The night outside was eerily quiet, devoid of any human sounds.
Only the interior of the house remained illuminated.
Warm light spilled from the ceiling onto the rectangular table where two couples sat on opposite sides.
Yet, the delicious food on the table remained untouched, still neatly arranged.
"Lord Liam, what's wrong with you?"
"Liam?"
Liam waved a hand, struggling to maintain composure through his stupor.
"It's nothing... just... just..."
With difficulty, he dragged his heavy body up from the table.
His dazed head fell back against the chair rest.
He pressed his palm against his forehead for a moment, and the dizziness subsided somewhat from the initial wave.
His eyes closed, his hand waved aimlessly and grabbed onto something soft.
His mind still foggy, Liam wondered what it was and couldn't help but give it another squeeze, only to have his hand smacked away by the owner of that softness.
"Eek~ H-Husband! What are you doing...?"
Celia covered her chest, her face red to the tips of her ears.
She had only leaned in to check on him, and then this happened...
Lego, who had anxiously stood up and slapped the table, now relaxed and sat back down steadily.
He comforted his flustered daughter:
"Hahaha, it's fine, it's fine, don't worry too much, Celia. He's just drunk. Who would have thought Brother Liam's alcohol tolerance would be this poor."
Cyra agreed, propping her slightly warm cheek with one hand, her gaze somewhat strange as she chimed in, "Celia~ You're a big boy now. You have to protect your husband, okay~"
Although she could metabolize it, Cyra was only Tier 1, and her stored natural mana was no match for Lego's Tier 2 capacity.
She was feeling somewhat dizzy too.
"I know... Stop it, Mom!"
Celia cut her off, then glanced at the still-slumped Liam and slowly let out a relieved sigh.
Big boy...
What if Liam heard that?
She didn't know how her mother dared to say such a thing.
She, she was a girl now...
...
Huu——
The man let out a long breath; the exhale was heavy with the smell of alcohol, and his body also emanated a lingering scent of liquor.
His arm hung loosely over the armrest of the chair, and his whole body swayed, looking extremely unsteady.
"Hey... hey, Celia."
"Yes, I'm here!"
"What is it, Husband?"
Celia stayed by the man's side, obedient and careful.
Ryan staggered a few times and finally managed to open his eyes.
During this period of blurred consciousness, he did his best to channel the magic in his body, trying to dispel the effects of alcohol.
But his self-recovery in this aspect was far inferior to that of the elves living by the Eternal Tree.
It's more or less better now.
"This is... terrible. Huu——"
He exhaled again, reached out a powerful arm, pulled the girl standing beside him into his embrace, and said close to her ear;
"Celia, it's time I taught you how to drink."
Celia felt his body was burning hot.
Her ear was full of his hot breath, and she faintly caught the strong smell of alcohol.
The tip of her ear turned red, and she said timidly, "Drinking... I really don't know how..."
"Eek~"
Before she could react, the petite Celia was picked up again and placed sideways on the man's lap.
Shortly after, Ryan propped himself up on the table and barely straightened his body, then stretched out his slender arms.
He picked up the cup from the table that Celia had never touched, pressed it against the lips of the girl in his arms, his tone lazy from intoxication.
"I said, if you don't know how, I'll teach you. Drink up now."
What kind of teaching is this?
Celia turned her head away, lips pressed tightly together, her eyes glistening with tears.
Her slightly damp eyelashes fluttered twice, looking utterly pitiful.
Celia, who wasn't allowed to drink as a child, was now being forced to drink...
"Still as domineering as ever~ Li—am—"
Seeing her daughter like this, Cyra not only didn't intervene but lay on the table, giggling and fanning the flames.
"No, no, isn't this going too far, Brother Liam?"
Lego, however, disapproved.
He struck a pose, ready to intervene.
"No~"
The moment he stood up, Cyra grabbed the hem of his clothes.
She tilted her head and mumbled, "Darling... don't. That's their business..."
"Uh, but..."
"Alright..."
Lego struggled for a moment, then sat back down.
"Brother Liam, don't go overboard. My daughter doesn't know how to drink."
Cyra furrowed her small brows, put her two small hands together, and gave Lego's face a little push.
She called out to Liam, "Don't, don't listen to him! Go ahead~ Lord Liam, you can do anything you want to my Celia~!"
After shouting that, she slumped back down.
The edge of the table on their side was somewhat messy from her arms resting on it.
"You two lovebirds have your fun. We're going to start eating now. Mmm... not very hungry, though... I was already asleep! You little rascal, Liam, you had to wake me up!"
"I understand."
Liam responded lazily.
He pressed the cup against the girl's lips again, but she still resisted.
He lowered his eyelids and said in a deep voice, "Drink."
Even in this state, Celia found her mother's words utterly useless.
No help could be expected from that quarter...
Even though she felt extremely wronged, seeing the man's unrelenting and forceful manner, she could only obey obediently.
She leaned back against his chest, and her tightly pressed lips relaxed a little.
The first time... drinking.
And it was this kind of strong liquor.
She wondered what it would taste like...