'for a moment....'

Are you leaving that behind? Rafine's gaze turned to the remaining whiskey glass.

Antonio came in with that glass of wine and never drank it. Is that so? It's a new drink.

Rafine sat straight down, grabbed a whiskey glass, and brought it to her mouth.

But then, someone swish and pulled the curtains back.

"Huh...."

It was Antonio. He came back to see if he had anything left to say, but when he saw Raffine sipping alcohol, he hardened.

Raphine stared at him, and he immediately turned red and went out on the road.

* * *

Antonio came out of the terrace and headed to a place where there were no people as if to run away.

He took a deep breath, covering his burning face with his arms.

'Damn it. I'm not kidding anyone.'

I was amazed to see Raphine sipping a glass of wine as he left his chin in front of him, and when he left.

'How dare you secretly put your lips on a glass that might have touched my lips....'

Antonio let out a smirk as if exasperated.

In fact, it was like an indirect kiss.

Of course he didn't drink from that glass, but you'd think Raphine did.

'You pretended you didn't like me.'

It didn't seem like that was the case.

It was cute....

Antonio raised one corner of his mouth while trying to calm his burning cheeks.

* * *

On the other hand, Raffine, who had one shot of whiskey, was satisfied.

'I don't even use it much.'

by the way....

In fact, in today's plan Raffine made, there was one more thing besides drinking.

Raphine came out of the terrace and started looking around for someone in the hall.

The person to find was Adrian, but strangely, he was more concerned about where Zerkan was.

But neither Zerkan nor Adrian nor Violet were seen.

'Where did you go? Did the three of you go chatting?'

Time passed and it was before the midnight bell rang.

Tonight is the last day of the twelfth month, so there was a New Year's Eve celebration.

People all went to the terrace or outside garden to watch the upcoming fireworks display.

Raphine also found Luka and Lois, and headed to the terrace with them.

"After 12 o'clock, you are now of age."

"Congratulations, Raphine."

The two congratulated Raffine and handed a glass of wine just before the fireworks went off. It was a glass of strong whiskey.

"You have to drink before you come."

"That's right, we're being scolded for teaching bad things."

The 12 o'clock bell began to ring loudly. At the same time, fireworks exploded in the night sky.

"Come on, Raphine. Come on, drink."

Rafine drank whiskey right away. Watching Raphine doing a one-shot, the two looked surprised.

"Are you doing one-shots?"

"Hey, are you okay?"

Luka and Lois asked worriedly, but Raphine emptied the glass in one breath and wiped her lips.

"after.... But you know what? This is my second cup?"

"What? Where did you drink!"

"this...! What if I drink it before I come of age!"

Luca and Lois jumped. Even after drinking two glasses of it, Raffine, who was still intact, looked at me curiously.

"Aren't you dizzy?"

"it's okay?"

Raphine tapped the two of them on the shoulder and said.

"Did you say that the two of you drank one cup each as soon as they came of age and stretched out right away?"

"...."

"...."

"It's like alcohol. Some drink naturally well, while others tremble in fear that they will get drunk even after one drink. That is life."

When Raphine said teasingly, Luka and Lois' mouths popped out.

"By the way, haven't you seen Adrian?"

"Oh, I don't know. Not funny."

"I knew I was going to collapse right away, so I had the wagon waiting...."

The two grumbled as if they had missed out on a lot of fun.

Raphine shrugged and went outside the terrace to find Adrian.

It was time to wander around like that. Raphine saw Adrian coming out of one of the terraces and ran towards it.

"brother!"

Raphine pushed Adrian back into the terrace.

There was no one inside the terrace.

Raphine glanced around and sat Adrian down on the sofa.

"Uh, Raphine?"

Adrian's face was a little remembered. Judging by the poor pronunciation, it was clear that he was drinking alcohol.

Raphine immediately took out the pen and paper she had prepared.

"Brother, please answer my questions from now on."

"Yes...?"

According to the information I heard from Violet....

'Adrian said that alcohol is weak, and when he gets drunk he forgets all his memories. Besides, to be very honest....'

So, it is said that Violet often spoke to the drunken Adrian, and secretly kissed him.

It was so much fun to see Adrian the next day who doesn't remember anything....

Anyway, hearing the story, Raphine aimed at this moment to get the last information.

If I wasn't drunk, I tried to drink alcohol anyway. He was in a state of drunkenness, so he had to omit one bothersome task.

Raphine grabbed Adrian and asked questions one by one.

"Brother, do you know about the style of women that His Majesty Prince Zerkan likes?"

"Zerkan? Woman? Well...."

"Answer me properly. This is a very important issue."

"Mom, I don't know.... He has no taste."

"then.... Do you like tall women?"

"Well, I don't know...."

"Then older? younger? same age? Which one do you prefer?"

"I never said anything like that...."

No, you don't know? It doesn't help at all.

Raphine bit her lip. There was nothing written on the note.

"Brother, are you really the Crown Prince's best friend? How do you not know that?"

"I'm sorry...."

As Raphine spoke as if blaming, the drunken Adrian became pale and bowed his head.

Ugh....

Raphine sighed and got up from her seat.

Then she pulled back the curtains on the terrace, opened the thick door, and went back into the hall.

"...."

Adrian, who was drunk, came to his senses and looked towards the curtain where Raphine had left.

Adrian was confused.

'No, why does Raphine ask such a thing?'

In fact, contrary to what Violet knew, Adrian wasn't drunk.

Of course, alcohol is weak, but.... It was all lies to say that I became honest when I was drunk or that I couldn't remember.

'Raphine maybe....'

Adrian's pupils began to shake violently.

and at the same time.

Beyond the curtain that Adrian was looking at, someone was standing with a hidden presence.

A door to the terrace leading to the hall, and thick curtains on the terrace. In the meantime, the person standing on the short path holding his breath....

It was Zerkan in shock.

I didn't mean to hide from the beginning. I just heard Raphine's voice so I didn't realize it for a while....

Anyway, Zerkan also began to harbor the same doubts that Adrian had.

'Why does Raphine ask such a thing?'

At the same time, the last words my mother had said echoed in my mind.

"When I see.... It seems that Raphine still has feelings for you.>

Zerkan panicked and covered his face with his large hand. The temperature of his cheeks touching the palms of his hands was tingling.

* * *

Meanwhile, Empress Rebecca, who returned to the capital in a splendid fashion, was smiling among the crowd.

As it was the first ball she attended after coming to the capital, she was more dazzling than ever.

But unlike her graceful smile on the outside, her insides were burning.

It was because of the emperor.

The emperor never came first, even after Empress Rebecca returned to the capital.

On the first day, I hadn't met her except for the fact that she went to the Imperial Palace and gave her official greetings.

Of course, I don't need the Emperor's love now, but it was true that I was heartbroken.

'While I was going to the monastery, the relationship between the emperor and the empress got really good...? huh.'

Empress Rebecca, who had originally won the emperor's heart with a drug made with gold, could not hide her emptiness.

'I don't want the emperor's heart anymore.'

However, he did not want the emperor and the empress to live peacefully and get along.

So she decided to take power. With the power that no one could use recklessly, I decided to break the gap between them.

So Rebecca began to cling to power even more.

Of course, the cause of her obsession with power was also her desire for revenge against her father.

Rebecca hid her boiling heart and greeted the nobles with an elegant smile.

Just then, a lady approached and greeted Rebecca and looked at the woman standing next to her.

"Oh my, this is the one...."

"you're right. This is Saint Celestine."

At Rebecca's words, the nobles looked at Celestina with eyes full of affection and curiosity.