup, blinking in shock.
“W-why are you here…?”
His smooth brow furrowed slightly.
“…You don’t remember, Leticia?”
