I headed straight for my fiancé. Askin hadn't moved a single step from where I’d left him; he stood there like a statue of duty, watching as I descended the stairs.
"Duke."
"You're back. Ah..." Askin instinctively offered me his arm as I approached. It was a practiced, natural gesture, one befitting a fiancé of his standing. He bowed respectfully toward Loxdian, who was still trailing behind me.
I linked my arm through Askin’s, pointedly ignoring my brother’s presence. I reached out with my other hand, hesitating for only a second before I took his.
"Duke, would you care to dance with me?"
Dancing was the ultimate symbol of intimacy in high society. If I could show my grandfather that Askin and I were on good terms, it would give me much-needed leverage to ask him to postpone the marriage announcement. Plus, it would go a long way toward silencing the rumors of our mutual hatred.
'Of course, given the old Charlize’s history, those "rumors" are actually cold, hard facts,' I reminded myself.
Askin stared at my extended hand. His face was a mask of cold indifference, but I could tell he was thinking. Finally, he shook his head.
"No. I must decline the dance."
I groaned internally. I’d managed to get him to attend the banquet, but dancing—an act where men and women were pressed so closely together—was apparently a bridge too far.
'Is this the "Ice Prince" being overprotective of his personal space?' I wondered. I wasn't too disappointed, though. Just standing here with him was already a huge win.
But then, the human equivalent of a migraine spoke up.
"It seems Duke Lemut never learned how to dance? Isn't that a basic skill for a noble?"
I grit my teeth. 'Why is he doing this again? Is he jealous?' Loxdian’s voice was so thick with sarcasm you could hear it from across the Empire.
I was about to defend Askin when I saw Loxdian making a subtle circular gesture with his finger.
'Is he counting my "favors" again? That usurer bastard!' I fumed, but I forced myself to stay polite. I really wanted to gouge out those smiling eyes of his.
"I have learned to dance, Your Majesty," Askin replied, his voice calm and respectful. "But I fear my skills would be insufficient to keep up with the... extensive experience of my fiancé."
I blinked. 'Wait, was that a compliment or a dig at my "prom" history?' (Wait, the old Charlize’s party-girl reputation).
"Since we are here to support each other," Askin continued, looking at me with a calm, steady gaze. "I hope we can finish the night without further embarrassment."
I was stunned. There was no anger in his eyes, no hatred. He was being genuinely courteous. 'Did he hypnotize himself before coming here?' I wondered. It was enough to make my heart flutter.
'Owner! It’s me! Your 10 billion hope coin!' I wanted to scream.
Loxdian scowled at Askin, then turned away. He signaled to a passing attendant carrying a tray of champagne.
"Do you have a larger glass than this?" Loxdian asked, shaking his head at the delicate flutes.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I’ll bring one immediately!"
"Bring the strongest liquor you have. And bring a lot of it."
The attendant returned with a massive wine goblet, filled to the brim. Loxdian took it with a triumphant smile that set my teeth on edge. It was the same look he’d had before he kidnapped me.
"Duke Lemut, consider this a gift from me," Loxdian said, handing the oversized glass to Askin.
'This bastard!' I thought. He was trying to force a "loyalty toast" on a man who clearly didn't want to drink. It was like watching a toxic boss pressuring an employee to chug at an office dinner.
"Your Majesty..." Askin started.
"You're not going to refuse the Emperor’s gift, are you?" Loxdian asked, his voice full of a dangerous edge.
I pressed my lips together, my inner office worker screaming, 'Bitch, drink it yourself!' I looked at Loxdian, wondering how I could get rid of him without starting an international incident.
"I apologize, Your Majesty," Askin said, bowing politely. "I have work to finish tonight, and I don't believe I can afford to be incapacitated by drink. If you permit, I will take only a small glass."
"Ha ha ha!" Loxdian’s laugh was cold as ice. "I heard the Duke of the West was a man of great resolve. If you can't handle a single glass of wine, perhaps the rumors of your competence are just... a bluff?"
"I apologize," Askin repeated.
Loxdian held the glass out again, his smile turning predatory. "It takes a certain kind of courage to refuse the Emperor. Everyone is watching, Duke. Are you sure this is the statement you want to make?"
He was right. Every eye in the room was fixed on the center of power. The "Emperor’s Faction" and the social climbers were all waiting to see how Askin would respond.
"Cheers to that bravery!" Loxdian shouted, and the crowd immediately joined in, laughing and raising their glasses. It was a disgusting display of sycophancy.
Loxdian downed his own glass and held the refill out to Askin again. The social pressure was immense.
'...Ugh, this is so childish I can barely look at it.'
I stepped forward and took the glass from Loxdian’s hand. Before he could react, I downed the entire thing in one gulp.
I hadn't realized the old Charlize had such a high tolerance. I finished the "one shot" without breaking a sweat. 'It seems my bottle-chugging skills from my past life haven't gone anywhere either,' I thought. 'Wait, is that a good thing?'
The room went silent. I wiped a drop of wine from my lip with my fingertip and stared down the crowd.
'Are you really bullying people for fun?' I thought, my eyes flashing with anger. 'Don't you have anything better to do with your lives?'
The nobles quickly looked away, some of them turning pale as they realized they’d been laughing along with the "Emperor's joke" at the expense of someone Charlize apparently cared about. I handed the empty glass back to the stunned attendant and snorted.
Loxdian was already moving away, talking to an old noble as if nothing had happened. 'You coward,' I thought. 'You try to mess with us and then you run away?'
I exhaled, the warmth of the alcohol hitting my breath. That glass was bigger than I thought. I was starting to feel a little lightheaded.
'Oh no... I can't get drunk now! I still have to talk to my grandfather!'
I wanted to find a mirror to see if my face was flushing. I didn't want to look like a drunkard in front of the entire court.
A hand suddenly touched mine.
"Wait..." I turned, expecting it to be Askin, but I found myself looking into a different set of familiar eyes.
"...Ian Niño?"