The Floyd family has the capital under its thumb, both publicly and behind the scenes.
And the elusive alcoholic drink they make in secret…
“…It looks normal.”
“Don’t raise your expectations too high just because it’s not out on the market.”
“Is this some really expensive booze?”
We say as we sit in front of glasses filled with this rare drink, with a strange tension filling the air. Floyd’s drink is strangely clear, and looks like water at a glance. But the rich fruity fragrance it exudes insists that it really is a rare drink.
The smell coming from these small glasses already took over the air in the living room. Now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure that also happened in Romero’s dusty place.
“Let’s give it a taste…”
I say, and we all clink our glasses and take a sip.
“…!?”
The taste that fills my mouth is like the smell coming from the glasses, but further compressed into a sweet fruit flavor.
But it’s not all sweet, because as I swallow it, it leaves a refreshing sourness in my throat.
I unconsciously open my eyes wide, as the fruity aftertaste makes me feel like I’m standing right in front of a fruit store.
Sieglinde and Kaya are showing similar reactions.
“What is this!? It’s way too good!”
“This… Yes. This is easy to drink…”
Sieglinde shakes her glass a little, and Kaya pours more into her already empty one.
It doesn’t have a label, so I don’t know for sure, but it seems pretty strong. Is she going to be all right drinking at that pace?
“How was this made?”
The surprising part is how well the bitter taste of the alcohol itself is hidden behind the fruit. It strikes a perfect balance that makes it a proper alcoholic drink that tastes like fruit.
Sieglinde’s father wants more of that salt, so if I give some of this to Loretto, I’m sure he’ll want to start selling it in his place.
And if I mediate this transaction and get a few bottles as a commission, I should be able to get a steady supply of this.
“Uu… I don’t feel so good…”
I’m sure there’s only so much of that salt, because unlike this drink that’s probably made by several people, the salt is made entirely by one person.
And as I think about how much salt would be worth one bottle, I hear a pained voice next to me. Kaya drank three glasses and is dead drunk. Is she even old enough to drink?
“Geez, this girl…”
I shake her, but she doesn’t respond. It’s already night, so I guess she has to spend the night here…
“…Hey, was I a proper mother today?”
“Hn?”
I push Kaya to a corner of the sofa so she isn’t in the way, and Sieglinde, who’s been quiet all this time, asks a question.
“How was I, from your point of view? Did I cause any problems?”
She asks while looking at me with an unsure expression. I thought she was strangely quiet, but that’s what’s on her mind?
“You didn’t cause any problems. Actually, thanks. It looks like Ririi had a good time too.”
“…I see.”
I drink next to Sieglinde, and she looks relieved by what I said. She always worries too much. If you add me, who only works on impulse, and divide it by two, it should be good.
“…”
I finish my drink while looking at Sieglinde’s now more mature face in profile, and think about the past. She just keeps looking forward without turning this way, so much so that it doesn’t feel natural.
There’s nothing interesting over there, just the door…
I keep looking at her because I think that’s odd, her face gradually turns red, and she gulps down in one go her glass that was still more than half full. Hey, if you drink like that, you’re going to end up like Kaya.
“…Ahh… Weiss, what are your intentions…?”
“…? About what?”
Sieglinde is looking this way with her face all red, but when our eyes finally meet, I see tears welling up in them.
“If… You stare at me like that… I’m going to get nervous!”
Sieglinde then smacks the table hard, and Kaya lets out a pained groan in reaction to the noise. Sieglinde pours more and gulps it down, and the contents of the bottle quickly move from the bottle to her. The strong fruit smell reaches all the way over here.
“H-hey… Are you all right?”
“Do I look all right!? Ah, forget it! Hey Weiss, there’s something I’ve been meaning to say to you for a looooong time!”
She’s glaring at me with an expression like I did something awful, and a small chill runs down my spine. I know I’ve always caused problems for her, and she probably holds more grudges than she can count, but what does she want to say…?
“That’s not enough alcohol!”
Sieglinde grabs the bottle and drinks directly from it. What little was left quickly disappears inside her.
Once she’s done, she stares at me to a frightening degree. That intensity makes me feel like a frog being glared at by a snake, and I can’t move.
“Fuh…! Fuh…! H-here it goes…!”
“Y-yes…”
I had no idea she was such a bad drunk. Or maybe that’s just how mad she is at me. I thought we were getting along pretty well, but maybe that’s just what I told myself.
In any case, it’s clear that a pretty harsh scolding is on the way. I tuck my neck and stay perfectly still, and wait for it to come.
“W-Weiss… I… You… I…”
I’ve always hated you.
“…?”
“…Guh…”
It looks like I didn’t actually hear that and just imagined it, because when I open my eyes, Sieglinde is sleeping on the table. That’s what happens when you drink so much so fast.
“…What an entrance ceremony this was.”
Despite what I say, I actually feel like this daily life is pretty fun. I put blankets over Kaya and Sieglinde, clean up what’s on the table, and head to bed.
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I’ve never been so annoyed 😔