Chapter 86: You’re Drunk

“You poured too little; it’s not enough for me to drink,” Lin Yue teased with a light chuckle.

“Is that so? But this is the etiquette of noble wine pouring…” ‘Fine, fine, I’m just a country bumpkin who knows nothing, okay?’

“I owe you for this. Liya was able to escape in time, and it would have been impossible without your help.”

“If we’re talking about merit, you were the key factor… Without you, Avelina might have suffered devastating losses this time…”

Isabella spoke with a hint of intention, expressing her sincere thoughts.

‘Is this mutual flattery a necessary part of the process?’

Lin Yue looked toward Liya and saw her acting sneakily, like a little thief.

Just as he was feeling puzzled, Isabella suddenly stood beside him and continued, “As I thought, you truly are special.”

Isabella held her hands behind her back, recalling her feelings when she realized he was at the center of the incident.

“I suspected you were a spy, someone controlled by the Holy See, or even some old monster in disguise. But it seems… you are just you. No matter what your identity is, that won’t change.”

Lin Yue didn’t quite understand the meaning behind Isabella’s words, but a woman as clever as her had surely noticed something.

The two shared a moment of silent understanding, neither speaking.

Lin Yue took two sapphire earrings from his robe and held them out to her.

“Well… it might be a bit soon, but you really did help me once. I should return these to you.”

He remembered that in the game, the two sisters cared deeply about these items.

It wasn’t right for him to keep them indefinitely.

Since he had already returned Isabella’s portion, he took this opportunity to give them back to her.

His goal had been achieved; the two sisters would definitely grow toward becoming powerful figures.

He no longer needed to interfere.

“Do you know why the earrings look like this?”

Isabella didn’t take the earrings immediately.

Instead, she spoke calmly, keeping him in suspense.

“Why?”

“Reach out your hand.”

Half-doubting, Lin Yue reached out.

She picked up an earring and slowly slid it onto Lin Yue’s ring finger.

Then, she placed the other one on her own ring finger.

She showed the back of her hand to Lin Yue.

The sapphires shimmered under the light; they looked exactly like a pair of rings for a new couple.

“Girls born into the Varlianna family receive these earrings as birth gifts. When they meet the person they can entrust themselves to, they give the other half to that person…”

‘Holy crap?’

‘So that’s what they mean?’

“I should still give it back. I can’t accept this…”

“No need.”

Isabella cupped the palm he was offering and gripped it tightly.

“Didn’t I say it? You are my eternal close friend. I am happy to be able to help you… and thank you for guiding my sister. This is the proof of our relationship. Do you intend to break it?”

Seeing Lin Yue’s still-hesitant expression, she thought for a moment and continued, “Then how about a compromise? You give one back to me and keep one for yourself. How does that sound?”

“I understand…”

To keep refusing would truly be ungrateful.

“Lin Yue Hawke…”

Isabella took Lin Yue’s wrists in both hands.

Her eyes unconsciously betrayed a hint of tenderness, and she flashed the most beautiful smile Lin Yue had ever seen.

It was like a snow lotus on a thousand-year-old glacier suddenly blooming, possessing a beauty beyond words.

“Thank you.”

The two drew closer, seemingly by Isabella’s design.

“You’re welcome.”

She didn’t yet understand what love was; she only felt that being close to Lin Yue and holding his hands tightly made her feel incredibly at peace.

She slowly let go of his hands, looking as if she were anticipating something.

“What is it?”

“Why don’t you… try calling me Bella?”

Lin Yue was stunned.

He had heard from Isabena that only those who were important to them were allowed to address them that way.

Back when he first entered Avelina, he had been scolded by her older sister for exactly that.

‘Does this mean I have some standing in their hearts?’

Perhaps he shouldn’t keep rejecting the change in their relationship.

After all, this was no longer a game.

“Then… Bella?”

“I’m here.”

Isabella crossed her hands, looking profoundly happy.

Just as the atmosphere between the two was warming up, a familiar voice drifted over.

“What are you and Bella doing…”

At some point, Isabena had woken up, though she still seemed a bit drunk.

Lin Yue turned his head and saw Isabella already walking toward the stairs.

She gave the two of them a deep look.

“Treat her well…”

Seeing her sister like this, Isabella chuckled softly with a look that suggested she had seen through everything before heading downstairs.

‘After all, she is the sister who loves me the most…’

With Bella gone, Isabena finally found a chance to be alone with Lin Yue.

“Are you… trying to make a move on Bella? Bullying me wasn’t enough, you won’t even let my sister go… How can you be so bad?”

Lin Yue reached out to catch Isabena, who had become soft and sluggish from the alcohol, and couldn’t help but smile.

“I didn’t mean it like that…”

Isabena couldn’t help but pout, her tsundere side emerging.

She seemed to remember that line: I want both.

“If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have come to Avelina… I thought I could escape your clutches, but I ended up jumping into another fire pit…”

‘Where is she getting all this?’

‘She’s making me sound like some kind of degenerate playboy…’

He didn’t know why things had developed into such a strange situation.

Not only were these former bosses incredibly familiar with him, but even the most important main characters had complicated ties to him.

The two chatted idly until the conversation suddenly turned to the day she was controlled by the Holy See.

“I… I’m still so stupid.”

Perhaps because the alcohol hadn’t worn off, Isabena’s gaze dropped, looking somewhat lost.

“It would have been better if I had dropped out back at the assembly hall. At least I wouldn’t have put you all in such danger…”

Lin Yue glanced at her as she made light of her own scars and comforted her, “I was the one who insisted you stay. If you put it that way, I’m actually responsible too, right?”

Hearing Lin Yue say this, Isabena suddenly puffed out her chest as if she had gained some confidence.

“That’s right! It is your fault!” She poked Lin Yue’s chest with her finger.

“So, just like you said, before I atone for my sins, you must never take your eyes off me!”

Because of Lin Yue’s words, she had seen through her past flaws—that “fake maturity” of living for others.

Now, she had cast off many of her burdens and begun to be true to her own desires, appearing much more free-spirited.

“What are you doing… staring blankly? If you think I’m annoying, I’ll just go down.”

Seeing that Lin Yue didn’t respond, she suddenly grew a bit petulant.

Just as she was about to turn away, Lin Yue grabbed her.

“Don’t. Didn’t I say it… I need you.”

The wind blew from afar.

The black-haired youth smiled, and the trace of determination and expectation in his eyes was something she had never seen in anyone else.

“Is… is that so…”

Flustered by his gaze, Isabena tucked her silver hair behind her ear, unable to handle his directness.

She coughed twice, then took the earring from her own ear and pulled Lin Yue’s hand toward her.

“This… while it can’t be called compensation…”

Following her sister’s example, Isabena also placed it on Lin Yue’s ring finger.

Her face was flushed, though it was hard to tell if it was from the alcohol.

“I thought about… using my earring to trade back for Bella’s, but since she gave it to you voluntarily, I shouldn’t say anything… There were so many things I couldn’t say back then. I caused you a lot of trouble, and I’m very sorry…”

Lin Yue looked at the blue on one side and the red on the other.

Anyone who didn’t know better would think he was about to play a role in Lord of the Rings.

“It’s nothing; I don’t mind. As for the earring…” He originally wanted to refuse, but remembering he was already wearing her sister’s earring on his other hand, he feared she would think he was playing favorites.

“I’ll accept it. Thank you… it’s a beautiful treasure.”

Surrounded by the affection of these two sisters, he didn’t know if it was a blessing or a curse.

Seeing Lin Yue accept it, Isabena felt a secret joy.

She suddenly remembered his interaction with her sister.

“Just now, you called my sister Bella, didn’t you?”

She lowered her head, her eyes wavering as if she were anticipating something.

“Yeah, what about it?”

“Then could you… call me Bena as well?”

Lin Yue paused, then shook his head and smiled.

He didn’t know if she was being jealous of her own sister.

Why were these two sisters both so fond of acting spoiled?

“Why are you shaking your head? If you don’t want to, then forget it… anyway, I just can’t compare to Bella…”

“Bena.”

Hearing Lin Yue’s gentle voice, Isabena’s eyes flickered.

She slowly raised her head, her grey pupils filled with a longing for affection.

“Say it again.”

“Bena…”

“Say it again…”

“Be—”

Suddenly… Lin Yue smelled a hint of alcohol as a familiar fragrance rushed toward his nose.

Isabena had responded to him in the boldest way possible.

It seemed Lin Yue didn’t need to confirm it himself anymore.

Lin Yue narrowed his eyes slightly, his amber pupils reflecting a hint of tenderness.

He proactively took a small step back, thinking it was best to stop there and not go any deeper.

However, he found that Isabena had no intention of letting him go, pressing herself against him relentlessly.

Lin Yue knew that this relationship could no longer be controlled by his will, so he stopped resisting.

After a long time, the two slowly pulled apart.

Isabena’s gaze was hazy, her lips slightly parted as she prepared to say something…

“Lin Yue, I…”

Her red lips were pressed by a cool fingertip.

“You’re drunk…”

Once certain words were spoken, there would be no turning back.

She had things she had to do, and so did Lin Yue. So…

Isabena slowly regained her clarity, a flash of disappointment crossing her beautiful eyes.

“Yeah… I am a bit drunk…”

Blaming everything on alcohol was the usual excuse people used to cover for themselves.

She was glad that Lin Yue hadn’t chosen to push her away and had accepted her so gently.

Even if it was just ambiguity, the time for full honesty would come when they both became strong enough that no power in the world could sway their wills.

She smiled with an indescribable, tragic beauty.

It was a fragile look that even the former Lin Yue wouldn’t have had the heart to ignore.

Just as she was feeling discouraged, she suddenly felt herself being pulled into his embrace.

When she came to, she was against his broad chest.

Confusion, surprise, and joy flashed through her eyes in succession.

‘What does this mean?’

Lin Yue held her waist, restraining himself from head to toe.

‘I’m really going to hell for this…’

But for now, this was the only level of response he could give Isabena.

‘If everything really goes as I wish… I…’

Lin Yue made a firm resolution deep in his mind.

He took a deep breath, and just as he was about to say something, a sudden cry of alarm came from downstairs.

“Lillian? How did you… Lillian!”