Chapter 69: A Bitter Toast and a Secret Gathering

Fran paused, then nodded. He raised his glass, clinked it with the young woman’s, and tilted his head back, pouring the entire contents into his mouth.

After a few rounds, both their faces had begun to flush.

The young woman continued to offer Fran food for his bowl. Fran shook his head, signaling that it wasn’t necessary, as he savored the seafood he rarely had the chance to taste, all while trying to alleviate his lingering melancholy.

‘Hmm…’

‘These seafood dishes truly possess an unusual flavor.’

He had never encountered such seafood before. In his memory, he had only heard villagers speak of its wonderful taste, but he had never imagined it would be this exquisitely fresh and delicious.

Whether it was an illusion or not, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his tongue was being subtly numbed by the savory dishes. A faint, peculiar sensation spread across its tip.

The young woman’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Fran. “So, how is it? Pretty good, right?” she asked.

“Mhm…” Fran murmured softly, a bitter taste lingering in his heart.

“Hehe, if it’s good, eat more! But there’s no need to rush. You can take any leftovers home. And, Fran…”

The young woman leaned in conspiratorially, whispering into Fran’s ear, “Soon, we’ll be enjoying an even grander feast!”

“Grander?” Fran furrowed his brow, a hint of confusion in his voice. Yuli simply smiled, then elaborated:

“You’ll probably be thrilled to hear this: Purburg’s military governance is ending soon! Purburg has already reached an agreement with the current Francian government. Soon, many Francian officials will be coming from the south to establish the new city government. There’ll be a grand welcoming banquet and ball, and I’ll take you!”

Fran paused upon hearing this, then nodded. He wasn’t overly excited; he knew full well that the new government would merely be another puppet for the Teutonic people.

However… perhaps it might indeed bring some improvement to Purburg’s current situation.

“Gulp, gulp!” Fran drained his glass, refilled it, and swallowed it in one swift motion.

“Haha, your alcohol tolerance is quite impressive! Oh, right, I completely forgot. You used to work in a tavern… you must have quite a bit of experience.” The young woman suddenly realized this, covering her mouth with a giggle.

A tavern? Worked?

‘Oh, yes…’

Fran was already too intoxicated to think straight. The sudden realization that the person before him was Yuli, and the memory of their first encounter, instantly filled him with a profound sadness.

‘Back then, it seemed I didn’t have so many things to worry about.’

A wave of disappointment washed over him. He lowered his head, continuing to eat the dishes in his bowl, unwilling to dwell on such troubling thoughts.

Observing Fran’s dispirited demeanor, the young woman felt a pang of confusion. What was wrong? Fran seemed uncharacteristically unhappy tonight. Had… had the alcohol brought back painful memories?

She felt a touch of sadness herself, as her envisioned date had been filled with sweet, intimate interactions. Instead, it seemed she was now merely accompanying Fran as he drank away his sorrows.

“Are you drunk? Don’t just drink, Fran; eat something. You won’t be able to later…”

Fran looked up at the young woman before him, his beautiful eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“Fran? You… why are you crying?” The young woman frantically wiped away Fran’s tears.

Fran reached out and embraced the young woman.

Yuli’s embrace was warm and comforting. The young woman froze, feeling as though Fran, clinging to her, was a child returning to its mother’s arms.

Her heart began to pound, and her cheeks slowly flushed.

“Fran, is something bothering you?” Yuli whispered softly into Fran’s ear.

Fran’s body trembled.

He didn’t know how to respond, or what he should do. Perhaps he felt lost, uncertain how to face the young woman before him.

“Tell me, okay? You can trust me. I want to help you.” A resolute glint shone in the young woman’s eyes. However, this very determination struck Fran as absurd.

‘What could you possibly do to help me… hah…’

Fran shook his head, speaking in a flat tone. “It’s nothing. I just drank too much and got a little nostalgic for the past…”

‘The past?’

‘Nostalgic for the past?’

The young woman couldn’t help but frown.

She felt utterly bewildered, unsure what to say. She had assumed Fran would adore his current life, living in the mansion, with her by his side, and enjoying far better living conditions than before. But…

It seemed that wasn’t the case.

“So, can you tell me now what exactly you’re missing? Perhaps… speaking it aloud will make you feel better.” The young woman gently coaxed him, hoping he would open up and allow her to understand him more deeply.

But…

Fran paused, sighed, then released the young woman from his embrace. He casually mumbled, “Ugh… I need to use the restroom. I’ve had a bit too much to drink. I’ll be right back.”

“Eh?” Yuli reached out, wanting to catch Fran, but he had already swiftly stood up, pushed open the private room door, and darted out.

Watching Fran’s retreating figure, Yuli became lost in thought for a moment.

‘I… I still don’t seem to understand Fran’s past very well…’

She remained seated, absentmindedly contemplating for a long time. Eventually, she could only console herself with the thought that “Perhaps Fran’s past life wasn’t very good, leaving him with deep psychological scars, and now that life has improved, he’s still adjusting.”

****

After pushing open the door, Fran stumbled, feeling his way down the stairs by the handrail.

His sudden exit wasn’t entirely a ruse to escape; he genuinely felt a pressing urge to relieve himself from having too much to drink.

He fumbled along the wall, shook his head, and forced himself into a semblance of sobriety. Upon reaching the lobby, Fran suddenly remembered something.

‘Oh…’

‘That’s right!’

‘Come to think of it, wasn’t this restaurant booked out tonight?’

The restaurant was sizable and enjoyed the patronage of influential figures. Even during military rule, its popularity remained undiminished.

Any guest capable of reserving such a large hall must possess considerable influence.

Moreover, other guests were not permitted to leave, making it feel like some clandestine gathering.

‘Strange…’

Driven by curiosity and a spy’s unique intuition, Fran crouched in the connecting corridor between the lobby and the restroom. Leaning against the wall, he feigned sobering up, occasionally glancing towards the main hall.

Within the hall, numerous individuals in suits occupied the entire space, though most were clearly not there for a meal. Judging by the sparse dishes on the tables, this was likely a mere pretense.

Near the lobby, by a VIP room on the first floor, two individuals stood guard at the door. Faint sounds of congratulations and clinking glasses emanated from within. People continuously entered the room with full glasses and emerged with empty ones.

‘They’re… toasting?’

Fran frowned, acutely sensing that within this VIP room, there seemed to be… a very important person.