for a moment….’Are you leaving that behind? Rafine’s gaze turned to the remaining whiskey glass.Antonio came in with that glass of wine and never drank it. Is that so? It’s a new drink.Rafine sat straight down, grabbed a whiskey glass, and brought it to her mouth.But then, someone swish and pulled the curtains back.”Huh….”It was Antonio. He came back to see if he had anything left to say, but when he saw Clair sipping alcohol, he hardened.Claire stared at him, and he immediately turned red and went out on the road.* * *Antonio came out of the terrace and headed to a place where there were no people as if to run away.He took a deep breath, covering his burning face with his arms.’Damn it. I’m not kidding anyone.’I was amazed to see Claire sipping a glass of wine as he left his chin in front of him, and when he left.’How dare you secretly put your lips on a glass that might have touched my lips….’Antonio smirked as if exasperated.In fact, it was like an indirect kiss.Of course he didn’t drink from that glass, but you’d think Claire did.’You pretended you didn’t like me.’It didn’t seem like that was the case.It was cute….Antonio raised one corner of his mouth to calm his burning cheeks.* * *On the other hand, Clair, who had one shot of whiskey, was satisfied.’I don’t even use it much.’by the way….In fact, in today’s plan Clair made, there was one more thing besides drinking.Claire exited the terrace and started looking for someone in the hall.The person to find was Elliot, but strangely, he was more concerned about where Oscar was.But neither Oscar nor Elliot nor Cybill were seen.’Where did you go? Did the three of you go chatting?’Time passed and it was before the midnight bell rang.Tonight is the last day of the twelfth month, so there was a New Year’s Eve celebration.People all went to the terrace or outside garden to watch the upcoming fireworks display.Claire also found Luka and Lois, and headed to the terrace with them.”After 12 o’clock, you are now of age.””Congratulations, Claire.”The two congratulated Clair and handed a glass of wine just before the fireworks. It was a glass of strong whiskey.”You have to drink before you come.””That’s right, we’re being scolded for teaching bad things.”The 12 o’clock bell began to ring loudly. At the same time, fireworks exploded in the night sky.”Come on, Claire. Come on, drink.”Rafine drank whiskey right away. Watching Claire doing a one-shot, the two looked surprised. “Are you doing one-shots?””Hey, are you okay?”Luka and Lois asked worriedly, but Claire emptied the glass in one breath and wiped her lips.”after…. But you know what? This is my second cup?””What? Where did you drink!””this…! What if I drink it before I come of age!”Luca and Lois jumped. Even after drinking two glasses of it, Clair, who was still intact, looked at me curiously.”Aren’t you dizzy?””it’s okay?”Claire tapped the two of them on the shoulder and said.”Did you say that the two of you drank one cup each as soon as they came of age and stretched out right away?””….””….””It’s like alcohol. Some drink naturally well, while others tremble, fearing they will get drunk even after one drink. That is life.”When Claire said teasingly, Luka and Lois’ mouths popped out.”By the way, haven’t you seen Elliot?””Oh, I don’t know. Not funny.””I knew I would collapse immediately, so I had the wagon waiting….”The two grumbled as if they had missed a lot of fun.Claire shrugged and went outside the terrace to find Elliot.It was time to wander around like that. Claire saw Elliot coming out of one of the terraces and ran towards it.”brother!”Claire pushed Elliot back into the terrace.There was no one inside the terrace.Claire glanced around and sat Elliot down on the sofa.”Uh, Claire?”Elliot’s face was a little remembered. Judging by the poor pronunciation, it was clear that he was drinking alcohol.Claire immediately took out the pen and paper she had prepared.”Brother, please answer my questions from now on.””Yes…?”According to the information I heard from Cybill….’Elliot said that alcohol is weak. When he gets drunk he forgets all his memories. Besides, to be very honest….’So, it is said that Cybill often spoke to the drunken Elliot, and secretly kissed him.It was so much fun to see Elliot the next day who doesn’t remember anything….Anyway, hearing the story, Claire aimed to get the last information at this moment.If I wasn’t drunk, I tried to drink alcohol anyway. He was in a state of drunkenness, so he had to omit one bothersome task.Claire grabbed Elliot and asked questions one by one.”Brother, do you know about the style of women that His Majesty Prince Oscar likes?””Oscar? Woman? Well….””Answer me properly. This is a very important issue.””Mom, I don’t know…. He has no taste.” “then…. Do you like tall women?””Well, I don’t know….””Then older? younger? same age? Which one do you prefer?””I never said anything like that….”No, you don’t know? It doesn’t help at all.Claire bit her lip. There was nothing written on the note.”Brother, are you really the Crown Prince’s best friend? How do you not know that?””I’m sorry….”As Claire spoke as if blaming, the drunken Elliot became pale and bowed his head.Ugh….Claire sighed and got up from her seat.Then she pulled back the curtains on the terrace, opened the thick door, and returned to the hall.”….”Elliot, who was drunk, came to his senses and looked towards the curtain where Claire had left.Elliot was confused.’No, why does Claire ask such a thing?’In fact, contrary to what Cybill knew, Elliot wasn’t drunk.Of course, alcohol is weak, but…. It was all lies to say that I became honest when drunk or couldn’t remember.’Claire maybe….’Elliot’s pupils began to shake violently.and at the same time.Beyond the curtain that Elliot was looking at, someone was standing with a hidden presence.A door to the terrace leading to the hall, and thick curtains on the terrace. In the meantime, the person standing on the short path holding his breath….It was Oscar in shock.I didn’t mean to hide from the beginning. I just heard Claire’s voice so I didn’t realize it for a while….Anyway, Oscar also began to harbor Elliot’s same doubts.Why does Claire ask such a thing?’At the same time, my mother’s last words echoed in my mind.”When I see…. It seems that Claire still has feelings for you.>Oscar panicked and covered his face with his large hand. The temperature of his cheeks touching the palms of his hands was tingling.* * *Meanwhile, Empress Maleah, who splendidly returned to the capital, was smiling among the crowd.It was the first ball she attended after coming to the capital, so she was more dazzling than ever.But unlike her graceful smile on the outside, her insides were burning.It was because of the emperor.The emperor never came first, even after Empress Maleah returned to the capital.On the first day, I hadn’t met her except for the fact that she went to the Imperial Palace and gave her official greetings.Of course, I don’t need the Emperor’s love now, but it was true that I was heartbroken.’While I was going to the monastery, the relationship between the emperor and the empress got really good…? huh.’Empress Maleah, who had originally won the emperor’s heart with a drug made with gold, could not hide her emptiness.’I don’t want the emperor’s heart anymore.’However, he did not want the emperor and the empress to live peacefully and get along.So she decided to take power. I decided to break the gap between them with the power that no one could use recklessly.So Maleah began to cling to power even more.Of course, the cause of her obsession with power was also her desire for revenge against her father.Maleah hid her boiling heart and greeted the nobles with an elegant smile.Just then, a lady approached and greeted Maleah and looked at the woman standing next to her.”Oh my, this is the one….””you’re right. This is Saint Celestine.”At Maleah’s words, the nobles looked at Celestina with eyes full of affection and curiosity.