Chapter 1

Someone once said that all history is made on nights with alcohol.  

And they also said that changing a long-standing relationship might only take a single drink.  

Hazel carefully lifted the thick, reddish arm wrapped around her waist like a sturdy tree trunk. It was so heavy that she almost let out a groan and risked waking the other person. She adjusted her skirt, which had ridden up to her thighs, and tightly shut her eyes.  

‘Crazy, absolutely crazy… But it felt so good, didn’t it?’  

Hazel’s face turned a rosy hue, her cheeks twitching as they rounded upward. As her thoughts wandered back to the events of last night, she gulped down her saliva.  

Even if time were reversed, Hazel would undoubtedly make the same choice. The knowledge she had absorbed to the point of brainwashing at the risqué social gathering, “Dessert at Night,” was finally proving useful.  

“Hmm.”  

Hazel curled her body like a caterpillar, carefully rolling off the bed and onto the floor. She managed to land safely thanks to clutching a pillow as large as her body.  

“Phew—thank goodness.”  

But was it really something to be thankful for? After all, the man she had been with last night was none other than Duke Kaiden, her brother’s closest friend.  

Hazel peeked her head out and gazed at the man sleeping n*ked on the bed. His jet-black hair was tousled from tossing and turning all night, but his striking features remained impeccably composed.  

Beneath his smooth forehead, his deeply set eye sockets concealed the crimson eyes that reportedly made many noble ladies’ hearts flutter. His sharp nose boasted a flawless angle that needed no further description.  

Moreover, his skin was so immaculate, without a single blemish, that Hazel felt tempted to ask for his skincare secrets. Indeed, he truly lived up to his reputation as one of the most eligible bachelors in the Servian Empire.  

‘He’s really handsome, isn’t he? No wonder even the Emperor covets him.’  

It was undeniable that Kaiden possessed a captivating outer shell that could make anyone’s heart race. And even there—yes, even there—was as warm and flawless as a freshly picked peach, so perfect it seemed like a sacred artifact.  

Ahem, ahem. If she let her mind wander for even a moment, memories of last night would flood back. It was all because of that mirror.  

Hazel picked up the platinum-crafted mirror on the bedside table and angled it toward Kaiden. The reverse side of the mirror opened up like glass, and a number floated above his finely chiseled abs.  

98.9.  

She had bought the mirror a few days earlier during a visit to an astrologer.  

Unable to endure her father’s constant nagging to get married, Hazel had told the old woman that if she had to marry, she wanted the perfect husband, even in bed. If such luck wasn’t in her destiny, she at least wanted a lucky artifact. Without a word, the old woman had taken out the mirror.  

‘The higher the number, the more satisfied you’ll be.’  

‘What does the number mean?’  

‘It’ll be the extraordinary man you’re looking for.’  

Even though the explanation was vague, Hazel, a model student of risqué social gatherings, immediately understood its meaning.  

It was s*xual compatibility!  

With a sly smile, Hazel had tucked the hand mirror into her handbag.  

Out of curiosity, she had tested it on passersby, and numbers like 23, 19.9, and 37.5 had flashed by.  

Her curiosity didn’t spare Kaiden, who was staying at the mansion at Evan’s request.  

As soon as she arrived home, she had discreetly angled the mirror over her shoulder toward him, and an unexpectedly high score appeared.  

98.9.  

A score so close to perfection was enough to ignite the curiosity of Hazel, who was both a pervert and a virgin.  

And so, last night, Hazel had attacked Duke Kaiden. Or rather, she had conducted a sort of “experiment.” That seemed like a more fitting description.  

According to her accumulated knowledge, intercourse without penetration was merely f*replay. So, calling it an “attack” seemed premature since there was still much left unexplored.  

As the memories of last night surfaced, Hazel’s slender neck bobbed again. She licked her lips, small and cherry-like.  

So, what exactly happened last night?  

“Your Grace, would you care for a drink?”  

“Hazel, are you old enough to drink already? But why alcohol all of a sudden?”  

“Well… While creating the scented oil you requested, I think I overworked myself a bit.”  

“Overworked?”  

Kaiden turned his head slightly at Hazel’s words, noticing that she seemed thinner than when she had first arrived at the Marquis’ estate. It was a sight that might earn him a scolding from Evan, who doted on his younger sister excessively.  

「To my dearest friend Kaiden,  

I received your letter about successfully concluding the trade of blue minerals with the Eastern Empire. If that’s the case, could you return to the homeland and look after Hazel for me?  

To my eyes, Hazel still seems like a child who hasn’t even made her debutante. But Father keeps pressuring her to marry.  

As you know, I’ve been appointed as the Captain of the 1st Imperial Knight Order and am participating in the Great Campaign. I’m worried that Hazel might impulsively marry some unsuitable man, and it’s making it hard for me to focus on my sword. So, I’m asking for your help.  

I’m counting on you, Kaiden!  

Your only friend who tolerates your terrible temper, Evan.」  

Below the letter was a list of daily check-ins:  

Was she eating well? Who were the noble ladies she was associating with these days? Which men were flirting with her at balls? Names must be recorded. Even her brushing habits needed to be reported.  

‘Is he a brother or a stalker? He’s so over-the-top.’  

Since Kaiden had business with the Princess in the Servian Empire anyway, he had no reason to refuse. One word in the letter particularly caught his attention: “marriage.”  

Hazel had graduated from the National Academy two years ago and made her debut last year. Was she already of marriageable age?  

Kaiden, who had watched over Hazel for a long time, felt a deep affection for her, almost as strong as Evan’s. He couldn’t imagine approving of any potential suitor.  

However, since Hazel herself hadn’t expressed a desire to marry, her marriage seemed like nothing more than the wishful thinking of the adults around her. After all, Hazel didn’t date or attend social gatherings.  

Her hobbies were limited to reading in her room or taking late-night walks.  

Finding this somewhat dull, Kaiden had suggested that she work on a new product for the Everren Marquisate’s perfume brand, which had been supplying the Imperial Household for several years.  

When he proposed developing a sleep-inducing oil to sell to neighboring countries, Hazel had agreed enthusiastically. They had been working together for nearly a month.  

“Your Grace, could I have just one drink?”  

“One drink?”  

Kaiden nodded at Hazel’s pleading voice. She then smiled brightly, just as she had when she was a child, wiped her dress with her hand, and dashed off somewhere.  

Her demeanor was slightly different from the last time he had seen her at her debutante, but her golden eyes and cherry-like lips remained the same.  

Her golden eyes resembled amber, and her shimmering red hair was as pretty as ever. Now that she had matured, she even exuded a fresh elegance.  

“Shall we keep this a secret from my brother?”  

“That’s Evan’s prized possession, isn’t it?”  

It was a 30-year-old bottle of Servian brandy, with the Imperial crest engraved on the glass. Likely a gift from the Emperor upon Evan’s appointment as Captain of the Imperial Knight Order.  

“If I drink it with you, Your Grace, I’ll only get half the scolding later, don’t you think?”  

“You speak as though we’re bound to get caught.”  

“Well, it is my brother’s favorite drink.”  

Kaiden, whose mansion already housed plenty of Servian brandy from his international trade ventures, decided to play along with her eager gaze.  

“Let’s keep this between us, then.”  

“Of course!”  

Clink.  

The crystal glasses, shaped like tulips, clinked together with a clear sound. Before long, both of their faces flushed red.  

Good alcohol, they say, makes you forget even your enemies. That seemed to be true.  

Hazel found herself thinking that the Duke, who had been annoyingly mimicking her brother earlier in the day, didn’t seem so bad after all. Maybe it was because of the number reflected in the mirror.  

After all, the Duke scored a 98.9!  

The golden liquid swirled in the glass, releasing a fragrant aroma of well-aged grapes and apples. The moderate alcohol content warmed her body. When Kaiden, feeling the effects of the alcohol, unbuttoned a couple of buttons on his shirt, the glimpse of his broad chest muscles drew her gaze.  

‘Wow, he’s really something…’  

Was his score of 98.9 partly because of those muscles? 

If it were up to her, she would have given him a perfect score. The mirror seemed a bit stingy.  

Would his chest feel firm to the touch? Or would it be soft, like a down comforter?  

The thought made her mouth water, and her gaze remained fixed on his chest as though she were being hypnotized.  

“Your Grace, shall we continue drinking in my room?”  

“In your room?”  

By now, the maids would have lit herbs known for aiding sleep in her room, as they always did for her insomnia. Hazel, accustomed to such scents, wouldn’t fall asleep easily.  

“Come on. The servants need their rest too.”  

“You’re right.”  

Kaiden’s ears turned redder, and the skin peeking through his shirt was flushed. With any luck, she might experience the glory of that 98.9 score tonight.  

Excited, Hazel stood up and gently tugged on Kaiden’s hand.  

“This way, Your Grace.”