The dinner party was a success.

The nobles were unsure whether they could really calm the nightmare situation with cat shapeshifters, but they couldn’t let go of the thread of hope I showed them.

The nobles were desperate to keep an eye on their people, as the dream demons were causing productivity to plummet across the country, and victims were drowning in misery. If they didn’t calm this situation immediately, they would ruin the harvest for the year, and the entire empire would be at risk of food shortages this winter.

Rather than mocking my establishment of a mercenary group, they were busy watching my every move.

“Did you hear the nobles keep talking about the Cool Cat Mercenaries? I think word of mouth will soon spread like wildfire.”

I exclaimed in excitement as the nobles left, and Dimitri and I were alone in the parlor.

“Did you hear how Count Tara mutters about how absurd it is, saying the mercenary group wouldn’t have much effect, questioning whether it is all just a show? He was crying! Haha. He acted so helpless throughout the meal!”

Dimitri smirked and held out a bottle of champagne from behind.

“Shouldn’t we raise a toast?”

“Wow, when did you prepare this?”

“I knew Rowaine would handle it well, so I prepared in advance.”

“Good sense!”

Feeling elated, I gladly accepted the champagne he poured for me. Then, we sat side by side on the sofa, clinking our glasses together as we watched the employees clear the dining table in the garden.

“Hmm. It’s very sweet and delicious, isn’t it?”

I was pleasantly surprised when I took a sip of the pretty pink champagne. This champagne, with its fragrant fruity aroma, wasn’t only visually appealing and aromatic but also delicious.

As I gulped down my champagne, Dimitri refilled my glass and spoke.

“Don’t drink too quickly.”

“Why?”

He shrugged.

I thought it was just something people typically said when drinking, so I dismissed his words casually and hastily downed my second glass of the refreshing, sweet champagne.

“I warned you, didn’t I?”

“What did you say?”

“You seem to like it, so I’ll get you another one next time.”

“Thank you. I should drink it with my friends when I get a chance.”

Naturally, Avila and Elaine came to mind. The image of them eagerly welcoming any good drink flashed before my eyes.

In the meanwhile, Dimitri turned to face me before he clinked his glass against mine.

“Hmm. I hope you don’t.”

“What? Drinking with friends?”

“You can only drink this with me.”

The next moment, he raised his champagne glass, and without realizing it, I followed suit and emptied another half glass.

“What is this? It goes down so smoothly.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“….?”

Despite the fact that I wanted to ask what he meant, Dimitri was smiling so kindly and innocently that I was momentarily at a loss for words.

‘What’s going on? He feels really mesmerizing.’

Was it just my mood if people looked particularly nice right now?

I chuckled and spoke without realizing it.

“Dimitri, do you know? You look really nice today. Your clothes are nice, and your face is pretty as well.”

Just as I was about to take another glass of champagne, he gently took my hand and stopped me.

“I told you not to drink too quickly. Slow down. It’s good enough right now.”

“Just a little more.”

As I reached for the glass, he placed a ginger cookie in my mouth.

“Don’t get too drunk, Rowaine. I’m not going to listen to the excuse that you don’t remember like last time.”

‘The alcohol is weaker than I thought.’

Dimitri continued to stuff ginger cookies into the mouth of Rowaine, who was already drunk, as she rambled on happily. It was because she kept reaching for more champagne as soon as the food disappeared from her mouth.

Rowaine was excited about achieving something tonight and was pleasantly intoxicated with strong liquor.

“Hmm, these are my favorite cookies. Oh, did I mention that earlier? Seems like I’m really drunk. Don’t misunderstand.”

“You’re drunk.”

“Oh, no way. I don’t get drunk on drinks like this. What do you take me for?”

It seemed like it was originally a rule that drunk people never admit they were drunk.

“So, that’s really what you’re going to name your mercenary group?”

“The Cool Cat Mercenaries?”

“Seriously?”

“I’m a little torn, actually.”

As Dimitri rested his chin on the back of the sofa and gazed at her languidly, Rowaine, while still holding hands with him, used her other hand to stroke her chin as she uttered earnestly. She seemed completely unaware that one of her hands was being held.

“Whether to name it the Cute Cat Mercenaries or the Cool Cat Mercenaries…”

‘…She’s serious about this.’

While casually holding and playing with her hand, he gave advice.

“Go with the Cool Cat Mercenaries.”

“Why?”

“The word cute might hurt their pride, but being cool makes them proud.”

“Is that so? Still, they are all cute. Cats are naturally cute.”

Dimitri shook his head resolutely.

“No, they’re not cute. Cats are also carnivores. They’re predators.”

“Cute predator!”

“You don’t call predators cute.”

“What about pretty?”

“Well, you said you like pretty people.”

“But I don’t like the pretty cat mercenaries.”

“Are they all that pretty?”

“Cats are pretty.”

Dimitri soon noticed that something was strange about the flow of the conversation, and after some thought, it slowly dawned on him.

‘I’m drunk, too.’

As Rowaine kept refilling her glass, he ended up drinking even what was in her glass, and several champagne bottles were now rolling on the floor. Still, as long as they were having fun, it should be okay, right?

As he was lost in his thoughts, he couldn’t stop Rowaine from downing more alcohol.

“Rowaine, you’ve had too much to drink.”

As he reached out, Rowaine tilted her upper body back to avoid his hand as she responded.

“Oh my, why are you not letting me drink!”

“Come here.”

After a light scuffle between the one who wanted to take the glass away and the one who didn’t want it to be taken, the two people’s bodies fell backwards.

“Uht!”

Anticipating the impact, Rowaine shut her eyes tightly before reopening them. However, she didn’t feel any impact because Dimitri quickly caught her as she fell and gently lowered her onto the sofa.

“Go away. You’re too close…”

She pushed his chest, who had fallen on top of her. Nevertheless, Dimitri didn’t budge, and instead, he looked down at her languidly.

“You said earlier that you like it.”

“I never said such a thing.”

However, she didn’t feel any impact because Dimitri quickly caught her as she fell and gently lowered her onto the sofa.

“You said I was pretty. Was that a lie?”

“No, that’s true, but…”

Dimitri smirked.

“You’re pretty, too.”

Her long eyelashes fluttered up and down every time she blinked as she looked up at him.

Vermilion. Though it was uncertain how it appeared to human eyes, her vermilion eyes were incredibly beautiful to his eyes.

He lifted his hand and slowly stroked the corner of her eye, feeling the texture of her eyelids and lashes as she reflexively closed her eyes before he lowered his head to kiss them.

Kiss.

“Can I kiss you?”

“Uh, just now…”

He lowered his head again and pressed his lips onto her rounded forehead.

Kiss.

“On your forehead?”

“No, you already…!”

Even as she looked up at him in exasperation, wondering why he asked for permission after doing it, Dimitri continued what he was doing without paying any heed.

Kiss.

“On the cheek?”

“No, no, you can’t.”

Rowaine covered his mouth with her hands. She made a tearful face as if she was in trouble, but she didn’t push him away.

‘She never pushes me away.’

Even on the day he confessed his feelings to her, she didn’t push him away even as she said she didn’t love him. And even when he annoyingly visited her office and pestered her to the point of annoyance, she avoided him but never outright chased him away.

She didn’t push him away, just hesitated or avoided him.

‘Liar.’

It would be good if the words she uttered were as honest as her heart that beat violently and asserted itself.

Dimitri mumbled into her palm, his mouth still closed.

“Rowaine, want to know something interesting?”

“What, what is it?”

He grinned mischievously and stuck out his tongue to lick her palm.

“….!”

Rowaine, who felt a sharp sensation as if sandpaper had scratched her palm softly, exclaimed and withdrew her hand in surprise.

Dimitri stuck out his tongue slightly.

“I can take out the bumps on my tongue. Partial transformation.”

A cat’s tongue has sharp papillae and is as rough as sandpaper. When in a human form, they wouldn’t usually keep it rough, but with partial transformation, like sharpening nails, they could choose to keep the papillae of the tongue as well.

Dimitri asked with a subtle smile.

“Do you want to touch it?”

Rowaine’s eyes widened before she nodded her head. Her cheeks and lips, flushed with alcohol, looked like ripe peaches.

“That’s… I’m a bit curious…”

He pulled her hand as if giving permission.

As she raised her upper body slightly and moved closer to him as though she wanted to take a closer look, her fingers delicately traced his tongue.

“It feels good… It tickles.”

He gently pulled her closer by her waist as she moved closer to him, naturally wrapping her arms around his neck. Just as he gently licked Rowaine’s fingers, who was enchanted by the strange sensation, Dimitri whispered.

“See if this feels good too.”

He licked her lips.

“Mmm…”

She closed her eyes as if entranced, and their lips tightly pressed together. As the two of them became deeply entwined with each other, their breaths grew shallow. While their lips briefly parted, Rowaine gazed at him with conflicted eyes.

“I’ve told you clearly that I don’t love you.”

Even as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her persistent resistance to the very end left him wondering. Dimitri comforted her, wrapping his arms around the back of her head and pulling her close.

“It’s okay, for now.”

Their breaths mingled once again.

 
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