62 – hangover and tea

I woke up with the gentle sound of rain. Hearing that sound, he got up and felt nausea and a headache, and a thick smell of alcohol mixed with his exhaled breath.

My head creaks at the incomprehensible pain and smell. From the creaking head, blurry memories rush.

After drinking the cup the princess recommended, the world shook and became blurry. I felt a peculiar emotion in that hazy world, but I can’t remember it. I can’t remember what happened after the world became blurry.

I tried to forcefully squeeze out the memories I couldn’t remember, but I still can’t remember. The headache just got stronger.

Suffering from an intensifying headache and nausea, I opened the old window. The sound of the rain, which had been blocked by the window, became stronger and a cool breeze blew in.

A cool breeze drove away the smell of alcohol that filled the room and eased the headache a bit. I spent time relying on such a wind for a while.

As I was spending time like that, the image of drunkards came to mind. Drunkards who get drunk, have accidents, and forget the next day. Their images came to mind, and they overlapped with me, who couldn’t remember what happened yesterday.

Anxiety crept over the overlapping appearance. I denied in my heart that I was different from them, but the anxiety continued to creep in.

Because of that anxiety, the confidence to meet the princess disappeared. No, I don’t even dare.

As I was thinking that, I heard a knock on the door.

“Brother, let’s go eat.”

With Rachel’s voice, the door opened. Rachel opened the door and entered, holding her nose.

“Ugh, the smell of alcohol.”

“Is it that severe?”

“Yes! It’s so bad!”

Rachel’s words raised her anxiety a little more.

“Then why are you making that face?”

“That’s… I made a masterpiece yesterday at the request of the princess, but I lost my memory.”

“Yes? By the way, is that why you look so anxious?”

“I’m worried that I might have disrespected the princess.”

When I finished, Rachel burst into laughter.

“Why are you laughing? I mean, I’m serious.”

“But, it’s funny to see you brooding over useless things.”

“What do you mean useless? It is important to me.”

“You might feel that way because you don’t know the sister very well yet, but you don’t care about that. So don’t moan over useless things and go get something to eat.”

Rachel said that and left the room. I was dubious about Rachel’s words and followed her. Going down to the hall of the inn, I saw the princess’s undisturbed appearance.

“Sister, brother, I have called.”

“Good job. Alik, good morning.”

“Good morning.”

Seeing the calm face of the princess who greeted me first, my anxiety faded.

Yes, no matter how drunk I am, there is no way I would disrespect the princess.

I thought to myself, and sat down.

“Since everyone is here, let’s talk about today’s schedule.”

“yes~.”

I nodded and answered instead.

“As everyone can see, it’s raining. I thought it would be difficult to move on foot because of that, so I tried to get a wagon, but it says it’s not available in this village.”

“So, are you going to stay here until the rain stops?”

“I think that would be a good thing. Any other opinions?”

“Nope.”

While we were talking like that, the host came with a dish. Hearty dishes for breakfast were placed on the table, and the aroma of the food pierced my nose. If it was usual, I should smell it and get my appetite back, but only the nausea became stronger and I didn’t like it.

While I was feeling that way, the princess put a plate of thin soup in front of me.

“Even if you’re having a hard time with a hangover, eat that much.”

I nodded at the princess’s words, and put the thin soup into my mouth while holding back my nausea. Fortunately, the scent of the thin soup was light, so the nausea did not get worse and went well.

I emptied all the thin soup and stood up from my seat.

“I will wake up first.”

“Brother, you only ate soup, will that work?”

“Enough. On the contrary, if I eat more, I think my stomach will feel uncomfortable.”

“Then I can’t help it. I will eat all of your share.”

Rachel said that and smiled. Leaving behind Rachel who was so greedy for food, I left and went back to my room.

Returning to the room, I thought over the princess’ actions again. A relaxed complexion and undisturbed appearance. Talking and behaving like normal.

As she reflected on the princess’s usual appearance, the lightened anxiety completely disappeared. I shook off my anxiety and laid down on the bed with a comfortable mind.

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Lying there listening to the sound of the rain, I calmed down my drunken body. After spending a few moments like that, I heard a knock.

“Alik, can I come in?”

The princess’s voice was heard from beyond the door, and the anxiety that had disappeared crawled out again. Feeling the anxiety that crawled out again, I got up and opened the door.

When I opened the door, I saw a princess holding a wooden cup and kettle.

“I brought you a good tea for a hangover.”

“thank you.”

At the princess’s words, my sleeping emotions stirred. Feeling that emotion, I sat down and watched the princess. The green tea filled the glass, and the warm scent filled the room.

I savored the tea, feeling the aroma. The warm and comforting taste spread in my mouth, and the comforting taste soothed my nausea.

“It’s not a nice car, but I like it because it makes me feel at ease.”

“I think I will get better too.”

A faint smile crept across the princess’s face.

“You know what? You are the one who told me about this car.”

“I mean?”

“Yes, I didn’t enjoy tea either, but you recommended this tea. And I’ve been enjoying it ever since.”

I was puzzled by those words. It felt strange that I, who had never enjoyed tea in my life, had recommended this tea to the princess.

I felt it yesterday, too, but the gap between me before I lost my memory and me now feels absurdly wide.

As I was chewing on the gap, I heard the princess’s voice.

“Besides this, you suggested several teas. It fit surprisingly well in my mouth. It’s so amazing.”

For some reason, the princess’s words sounded vague and sad.

“That time solidified, and we had tea time every day. I loved that time.”

The vagueness and sadness faded, and the warmth came out.

“We know each other well, so we didn’t say much, but it was nice. It was just a good time. And it’s nice to be able to enjoy this time again.”

A faint smile bloomed on the princess’s face again, and warmth flooded in and embraced her dormant emotions. The sleeping emotions woke up in the warmth, stretched, and knocked on my heart.

Gentle ripples shimmered in my heart, and the ripples spread throughout.

“If you don’t mind, I want to spend time like this often, would that be okay?”

“I am good.”

“Then I’m glad.”

The light smile gets a little thicker, and the power of emotions that knock on the heart intensifies.

I felt it and emptied my glass.

“Would you like another drink?”

“One more drink, please.”

My cup and the princess’s cup are filled, and the warm scent spreads stronger. I immersed myself in its warm scent and savored it.

It was such a quiet, warm time passed. The tea has run out, and the time has come for the scent to dissipate.

“We ran out of tea, but the rain didn’t stop and got stronger.”

After listening to the princess’ words, I felt the sound of the rain getting stronger. When I looked toward the window at the sound of the intensifying rain, it was pouring with heavy rain that was not suitable for winter.

“It looks like it will be difficult to leave today.”

“I guess so.”

The princess’s words were scattered, and only the sound of rain filled the room. A moment passed, and the princess’s mouth opened.

“Are you feeling better now?”

After listening to the princess’ words, I realized that the headache and nausea had disappeared.

“Thanks to you, I am fine.”

“I’m glad you said that. I felt sorry for thinking I overfeed you, but I guess I can take a little less.”

“I did it because I liked it, so you don’t have to think that way.”

Words mixed with a bit of lies flowed out of her mouth, and a faint smile bloomed on the princess’s face.

“You know what? When you lie, your eyebrows furrow slightly.”

Surprised by those words, he raised his eyebrows. Then the princess’s laughter was heard.

“Farmers. You don’t have such a habit, so don’t worry.”

“Then how did you know you lied?”

“Just relax.”

The princess’s smile deepened. Seeing that, a ripple came to my heart again.

“I’m sorry I forced you to drink. And it was fun.”

Saying so, the princess rose from her seat. Seeing the Princess as she was about to leave, the thoughts I had been harboring since morning touched my heart and made the aftertaste unpleasant. After thinking about it, I opened my mouth.

“Princess Iris, may I ask you something?”

“As I said before, don’t be polite and just ask.”

Hearing the princess’s words, he calmed down for a moment before opening his mouth.

“Did I make any mistakes yesterday?”

“There was no such thing. We just drank together and listened to stories.”

The princess said so and left. I felt that Princess Nagasi’s ears looked redder than usual.

Along with that feeling, a small voice was heard from beyond the door.

“all…”

Words that were too small to be heard except for the first letter scattered, and I chewed on the ripples as I listened to the sound of rain.