“Do you not drink Noel?” Irene asked.
“I drank enough.” Noel answered.
“But there’s still…”
“Irene, are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“About the fact that we became a couple today. From now on, we will share a room, eat together, and always be together, but do you not feel anything?” Noel wondered.
Being a married couple was not only about having their family registers merged, but also about spending time together in the future. Of course, they spent a lot of time together, but did they not use separate rooms? It was different from before when privacy was guaranteed.
He thought a lot about himself. How to spend every night with her, and how to treat her. How to be natural in their relationship.
However, Irene seemed to be fine. So Noel wanted to remind her a little. The time she spent alone was over.
His mischievous thoughts worked well. Irene froze a bit, holding her glass, paused in mid-air.
In fact, he was correct in guessing the thought had not crossed her mind, and Irene subconsciously did not realise she was indeed fine. She got married and of course she thought of the circumstances around her changing her surname, and being tied to him. But those worries for her own future never catapulted, as she never thought that she would live with him in the future.
“Have you never thought about it?”
“Ah...”
His words, which had hit the nail on the head, caught her off guard. Irene straightened her spine. There was nothing to be guilty about, but she felt a bit sorry. Her eyes wandered aimlessly.
‘Is it because I’ve been drinking...? It’s a lot more revealing.’
‘Her face is red.’ Noel looked at Irene in her bewilderment with her jaw clenched.
Her drunkenness rose, and her face, which was still red, reflected in the candlelight, making her look even more crimson. Irene’s robe, which had been slipping off minute by minute, slid down seductively altogether, as she eased off tension sipping the wine. Her slim shoulders were exposed, and the thin strap of her slip was visible beneath her hair.
Seeing Irene’s dishevelled look, Noel lowered his line of sight. He should not have asked her to drink. He should have just slept. Regret flooded him, but it was already too late.
“Then… Noel. Let’s sleep together.”
“...Pardon?”
At Irene’s sudden words, Noel looked at her in surprise.
Irene spoke again, this time more clearly.
“Let’s sleep together.”
“...Irene, you’re drunk.”
The scent of her sweet wine, along with the scent of roses radiating from her body, seemed to intoxicate her mind. No, it was intoxicating his own. Noel’s head was already in a state of chaos because of what Irene had just said to him so boldly.
Noel jumped up from his seat. He didn’t even know what was going to happen when he was facing her like this.
But Irene held his sleeve tightly to prevent Noel from moving. She looked up at Noel with watery eyes. Both cheeks were flushed with a rosy blush.
“I’m not drunk. You’re the one who’s saying I’m drunk. We’re going to share a room together in the future... But every time, you can’t sleep on the sofa. If I told you I’ll sleep on the sofa, would you agree?”
“…that won’t happen.”
While Noel was perplexed, he answered firmly. He couldn’t make her sleep on the sofa, even if he slept on the floor, he would not allow her to do that.
At Noel’s answer, Irene smiled. Noel could hardly take his eyes off that bright face. Was it because she was drinking? She looked bolder than usual.
“So, let’s sleep together. Now and in the future.”
“…are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that what a drunk person would say? It is no use to regret later.”
“Sure. I’m not drunk, I’m sober.”
Who did that? People who drank and called themselves sober were not sober, and Noel knew this well. But Irene in front of him was so determined.
Noel sighed deeply. Given the way she was now, she did not look like she would let go easily. But he could not leave her alone when she was drunk.
Next time, I’ll have to tell them to get rid of all alcohol.
“All right. Let’s do that then. I won’t run away, so you can stop now.”
When Irene did not let go of her hand, Noel reassured her with his promise. Seeing him inclined to her wishes, she smiled at that moment and released him.
Noel could not take his eyes off that brightly smiling face. It was strange that he usually did not see Irene smiling like that, and she was a little ...
… cute too.
Ever since he was born, he never imagined himself thinking of something or someone as cute… Noel sighed deeply at this erratic thought. When had such foreign concepts started to pop into his mind?
Meanwhile, Irene climbed onto the spacious bed, and smacked the space beside her.
“Come here, Noel.” She patted the pillow beside her cheerfully.
Was she aware of how cruel she was right now? The way she was telling him to come up on her bed with her relaxed face, was too provocative for Noel. However, since the opponent was Irene, he struggled to suppress his anxious and excited inner self and calmly went to the space on the bed beside her.
Irene lay down first, then Noel lay down next to her. She comfortably closed her eyes, but he was as stiff as a wooden doll, unable to move at all. It was because of her small movements.
Electricity shot through his back when her soft hand touched him from behind. Even if it was a slight motion, he felt his whole body tremble. However, with difficulty, he suppressed himself from moving recklessly. At that moment, Irene, who he believed was sleeping, softly whispered.
“...Noel, I’m glad you’re by my side.”