70

“…”

“So, even though I worked so hard because Liam gave me a day off again… how hard I worked…”

His rambling words gradually faded away.

It seemed like drowsiness was taking over, probably due to the effects of alcohol.

“Lord.”

“…”

“Lord?”

I called Dante several times, but he just tightened his arms around me, not showing any intention to respond.

‘He’s not trying to fall asleep here, is he?’

That couldn’t be.

I couldn’t stay sitting on the floor with this drunkard…

That desperation gave me a surge of supernatural strength.

After much effort, I managed to free myself from Dante’s embrace.

I addressed him as I tried to soothe the situation.

“Just wait a moment; I’ll call the servants…”

Suddenly, his loosely closed eyelids snapped open.

His once lethargic red eyes were now wide open.

“No.”

Simultaneously, Dante caught my arm.

“Don’t call anyone else.”

…Given his capricious nature, and now adding alcohol to the mix, it was becoming unbearable.

With a complex gaze, I sighed deeply.

“But I can’t move you alone.”

“Why should you move me?”

“Well, I don’t want to see you sleeping on the floor.”

“Can’t I just walk there myself?”

Dante raised an eyebrow and questioned me.

“Then you won’t call anyone else?”

Wow, he’s really a mess…

Even though I thought so in my head, I nodded obediently.

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Dante struggled to stand up, taking a few unsteady steps.

I hurriedly tried to support Dante, but he stopped me.

“It’s fine.”

Dante shook his head and staggered forward.

‘Even in such a drunken state, his pride is still intact or something.’

Watching Dante’s unstable figure with a troubled expression, I quickly followed behind.

‘Luckily, the bedroom is right next to the office.’

A small door between the office and bedroom allowed easy access without going outside.

If the office and bedroom were arranged like a typical house, far apart from each other…

‘Ugh, I don’t even want to imagine it.’

I internally expressed my disgust.

Dante, swaying, walked into the bedroom and plopped down on the bed.

Then, he grumbled as if instructing me.

“My throat… feels stuffy.”

So what?

Staring at him with that meaning, Dante flashed a mischievous smile.

“Untie the cravat for me.”

“…”

…Normally, when someone is drunk, they become like a dog.

Why did Dante have to act like a child?

However, despite my cynical thoughts, I was in a situation where I had to obey that damn male protagonist.

“Stay still for a moment.”

I simply untied the cravat.

Dante leaned on me like a gentle lamb.

‘Well, he can’t sleep in a suit…’

Since I was already helping, I also took off the suit jacket and vest.

Finally, unbuttoning the densely packed shirt up to the neck, I gently opened it.

“Now, please sleep quietly, understood?”

Then, Dante suddenly threw a question at me.

“What about you?”

Huh?

It was difficult to understand the meaning of the question.

I tilted my head in confusion.

‘Isn’t it obvious? The drunkard sleeps here, and I sleep in another bedroom in the dormitory.’

Simultaneously, Dante struggled and asked me.

“…Alone?”

“…”

In the dim red light, his red eyes glowed eerily.

It was a desperate gaze.

Eyes reminiscent of a child on the verge of being abandoned by their mother.

Why is that?

Facing such Dante, I found myself feeling a bit sorry for that arrogant man without even realizing it.

“I’m here.”

Dante squeezed out the words as if it pained him.

“I don’t want to be left alone by anyone.”

“Your Grace.”

“I really… hate it.”

Though his voice sounded calm,

why did it echo in my ears like a desperate plea to not be abandoned?

…Even though that couldn’t be the case.

“I don’t want to leave you alone.”

I kneeled in front of Dante and gently cupped his cheek with my hand.

“Just because… Your Grace drank too much.”

Dante stared at me silently.

The usually haughty face that always looked down on others,

now seemed as vulnerable as a wounded young beast.

“Maybe it would be better to rest a bit and have a conversation after the alcohol wears off?”

“I am indeed drunk, that’s true.”

Dante interrupted me.

“But even so, I know what I want right now.”

“…”

Dante leaned his cheek into my palm and whispered.

“No matter what happens… I won’t leave your side.”

“…”

It was a voice so fragile that it was hard to believe it came from Dante.

Suddenly, I remembered Dante’s long-standing trauma.

‘Come to think of it, Dante’s mother…’

I heard she not only overdosed on sleeping pills but also cut her wrists in the bathtub.

Her actions seemed like a desperate longing for death.

Moreover, Dante was the one who discovered the body of the princess who committed suicide.

At that time, Dante was…

‘Only seven years old.’

A severe deficiency of affection.

A man who longs to receive absolute love from someone, yet cannot love anyone himself.

Dante will never be able to fill this void in his lifetime.

…Even after meeting the female protagonist of this world.

Even her affection, like the sunshine she generously shares, could not complete Dante.

Dante wanted to completely possess her.

But the female protagonist was someone who wouldn’t be monopolized by anyone.

“Please.”

Dante whispered as if in agony.

“…Stay by my side today. Okay?”

It was the first time.

Dante showed his raw emotions.

“You said you love only me.”

His dark, intense gaze seemed to devour me.

“But why… don’t you say you love me now?”

After hesitating for a moment, I approached Dante.

I gently embraced his neck and rested my forehead against his body.

“I love you.”

Though I had resolved not to love Dante, and that decision still held, for now…

I hoped that, at least for this moment…

I could bring some comfort to Dante.

Even if my affection for him was nothing more than a shallow pretense, unknown to even myself.

Even if it was unreasonable empathy, like sympathizing with a tiny mouse about to be devoured by a giant beast.

Still…

“…I hope my voice reaches him.”

At the same time, his crimson eyes sank into darkness.

As he swallowed my lips, a powerful scent of whiskey flooded in, as if to engulf my entire body.

The clothes that enveloped me fell roughly to the ground.

In an instant, my body grew warm.

It was the beginning of a long night.

* * *

Thin fingers clung to Dante’s shoulder like a spider.

[Dante.]

Ruby-like crimson eyes gleamed sharply as they looked down at Dante.

[It’s because of you.]

[……]

[My life has been ruined because of you.]

Disheveled silver hair scattered around, leaving tear stains on the pale face.

The princess whispered to young Dante over and over again.

[Why were you even born?]

[……]

[I wish you had died in the womb. No, no……]

Muttering softly, the princess, who had been shaking her head wildly, continued.

[You should never have taken a place in my womb from the beginning.]

[……]

[If only you weren’t here……]

The hand clinging to Dante’s shoulder tightened with force.

“It hurts.”

Dante stiffened his trembling body.

But he couldn’t shake off this touch at all.

Because.

“Mother spoke to me.”

Even if it’s a voice stained with hatred, resentment, disgust, and loathing.

It’s better than passing by his side without even a glance.

Because Mother looked at me like this……

[Why are you still alive?]

[……Mother.]

After hesitating for a while, Dante timidly murmured.

He wanted to call her mother even like this.

Then.

[Don’t call me mother!]

The princess raised her voice as if having a fit.

“I never wanted you even once.”

Looking at Dante as if looking at the most terrifying thing in the world, the princess trembled as she spoke.

“Why were you born at all?”

Shaking Dante’s shoulders vigorously, the princess exploded again.

“Answer me, were you born to drag me into the abyss?”

[……]

[Why aren’t you dead! Why!]

The princess’s outburst continued for a long time.

Dante, who had been staring at her with empty eyes, murmured.

“Would you truly be happy if I died?”

At that question, the princess, who had been thrashing around like mad, suddenly stopped moving.

She nodded decisively.

“Yes.”