Chapter 102. Games into the Night

Crackle... crackle...

The sound of logs shifting in the fireplace echoed softly through the room, while outside, the night sky was painted white with the relentless winter snow. The guest living room of the castle, which hadn’t seen this much activity in years, was in a state of warm, comfortable chaos.

Prince Vadim drained his entire wine glass in one go. His face was already flushed as he pulled out a playing card with the word ‘MOON’ written on it. Without looking at it, he stuck the card into his hairband so everyone but him could see the hidden word. “Alright... hic... it’s my turn now,” he called out.

Francesca, sitting next to Miller on the thick rug by their sofa, turned the small hourglass over. “You have five minutes to answer our questions without saying the hidden word on your head, Your Highness!” She re-explained the rules, taking a long sip from her own wine glass.

Miller gently stopped her hand and whispered with a fond smile, “That is already your fourth glass for the evening. Slow down.”

“Hey! Hey! Lovebirds, the game has begun, focus over here!” Kenny complained, gulping his own alcohol in a single swig from where he sat on the floor next to Stella near the roaring fireplace. He turned to the Prince. “What do you think is the most divine thing in the world, Your Highness?”

Prince Vadim wore a sloppy, confident smirk as he hiccuped, “Why... yes... It’s L-O-V-E. Love”

“That was such a boring question, Kenny. This is exactly why you are losing,” Stella scoffed. Wrapped comfortably around his arm, she looked over and asked, “What shines the brightest in the night, Your Highness?” as Kenny refilled her glass.

Prince Vadim chuckled, sliding down from the sofa to join everyone on the floor. He dramatically dropped his head right into Lana’s lap and answered smoothly, “Lana in my bed.”

Lana immediately flicked his forehead, a deep red flush of embarrassment taking over her face. “Your Highness...!”

Everyone chuckled at the sight. Lana took a quick gulp of her wine to hide her blush and challenged him, “Oh, yeah?! What about this, then... Where does the Siren Goddess live?”

Looking straight up into Lana’s green eyes, Vadim smirked lazily. “In theology textbooks.”

“Oh, come on!” everyone groaned in unison. At this point, it was painfully clear to the entire room that Prince Vadim had already deduced what his hidden word was.

“This is going nowhere. I am going to lose this round too!” Kenny complained, dropping his heavy head onto Stella’s shoulder in total defeat.

Motya, watching Prince Vadim lounge comfortably on Lana’s lap, sneered playfully. She downed her glass of wine and immediately flopped right down next to him, squishing into Lana's lap as well. “Make some space, Your Highness~”

“It’s my lap, you idiot, not a king-sized bed!” Lana complained, though she didn't push either of them away.

“It’s surprisingly comfortable, though...” Prince Vadim replied, happily snuggling in between Motya and Lana.

“You are being incredibly selfish, Your Highness. Try to be a bit more mindful of your lovers' feelings,” Miller commented dryly from across the rug.

Everyone’s head snapped toward Miller in shock at the surprisingly bold comment, including Prince Vadim.

“Is that really you, Miller? Did the sun rise in the west and the moon set in the east, or what?” Vadim asked in disbelief.

“THERE! He said it! He said MOON!” Kenny shouted at the top of his lungs, victoriously raising his glass into the air.

The Viscountess’s Bedroom, Ironwood Castle

“Um... let’s play another round... um...” Francesca mumbled sleepily as Miller gently placed her down onto the mattress. “Sure... sure. Sweet dreams to you too,” Miller smiled fondly, tucking the heavy blankets around her before quietly walking out of the room.

Click.

As the door shut behind him, he looked down the corridor to find Prince Vadim leaning against the wall, waiting for him.

“She’s a lightweight, I see,” the Prince commented, his words slurring slightly. “Next time... hic... we will drink less.” Miller chuckled. “Speak for yourself. It is a wonder you are still standing with the amount you drank tonight.”

“Oh, come on!” Prince Vadim pushed off the wall and slung a heavy arm over Miller's shoulders. “I finally reunited with my best bud after a whole year! Why can’t I let loose, huh?”

Miller smiled mockingly, raising an eyebrow. “Wow... so I got demoted from brother to best bud?”

“Don’t get stuck on semantics!” Prince Vadim replied with a loud hiccup as Miller began walking the heavily intoxicated prince toward his own quarters.

“Say... Miller, are you happy? Because it actually seems like you are genuinely happy,” Prince Vadim asked softly as Miller helped him navigate the stairs. “I was worried... because I have been living so far away from Kenny, Stella, and you...” The Prince offered a rare, bitter smile.

“What does it look like to you?” Miller smiled warmly, dragging the prince, who was rapidly starting to slip into unconsciousness.

“Stay that way...! hic!” Prince Vadim suddenly pushed him away as they reached his door. He pointed a wavering finger directly at Miller’s chest and declared fiercely, “Don’t you dare doubt yourself again! Stay happy, you get it?! I don’t want to hear another word of self-deprecation about how you are unlovable ever again, got it?!”

“Your Highness, you are far too drunk. Let’s talk tomorrow morning, shall we-” Miller tried to grab hold of him again, but Prince Vadim clumsily dodged his hands.

“That is an Imperial command, got it?! And deserting an Imperial command is punishabl-hic!”

Prince Vadim let out another violent hiccup just as his bedroom door abruptly swung open.

“Just get in here already! Stop being a nuisance!” Motya scolded, marching out into the hallway. She grabbed the Prince's arm and ruthlessly dragged him inside. “Good night to you, Lord Miller.”

Miller just nodded as the utterly defeated Prince Vadim was hauled into his room. As the heavy wooden door shut with a final click, the world suddenly turned blurry in Miller’s eyes.

“Huh... am I too drunk?” he muttered, stopping in the quiet hallway when he felt something wet drop onto his collar. He reached up and wiped his cheek. “Tears? Why?”

He questioned himself quietly, but the uncontrollable tears continued to fall. Overwhelmed by the sheer weight of his friend's genuine words and love, Miller simply leaned back against the cold stone wall, looked out at the falling snow through the corridor window, and finally let them flow.