All I Wanted Was the Alimony - Chapter 22

Paello rowed with an expressionless face as if he had never smiled, and Lucienne’s heart was still fluttering slightly.

‘Ha, Paello really is handsome.’

Come to think of it, what woman wouldn’t be swayed when an incredibly handsome man takes her side and treats her kindly?

Besides, she hadn’t even imagined that they’d end up riding the boat together.

So this fluttering feeling was just that. A momentary illusion caused by a briefly confused heart.

So Lucienne waited for her heart to calm down, pretending to be unbothered as she looked around.

It was when the boat had settled in the middle of the lake.

“Oh my, honey. There’s wine in the picnic basket.”

A noblewoman in a nearby boat lifted a wine bottle.

“My goodness, it smells wonderful. Would you like a glass?”

The man rowing on the opposite side tasted the wine she poured and laughed.

“It’s a special wine from the Empress Dowager’s vineyard. I heard it would be served at this banquet, but I didn’t expect them to give us a whole bottle.”

“Oh my, then it must be very precious.”

Hearing this, Lucienne became curious about the wine.

Along with that, she remembered her resolution to enjoy drinking and gambling in front of Paello and successfully get divorced.

‘Alright. I’ll get drunk and make a scene. If I embarrass myself here…’

Paello would probably want a divorce, thinking her disgrace had gone too far.

Lucienne checked the picnic basket. The long neck of a bottle sealed with a cork was poking out through the lid of the basket.

“This must be the wine they were talking about in the other boat.”

Lucienne didn’t particularly enjoy alcohol. But the Empress Dowager’s special wine intrigued her.

The moment she pulled the cork, a rich scent of wine spread.

‘…No, wait? This obviously smells strong.’

As she remained still, Paello opened his mouth. “What’s the matter?”

“This… doesn’t seem like wine.”

Paello took the bottle, smelled it, and said, “This is very strong whiskey.”

“Whiskey?”

It was disappointing that it wasn’t wine, but the fact that it was strong pleased Lucienne.

That meant she could get drunk even with just a little.

“Would you like a glass?”

At Lucienne’s offer, Paello shook his head. “I’m not good with alcohol.”

“Then I’ll drink alone.”

“As I said, it’s very strong, so please only drink a little.”

“Yes, then.”

“Ah, madam?”

Paello was flustered. Lucienne had poured the liquor not into a wine glass, but into a large silver goblet.

But Lucienne smiled brightly and gulped the drink down at once.

The bitter taste passed quickly, and the liquor slid smoothly down her throat. A warm sensation rose instantly.

A strange feeling surged through her veins, swirled once, and then disappeared.

“Kreu.”

Lucienne wrinkled her nose slightly. She thought it would be hard to drink due to the strength, but surprisingly, it went down easily.

‘Is it because the body I’m in used to drinking?’

Paello lifted his hips slightly, then sat back down when he realized the boat was shaking.

His eyes were wide and unfocused, and his mouth was agape in bewilderment.

Who said Paello had a poker face?

From Lucienne’s perspective, Paello wasn’t expressionless. There simply hadn’t been anyone around to draw out various expressions from him.

Since the original story revolved around the heroine Verdi, perhaps there had never been a chance for Paello’s range of emotions to be described.

“Madam, drinking like that isn’t good for your health.”

His reaction seemed a bit excessive.

‘Looks like this plan will work!’

Feeling a thrill, Lucienne poured another full goblet and downed it. The same reaction stirred and then vanished within her.

“I’m fine.”

“No, still—”

“I said I’m fine.”

Lucienne quickly emptied the bottle. She avoided the snacks entirely so the alcohol would hit faster.

“Ah, I’ve already finished it.”

Paello, who had only been mouthing words, let out a sigh.

“I heard you liked alcohol, but I didn’t expect this much.”

“Yes, I like it.”

She was drinking to get drunk, so it was only natural. Her mood had slightly improved too.

Lucienne prepared to start acting drunk. Since she drank quickly, this state wouldn’t last long, and the alcohol would soon hit her.

She was sure of it—she felt a distinct sensation every time she drank.

“I’m really fine.”

She only said that, hoping it would seem believable.

But soon, Lucienne began to feel something was off.

Indeed, every time she drank, she felt the sharp taste and warmth unique to alcohol. Her mood had lifted a bit too.

But that was all. There were no other effects.

‘I need to get drunk to act out, don’t I?’

Lucienne tilted her head, and Paello, who had been watching her with a worried expression, asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling dizzy from the alcohol? I told you, that drink is strong.”

“No, it just tastes like alcohol. Besides… ugh? What’s wrong with the cup?”

She wondered why she hadn’t looked at it sooner.

“Is something wrong with the cup?”

Lucienne showed Paello the inside of the silver goblet she had used.

“Now that I see it, the cup wasn’t cleaned properly.”

The inside of the goblet was darkly stained. Paello’s brows furrowed deeply.

No wonder.

‘Is this really how the imperial family maintains hygiene?’

Lucienne also felt extremely uneasy. She had considered getting drunk but hadn’t anticipated the possibility of food poisoning.

“No way.”

Paello picked up the liquor bottle. He checked the inside of the silver goblet, then let a drop of the remaining liquid fall from the bottle.

“This is insane!”

After checking the cup, his complexion turned pale, and he immediately began rowing urgently.

At the same time, he shouted toward the dock, “Doctor! Get a doctor ready!”

His desperate cry didn’t match the peaceful atmosphere of the boating site, and people’s gazes turned toward Paello.

Then, the boat’s speed became unbelievably fast.

Splash splash splash splash splash splash!

The water hit by Paello’s rapidly moving oar shot up into the air in a straight line without pause.

At the bizarre sight, people’s mouths dropped open without regard for appearance.

The wind grew strong. Lucienne’s red hair flew wildly.

Flap! Even the parasol Lucienne was holding flipped inside out. The splashing water refreshed the surrounding air. When she turned around, a rainbow had formed among the droplets.

‘This is definitely a leisure boat, isn’t it?’

Lucienne was dumbfounded.

‘Why is it moving at the speed of a motorboat?’

Her feet were wet. The boat seemed to be getting splashed a lot.

Paello kept his eyes fixed on the dock. He gritted his teeth, clearly trying to return as quickly as possible.

“Y-Your Grace? I’m not sure why you’re doing this, but I think we can go slowly. My shoes are soaked.”

Lucienne looked down and was even more baffled. Water had pooled under the picnic basket, to the point it was sloshing.

‘Ah, all the snacks must be soaked.’

As she moved the picnic basket aside, a light ‘thud’ sounded from the floor.

“?”

Lucienne checked the bottom of the picnic basket and the boat floor back and forth and looked even more surprised.

“Your Grace? I think this basket was fixed to the floor.”

“Ugh! Madam, now’s not the time to talk about the basket. Even if it’s unpleasant, please endure it a little longer.”

“No, I’m really not feeling unwell. I’m fine.”

“What? That can’t be.”

“The cup being dirty is unpleasant, but it’s not like I’ll die. I really am okay. More importantly, look here.”

Only then did Paello turn his head to Lucienne.

“If you stand up suddenly, we’ll tip over. Slowly.”

The boat soon stopped.

“You’re really… okay? Now that I look, you don’t seem to be in pain.”

“Yes, maybe the alcohol was just strong.”

Thinking back, she felt disappointed.

‘Is this why I could drink like a whale?’

Come to think of it, she had heard she drank a lot, but never that she acted drunk. If she got even slightly tipsy, she could’ve used the energy to act, but that wasn’t happening at all, and a sigh escaped.

“I’m completely fine.”

“……”

Paello cautiously stood up.

“So, please look… here?”

As Lucienne spoke, she gasped and swallowed her breath. What she was pointing at was clearly the floor beneath her feet.

But why were Paello’s hands cupping her cheeks?

“…Your Grace?”

Their faces were suddenly very close, and Lucienne held her breath.

‘N-no way? I-is he going to kiss me here?’

Lucienne couldn’t understand why Paello’s actions seemed to be leading up to a kiss, but her heart dropped.

As her heart pounded, she became acutely aware of her surroundings. Paello’s gaze was so intense that Lucienne moved only her eyes.

People were still staring at Paello and Lucienne.

“Y-Your Grace. People are watching.”

“I don’t care.”

Because of Paello’s firm response, Lucienne’s face flushed hot, and her heartbeat sped up.

“S-still, a public kiss is a bit too much!”