Chapter 28: Recruitment
Time passed, and by the time pale moonlight had settled over the mansion—
“Puhah....”
Hestia, face flushed red, downed yet another glass of wine in a single gulp—she’d long since lost count of how many she'd had—and slammed the empty glass onto the table with a heavy sigh.
‘Didn’t she say she only wanted one glass?’
Watching her with an awkward smile, even I couldn’t help but be astonished at her alcohol tolerance.
‘Well, I guess it makes sense if you consider why she started drinking in the first place.’
Before she was chosen as the Saintess, she was a viscount’s daughter, strictly controlled for the sake of a political marriage to benefit her family. The only relief from that pressure had come in the form of secretly stolen sips of alcohol brought by a close maid.
And now, for the first time in her life, she was drinking freely, without limit. It was no surprise she couldn’t resist the temptation.
“Heeey... j-just one more glass, please...”
“You’ve already finished your third bottle of wine. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Ah.”
Just as I gently tried to curb her drinking out of concern, a flicker of realization passed through her dazed, unfocused eyes.