NOVEL NEXT “Oh, Kyle. Isn’t that guy?”
“Hmm….”
Kyle in a pretty black dress, next to him a stylish black tuxedo.
I was used to wearing the dress by now, so I just went with it.
But then again, it felt a bit off to wear anything else at such a fancy party.
Of course, Adela’s coming-of-age ceremony called for a somewhat less extravagant dress, so I was okay with it.
At least it wasn’t revealing.
“Hmm… Is it not? I mean, it doesn’t seem like they’re having a serious conversation.”
“Hmm….”
Anyway, we were sitting in a decent spot, watching Adela.
This party wasn’t for us; we were just… the supporting cast?
And while we might be higher than mere extras, that was the vibe.
Aside from the occasional noble stopping by to greet Adela, there weren’t many people around us.
Of course, the reason was….
“Kyle, do you really have to act like that every time someone comes over?”
“I keep trying to talk to Sophia.”
This fool kept blocking me from moving closer.
It was so ridiculous it made me want to laugh, but I was enjoying it, so…
I decided to let it go.
Felt a bit cute, too.
“Ugh, I’d rather see who Adela’s crush is.”
“…I don’t want to.”
“But you’re glancing over there more than I am.”
Of course, he wasn’t doing it in a way that would show his feelings.
When we were chatting casually, if a guy passed by Adela from afar, his eyes would instantly shift in that direction.
Kyle thought he wasn’t being obvious, but… it was impossible not to notice when he was right next to me.
“Ugh, back then you treated your sister just fine.”
“That was….”
“And that made it even cuter. Handsome and pretty siblings getting along—who wouldn’t love it?”
“….”
“Where did that brother go, and who’s this weird brother hiding and taking care of Adela?”
“Okay… I got it. I’ll fix it.”
So cute, really.
He’s definitely older now than back then, but somehow he felt even more childlike.
Well, I guess Kyle did act more grown-up back then.
Men are always kids at heart, anyway.
“Kyle, can I drink?”
“…Sophia.”
“No, I mean… I haven’t had any for a really long while, remember?”
It had genuinely been ages since I last drank.
I could barely recall when that was; it felt so long ago.
“Was it at your coming-of-age ceremony or debutante ball? You honestly haven’t touched alcohol since then, have you?”
“That’s true, but….”
Kyle couldn’t deny it; it had been an eternity since I last drank.
He usually had a manageable drinking habit, so he drank occasionally, but… that wasn’t my case.
I could probably be labeled an alcohol lightweight at this point.
After that little incident at Kyle’s debutante ball, I was cautious.
“Uh? No?”
But… this time, I wanted to drink a little.
No, I wanted to drink a lot!
I mean, nearby some nobles were tasting wine and savoring the ambiance, while others at different tables were drinking among themselves.
Adela had already had a few drinks, so naturally, I was tempted!
“Kyle, no?”
“…It’s not that it’s a strict no… Are you sure you’re up for it?”
“Um… I’ll try?”
I couldn’t guarantee anything.
It was a well-known fact that I wasn’t good with alcohol, and we both knew that.
Plus, having not drunk in ages… wouldn’t my tolerance have dropped?
“….”
“…Really, I can’t?”
No matter how much I wanted to drink, if Kyle said no, I’d back off.
After all, I couldn’t inconvenience him, my partner.
And if I did something silly while drunk… Kyle would have to clean up after me, right?
“Just a minute. Let me think….”
“Hmm….”
It seemed like I wouldn’t be drinking after all.
If I could, Kyle would’ve given me the go-ahead right away.
Since I was having this internal debate… maybe it meant no drinking today.
“Hmm.”
But still, I really wanted to drink.
I wanted to savor that sensation of alcohol again after so long.
So… I decided to flip my approach.
“Kyle.”
“Yes?”
“If you let me drink, I’ll do something you like.”
From a plea to a trade.
When things don’t go my way, the best bet is to give the other person what they want.
And… I knew well what would make Kyle happy.
“…?”
“What do you think?”
“What do I like?”
“Um… It’s a secret?”
Sharing it now wouldn’t be any fun.
I’d save that for tonight or some other night, you know?
“…Alright. But take your time drinking.”
“Okay~”
In the end, my plan… worked!
Truthfully, I expected it to succeed from the start, so it wasn’t hard at all.
Kyle ordered two glasses of wine from the servant next to him, and I… could barely contain my excitement.
It had genuinely been so long!
“Hehe….”
“Are you that happy?”
“Yeah, it’s been ages.”
“…Just drink moderately.”
“…I’ll try.”
Of course, I’d try.
Getting tipsy means I can’t drink any more, right?
“More importantly, let’s watch Adela. Look, she’s talking to another guy.”
“…He does seem a bit flashy.”
“Really?”
I wasn’t certain.
Is that flashy to the point of being obnoxious?
He was just a brown-haired nobleman who seemed to have styled his hair properly.
I think you only call someone flashy when they’re that muscular blonde who just came back from a tanning session, right?
Not sure about this one.
“I don’t think so?”
“Not really, huh? That look over there seems worse.”
Kyle pointed to someone, and I followed his finger instinctively.
“Hmm….”
Having lived as a woman for longer now, I still couldn’t tell if this guy was attractive or not.
Was this the kind of guy they liked?
He had some muscles, was tall, and his face… was passably okay-looking.
“…Not my type. You are better-looking.”
“Well…”
As we continued observing who Adela might like, the servant finally arrived.
It hadn’t been a long wait, but boy, I was excited.
“…gulp.”
“Sophia, take your time.”
“…I know.”
I was aware.
Or at least, I thought so.
But it had been so long since I faced alcohol this way… I was dying to drink quickly.
“I’ll sip it slowly… really.”
“Ha….”
Kyle next to me was worried, but it was fine.
I’d changed since that time!
*
“Hehe! Kyle, this is super comfy!”
“Well… I’m carrying you, aren’t I?”
Ah.
I shouldn’t have let her drink….
The only thought running through my head as I carried Sophia was this one.
“Heh…. So stiff….”
Since Sophia usually doesn’t drink much, I could have anticipated this would happen.
But I never expected this would occur after less than 5 glasses.
The wine wasn’t strong, either; I even asked for a low-alcohol drink.
Plus, she really took her time drinking, almost leisurely for about 2 hours.
“I didn’t expect it to turn out like this.”
“What? What is?”
“…Nothing.”
It was amazing how a normally mature person could become like this just from drinking.
Maybe that’s why they’ve always viewed overindulgence as a sin.
Because alcohol can unravel someone who normally isn’t like this.
But in this case… it was just because Sophia couldn’t handle drinking.
“Sophia.”
“Mm?”
“You’re not about to throw up or anything, right?”
“Can I?”
“…No.”
As much as I liked Sophia, the idea of her throwing up didn’t sit well with me.
Of course, I could use magic to clean it up, but just witnessing it would be unsettling.
“It’s not far to the room now; just hang in there.”
“Okay!”
Still… she looked cute.
Being tipsy made her even brighter than usual, and it was adorable.
If I said this to Adela or Louise, they might misunderstand me as some weird guy, but I couldn’t help it.
I married someone I loved after all.
If I didn’t love this side of her, I wouldn’t have married her in the first place.
“….”
By the way, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was okay to find her this light despite her ample chest and hips.
I’d certainly seen Sophia’s naked body, but holding her like this felt too easy.
Now that I think about it, she always used to pass me something during meals.
Well, I gladly accepted it every time.
“Sophia.”
“Mm?”
“How much do you weigh right now?”
“Um… 127 pounds?”
“…In kilograms.”
“Ugh… 57…?”
“….”
Isn’t that a bit too light?
Sophia has generous curves, yet her weight feels surprisingly low.
“But, Kyle…. You shouldn’t ask a lady about her weight!”
“I’m sorry. I was just curious.”
“Well, as long as you don’t ask other women, it’s alright.”
“….”
She was cuter than usual.
Of course, Sophia hated being called cute, but I couldn’t help but think that given her current behavior.
“Sophia, we’re here. Please rest on the bed for a bit.”
“Uh-huh?”
“I’ll just go out and say I’m getting some rest with Adela and Father.”
Originally, I should’ve done this before coming in.
But Sophia suddenly looked like she was about to fall off her chair while drinking, so I hurried over.
“Is it alright?”
“Yep! Take your time!”
*
Communicating with my father and Adela wasn’t difficult.
After all, when a son or brother wants to talk, few people get in the way.
Nobles usually need to be able to pull off that level of reasoning.
If they didn’t… they would’ve met their end long ago.
“Ah… Sophia, I’m back.”
I opened the door to the room.
Sophia was… oddly wrapped up in the blanket.
“…Sophia?”
Is she tipsy and acting strange?
This isn’t something she would typically do.
But I found it cute enough to not say anything.
After all, it’s not like she was adequately inebriated.
“Kyle.”
“Yes?”
“You said if I let you drink… I’d get something good in return?”
“Right…?”
I gave her permission because she desperately wanted to drink.
But why was she suddenly bringing it up?
Could that “something good” mean sleeping with the cuter, tipsy Sophia? That actually sounds like a win-win for me.
She was extra charming right now.
“Come closer.”
“Okay.”
I moved up beside her on the bed.
I had no clue what that “something good” was, though.
“…You’ve always preferred the sexy over the cute, right?”
“…Huh?”
“Anyways, answer first. You did, didn’t you?”
“…I guess so…?”
Why the sudden tricky question?
Is this related to that previous fetish?
“So…. I tried this on….”
And thus the answer to her question became clear.
The blanket enveloping her body started to unwrap, revealing some daring lingerie.
The kind commonly referred to as sexy lingerie: lacy black undergarments.
“…So, are we doing this?”
“…Yeah.”
Words eluded me.
After all, she was a succubus, and it was impossible not to be swayed by such temptation.