Drinking with Sieg-san while watching the meteor shower was wonderfully soothing. I felt as though time itself had slowed to a crawl. In truth, far more time had likely passed than I realized, but the tranquil atmosphere made every minute feel leisurely.
"Come to think of it, it was night when I went back home to Rigforresia, too," Sieg-san remarked. "I get the impression we usually drink together at night, Kaito-san."
"That’s true... and honestly, neither of us really drinks during the day. If we were hanging out then, we’d probably just have tea."
"I suppose so. It was inevitable that we would have more opportunities to drink at night. Though, in my case, it’s also because I rarely drink to begin with..."
"Ah, you’re right. I almost never see you with a drink unless we’re together like this. At the shipboard party, you were just having juice, weren't you?"
Now that she mentioned it, I had hardly ever seen Sieg-san touch alcohol. It really was only during these quiet evening drinks. She hadn't seemed to be drinking at the shipboard party or my birthday party, either.
"In my position, I am Lilia’s guard. I can sober myself up instantly with magic, of course, but there is the matter of public perception. Even when I attend an event as an individual, I make it a rule not to drink where many people are watching."
"I see."
That made sense. Even at events where Sieg-san participated as a private guest, like the shipboard party or my birthday celebration, she was almost always by Lilia-san’s side. People naturally recognized her as the Duchess’s guard. It probably wasn't strictly forbidden for her to drink on her own time, and those around her might not have even cared, but she likely felt the need to remain professional. It would be hard to truly relax and enjoy a drink under those circumstances.
"Besides, I simply have more opportunities to drink black tea. I love it so much that I usually think of tea before alcohol ever crosses my mind. As a result, the chances to drink have just naturally dwindled."
"True. You definitely have a stronger association with black tea than wine."
"I do enjoy alcohol, though... even if I can't stand beer."
"I remember you mentioned you weren't a fan."
"Wine or fruit liquor; those are about the only things I can handle."
I recalled a previous conversation where she told me she disliked both ale and lager. Much like wine, Sieg-san seemed to prefer alcohol made from fruit, while grains didn't suit her palate.
As I reflected on that, Sieg-san gave a playful, happy-looking bitter smile.
"However, if I’m going to drink with you like this at night, Kaito-san, I prefer alcohol. I feel like black tea lacks a certain romanticism for an atmosphere like this..."
"Well, when we're drinking at night, wine definitely makes it feel more like a couple spending a special moment together."
"Yes. Therefore, as far as I am concerned, alcohol is something I only drink with someone I can truly open my heart to... Let's leave it at that."
Sieg-san looked incredibly lovely as she smiled mischievously. Her spirits seemed higher than usual today. While she still held her calm and gentle aura, she was showing a much cuter, more vulnerable side that filled me with happiness.
"...Ah, right. Another reason I don't drink much is that I rarely feel like it when I have work the next day. Magic can clear the intoxication, but still..."
"I get that. Thanks to Shiro-san's Blessing, I can sober up immediately if I want to, and it doesn't leave my breath smelling like booze, but... if I have plans the next morning, I usually skip the alcohol, too. Wait, does that mean... are you off tomorrow, Sieg-san?"
"Yes. My next shift isn't until night security the day after tomorrow. From this moment on, I have exactly two full days of rest."
"Oh, then you can really relax and unwind."
Sieg-san’s job involved guarding Lilia-san’s mansion. She always claimed it was easy—just patrols, training, and guidance since nothing ever happened—but her hours shifted between day and night, and she accompanied Lilia-san whenever she left the estate. It sounded demanding in its own way.
"Indeed, I can really relax..."
"Hmm?"
"Ah, no... I’ll tell you a little later. Please, don't mind me."
Sieg-san, who had been laughing happily, cut herself off and stared intently at my face. When I tilted my head in confusion, she just gave a small smile and repeated that she would explain later.
As she raised her glass to her lips, she seemed to mutter something under her breath, but her voice was too low for me to catch. I was curious, but since she asked me to wait, I decided to do just that.
"...Since it’s fine if I stay up late... and it's not like I have to stay in a separate room... but I'll need to check Kaito-san's schedule for tomorrow first..."
Serious-senpai: "G-Guaaahhh! A sharing-a-bed flag?! M-My body is actually turning into a star-shaped cookie!"
Machina: "Munch munch"
Serious-senpai: "Damn it! Because I've become a milky and crispy cookie, I'm being eaten by this crazy goddess again!"
Machina: "Actually, it's a bit moist, so there isn't much of a crunch... But the flavor is great. 85 points."
Serious-senpai: "You're eating my body, complaining about the texture, and then grading it?!"