You became an emperor by letting me AFK.

Selene walked over, opened the cabinet door, and found a bottle of wine on the bottom shelf.

The bottle is made of dark glass, without any fancy labels. The moment the cork is pulled out, a rich aroma fills the air.

The alcohol flavor wasn't strong, but rather mellow and lingering, mixed with notes of berries and oak. Even a layman like Cerion, who knew nothing about alcohol, could tell from just one whiff that it was no ordinary product.

The wine, when poured into a glass, has a deep amber color, and its rich aroma unfolds further.

Selene poured two glasses, carried them back, and handed one to Elvia.

Elvia looked at the glass of wine but didn't take it.

"Have a little."

"...I don't really want to drink it."

"Just one drink, keep me company."

Selene shoved the cup into her hand.

Elvia held the wine glass, remained silent for a few seconds, and finally brought it to her lips.

I took a small sip first, the amber liquid clinging to my lips before being carried away by my tongue.

Then came the second sip, the third sip, and so on, drinking faster and faster.

Finally, she drank the remaining wine in her glass in one gulp, making a clear sound as she put the glass down.

Before Selja could speak, Elvia had already picked up the bottle and poured herself another glass.

He raised his glass, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Hey."

Selene reached out and pressed down on the bottle, preventing her from pouring a third glass.

"Such good wine, you won't be able to taste anything if you just gulp it down like that."

Elvia's hand, holding the empty glass, froze in mid-air. She glanced at Selene but said nothing.

She didn't use magic to suppress it; after two drinks, the effects of the alcohol quickly became apparent.

A thin blush rose on her fair cheeks, spreading from her chin to her ears, and her icy blue eyes were now misty, making them appear much softer.

She sat in a chair, her long, icy blue hair cascading over her shoulders, the warm light from the fireplace casting a golden glow on her.

The lord, who was usually aloof and stern, and who single-handedly supported the entire family, was now like an ice sculpture that would shatter at the slightest touch.

Alcohol loosened Elvia's last line of defense, and slowly, everything that had been suppressed deep inside her surfaced.

Exhausted, aggrieved, and yearning.

I long for someone to get close to me, for someone to see my true self, and for me to no longer have to carry everything alone.

Selene sensed it; the emotion was so intense it was almost overwhelming. She looked at Elvia, who seemed to be curling up in a ball, and spoke softly.

"Don't be foolish enough to bear it all alone anymore. I've said it before, right? I'm here for you."

She reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from Elvia's cheek, her fingers tracing the reddened earlobe.

"Try to rely on me, and I will do everything with you."

Elvia raised her head, her slightly tipsy, icy blue eyes meeting Selian's blush, tears welling in her eyes and growing more intense.

His lips opened and closed repeatedly, until finally only three words escaped from them.

"...Serian."

All emotions are contained in this name.

Celian lifted her chin with one hand, her fingertips feeling the soft curve of her chin and the skin that was slightly warm from the alcohol.

Her icy blue eyes were so close, reflecting her face and all the emotions that had been building up inside her for so long, with nowhere to be expressed.

Selene kissed him.

The moment their lips touched, the lingering aroma of wine filled the air between them.

Elvia's lips were soft, warm with the wine and a hint of berry sweetness, as well as the crispness of winter; cold and warmth mingled between her lips and teeth.

Her body stiffened for a moment, then gradually softened, and all her defenses crumbled completely in that kiss.

Selene moved her hand to the back of her neck, her fingers threading through her long, icy blue hair, and gently cupped her head with her palm.

Elvia gripped Serian's collar tightly, as if worried that she might suddenly disappear from her sight.

The kiss lasted a long time. When they parted, their foreheads were touching and their noses were touching.

Elvia's eyelashes were wet, the blush on her cheeks had spread to her neck, and her chest was heaving much faster than usual.

Her lips were slightly parted, a little swollen from being kissed, and glistening with moisture.

“Serian…”

The emotions were released, and the voice was no longer so suppressed and uncomfortable. Under the dual assault of alcohol and kisses, it became softer than ever before.

Even Elvia herself didn't realize that she would make such a cute sound.

Selene's lips curled slightly. She didn't answer, but simply wiped away the tears that had fallen from the corner of her eye with her thumb.

She pulled Elvia into her arms, leaned over, and gently pushed her down onto the bed not far away.

The dark blue bedding softly supported the weight of the two people.

Elvia lay on the bed with her long, icy blue hair spread out. Her face, flushed with a light blush, gradually deepened into a fiery crimson. Her icy blue eyes were once again misty with tears.

Because of the movement just now, the neckline of the long dress has completely come undone, and the curve of the collarbone is faintly visible in the warm light.

She didn't say anything, but just looked at Celian and gently stroked her cheek with one hand.

My fingertips are slightly cool, carrying the temperature of a harsh winter.

"Your face turned red too."

"I also drank alcohol."

"Yeah, just like me."

Elvia's fingers slid from her cheek to her ear and then stopped.

Her gaze lingered on Celian's face for a long time, so long that the firelight in the fireplace slowly dimmed.

Then she gently hooked her arm around Celian's nape and pulled her down.

The second kiss was deeper and longer than the first.

Elvia's fingers gripped the stray hairs at the back of Selene's neck, while her other hand rested on her waist.

Selene's hand slowly moved up her lower abdomen and into her chest, feeling the rise and fall of each breath.

Elvia's body was even more slender than it appeared, with a waist so thin it could be encircled by one hand, soft and graceful, while one could also feel the firm and powerful muscles beneath her skin.

The sound of wind and snow outside the window gradually faded away.

The fireplace light dimmed, and only soft breathing and occasional whispers remained in the room.

"...Be gentle."

Selene slowed her movements a little.

Elvia gripped her clothes tightly and loosely, her cheeks growing increasingly flushed, as beautiful as peach blossoms.

She bit her lip, her icy blue eyes misty with tears, her gaze somewhat unfocused, but every now and then she would refocus on Celian's face.

"They won't leave."

Selene whispered, her lips brushing against her earlobe.

"I will always be by your side."

Elvia didn't answer, but simply loosened her lip, her fingertips slowly running through Serian's hair, the long golden hair slipping through her fingers.

Then, he greedily inhaled her scent.

,,,,,,,,,,,

I don't know how much time passed.

The magic crystal in the fireplace had completely gone out, leaving only the moonlight streaming in from the window, which blanketed the floor in a silvery white.

Selene lay on her side, one hand resting on Elvia's waist.

Elvia nestled in her arms, her long, icy blue hair spread across the entire pillow, the blush on her cheeks not yet completely faded, her breathing slow and even.

With her eyes closed, her eyelashes fluttered occasionally, and the corners of her lips seemed to curve into a slight smile, as she was still savoring everything that had just happened.

Selene didn't move, just watched her.

From this distance, all the sharpness and majesty on her face disappeared; she was just a gentle and lovely twenty-year-old girl.

My wife is so beautiful.

After a while, Elvia's muffled voice came from Selian's chest.

"...Stop looking at it, go to bed early."

"I'm not looking at it."

"You're lying, I can feel you staring at me."

Selene couldn't help but laugh.

"Okay, I am watching, what can I do when Elvia is so cute?"

cute……?

Elvia was completely taken aback that such a word would be used to describe her. She buried her face even closer to Celian's chest, her exposed ear tips turning a deep, almost blood-red.

The moonlight moved slowly, the silvery-white spots on the floor gradually shifting towards the foot of the bed.

The distant city of Winterfell was utterly silent, with only a few scattered lights flickering in the snowy night; it was already very late.

"Go to sleep! As the head of the Augusta family, I order you: no more peeking!"

"Yes, yes, my dear patriarch."

Elvia snorted, indicating her satisfaction.

Selene obediently closed her eyes, but she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.