Egru ordered a glass of milk and cream sausages, D’Élysée chose the roasted turkey, and Gilbert simply tore down an entire ox’s hind leg that was hanging from the ceiling. A generous spread soon followed, featuring hearty cabbage soup, fresh bread, cheese, and a crisp green salad.

“Just give a shout if it’s not enough, Mr. Elf,” the innkeeper said with a hearty laugh. “Soup and bread refills are on the house.”

“Th-Thank you!” Egru replied, his face lighting up with a brilliant smile.

It’s so shiny…

He swallowed the saliva that had pooled in his mouth. Steam curled up from the freshly grilled white sausages, and his amber eyes darted around the room.

It was a meal he once couldn’t even dare to imagine. Here, no one was screaming insults or striking his cheek; they treated him with respect. And the sausages—so plump they looked ready to burst—were real food, not the mud patties he used to craft just to soothe the gnawing ache of hunger.

“Hyung, what’s wrong?”

“Hurry up and eat.”

Beside him sat his beloved younger brother and his mischievous but endearing companion. The moment felt so precious, so perfect, that he was afraid it might be a dream he would soon wake from.

O-Okay, I can’t cry.

To push back the overwhelming wave of emotion, Egru took a large gulp of the cool milk.

“Ah…”

A look of pure bliss crossed his face as he smacked his lips. The rich, creamy flavor ended with a hint of sweetness that felt like magic on his tongue.

“Is it that good?”

D’Élysée chuckled, reaching out to gently wipe Egru’s upper lip. He pressed his thumb against the white milk mustache before bringing it to his own lips for a taste.

“Mm, it is good.”

“D-D’Élysée, you should have a glass, too!”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me and eat up.”

“Okay…”

Egru fumbled for his fork and knife, his gaze shifting to check on Gilbert.

“My nose hurts, and it’s stuffy.”

Gilbert’s already sharp features were twisted into a deep scowl. His crimson eyes darted around the room, clearly uncomfortable in the crowded space. Despite his discomfort, however, he had kept his promise and his tail remained properly hidden inside his trousers. Egru felt a small sense of pride in him for that. He wet a napkin with some water and gently dabbed it under Gilbert’s nose. The makeshift solution seemed to work, as Gilbert nuzzled his head against Egru’s ear.

“Are you not mad at me anymore?”

“N-No, I still am…”

“But you’re answering me, at least.”

As Gilbert let out a deep, contented purr, Egru, acting on pure habit, cut his large sausage into three equal pieces. He couldn’t just leave Gilbert to fend for himself, not even during a meal. He knew better than anyone how lonely that felt.

“Don’t.”

He was about to place a piece on D’Élysée’s plate when the firm rejection stopped him.

“B-But I haven’t taken a bite yet…”

“That’s not the point. Don’t you dare share it. You’re going to eat every last bite on your plate.”

“Well, I want a taste,” Gilbert chimed in, seizing the opportunity with a sly grin. “You can just give me some of my meat in return. One of those pieces is mine, right? Give it to me now.”

Without a word, Egru stuck a piece of sausage on his fork and placed it directly into Gilbert’s open mouth. In that instant, the harsh scrape of a chair broke the tavern’s din as D’Élysée shot to his feet.  

“Hyung.”

His voice was so low and heavy that it made Egru jump.

W-Was I not supposed to do that? Did I do something rude in the restaurant?

Anxious, Egru lowered his gaze, his heart hammering against his ribs as if trying to escape. Seeing his instantly deflated posture, D’Élysée sighed, his expression a complex mixture of emotions.

I just want you to take care of yourself first, hyung.

An image of his younger brother flashed in his mind—a small boy who would put food in his sibling’s mouth even as his own stomach growled with hunger.

You probably don’t remember, but you’ve always been like that, always thinking of others…

D’Élysée swallowed the words that had risen in his throat and excused himself for a moment. He had thought of a way to solve this without making his brother feel constrained. After a quick word with the innkeeper, he returned with a new fork for Egru and smiled as if nothing had happened.

“Can I have a bite too, hyung?”

“!”

Egru’s face brightened, and he happily offered up a piece of cream sausage.

“Thanks. Here, you try this, too.”

“No, eat this first.”

D’Élysée offered a piece of tender turkey he had carved from the bone, while Gilbert tore off a chunk of meat with his bare hands and slapped it onto Egru’s plate. His face bloomed with delight as he looked down at the variety of food before him. He started with a plump sausage, chewing it slowly. An endless river of savory juice and cheese cream filled his mouth—a truly heavenly taste. As he sampled the meat D’Élysée and Gilbert had given him, a succession of plates he didn’t recognize began to arrive.

“More food coming through! It does a man good to see you all eating so well!”

The innkeeper brought out a heaping platter of freshly grilled cream sausages. Egru’s eyes went wide as he turned to look at D’Élysée.

“If you’re full, just leave it,” D’Élysée said with a gentle smile, resuming his meal.

The solution had been remarkably simple. There was no need to forcibly break his brother’s kind and altruistic nature. From now on, he would let him live as he wished—if he wanted to share, he could share; if he wanted to help, he could help. D’Élysée would simply foot the bill, ensuring there was always more than enough for his brother.

“Woah…”

Egru froze, fork and knife in hand, staring at the mountain of sausages. He had no idea where to even begin.

“Excuse me, Sir Prosecutor. There’s something I need to tell you,” the innkeeper said, cautiously addressing D’Élysée. His tone was exceedingly polite, no doubt a result of the earlier warning. “We’ve only got one room left. All three of you will have to stay together. Is that alright?”

“How many beds does it have?” D’Élysée asked, dabbing his mouth with a napkin.

“Just the one.”

“Can we see the room first?”

“Of course. Follow me.”

“Hyung, come with me for a sec…” D’Élysée began, but paused. The sight of his brother, cheeks puffed out with sausage and cheese, was just too adorable. He quickly scanned the room. This was a demon-friendly region, so there shouldn’t be any unusual threats. And in a crowd this large, even Gilbert wouldn’t dare try anything foolish.

“It’s nothing. Don’t go anywhere until I get back.”

Egru, intending to go with him, tried to stand, stuffing several more pieces of sausage into his mouth. D’Élysée immediately pressed him back down into his seat.

“I’ll be right back, hyung. Eat up before it gets cold.”

D’Élysée quickly followed the innkeeper. Egru’s eyes traced his brother’s back as he ascended the stairs.

“Privy.”

Gilbert shot up from his seat as well. It seemed he had been holding it in, unwilling to leave D’Élysée alone with Egru. Now that D’Élysée was gone, he vanished like the wind.

Left by himself, Egru picked up his fork once more.

That’s weird…

He continued to eat, but for some reason, the food didn’t taste as good as before. It was then that a group of dark figures, who had been exchanging glances from the other side of the room, cast a shadow over his table as they approached.

“Hey there, pretty boy.”

Thump! A bottle slammed down on the table right in front of Egru.

“This is a gift.”

“?”

A woman with a bandana tied around her head gave him a wink.

“It’s some apple wine I bought, but we’ve gotta leave. This is just for you, since you were such a treat for the eyes. Keep it a secret from the others, okay?”

“A treat… for the eyes?”

“It’s stronger than it looks, so drink it slow.”

As the group breezed away, Egru called out his thanks, deeply touched.

Apple wine? Th-Then it must be alcohol…

It was the one beverage Levian had forbidden him from even tasting. Levian himself would drink it like water, but if Egru so much as accidentally touched it, he would fly into a rage.

I’ve always been so curious, and now I finally get to try it…!

Egru popped the cork on the bottle, which was as large as one for grape wine. Sniff, sniff. A sharp, tangy, yet sweet aroma drifted up to his nose. Forcing down his excitement, he folded his hands neatly on his lap. He had to wait for D’Élysée and Gilbert.

On the central wall of the inn, the dusty hands of a clock ticked away. Gulp. The bottle’s tempting form made him swallow again and again.

J-Just one sip…

Maybe he should taste it first? He had a responsibility to make sure it hadn’t gone bad, after all. Egru carefully tilted the bottle over the glass he’d used for his milk. As he poured, he glanced around guiltily, but no one was paying him any mind.

F-Finally…!

Sip.

Ah, it’s sweet. It’s delicious.

Egru tilted the glass back, downing the rest of the apple wine in one go. The alcohol, his first ever, went down smooth.

Wh-What’s this?

Suddenly, his heart felt buoyant, as if it were floating right out of his chest. His entire body grew light, like he was sitting on a cloud. All his worries seemed to melt away as his vision grew dazzlingly bright.

L-Levian is so mean.

To think he kept such a wonderful drink all to himself. He must have wanted to hoard it. Egru nodded sagely to himself. It was a magical beverage, so good that he could understand the greed. Sip, sip. He tipped the bottle back again and again.

Th-That’s strange. Why isn’t any more coming out?

Egru turned the empty bottle upside down and shook it. This was a disaster. He was supposed to save some for D’Élysée and Gilbert to try. Every time he tried to focus his eyes, the world spun.

“Hey, you! Do you have any idea what era this sword is from?”

A loud voice erupted from near the stage. Egru, whose nose had turned a bright red, rubbed it and turned to look.