Chapter 40 (2/2)

But seeing that the banquet was still going on, it might not have been long yet.

Anyway, I was seriously wasted. Couldn’t even stand without swaying.

And I was in a very, very good mood.

In one hand, I had a gla.s.s of sparkling wine. I took a small mouthful. Amazing how easy it is to drink, it tastes heavenly.

“Ehehehehehe — ”

Seeing Leon in front of me, looking a little concerned, I burst out laughing. No reason, I just wanted to. It was fun.

It was fun, so I took Leon’s hand and walked out to the main part of the hall.

“Miss Chris?”

Since I didn’t eat much, I was hungry. The soldiers were all busy drinking, so there was still food left.

It looks so good. Too good to waste. I gotta eat it.

Looking over my shoulder, I saw Leon following after me with a wry smile. ‘Course he is. I’m pulling on his hand, after all.

But I don’t mean to be pushy. It’s just nice hanging out with Leon. He’s a good guy, Leon.

“I’m staaarviiing… ahahaha.”

Pus.h.i.+ng my way past surprised soldiers, my eyes fell on a meatloaf sitting on the table. It looked rich and so, so delicious.

“I wanna eat that. Hold on.”

I pushed the gla.s.s in my hand onto Leon and approached the meatloaf. Meat. Yeah, it’s meat. I thought so. It looks mouthwatering.

I purred and looked around for a fork or something.

Nothing.

But I found something good. It was a small piece of bread. A moment later I thought of a great idea, and with a big smile, I took it and broke it in two.

Then I stuck a slice of meatloaf between the pieces. Like this, I raised it to my mouth.

“Mmm, dewiffuff.”

I was right. As I chewed, the richness of the meat and the umami of the bread filled my mouth. This is happiness.

Swallowing, I was about to take another bite when I made eye contact with a dumbfounded Leon.

Yeah, I’ll let Leon have a taste of my amazing invention too.

“Leon, this is really good, try it.”

And right then, I take my bitten meatloaf-bread combo and put it up to Leon’s mouth.

With the food right in his face, his expression grew terribly perplexed.

What? You made me drink some weird stuff earlier, I can’t return the favor?

What a rude guy.

“C’mon, try it. It’s super good.”

“V–Very well.”

Leon reached his hand out for the bread.

Why is this guy such a pain in the a.s.s? Can’t he just eat it like it is?

Grabbing Leon’s outstretched hand, I then shoved the bread into his mouth.

“Mm!”

“…What a pain.”

His brow furrowed, Leon gave in with a smile of surrender and bit into the bread I stuck in his face.

A commotion went up around us. I hadn’t noticed, but at some point, we’d become the center of attention. ‘What’s with you guys?’ I shot them a look, then returned my gaze to Leon.

“It’s good, right?”

“Uh, yes. It certainly is… I was surprised. It’s my first time eating this way.”

“Ahahahaha — ”

There was something hilarious about Leon saying something like that so seriously, and I burst into laughter again. I polished off the remaining half of the sandwich. Mm, that hits the spot. Everyone oughta give it a try.

My mood getting even better, I stole my gla.s.s back from Leon’s hand and downed the whole thing at once.

“Hoo~. Oh, it’s all gone…”

I ran out of sparkling wine, so I reached out for a nearby bottle.

Leon’s hand came from behind me and gently restrained mine.

“Miss Chris, haven’t you had too much already?”

I turned my head to look at him. His expression had grown concerned again.

He’s been awfully troubled today, huh? Well, I’m the one messing with him though.

“Ehehehehe~”

I looped my hands around Leon’s neck above my head. For some reason, I was getting the urge to make troubled Leon even more so.

I could feel the temperature of the back of his neck through my wrists. Settling in comfortably, I exerted just a little strength to pull his face toward mine. Man, does he look fl.u.s.tered now.

Some sort of s.h.i.+ver ran through me. The part of me that knew I couldn’t do this set off warning bells in my head.

But it was exactly because of that awareness that I was excited to cross that line.

“Leeeooon~”

My heart was racing. This feeling is not good.

The gears in my head are turning furiously. I can’t think straight. My consciousness is a mess, I know that.

My vision is growing hazy. I can’t even get a good look at Leon’s face now.

Ah, this is bad. My consciousness is scattering in the wind.

And yet.

The sensation against my hands. The temperature. The peace of mind that comes from his presence beside me.

I knew it all. And I obediently let go of my consciousness.

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