But the Guildmaster wouldn’t reveal his true feelings.

And I, too, couldn’t simply like a man whose face and name I didn’t know.

I changed the subject without confessing that much.

“More importantly, shall we have a celebratory drink? Are you busy today?”

“…No. I’m free since all the things that have been troubling me are resolved now.”

“Then I’ll go get some wine!”

I awkwardly smiled and freed myself from the Guildmaster’s arm around my shoulder.

***

Surprisingly, the Guildmaster was weak with alcohol.

We had only finished two bottles of wine between us, but his body started swaying side to side.

Of course, this wasn’t the first time we’d drunk together, but it was the first time I’d seen him drunk.

Until now, we’d only enjoyed a glass or two lightly.

‘So he only had one or two drinks, not because he was thinking of me, but because he can’t handle alcohol?’

The Guildmaster’s vulnerable appearance was quite rare.

Though he usually acts cunningly, he rarely shows a relaxed demeanor.

Perhaps this wasn’t a coincidence but rather the result of his efforts.

It must be his principle not to show weaknesses or careless aspects to others.

That’s why I found it very fascinating that he was drunk now and partly worried.

What happened in the capital while I was away?

Was there something so painful that he needed to rely on alcohol?

I gently tapped the Guildmaster’s swaying shoulder.

“Did something happen?”

The Guildmaster slowly waved his limp hand.

“How could that be? hic The Lady Rosie matter is all resolved too.”

But that was Duncan’s doing, not the Guildmaster’s.

“Then why are you so drunk? Should I lay something down in the office for you?”

I wasn’t confident I could drag a drunk man to the inn where I was staying.

The Guildmaster and I had quite a difference not just in height but in build too.

Regrettably, I’d have to lay him down here roughly and return to the inn.

Though I wasn’t drunk, I felt weaker than usual from gulping down the wine.

I desperately wanted to lie down in bed and sleep.

“…What do you mean lay something down…. I don’t sleep on floors.”

For someone drunk, he sure has a lot of demands.

Still, since he doesn’t want the floor, I should at least try to get him to the sofa.

If I look around, there might be a blanket somewhere. If not, I’ll have to take off my robe, I thought.

Having made that decision, I tried to get up, leaving the mumbling Guildmaster.

But at that moment…

“Don’t go.”

The Guildmaster’s hand, which had been limply swaying in the air, firmly gripped my wrist.

His grip was so strong that I wondered if he had sobered up.

He forcefully made me sit down on my half-raised body. On his lap, at that.

…Wait, his l-lap?!

“H-Honey! This is too sudden.”

The Guildmaster ignored my flustered state and rested his face against my arm.

“Don’t abandon me. I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

His words, flowing out incoherently, were sorrowful.

This large man somehow looked small. That’s why I couldn’t leave him be.

I gently stroked the back of his head as if comforting him.

“I won’t abandon you.”

I don’t want to be alone, either.

If I were alone, I couldn’t have chosen this life of hiding after abandoning the name Yerena.

Because the Guildmaster was there to firmly protect me, I was able to come all the way to the Philia Islands.

Perhaps I should be the one asking him not to abandon me.

The Guildmaster probably doesn’t know any of these true feelings of mine.

“That’s a relief.”

The Guildmaster, seemingly relieved at my firm words, nuzzled his head. Looking down, I could see a faint smile on his lips.

I thought he was cute.

I couldn’t take my eyes off this cute man.

At that moment, his other hand that had been resting on the table reached for me.

That hand fumbled its way to hold my hand.

I ended up with both my hands captured by him.

“Won’t let go.”

He was cute acting coy, unlike his usual self.

My gaze lingered on his red lips as he spoke nonsense.

My heart started beating rapidly, dreaming of wonderful love.

Being so close that we could feel each other’s breath was really bad for my heart.

“Being the first to let go… why don’t you understand how painful that is…”

Since it didn’t seem like he was talking about me, I remained quiet.

Meanwhile, the Guildmaster continued speaking.

“I’m in pain, too.”

“….”

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt…”

“Don’t be distressed. No one will get hurt. Everything will be alright.”

I wondered what story the Guildmaster had to act like an abandoned puppy on the street.

This current melancholy and sadness might be related to the ‘unforgettable woman’ I’d vaguely heard about before.

It seemed they had loved each other, but circumstances weren’t favorable, so the Guildmaster let go of her hand first. Because he didn’t want her to get hurt.

Pure love, huh.

I became curious about the whereabouts of the woman who had received so much of the Guildmaster’s affection.

“Where is the person you let go now?”

“She’s living well. No, should I say she’s living a bit dangerously? Not knowing how scary the world is… What if something terrible happens to her?”

“Dangerously? Anyway, if she’s alive, why don’t you meet her directly to clear up misunderstandings or reconcile?”

“If that were possible, I would have done it long ago.”

The Guildmaster didn’t seem to consider the possibility of meeting her again. As a third party, I couldn’t say anything more about it.

“Anyway, you’ve sworn to stay by my side at least?”

“…Yes.”

“You can’t go to anyone else’s side. Even if Duncan is cute… he’s only second place, hehehe.”

The Guildmaster, making strange laughing sound,s seemed less depressed than before.

Feeling like I was being teased, I pushed his shoulder away.

“W-why are you bringing him up now! How embarrassing!”

I thought I had only pushed lightly. But the Guildmaster’s body swayed unsteadily with a large rebound.

And then he started to fall backward.

“Oh!”

I quickly grabbed his waist tightly, but I couldn’t handle the weight of a grown man.

Thud!

The Guildmaster’s body fell backward onto the floor. He seemed too drunk to manage his own body.

Though the chair wasn’t high enough to hurt him, there was another problem.

“…!”

Oh, my goodness.

What is happening right now?

I froze in place with my eyes wide open.

My mind, which had been slightly hazy from alcohol, suddenly became crystal clear.

The cause was the soft sensation touching my lips.

The Guildmaster’s red lips that I had always gazed at and desired were now pressed against mine. I had fallen on top of him when he fell.

The Guildmaster didn’t even seem to realize our lips were touching, as he didn’t move at all.

Thump thump. My heart, which had been beating rapidly since I was close to him, felt like it would burst.

It felt like flowers of heat were blooming throughout my body.

My back felt hot and humid, and hot breath escaped between my slightly parted lips.

My palm, which had instinctively pressed against his chest when falling, was too hot.

I worried he might regain consciousness from my heat.

The warmth that hadn’t risen even while drinking wine was now surging explosively just from our lips touching.

But this unfamiliar warmth wasn’t unpleasant.

I was curious about the inside of his mouth, which was breathing hot breaths like mine. How soft would his tongue be?

How fair and beautiful would his bare skin be under his robe?

Was I always such a lustful person?

But when I kissed Lambert, using guiding as an excuse, I never had these feelings.

It was the same when I briefly kissed Benjamin.

To feel something with a man whose face I didn’t know, that I hadn’t felt when kissing handsome men.

‘…Do I like the Guildmaster?’

Had I really given my heart to a man whose face and name I didn’t know?

Even as these thoughts continued, my keeping our lips pressed together seemed to provide the answer to that question.

‘I guess I do like him.’

Otherwise, there would be no reason to continue this light kiss while holding my breath, afraid the Guildmaster might regain consciousness.

I wished time would stop right now.

And so we remained closely pressed against each other for a long time.