[TIDK] 91 – Drunken Conflict

 ♔♔♔

Viktor was silent, Scarlett said with apprehension.

“Are you drunk? I’ve never seen you drunk before. How much did you drink? Why did you drink so much?”

“...”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have woken you up. I think I’m possessed today.”

While Viktor was thinking about how many times Scarlett apologised for knocking on his bedroom door, Scarlett concluded the conversation, thinking he was tired.

“Let’s talk tomorrow.”

“I’ll take you to your room.” 

“Huh?”

“You said you were possessed. I’m afraid you’ll fall.”

 Scarlett nodded, embarrassed by what he said.

The two walked down the stairs together. Scarlett was headed into the room, feeling awkward.

The servants didn’t know what to do, so they kept their mouths shut for now.

Scarlett stood in front of the door first, but the maid didn’t open the door, so she tilted her head. The maid was now hesitating whether she could open the bedroom door to Scarlett, who was no longer a Dumfelt. In the meantime, Viktor reached out from behind and opened the door.

Scarlett flinched and turned around. She said, looking around as if the mood was strange.

“Everyone’s weird today. So are you. Can’t you sleep because I woke you up?”

Then Viktor changed the subject. “You used to like blue.”

“Huh? How do you know that?”

“You always give me blue stuff when I go to sea.” 

“Did you know?”

“That’s how you feel at ease.”

Scarlett’s corners of the mouth went up a little. “I didn’t know you remembered.”

She was excited that her husband remembered what she said, and on the way, she quickly remembered something and turned to Viktor.

“What else happened today? You drank till you were drunk.” 

“Nothing happened.”

“Really?”

She couldn’t let go of that circling her mind even after she laid it out in words. Scarlett looked around for a moment, and after confirming that all the servants had stepped back, she came up and whispered.

“Do you want to wash up with me?”

“...”

“Viktor?”

As she spoke and looked up, Viktor was speechless and soon replied. 

“... I’m drunk.”

“I know, but I’m worried about you, and you’re very sweet when you’re drunk.… I want to stay with you.”

Viktor heard her but didn’t answer. 

Scarlett felt he might not be inclined.

But still, Scarlett wanted to stay a little longer with Viktor on a day when she could communicate like today and thought the only way was to sleep. Furthermore, Viktor, who wouldn’t have walked around drunk as usual, followed her to her bedroom, and she was sure he must have wanted it.

Contrary to Viktor’s muteness, Scarlett decided once and would not let Viktor go quickly.

Scarlett was looking up at Viktor with her round eyes, and Viktor stood with his back upright and clasped her left hand with his right hand.

‘If you’re not a beast, you shouldn’t try to take a woman who’s mentally challenged enough to forget that she’s divorced.’ 

It was the same, no matter if he was drunk or not.

Still, the drunkenness was shaken at Scarlett’s coquettish plea.

She would be hurt if he didn’t hug her immediately, and her eyes looked at him as if she were about to devour him.

Viktor, hiding his sense of shame, twisted his wrist behind his back to the point of pain.

Of course, he didn’t erase the suspicion that she was lying because she wanted something. He grew up among the poor and spent his youth punishing the looters. Mistrust preceded trust. He opened his mouth.

“It’s a big problem you don’t remember, so I’ll call a doctor first.”

Then Scarlett shook her head. “I’m not sick.”

“You said you don’t remember everything about today.” 

“That’s true, but...”

“Take a bath first. I’ll be waiting over there.”

Viktor said, cocking his head at the sofa. Scarlett replied, thinking that her request had been met.

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”

She soon went into the bathroom.

♔♔♔

He seduced her, and Scarlett fell asleep as soon as she got into bed after a bath.

Soon after, Viktor’s doctor examined her. In the meantime, Viktor sat on Scarlett’s bed. The once shiny hairs were tangled because they were not taken care of, and the skin of her hands, which were once smooth, was peeled off because she had been a working woman.

Viktor got out of her bed to not to wake her, but Scarlett stirred and held Viktor’s hand tightly,

“Are you going?”

“Why did you wake up?”

“When you’re next to me, I can fall asleep easily because of the smell of the forest.”

“...” 

Viktor remained silent.

“Under the trees, I think of you. There are so many trees in the world...”

Scarlett opened her eyes wide as she talked to herself. She raised her upper body, and shock hit her. There were doctors, servants, and even the Navy in the bedroom; she thought they were alone.

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