Chapter 22 – Alcohol Is the Shortcut to Truth

The person who could best listen to her current worries…  

Leaving behind Revelia, who was screaming at her not to go anywhere, Seilia turned toward the Western Palace.  

At the door, Seilia hesitated for a long time, pacing back and forth, unsure if she should go in.  

She debated whether it was appropriate to share this with Eselyn. She could now consider him a fairly close friend, especially after his confession before her wedding.  

‘But… it feels like the matters between Leo and me are leaking further out.’  

Her heart felt strangely heavy and uneasy.  

For about five minutes, she lingered near the door, her indecision evident. The attendants stationed outside found it odd that the Empress, who rarely showed herself, was suddenly there, pacing nervously.  

They didn’t know what to do. After all, she had no close male friend to whom she could ask such an embarrassing question—except for Eselyn.  

Yes, she decided. She would tell him.  

Once she made up her mind, Seilia didn’t even notice the attendants staring blankly at her as she ordered them to open the door.  

The attendants, who had been lost in their thoughts while watching her, only realized much later that they had opened a door they shouldn’t have.  

“Uh, uh…! Right now—”  

One of the attendants, who had finally come to their senses, jumped up to stop her, but it was too late.  

The door was already open.  

Inside, Eselyn was in the middle of changing clothes.  

Perhaps he had returned after leaving Leo’s office and taken a nap, as he was now wearing pajama tops that didn’t match the trousers he had already changed into.  

But that wasn’t the point!  

Seilia instinctively reached out to cover her eyes.  

“I-I’m sorry…”  

She stammered, fumbling and reaching behind her for the doorknob, desperately trying to retreat.  

But with her eyes covered, it was impossible to find it properly. 

She wanted to leave quickly but couldn’t, which was driving her to the brink of madness.  

Unable to do anything else, she peeked through the gaps between her fingers.  

What she saw through her slightly parted fingers was… breathtaking, to say the least.  

Eselyn’s smooth, bare skin was visible beneath the shirt he was putting on.  

…His broad shoulders, taut muscles, and the way his back flexed as he slipped his arms into the shirt.  

‘Someone, please open this door for me before I end up staring too long…!’  

Though she closed the gaps between her fingers again, she found herself wanting to look once more.  

Seilia realized just how instinctively human she was at that moment.  

Eventually, she lowered her hands completely and cast her gaze toward the floor.  

She had to say something. It would be ridiculous for her to stand there like a statue after barging in unannounced.  

Ever since entering this room, one awkward moment had followed another.  

Finally, she looked up.  

Seilia, who had been staring blankly at Eselyn, and Eselyn, who had turned around while changing near the bed, locked eyes.  

Eselyn, seemingly unbothered, smiled brightly.  

“What’s so funny? This isn’t something to laugh about.”  

Shouldn’t he be angry instead?  

“I accidentally… peeked at your body, Prince Eselyn. Of course, it wasn’t intentional…”  

“If it’s you who’s looking, then it’s fine, Your Majesty.”  

What a sly man.  

“So, Your Majesty,”  

Eselyn, buttoning up his shirt one by one, approached her and gently stopped her from covering her eyes again.  

“Feel free to look as much as you like.”  

Eselyn’s glittering red eyes met Seilia’s light purple ones.  

What on earth was this man saying?  

“No, thank you.”  

Her heart was screaming, “Yes, please!” but her words came out the opposite.  

Despite Seilia’s cold tone, Eselyn’s cheerful face didn’t change one bit. If anything, it made him seem a little foolish.  

“So, what brings you to my room, Your Majesty?”  

Eselyn casually walked over to a sofa and sat down, prompting Seilia to follow and sit across from him.  

“I came because I have something on my mind.”  

Sitting down, she fiddled with the hem of her dress, which was lightly draped over her blouse.  

“I don’t usually enjoy listening to other people’s stories, but if it’s yours, I’d like to hear it, Your Majesty.”  

Encouraging her to speak, Eselyn rested his chin on the armrest, fully turning his attention to her.  

Seilia, without any preamble, blurted out her question.  

“Prince Eselyn… can you share a bed with a woman you have no feelings for?”  

Eselyn’s smile faltered for a moment but quickly returned to normal.  

“Well, I suppose I could.”  

The lack of a definitive answer suggested it was possible. Who would admit to such a thing so openly unless they were shameless?  

“Prince Eselyn, you seem like a playboy.”  

“You’re right, I am.”  

This time, he admitted it without hesitation.  

“But I’m always faithful to the one I truly care about.”  

There wasn’t much she could say to that. If he claimed it was true, what could she do?  

“Judging by the nature of your question, it seems you have feelings for the Emperor, Your Majesty.”  

Eselyn, who already knew the secret of their marriage, subtly struck a nerve.  

Seilia’s eyebrows shot up as she considered cutting him off with a firm response. A brief silence followed.  

“Perhaps I do. I’m not sure about my feelings right now, so isn’t that answer enough?”  

Even though she had answered truthfully, Eselyn’s face twisted slightly. 

What had he been hoping for? That I would say I didn’t have feelings for Leo?  

“It’s better to be honest when you talk about your worries.”

Even Revelia hadn’t heard this part of her thoughts yet.  

Seilia turned her gaze elsewhere.  

Now that she had admitted it to herself, her mind started clamoring for her to acknowledge other truths as well.  

So, when that unfaithful Emperor proposed to me, was it because I had feelings for him that I accepted it? Was the kiss on Selection Day also because of that? Was everything because of my feelings?  

Eselyn’s gaze narrowed as he watched her.  

The Emperor, who was always with Seilia, often had a cold demeanor but occasionally showed a faint trace of affection in his eyes.  

And when Seilia was with Eselyn, the Emperor’s usual indifference seemed to give way to visible irritation.  

It was a love that both of them were too blind to see.  

Even if the Emperor claimed to have no feelings, there was undoubtedly something left.  

“How can they both be so oblivious?”  

Or perhaps one of them knew and was pretending not to.  

Muttering under his breath, Eselyn’s words were too quiet for Seilia to catch, leaving her tilting her head in confusion.  

“What did you just say?”  

“Nothing.”  

With that, Eselyn’s resolve only grew stronger.  

“Yes, men can share a bed with a woman they have no feelings for.”  

He shouldn’t have said it, but the words had already left his mouth.  

***

Finally, the evening, which some had eagerly awaited and others had dreaded, arrived.  

Seilia and Leo, having finished their daily tasks, began their dinner in the shared bedroom.  

The atmosphere was silent and tense.  

Without a word, they focused on cutting into the juicy steaks before them.  

Seilia took small bites, all the while stealing glances at Leo.  

Surprisingly, nothing had happened yet, leading her to think that his earlier words in the office might have been a joke.  

Yes, she thought so… but she had forgotten that Leo excelled at defying expectations.  

Leo gestured for an attendant to bring out a strong wine.  

Seeing this, Seilia’s eyes widened in shock, and Leo silently mouthed, ‘What?’  

“You’re not seriously planning to get drunk, are you?”  

She hoped he was joking.  

“Is there a way to fake being drunk? Fascinating. I told you I’d do the same.”  

Her protests were futile.  

Leo personally uncorked the wine brought by the attendant and downed a glass without a change in expression.  

Judging by the label, it was the same wine Seilia had drunk the night before.  

The meticulousness of it sent shivers down her spine, and Seilia frowned deeply.  

Still, she couldn’t help but marvel at how he drank such strong wine in one gulp without flinching.  

Pausing her meal, she watched as Leo emptied glass after glass.  

‘Impressive.’  

Even as the wine kept coming, Leo’s expression remained stoic.  

Feeling parched, Seilia took a sip of water, but it didn’t help.  

It was a different kind of thirst.  

She wanted to drink again.  

“Just one sip.”  

Her request seemed to fall on deaf ears, but her persistent, cat-like gaze eventually made Leo sigh. He glared at her before ordering the attendant to bring another bottle.  

“This time, if you overdo it, I won’t let it slide. Pace yourself.”  

Reluctantly sharing the wine, they clinked glasses a few times in awkward toasts.  

Despite her earlier declaration that she wouldn’t get drunk again, Seilia soon found herself halfway there.  

Leo, too, seemed slightly intoxicated, resting his head on the table without speaking.  

After all, drinking that much without feeling anything would be inhuman.  

“Are you asleep?”  

To match his posture, Seilia leaned forward and looked at him.  

“Hey, are you sleeping?”  

Even after asking again, all she could see was his golden hair, with no response.  

It seemed Leo had fallen asleep, drunk.  

As the world slowed down, the alcohol coursed through her veins faster.