Chapter 543: A Drunken Morning

Adam’s expression gradually turned serious.

He had no intention of taking advantage of a woman who was barely sober enough to understand what she was doing. He tried to gently free himself from her embrace, but Azrynn only tightened her arms around his neck.

"Azrynn, let go for a moment."

"No..."

Her answer was quiet, almost sleepy.

Adam could have easily pulled away with his strength, but he was reluctant to hurt her, even unintentionally. He let out a quiet sigh and looked down at her.

Then, his gaze met her yellow eyes.

They were beautiful. Even with her cheeks flushed from alcohol and her eyelids growing heavy, there was something captivating about them. For a moment, Adam found himself unable to look away.

He had seen those eyes countless times before, usually filled with curiosity, determination, or the quiet confidence she carried so naturally. But now, with her arms wrapped around him and her gaze fixed on his, they seemed strangely different.

Adam’s expression softened.

Without quite realizing it, he began leaning closer. Slowly, almost hesitantly, his face moved toward hers. His eyes briefly flickered toward her lips before returning to her yellow gaze.

He paused, giving her a moment to pull away.

But Azrynn only continued looking at him, her expression growing sleepier by the second.

Adam leaned a little closer.

Just a little more...

Suddenly, Azrynn tightened her arms and pulled him toward her.

"Whoa!"

Adam lost his balance and fell onto the bed beside her. Before he could react, she wrapped her arms around him again, holding him tightly against her.

"...Azrynn?"

There was no answer.

He glanced down and realized that her breathing had already become slow and steady. She had fallen asleep.

Adam stared at her for a moment before letting out a helpless sigh.

"...What was I even about to do just now?"

He glanced at Azrynn’s sleeping face, then at the arms still wrapped tightly around him. Their bodies were pressed rather closely together, and he couldn’t help noticing the soft warmth of her figure against his.

For a moment, he simply lay there, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.

"...Forget it. I should just get some sleep."

With that, Adam adjusted his position as comfortably as he could and closed his eyes.

Unfortunately, in the process, he completely forgot about the tiny wind spirit who had been caught between their embrace.

Sylphy remained squashed between the two of them, sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of her predicament.

The following morning, Azrynn was the first to wake.

A dull ache throbbed behind her forehead, making her wince as she slowly opened her eyes.

"Ugh..."

She raised a hand to her temple. It seemed she had drunk more than she intended the previous night.

As her vision gradually cleared, she noticed a familiar face directly in front of her.

"...!"

Azrynn stiffened.

Adam was sleeping beside her, his breathing calm and steady. Their faces were close enough that she could clearly make out his features.

For several seconds, she simply stared at him, trying to understand the situation.

’Why is Adam here...?’

Her memories of the previous night were hazy. She vaguely remembered drinking at the bar, then walking somewhere with him, but everything after that was a blur.

’Did I cause him trouble again?’

A faint sense of guilt crept into her chest. She had probably made him take care of her after she drank too much. Perhaps he had even been forced to stay awake because of her.

She wanted to get up immediately and apologize, but...

Her gaze returned to Adam’s sleeping face.

"..."

Perhaps she could stay for just a little longer.

His long purple hair was slightly disheveled, with several strands falling across his forehead. His breathing was warm and even, and there was something strangely peaceful about his expression when he wasn’t teasing someone or looking at the world with that usual indifferent gaze.

Without realizing it, Azrynn slowly raised her hand.

Her fingers gently brushed through his hair, moving a few stray strands away from his face. She then let her hand drift down, lightly tracing his cheek.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

When she had first left the Wasteland, her thoughts had been occupied by only one thing: securing freedom for her people. She had believed that establishing a close relationship with Adam would make that goal easier to achieve.

After all, he possessed power far beyond anything her people could hope to obtain. Having someone like him willing to stand beside them would make a tremendous difference.

Yet she had never forgotten that her people’s fate was ultimately her responsibility. Even though Adam had willingly offered his help, a part of her remained uneasy.

’What if he changes his mind one day?’

She couldn’t simply assume that his promise would last forever. That was why, somewhere along the way, she had begun wanting him to remain committed to helping her people.

But after spending more time with him, Azrynn had gradually discovered that Adam wasn’t quite the person she had initially thought him to be.

He often appeared indifferent, sometimes even selfish, as though very little in the world could hold his interest. He enjoyed teasing others and rarely bothered to hide his amusement when someone became frustrated with him.

However, beneath that attitude, there was someone who could be surprisingly considerate.

He had never treated her people’s struggles as an inconvenience. He had listened to her concerns, taken her ambitions seriously, and offered his help without demanding anything in return.

Even last night, despite her drunken behavior, he had stayed by her side.

Azrynn’s fingers gently brushed his cheek once more.

"...I still don’t understand you very well, do I?"

She whispered so quietly that even the sleeping Adam couldn’t hear her.

Perhaps this was a good opportunity to learn more about him.

Not as someone whose strength she needed, or as an ally who could help secure her people’s future, but simply as Adam.

With that thought, Azrynn continued watching his peaceful face, a faint smile lingering on her lips.