The Male Lead’s Younger Sister is Still Sad Today

Episode 10

Ben, who was watching his reactions, cautiously added,

“…Both of them are getting along well with everyone. They’re well-liked among the servants.”

“Naturally.”

Ordinary people are supposed to be drawn to those who are different from them, but that’s not the case for me. I find those who are different from me intimidating. I can’t understand their thoughts, and I have no way of knowing what they’re thinking since their thoughts are different from mine.

“Please be a bit more lenient. I heard their probationary period was much shorter than the other servants’, and it’s their first time serving at a formal event.”

“Even so, it’s strange that they have no intention of quitting.”

Raiden tapped his armrest with his fingers.

Compared to those who stealthily entered, they were less nervous. Compared to those who lingered here aimlessly, they seemed suspicious.

It was strange, and they were different from the people here. It seems they feel strange because they are different.

* * *

As I entered the Duke’s room at his summons, there were whiskey and two glasses, fruits and cheese to go with the alcohol, and various snacks laid out on the table.

It’s a guest, even though Henry didn’t mention anything separately.

While I was diligently trying to deduce the secret guest who would arrive in the middle of the night, he poured alcohol into a glass filled with ice.

Then, he gestured for me to sit.

“Sit down.”

“Are you talking to me?”

It seemed that I was his drinking companion this time, something I wasn’t aware of before.

“Didn’t they say you’re good at listening, just as good as last time?”

Raiden raised the glass to his lips and took a long sip of the alcohol without saying a word. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as droplets of unswallowed liquor trickled down his throat.

But Raiden didn’t seem like he was going to tell me his story. Maybe he had some malicious drinking game in mind.

Even though his demeanor felt oddly threatening, it was fine. I could hold my own when it came to drinking.

“Well, then, excuse me for a moment.”

Plus, being able to drink expensive liquor without worrying about the cost was like having a well-prepared feast for me.

I sat down on the sofa in front of Raiden. He poured alcohol into the glass filled with ice with a slightly darker hue than my hair, filling it to the brim. When he thought it was sufficiently filled, Raiden turned the bottle upright.

“Drink.”

I was slightly startled when Raiden spoke directly and brought the glass to my mouth.

“But aren’t we going to toast?”

Raiden hesitated for a moment upon hearing my question. Then, he let out a bewildered chuckle.

“You do it.”

Interpreting that as a request for a toast, I extended my arm and leaned forward, offering my glass to him. However, Raiden didn’t seem inclined to hand me the glass, keeping it near his lips, with a hint of a smirk on his handsome face. It didn’t seem to bother me too much.

I hesitated for a moment and then stood up, reaching out with my upper body and arm extended towards him. In response, Raiden pulled the glass he was holding further away.

“…”

Surprised by his reaction, I couldn’t help but grin. Raiden, however, nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders and took a sip of the drink.

“It’s already late, Charles.”

With a smug smirk on his face, he continued drinking. If it had been Abel, he would have probably thrown a punch by now. I pretended not to be bothered and forced a smile while sitting back on the couch.

I couldn’t understand why he was calling me Charles.

Feeling a strange unease, I took a sip of the drink. It felt different from the cheap beer I usually drank. The sensation of the alcohol going down was unique.

I quickly grabbed a blueberry and popped it into my mouth.

“You’re a good drinker.”

Raiden complimented me with a proud expression and refilled my whiskey glass, which was still not empty.

In the meantime, Raiden had emptied his glass completely. His pace was much faster than I had expected.

By this point, I was starting to feel a bit anxious. I didn’t know what Raiden’s game was, but drinking with him seemed a bit risky.

Thinking about his usual demeanor, I couldn’t help but feel that his drinking game wouldn’t be ordinary.

“Aren’t you drinking too fast?”

“Shouldn’t you be more worried about yourself?”

Raiden wiped the alcohol from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and then nodded towards my almost full glass.

“…”

“…”

‘Ah, is it my turn?’

Raiden responded to me by staring at me intently.

I looked at his reaction and took a sip of the drink hesitantly before setting it back down. But in the end, I drank about half of it as I was intimidated by Raiden’s piercing gaze.

Surprisingly, Raiden refilled my glass that was still half full.

Then, he took another sip of his drink, and it was my turn again.

Fortunately, Raiden, who had been drinking aggressively, finally spoke.

“They say the marquess’s daughter lost her memory.”

“Yes.”

His sudden mention of Isis’s situation made me feel a bit gloomy.

“Were you close to her?”

I cautiously nodded in response to his question. Raiden muttered as if he just realized something.

“When I saw her before, she didn’t seem to have a very pleasant personality, but she’s apparently kinder than she looks?”

“…”

It was true that Isis was kinder than she appeared, but I kept my lips sealed in response to Raiden’s question. I didn’t want to encourage Raiden’s interest in Isis.

Fortunately, Raiden didn’t bring up the topic any further.

One glass, two glasses, three glasses…

The number of emptied glasses kept increasing. Raiden, who was drinking with me, maintained his composure and continued to gaze at me intently.

The problem was that I was slowly getting drunk. That’s why you should never get too confident when it comes to alcohol.

If I continued like this and my wits started to slip, revealing my real name, it would be a big problem.

To stay a little sober, I took a few pieces of ice from the ice-filled basket and put them in my mouth.

In the meantime, Raiden had another drink, and then he nodded at me as if encouraging me to drink. Raiden was scary, but the glass filled with alcohol was just as intimidating.

Rather than being scared of the glass itself, it was probably more accurate to say that I was afraid of the hangover I’d face tomorrow.

I hesitated, not raising my glass, just watching Raiden’s reaction.

But Raiden’s gaze at me was firm.

But it was my real limit.

After briefly contemplating, I closed my eyes and suddenly slumped to my left. It seemed better to become a person who got drunk and passed out like this.

“…”

While I was quietly closing my eyes, I could hear the sound of ice rolling in Raiden’s glass. Then, with a clinking sound, I could hear the sound of the alcohol flowing down Raiden’s throat.

Seeing that he didn’t say anything, it seemed like he had no intention of waking me up. I inwardly sighed with relief.

It might be better to let other servants come and take me away like this.

Raiden placed the glass back on the table. Then, I could hear the sound of him getting up from his seat.

Just as I wondered if he was going to bed like this, his footsteps gradually approached me.

My heart pounded like crazy in anxiety. He wouldn’t insert a bottle into my mouth while I was unconscious, right?

If I drank more, tomorrow morning would undoubtedly be a struggle. I might enjoy drinking, but I certainly didn’t enjoy hangovers.

I had to work tomorrow. And not just me, but Raiden had to work as well!

At that moment, I heard the sound of plates on the table gathering in one place. With my eyes closed, it sounded like the plates were all being smashed to pieces.

Could it be that he was angry? Listening to that sound, it felt like my scalp was tingling.

Feeling like I was sweating even on the back of my head, I tightly closed my eyes.

“How long are you going to keep this up?”

Raiden’s chilly voice pierced my ears. I was extremely afraid, but I kept pretending to be asleep, determined not to yield.

“…This is awkward.”

Right, aren’t you the one feeling awkward? So, can we stop now?

“I should hold something in my hand to snap you out of it…”

What he was holding in his hand probably wasn’t just a glass of alcohol. Thanks to that, I snapped out of it, stretched gracefully, and sat up.

“Ahem, I slept well.”

I yawned as if I had just woken up.

Nevertheless, Raiden continued pouring whiskey into my empty glass without even blinking. Then he forcibly placed the cold glass into my hand.

I looked back and forth between the glass in my hand and Raiden’s face, then cautiously asked, “Is it time to stop now?”

Even though I looked at Raiden with pleading eyes, he just smiled with an unchanged expression and met my gaze.

Haha, this crazy person…

In the end, I tightly closed my eyes and downed the drink.

I was really at my limit. Seriously, I couldn’t take it anymore.

To regain my composure even a little, I put some ice from the water glass back into my mouth. However, my mind was still hazy.

Raiden smoothly took the water glass from my hand.

Then he handed me an empty glass.

“No… This time, it’s the Duke’s turn to drink.”

Looking at Raiden’s slightly relaxed face, I felt a glimmer of hope. Why? Because it was clear that the Duke was intoxicated.

If he drinks more, he’ll also have a tough day tomorrow.

So, I had this expectation that maybe he would suggest we stop drinking now, or something along those lines.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

But Raiden simply continued to drink comfortably.

‘He definitely looks drunk…’

I was a pretty strong drinker, and I had never met anyone who could outdrink me. Moreover, Raiden had never spilled a drop of alcohol while drinking until now, but at this moment, the unconsumed liquor was flowing down his throat.

As a result, his white robe was gradually getting soaked.

Raiden wiped his mouth with his hand and picked up a grape, then responded impudently, contrary to my expectations.

“What are you waiting for? Drink.”

“…”

I forced a smile and put the glass in my hand to my lips. When I lowered the glass with a displeased expression, he casually placed a grape in my mouth.

“You’re welcome.”

With one hand propping up his chin, he observed me closely, someone who was clearly drunk. Then he reached out and gently touched my cheek.