Chapter 4

“How is it, Vivian?”

“It’s really tasty.”

“Is it? I’m glad it suits your taste. Would you like another?”

Grace offered the bottle again, and Vivian gladly extended her empty glass. Grace and Vivian filled each other’s glasses and drank until the wine in the bottle was almost empty. The finger food and fruit they had with the drink were also gone before they knew it.

“This seems like a really small quantity.”

Grace, who had been drinking merrily, said as she divided the remaining wine between Vivian’s glass and her own.

“But I feel the alcohol kicking in, so I’m satisfied with this.”

Vivian thought it was considerate and thanked her, responding.

“Really? Well, if you drink too much, the next day will be a headache. But, Vivian, is there something different about you?”

Grace nodded in agreement with Vivian’s words, then suddenly seemed to remember something and asked with sparkling eyes.

“Huh? Different? Grace?”

“No, not me. You, Vivian. I wondered if there was any change in your body.”

“Huh…? Oh, ah…. You’re asking if I’m drunk. It wasn’t that much, and the alcohol content isn’t high, so I’m fine.”

“No, not that.”

“What?”

Vivian tilted her head at Grace’s firm words.

“Isn’t there something rising up?”

Grace opened and closed her hands repeatedly in front of her eyes, asking in an excited tone.

“…Huh? What’s supposed to rise? My stomach isn’t upset.”

Vivian checked her condition by rubbing her chest and informed Grace that there wasn’t much of a problem.

“Not the contents in your stomach!”

Grace shook her head, dissatisfied with the answer.

“Grace…. Your choice of words is very light today….”

“Do you mean vulgar?”

“I didn’t say that much….”

“Haha, when I’m excited about something, I get overly thrilled.”

Grace narrowed her eyes and showed a sly smile. With a face that seemed to be plotting something bad, Vivian felt uneasy.

“I see…. I didn’t know that.”

“More importantly, focus on your body’s changes. Don’t you feel anything?”

“…I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel. Could you give me an example?”

Confused by Grace’s urging, Vivian asked.

“Desire.”

Grace was speaking of something incongruous with her dignified, sculptural beauty. Vivian doubted her ears once again. She had been surprised by Grace quite a few times today. She was almost too exhausted to be shocked anymore.

“What? Why should that rise?”

Vivian tried to remain calm and asked Grace.

“Because I spiked the drink you had with an aphrodisiac.”

“Aphrodisiac?”

Vivian cried out, looking at Grace in disbelief.

“Yes, I had already coated your glass with a colorless, odorless drug.”

“Why would you do such a thing, Grace!”

Vivian looked at Grace with a face that couldn’t believe it.

“Sorry, Vivian. You only visit our estate maybe once a month, if at all. If I miss this chance, I don’t know when you’ll come again. I thought you might never return because I was too forceful this time.”

“What do you mean? You don’t have to worry about that; I’ll visit again.”

“Haha, really? That’s good news. Well, that’s for later, and today we’ll enjoy it as it is.”

“What are we enjoying?”

Vivian’s voice rose in growing anxiety.

“What else? It’s an extension of the story we talked about during the day. I haven’t given up yet! If you’re worried about my brother, don’t be. By now, he should be in dreamland, having drunk the tea with the sleeping potion I gave him.”

“You gave the Marquis a drug too?”

“Of course! The most important thing in that scene is the Marquis being asleep! I had the family mage prepare something effective enough to knock him out with just one sip!”

“Your preparations are very thorough….”

Vivian said, worrying if Cassius’s body would be alright with such an effective potion. Still, since the Marquis drank it, she thought the mage must have prepared something harmless and dismissed the thought.

“Of course! I must see that scene I’ve been eagerly anticipating!”

Grace shouted with a delighted voice.

“Grace, I understand your feelings, but please don’t make me an accomplice!”

Unable to endure, Vivian stood up and said.

“An accomplice? I will take all the blame myself! So, Vivian, fulfill your desires!”

Grace also stood up, declaring firmly.

“Please don’t speak so resolutely! You’re inciting your brother’s assault!”

“What are you saying? This is consensual! Ah, how beautiful….”

“There’s no consent when he’s unconscious! It’s sleep assault! This is crazy. Sigh….”

“Haha, your breathing is getting rough! Is the drug taking effect?! Haha.”

Grace was panting, excited at the thought of soon achieving her wish.

“It seems like you drank the drug instead, Grace.”

“That can’t be. I checked several times! And what fun would it be if I drank it?”

Grace shouted to Vivian, insisting that such a thing couldn’t happen.

“Sigh…, I think I’ve made a mistake in choosing my friends.”

Exhausted, Vivian collapsed onto the sofa.

“That can’t be! There’s no better friend than me!”

Grace denied the truth.

“There’s nothing left to say.”

“Calm down, Vivian. I’m not someone who goes that far.”

“…It seems like you’re already crossing a river you can’t return from….”

Vivian muttered with a groan.

“If you follow my words, I’ll give you the antidote. Haha, if you don’t want to be swayed by desire, you should listen to me.”

“You say you’re not reckless, yet you’re threatening me?”

“Oh, my! I’m sorry. I grew up spoiled, ignorant, and a bit lacking in social skills. I didn’t know this was a threat. That’s how I am. Let’s understand each other with warm hearts.”

At Grace’s response, Vivian looked at her as if she were a fascinating creature.

“Are you saying that yourself? I heard you graduated as the student council president and valedictorian from the academy.”

Grace flinched at Vivian’s pointed remark but soon smiled slyly and spoke.

“Haha, you have an unnecessarily good memory.”

“I need to find a way to survive, you know. Besides, we graduated together.”

“Haha, of course, I remember. Ahem, anyway, I’ll make a proposal that might interest you. What you drank is an extremely potent aphrodisiac. I specially requested it from our family mage.”

‘So a mage made it. Why didn’t they stop it and instead collaborated to make it? Mages are known to be eccentric. Maybe they thought Grace’s plan was amusing.’

Vivian concluded internally.

“Sigh…. I see.”

Listening to Grace’s words, Vivian nodded slowly. Meanwhile, she was subtly feeling changes in her body. Her body was getting hotter, and there was a tingling sensation in her lower abdomen. Vivian thought Grace wasn’t lying about the special order from the family mage.

“But don’t be too angry. If you show me the desired scene, I won’t make unreasonable demands. Afterward, I’ll give you the antidote. It’ll only take a moment. It’s a request as a friend. Yes, Vivian? Please.”

Grace spoke pleadingly, raising her clasped hands. She looked genuinely desperate.

Did she want to see that scene so badly? 

Vivian thought Grace’s determination was impressive.

“Sigh…. Alright. But I won’t actually do it. Once you see the scene you want, I’ll leave immediately.”

“Wow! Vivian, you’re the best! Thank you so much! I’ll do that!”

Grace was so moved that she hugged Vivian.

“Sorry, but don’t cling too much…. Grace. The drug you gave is quite effective, so at this rate, I might pounce on anyone in front of me.”

“Gasp! That, that can’t happen. Okay!”

Grace recoiled in shock, quickly stepping back.

“Do you dislike it that much…?”

Watching Grace retreat with a look of disgust, Vivian asked with a hurt expression. Not that she had feelings for her, but purely because of the intense reaction.

“Oh, no, it’s not that. If you pounce, Vivian , it should be on my brother! I don’t want to waste this good opportunity on me! You understand, right?”

With Grace’s firm stance, Vivian accepted it. 

Ah, she was this kind of person. How had I not known this side of her? 

Vivian was newly amazed.

“Alright. I understand how desperate you are, Grace.”

When Vivian responded as if she agreed, Grace’s tense expression brightened.

“Haha, right? Come on, let’s go. I’ll guide you to my brother’s bedroom.”

Since it was inappropriate to go wearing only a sheer nightgown, Grace handed Vivian her own nightgown. Vivian took it, put it on, and followed Grace. Grace seemed to remember Vivian’s advice and kept a little distance as she walked ahead.

The servants had finished their work and returned, so there was no one in the hallway. The two walked through the slightly dark corridor, relying on the faint lights and the lantern Grace held.

“Is Marquis’s bedroom far?”

Vivian tried to ignore her heated body and asked Grace while following her.

“Not too far. I requested a guest room close to my brother’s bedroom just for occasions like this. Usually, relatives use that guest room. But for you, Vivian, of course, we should offer it.”

“Haha, that’s a nice story.”

Though it was part of Grace’s plan, Vivian expressed gratitude since she benefited from it.

“Haha, you’re welcome. We’ve arrived now.”

Grace stopped in front of a room and looked back at Vivian.