The moment that realization hit me, my body became warmer than ever. I feel like this isn’t good for me… When I noticed that I was growing dizzy, it was already too late. The world started to spin, and it only took a few moments before my consciousness faded to black.
My head and body felt heavy. I felt like I was being pressed down by a boulder.
“Ugh…” I groaned pathetically.
I found myself lying on a bed. When I managed to somehow move my body, I realized I was completely naked. Curled up in the sheets in nothing but my birthday suit made me feel like some sort of countess in the middle of the afternoon. I don’t think all countesses are naked while taking an afternoon nap, but that’s just how I imagine them to be.
But no noble would let out such a pathetic groan like they were about to vomit. And that’s the difference between me and a sexy countess. That reminds me, Ms. Natalia often slept almost completely naked.
I had no doubt that my master was indeed rather sexy, but the sorry state of her filthy room completely ruined the mood. She was nowhere near a bewitching countess who acted with grace.
Why am I so fixated on the countess? It’s because I heard the old men visiting Ms. Roxy’s diner talking about such women quite often. Nobles were apparently a rather popular topic amongst commoners—especially raunchy or lecherous tales.
“You okay, Chloe?” Mr. Julius asked.
He was the cause of my dizziness, but he was now elegantly sitting by the window, sipping on Rasheed’s special white liquor. He looked quite regal. I wasn’t sure just how strong the alcohol was, but I didn’t think any normal person would’ve been able to chug it down. I think the store owner said that it’d be delicious if it was mixed with some juice.
“In the old days, water was very valuable in Rasheed,” Prince Faisal had explained while we were shopping. “Thanks to the advancement of alchemy and sorcery, we’re no longer suffering from a scarcity of water, but we still follow old traditions and drink heavily. Alcohol is quite cheap here.”
And it was true; Rasheed’s liquor was offered for a much more reasonable price than Astria. Beer and wine were popular drinks within Astria, but since we were in a different nation, I decided to buy the traditional alcohol of Rasheed. Stuff like this couldn’t be found in Astria.
Mr. Julius was currently drinking a bottle of milk liquor, an alcohol similar to kumis, made from fermented milk with various herbs and spices added for a pleasant aroma.
“I’m not okay at all,” I protested weakly. “I was taking a relaxing bath, but I grew dizzy from the heat because of you.” I proceeded to hide half my face within the sheets and let out a muffled voice. “But thank you for carrying me to this bed.”
It was his fault, but I still couldn’t get over my embarrassment and I felt a bit pathetic. I found a pitcher of water and a glass by the bedside table, so I reached out to drink a glass of water. Sliced lemons were floating within the pitcher, and the glass of water also had a lemony taste to it. After I gulped it down, I felt very refreshed.
Mr. Julius was still casually sipping on his liquor while gazing out the window, and I saw my chance. I slid out of bed and quickly put on a change of clothes. The apparel that was available by my bed was provided by the inn—it was an article of cloth that I had to wear over my head and tie around my waist. The negligee was decorated with a gorgeous, glossy rose pattern. I felt like it wouldn’t suit me at all, but this was a perfect opportunity to enjoy the inn’s amenities to their fullest extent. When I put my arms through the sleeves, the cloth was smooth and silky to the touch. It was very comfortable to wear.
The cool breeze came in through the window that had been cracked open, helping me cool my head. It was already nighttime.
The view from the luxurious inn was splendid. The glittering, starry lights of the city decorated the beautiful cityscape like jewels scattered throughout the area. The view was so breathtakingly beautiful that it seemed like a waste not to enjoy it. I wasn’t sure exactly how long I was out, but I guessed that I’d been unfortunately unconscious for about an hour.
“You’re too frail, Chloe,” Mr. Julius said.
“And who’s fault do you think that is?” I demanded. “I was taking a bath first, meaning that I was sitting in there longer than you. Of course it’d get too hot for me. And you even did something so…”
“I didn’t do much.”
“Urgh…”
Maybe not much for you, but for me… I once again stumbled over my words, unable to refute his claim. While I was trying my best to find a rebuttal, my gaze focused on the small table in front of him.
Various delectable dishes that seemed to pair well with alcohol were laid out. When did he manage to get his hands on these delicious-looking foods?
“Did you order room service?!” I gasped.
“Yeah, I ordered a few random dishes.”
“You’ve been enjoying yourself to the max while I was completely knocked out, haven’t you?”
I haven’t even eaten dinner yet. Just as I had regained my energy, my stomach started to rumble, and I decided to sit across from him. He offered me a drink, and I gratefully took it.
It was a bottle of juice. When I poured myself a glass and took a sip, it tasted like raspberries and was very delicious. I hadn’t purchased this during my shopping spree today, meaning that Mr. Julius must’ve ordered this for me when he was getting room service. I didn’t expect him to be so thoughtful.
I wondered if he felt bad because I’d passed out, and this was his way of apologizing. All right, then I guess I’ll forgive him.
I firmly decided to make sure that there was some distance between us the next time we took a bath together.