Chapter 61
Chase looked at Anthony.
“It seems she had the blue juice with Logan.”
At Anthony’s awkward answer, Chase turned his head and looked back at me.
“How much?”
I forced my gaze, which kept drifting toward the bouquet, back onto Chase’s face and answered.
“About half a wine glass. But I’m not drunk. My face is just a bit red because I feel warm. It’s hot.”
“…I’m sure.”
“It’s true.”
Chase tilted his head, signaling Anthony to come closer. Then he handed over the bouquet and the wrapped item he was holding, and abruptly lifted me up. Of course, not in a lovely princess carry, but slung over his shoulder like a sack.
My view suddenly flipped upside down. Chase began climbing the stairs in long strides.
My long hair swayed in front of my eyes, and with my suddenly elevated viewpoint, I finally grabbed tightly onto his uniform and spoke in a trembling voice.
“Chase.”
“What.”
“Even so, I’m the official mage of the North.”
“So?”
“Could you treat me a bit more carefully?”
“I’m treating you carefully enough.”
“No, you’re not. I’m really scared right now!”
I have no idea how this counts as being treated carefully.
“Endure it. If our esteemed mage, drunk as she is, falls while climbing the stairs alone, that would be quite a loss.”
I told you a hundred times, I’m not drunk…
Chase strode up the stairs and quickly headed to my room.
Anthony, who had quietly followed behind, set the items on the table and left. Chase laid me down on the bed, then sat on the sofa as usual and looked at me.
“There.”
He glanced at the clock. It wasn’t even seven yet. I sprang up from my seat and faced him.
“I’m not drunk.”
“Everyone who’s drunk says that.”
“I’m serious. And Logan said no one gets drunk from that juice. Unless they’re a child.”
“Children don’t drink alcohol. So they wouldn’t get drunk.”
Chase paused briefly, then held out a small mirror from the bedside table toward me.
“People in the North have a high tolerance for alcohol. That just means you don’t fall under Logan’s standard of ‘not getting drunk’.”
I took the mirror and looked at my face. Then I was at a loss for words. In the mirror was a face as red as a well-ripened carrot.
Just judging by the flushed skin, I looked exactly like someone heavily intoxicated. Seeing this, I couldn’t bring myself to say I wasn’t drunk.
Now I can see why Anthony was so shocked. And why Logan slipped away without a word. Logan, that traitor.
“Alright. I admit I look drunk. But I slept all day because of that nutritional drink. So I’m not sleepy.”
And it’s hot.
I jumped up and headed toward the table, my eyes sparkling as I looked at the bouquet Chase had brought.
This must be that, right? I asked him this morning to buy me flowers. So he got them for me, right? Of course, I said I could wait until spring, but this man acts quickly, so maybe he went and bought them today.
Since I hadn’t expected him to buy this many beautiful flowers, I looked back and forth between the bouquet and Chase, a wide smile spreading across my lips.
“By the way, Chase, did you buy these for me?”
“Who knows.”
Who knows?
“Can I hold them?”
“Do as you like.”
Chase crossed his legs and nodded indifferently.
I stretched out both arms and hugged the bouquet, which was almost too big to hold. The fragrant scent of fresh roses wafted up. Such beautiful roses in winter. The blue roses, as perfect as if they were artificial, had deep-colored tips and were fresh with moisture.
Just how many are there? One, two…
As I counted the flowers, I suddenly smiled. Chase’s face from the morning came to mind, as if asking who would even like something like flowers. Then my gaze shifted to the wrapped item beside it.
“Is this mine too?”
“Beats me.”
Again. That indifferent answer.
“Can I open it?”
“Go ahead.”
Since I had permission anyway, I pulled at the end of the ribbon. The brown paper wrapping came off, revealing a large glass jar filled with candy.
My mouth fell open as I looked at Chase. Our eyes met, his gaze fixed on me with a blank expression. I swallowed.
So this bouquet and this jar full of candy… he bought them for me?
And even though he had gone with Anthony, it seemed likely that he had purchased them himself, since Anthony had returned earlier.
“Did you go shopping by yourself for this?”
“No.”
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