She can hold liquor

"Hold on—" Azel almost stood up from his chair. She had gulped down too much! He wasn't expecting that.

March beer was known for its mild sweetness; it wasn't too bitter, making it almost perfect for first-time drinkers. But, it was liquor in the truest sense.

For someone with a low tolerance, even the smallest sip could leave them drunk and reeling within minutes, and it was just her first time.

Adelia pried the mug away from her lips, her hands flew to her chest as she bent forward to cough. "It… it burns!"

"You drank too much," Azel stated plainly, concern evident on his face despite himself. "Do you... are you alright? Do you need water?"

Adelia shook her head firmly. "I'm… I'm fine," she assured him. "The burning sensation only took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting it."

Azel furrowed his brows. "Are you sure?" He was subtly searching for signs of drunkenness on her now.

"I am." She then looked down at the contents of the mug and smiled. "It's good." With that, she finished what was left, licked her lips, and extended her mug toward him. "I want more."

Azel had to stare at her in astonishment for a while to process her actions. Did the server really bring them what he asked for?

He took a sip of his own drink just to confirm; it was definitely March beer. So why wasn't she even slightly wobbly after having half a mug?

Azel raised an eyebrow at her. "It seems you were lucky the first time, milady," he said with a smile as he poured a more generous amount into her mug. "But you must be careful; beer isn't for the weak."

Adelia pursed her lips at his comment. "I'm not weak," she retorted, and he felt she was talking about more than just the alcohol.

With both hands, she took the mug again and started to gulp down its contents, while Azel watched her cautiously from behind his own mug.

She was downing the drink fast, so fast, that they had both finished the first pitcher in a blink of an eye and Azel had to order a server to refill.

Adelia had taken two more filled mugs from the second round and she wasn't showing any signs of its effect, not even slightly.

On the third round, she placed her heavy mug on the table with a light thud, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"Is this really liquor?" she asked, her doubt evident. "It doesn't seem as strong as they claim it is."

Azel's lips twitched in amusement. She was most probably joking... what was this girl, really?

He had seen men—human men, at least—as large as he was, struggling after just two mugs of march. Yet, the woman across from him had already consumed more than five and she wasn't even flinching.

The dainty, fragile looking woman before him wasn't feeling its effects in the slightest.

He found it terribly difficult to believe, yet an immense sense of pride swelled within him at her capabilities. This... this was his mate.

He supposed she had been right, she was far more capable than she looked and with the way she downed the drink and her eyes widened everytime she didn't sway after one more cup, he considered that she was just truly realizing it herself.

That nagging voice at the back of his mind cautioned him, yet his heart beat faster, despite himself. He was curious to see how many more mugs she could handle.

Pouring the last of the pitcher into his own mug, he took a gulp, his third drink as he saw it, since she had taken the most.

He watched Adelia stare at him enviously as he savored the beer.

"I take back my previous statement, milady," he began. "It seems you can indeed hold your alcohol quite well. It's a bit surprising considering it's your first time."

Adelia stared at him for a moment before glancing down at her now-empty mug.

"As surprised as you say you are, I'm even more..." She looked back up at him with pleading eyes. "Liquor isn't bad... it's not too good either but I've developed a liking for it. Could we... perhaps order more?"

Azel's eyes glinted with mischief. "We can, of course," he replied. "But I am not as wealthy as you are, milady. My pockets will eventually run dry."

"Oh…" Adelia mused. It wasn't her intention to drain him of all his money tonight.

From what she had heard, commoners were often poor and hardly ever had enough to eat. She felt grateful for all he had done for her already and didn't want to burden him further.

But, the beer... it turned out to be more enjoyable than she had thought it would be, and she found herself wanting more, even if it was just another mug.

Adelia's eyes widened at her thoughts and she instinctively went to cover her mouth with her hand while the man across from her watched with a mixture of amusement and curiosity.

She really hoped she wasn't becoming addicted; she didn't want to end up like the Knights in Veldon castle.

She nearly laughed out loud. 'Father won't take it lightly.'

Azel interrupted her thoughts with a light chuckle. "You seem to be seriously considering this, milady," he remarked. "Isn't what you've had already enough?"

Adelia blushed at his words. "No, not really…" she admitted softly.

Azel's expression softened into a small smile. She reminded him of a child who had just discovered a new toy and wanted to keep playing with it.

"Very well," he conceded. "One more pitcher, but that will be all. Your people might have my head if you become addicted because of me."

Adelia chuckled softly, and a twinkle returned to her eyes. "Thank you," she said earnestly. "And don't worry, they won't be able to harm you if they don't know where to find you."

"...Will you be the one to hide me?"

She stared at him in confusion for a moment, before she thought she understood the meaning of his words and she blushed. "No, I won't!" She said in a fluster. Was he implying her room in the Castle? "That... that wasn't what I meant!"

Azel tilted his head to the side inquisitively, his eyes trailed on her with mirth. "Then what did you mean?"

Adelia fumbled with the folds of her dress as she turned away. "...I wasn't really thinking about anything when I said that..."

Azel chuckled and signaled their server for another pitcher. When the young man approached their table and saw Adelia still holding her own, he smiled down at her.

Azel's jaw slightly twitched, but he managed to ignore the gesture. It was just a smile, a genuine one; there wasn't much to read into it.

He then tilted the pitcher over Adelia's mug and just watched her drink, entranced by the way she continued to take mug after mug without swaying in the slightest.

Adelia, on the other hand, was seriously wondering why she wasn't getting drunk. Was something wrong with her?

She had always observed the Knights at the Castle stumbling to their quarters after a long night of drinking, and she had often wondered how it felt to be intoxicated.

But she wasn't even getting close!

Her stomach was nearly full now, and yet she wasn't even feeling the least bit lightheaded!

No, something was definitely wrong with her... and honestly, she was somewhat disappointed.

Azel watched as Adelia nearly finished her last cup. A few tables around them had now quieted down a little, subtly looking her way.

And something in his jaw ticked at the way they glanced at her.

He was aware that she had attracted a considerable amount of attention because of the amount of alcohol she drank.

Yet, she didn't appear to notice their subtle gazes at all, and a small smile curved his lips; how amusing was that?

"What an amazing catch that man got," someone said, and even amidst the countless hollering, Azel heard him clearly. "That slut really knows how to hold her alcohol."

Azel's smile immediately faded, his previous amusement now completely gone and a sinister gloom now hovered over him.

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