Saint, You Should Quit Smoking

Antique wallpaper and luxurious furniture in the imperial-exclusive dormitory.
In my room, Loran von Welert’s, there was currently not just me but an outsider.
The Sage Adela Ciadelia. She was sitting across from me at the reception table.
“…”
“…”
Silence.
We looked at each other silently with the table between us. The table was empty without even a guest tea.
‘It was unavoidable.’
Adela’s expression showed no movement at all, but I knew she was feeling so ashamed that she wanted to jump out the window right now.
This means I calmed her down first without even having time to serve tea.
A situation where I was hesitant to speak carelessly.
Just as I was wondering if there was anything appropriate to bring up as a topic, I noticed something Adela was fidgeting with in her hands.
It was a water bottle decorated with a black glow on its surface. Adela was handling it as if she desperately wanted to use it.
“What is that?”
“Pardon?”
Adela responded blankly to my words. Had she pulled her soul out somewhere?
I elaborated further.
“The water bottle the Sage is touching.”
“Ah, you mean this.”
She then seemed to come to her senses and picked up the water bottle.
Adela smiled brightly. It seemed that talking about the water bottle made her feel more comfortable, which made me think I had chosen a good topic.
“This water bottle is my secret weapon that allows me to drink alcohol as usual.”
“Hmm.”
The phrase “secret weapon” she used was quite concerning.
But I couldn’t move past this conversation without asking about it first.
I asked straightforwardly.
“Do you drink alcohol regularly?”
“Ah.”
Hearing my words, Adela immediately shut her mouth.
Several seconds of silence again.
She maintained a completely expressionless face and kept her mouth shut, then.
“Do you have any rope by chance?”
“Pardon?”
She gave an unexpected response.
When I asked what she meant, not understanding her intention, Adela smiled brightly again.
That smile was no different from earlier.
Except for her quivering lips.
“It seems like it’s time for me to die since I keep showing disgraceful behavior.”
“No, no. Please calm down first.”
I quickly stopped her words to salvage the situation.
“I won’t ask about your drinking. But what does it mean that it’s possible even normally? Do you fill the bottle with alcohol?”
“Ah. That’s not it.”
When I immediately changed the direction of the conversation, fortunately, Adela calmed her trembling lips and answered calmly.
“I enchanted it with magic so I can drink alcohol whenever and wherever I want. In short, it’s a magitech bottle, or rather, an alcohol bottle.”
“Is that possible?”
“I researched for quite a while. It took some time to make.”
‘Is it okay to do research on such things?’
I suddenly became curious about the nature of the Pitch-Black Tower. How much do they prioritize academic freedom there to produce such an extraordinary tool?
Indeed, the scholarly passion of mages must be unstoppable.
“As expected of the Pitch-Black Tower, and its future tower head, the Sage. Surely it was research with a purpose.”
I conveyed my admiration to her with such thoughts.
“What? No, I just wanted to drink alcohol comfortably. There wasn’t really any special reason.”
Adela returned an answer that mercilessly shattered my expectations.
“…”
I looked at her with disbelief, but Adela seemed not to understand what the problem was.
This woman is so dedicated to drinking that she doesn’t even realize her answer lacked tact.
Somehow, the image of a girl with ash-colored hair flashed in my mind, making me sigh inwardly.
Why are all my classmates in this class, where I’m the representative, like this?
Regardless, Adela continued speaking.
“This alcohol bottle is convenient because it produces as much of my desired drink as I want. So I often drink whether I’m bored, need to think, or have something to celebrate.”
“I see.”
My head became complicated, so I responded halfheartedly.
Adela didn’t seem to mind my reaction and finally brought up the original topic.
“Still, I’m holding back now. Because I need to talk about that night.”
“…”
I closed my mouth at her straightforward statement.
There must be a reason she came all the way to my imperial dormitory and waited in front of the door. After all, she, who usually resided at Bardishe Bar, had moved personally.
I nodded.
“Please speak.”
At my words, Adela smoothly continued what she wanted to say.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know why I only talk to those who drink with me?”
“…”
Well.
The first thought that naturally comes to mind is because she enjoys drinking. I thought perhaps she likes alcohol so much that she won’t even converse with someone who doesn’t drink with her.
But specifically pointing this out must mean there’s another reason.
I inquired with my eyes about what followed. Then Adela provided an unexpected answer.
“The truth is, no matter how much alcohol I drink, I never get drunk.”
“Pardon?”
I ended up asking dumbly again. I immediately controlled my facial muscles.
‘I’ve been acting like a fool quite often lately.’
But this too is ultimately because the people I’m dealing with are so extraordinary, so it can’t be helped.
Anyway, it was nonsensical. If she never gets drunk no matter how much she drinks, what was that disgraceful behavior she showed that night?
“Of course, you wouldn’t believe me after seeing my drunken behavior that night. But that’s the truth.”
“Hmm.”
I again used my gaze to signal her to continue.
There must be a reason why the Sage is making such a statement.
Eventually, Adela paused for a moment, then revealed a part of her deeper feelings.
“I never get drunk at drinking sessions with people I don’t want to be close to.”
A declaration.
Adela’s words contained no extraordinary vocabulary.
And because of that, the emotions contained within felt genuine.
I too remained silent for a moment, then carefully responded.
“You said people you don’t want to be close to.”
“Yes.”
“Then is it different for someone you allow into your heart?”
“That’s right.”
Refreshingly.
Adela nodded.
“I can only get drunk when drinking with someone I want to keep by my side. And though it’s embarrassing to say with my own mouth…”
A reddish tint appeared on Adela’s white cheeks.
It was quite fascinating how her blood color rose while there was absolutely no movement in her facial muscles.
“I also show drunken behavior to those I’ve opened my heart to.”
“Hmm.”
I let out a short hum at those words.
She shows drunken behavior to those she’s opened her heart to, this means.
‘Adela keeps me close in her heart.’
I recalled the words she had spoken to me while drunk that night.
-Actually, I fell in love with Your Highness at first sight.
How long had we even known each other for such a sudden development? It’s hard to understand.
Extremely confused, I maintained my composure as much as possible to prevent my expression from changing.
Don’t panic, Loran. If you panic too, the relationship will become strange.
While I couldn’t continue speaking, Adela continued.
“So I’m worried. Because the more drunk I get, the less I remember. …Being completely intoxicated means I was that comfortable with the other person.”
There’s no need to go that far with the explanation.
My mind is already confused enough, and I hope she won’t add any more strange comments.
I barely managed to answer without my voice trembling.
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Yes.”
And, again.
Adela declared.
“I don’t remember anything from that night.”
I felt like grabbing my throbbing head. The change in the woman before me’s feelings towards me was happening too quickly to keep up with.
Adela continued speaking, unconcerned with my reaction.
“Originally, no matter how high the alcohol content of a cocktail, I wouldn’t get drunk even after dozens of glasses. To think I got drunk after just six glasses, that…”
Then even she fell silent. The flush on her face slightly intensified.
But Adela again showed resolute determination in her eyes. She seemed intent on clarifying this point.
“So I’d like to ask. Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
“Did I say anything that would be considered disrespectful?”
“…”
I had no words to answer.
You told me you fell in love with me at first sight. Didn’t you say one gets more drunk the closer they hold someone in their heart? You were indeed accurate.
…Even I can’t calmly utter such words. That’s simply impossible.
As silence stretched while I was formulating an appropriate response in my head, Adela’s complexion gradually changed.
Her facial muscles, which had been maintaining expressionlessness like mine, gradually moved, and eventually the corners of her eyes and mouth drooped. She looked on the verge of tears.
In the end, Adela spoke with a damp voice.
“W-well, it seems I can’t bear it without hanging myself. I’ll bid farewell to this world right now, so please give me a rope, Your Highness.”
“No. Wait, please wait a moment.”
Breaking through my troubled thoughts, I somehow answered.
Find it, Loran. Discover an appropriate answer by any means. Only then can you prevent the tragedy of the Sage’s extreme choice.
The conversation we had that day. What was said?
Falling in love at first sight. That’s not it.
Saving the Northerner? Not that either.
Then a brilliant thought occurred to me.
Yes, this could settle the situation well. It might even be beneficial.
“At that time, the Sage certainly said something that I can’t easily bring up now. Can you guess what it is?”
“W-what is it?”
Adela inquired with eyes hoping it wasn’t something shameful.
To meet that expectation, I swiftly changed the direction of the conversation.
“Do you know about the rumor circulating in the Empire?”

“Hmm. I see.”
Adela nodded repeatedly.
The conversation we just had was about the rumor that I had lost my power and how that was an imperial top secret.
And it concluded with how Adela, who had noticed this, would handle herself.
“I was certainly puzzled. Clearly, Your Highness couldn’t handle mana in your own body, yet you controlled someone else’s mana.”
“Hmm.”
“And from the beginning, avoiding that person’s attacks with minimal movement was also possible by seeing the flow of mana.”
Is that right? Adela asked with her gaze.
‘Not a single error.’
The Sage is truly a sage. There was absolutely nothing inaccurate in her words.
“Such capability is a power possessed only by a few individuals like myself who have seen the end of magic. And you possess it, Your Highness, is that what you’re saying?”
“Yes. And since the Sage has become aware of this, to be honest, it’s quite a troublesome situation.”
“Hmm. I see.”
Adela closed her eyes at my words. Perhaps she was immersed in deep thought.
After some time, she opened her eyes.
“Regarding your concern, I’d like to say it’s alright. I have no intention of revealing it.”
“Is that so?”
“Rather, if you permit, I’d like to ask if I could examine your body a bit.”
“What is your intention?”
“As a mage, it’s an extremely interesting case. I’d like to properly investigate it.”
With that, Adela folded her fingers.
Then, extending her index finger, she summarized.
“Let me clearly explain my reasons so Your Highness won’t worry. First, I don’t want to turn the Empire into an enemy.”
Next, she extended her middle finger.
“Second, the fact that I don’t want to miss such an interesting research subject is even more significant.”
And she extended her ring finger.
“Third. …I, I am even more reluctant to harm Your Highness.”
Despite Adela’s efforts to speak calmly without any change in expression, it seems she couldn’t prevent her cheeks from turning even redder than before.
I bowed my head at her words.
“Thank you for understanding, Sage.”
Whatever her own reasons might be, since the result was ultimately for my benefit, I expressed sincere gratitude to Adela.
“Ahem.”
Adela cleared her throat awkwardly at my words. Then she slightly calmed the flush on her cheeks.
“Then there’s no further disrespect this maiden has committed towards Your Highness?”
“Yes. Be at ease.”
“Haaa.”
Only then did Adela drop her shoulders at my assertion. It seemed like all the tension in her body had been released.
She let out a groan, “Phooo-,” and muttered.
“I’m relieved. The master kept shaking his head while looking at me, acting as if he couldn’t speak about it. I was really worried.”
‘That’s true.’
Even I would have taken it to the grave for the sake of the Sage’s honor.
Adela, seemingly drained of energy, slumped her body on the table.
As it appeared she would remain in this depleted state for a while, I got up from my seat to fetch some tea.
It’s natural to serve guests, but due to the situation, I hadn’t been able to offer any refreshments. Now that the problem was well resolved, I needed to further refresh the atmosphere.
I took out a teapot and tea leaves from the cupboard. And prepared to pour and boil water.
Since everything was enchanted magitech, only requiring a slight infusion of mana, it wasn’t a problem for me to use. Originally, I had often prepared tea for myself even in the imperial palace, so I was quick.
As I was focusing on brewing the tea.
Suddenly, Adela’s voice was heard from close proximity.
“Yuhr highnes-”
“Yes. Did you call…”
…’Yuhr highnes’?
After recognizing the unclear pronunciation and the way she dragged her words.
I turned quickly, but it was already too late.
Adela had already approached right next to me. A sweet alcoholic smell wafted from her mouth.
She was completely drunk.
“Your Highness- Why did you lie to me?”
The drawn-out voice of a drunk.
If I shifted my gaze to the side, I could see a pitch-black water bottle rolling on the floor.
It was the bottle Adela had just mentioned, allowing her to drink alcohol as she wished.
This woman, did she drink again in that short time?
While I was inwardly clicking my tongue, Adela continued speaking, rubbing her body against mine. It was truly burdensome.
“Clearly, I confessed my feelings to Your Highness, so how could you so cruelly ignore this maiden’s heart?”
“First, please calm down. When did I ignore the Sage’s feelings?”
“You wouldn’t have forgotten that I told you I fell in love at first sight that night- I know everything-”
“That wasn’t my intention.”
“Then what do you mean? Are you taking this maiden’s innocent feelings lightly-”
It was because you seemed like you would die from shame if I mentioned it.
…Since my judgment hadn’t become clouded enough to utter those words in front of a drunk, I swallowed them.
Regardless, Adela continued to press her body against mine. Even if I tried to shake her off, she skillfully wrapped around my body like a mollusk.
Since there was a limit to pushing her away without hurting her, I tried to dissuade Adela somehow.
“No, just step back a bit, Sage. This is troublesome.”
However, Adela responded primly with pouted lips to my words.
“Head.”
“Pardon?”
“If you pat my head, I’ll stop-”
“…”
“Come on, hurry-”
To Adela, who was rubbing her black hair against me while throwing a tantrum.
There was a part of me that thought, if I gave her a flick on the forehead, would she come to her senses?