Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

Ask Parker.

That would only result in Parker looking like he'd eaten shit.

Without saying a word, they returned to the crystal.

Emilia had to figure out a solution all by herself.

But after thinking it over, the only thing she could think of was that word that Subaru Natsuki would use every time the topic of choosing a master came up during their time together a few days ago:

Three visits to the thatched cottage.

Emilia had no choice but to try anything, and she was determined to continue looking for Subaru Natsuki the next day!

……

Time passed little by little, and night fell in the blink of an eye.

After settling today's accounts, Natsuki Subaru went to the tavern behind the merchant guild.

Ricardo just told him that although Anna forbade him from drinking with Subaru Natsuki, he didn't intend to listen.

Subaru Natsuki can still go to the pub for drinks and pay his bills. The only thing he needs to be careful about is not getting drunk and going to see Anna again.

Subaru Natsuki immediately expressed his gratitude and then went to the tavern without hesitation.

Liquor is the essence of grain; you'll feel hungry if you don't drink it for a day!

As soon as he stepped inside, Natsuki Subaru saw a somewhat forlorn purple figure sitting on the bar.

It was by Rius.

With an attitude of end-of-life care, Natsuki Subaru walked to the front of the stage and patted Julius on the back.

"You are? Freugel..." Julius looked at the white-haired man with some surprise.

The reason he was at the tavern today was to relieve his worries about the argument he had just had with Anna.

I never expected to run into Subaru Natsuki.

He was quite impressed with the new accountant, both by Emilia's attitude toward him and by the strange look of pity the accountant gave him.

"Is there a problem?"

Natsuki Subaru couldn't stand people like Julius who looked so worried after just one drink.

To enjoy something imbued with divine meaning, yet to display such an expression—isn't that a waste of its preciousness?

Considering end-of-life care, Subaru Natsuki decided against shouting directly, and instead spoke earnestly:

"Look at yourself now! You look like you're about to die!"

"I didn't even enjoy the drink. Is it really necessary to be so effeminate?"

"You and I have an old, effeminate friend and his effeminate grandfather. You're all in the same boat."

Julius's eyes widened.

He selectively ignored the effeminate comments that followed.

He had grown up in a commoner's environment before being adopted by Euclius's family, and was already used to these outspoken people.

What really surprised him was how Natsuki Subaru knew he was going to die.

Has the turmoil in the capital become common knowledge?

Natsuki Subaru ignored Julius's bewilderment.

He picked up the wine bottle in front of Julius and pushed the small wine glass aside.

"Come, bring a large cup."

The tavern staff quickly brought over two large wine cups and placed them in front of the two men.

Natsuki Subaru poured the wine to the brim without any hesitation, then pushed one of the glasses in front of Julius.

Julius looked at the wine cup in front of him, his brows furrowing slightly.

"This is……"

"liquor."

"Of course I know this is wine."

"Then why are you asking?"

Natsuki Subaru picked up his sake cup and took a big gulp.

He suddenly had a strange sense of déjà vu, looking at Julius in front of him as if he were seeing himself back then, before he knew how to enjoy fine wine.

It's all thanks to Boss Cao's kind heart that he taught me to appreciate fine wine.

The spicy liquor rushed down his throat, and Natsuki Subaru squinted his eyes in satisfaction before slamming the sake cup back onto the table.

“Mr. Xun Yu, the way you look at yourself makes it seem like you’ve already chosen your own coffin.”

Julius's finger stopped at the rim of the wine cup.

Who is Xun Yu?

"This is the nickname I gave you. If you don't like it, you can call me Dog Temptation."

Julius: "..."

After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked, "How did you know I was going to die?"

Natsuki Subaru pointed to his face.

"His face was pale, his eyes were dull, and he walked as if he were making his final arrangements. We're not blind, so of course we can see it."

Julius did not answer. Had he already made himself so obvious?

No, then why didn't others notice?

Is it really because of this white-haired man that he's special?

Julius blinked and glanced at Subaru Natsuki with a hint of hesitation.

Then he turned his attention back to the wine.

The wine swirling slightly in the glass reflected his tired and pale face.

Natsuki Subaru didn't rush him, but simply refilled his own glass.

Are you afraid of dying?

"Not afraid."

"Then what are you afraid of?"

Why did you say I was afraid?

"You don't even dare to drink alcohol, and you say you're not afraid?"

Julius's eyelashes trembled slightly.

The tavern was still noisy; customers at the next table were arguing over a gambling debt, and the sound of clinking wine jugs came from behind the counter.

But sitting here, he felt as if he were isolated in another kind of silence.

Although these things shouldn't be shared with others, after suppressing them for so long, Julius suddenly felt that it wouldn't hurt to talk to the person in front of him.

So he began to speak:

"In a couple of days, Lord Crusch will probably summon me to the palace. If I refuse Lord Crusch's order, I will only face death."

"Then we'll wait until she gives the order before we die."

Natsuki Subaru said matter-of-factly:

"They haven't even told you to die yet, why are you in such a hurry to mourn your own death?"

Julius raised his eyes.

Natsuki Subaru reached out and tapped the table.

"You are Lady Anna's first knight, not her first tombstone."

As soon as he finished speaking, Rius tightened his grip on the wine cup.

"But I can't let Lady Anna get involved."

Julius's lips moved.

"Alright, so that's what you're worried about. I didn't expect you to be so loyal. It seems that in Anna's camp, when it comes to loyalty, I'm number one, and you're number two!"

Natsuki Subaru raised his sake cup and gestured to him.

Julius wanted to say, "I should be number one."

But he didn't say it out loud; he simply picked up his wine cup.

After downing a mouthful of strong liquor, the burning sensation in his intestines made him let out a long sigh.

Just then, he suddenly heard a voice beside him.

"Wine and sing!"

"Life is but a fleeting moment!"

"For example, morning dew!"

"The past was filled with suffering!"

Julius was still pondering those sixteen words when Subaru slapped him across the face.

"Someone once told me this."

Life should be lived to the fullest today and to the fullest tomorrow!

Worry less and do more!

I feel sorry for you today, so I'm giving you this message!

So what if I'm going to die?

What does it matter?

If you avoid drinking a single drop of alcohol because you're afraid of dying, you'll be missing out on a whole new life.

As Natsuki Subaru spoke, he refilled Julius's wine cup.

"Come on, let's drink."

Julius did not immediately pick up his wine cup.

He looked up, his gaze fixed intently on Subaru Natsuki.

Those shouts almost drowned out the noise of the entire tavern, and many customers around looked in their direction.

Some people frowned, some laughed, and others mistook the white-haired man, who seemed oblivious to everyone else, for a drunkard.

Natsuki Subaru didn't even glance at them.

He held the wine pot in one hand and the large cup in the other, tilted his head back and drank it down.

The wine dripped from the corner of his mouth to his collar, which he casually wiped away, looking as carefree as if the two of them were the only people in the tavern.

The impending execution, the turmoil in the capital, and the gazes of others.

These things that would have crushed Julius seemed utterly insignificant to Subaru Natsuki.

Yurius sensed that this man possessed a mysterious charm.

At that moment, Julius had a strange feeling!

The man before me looked as if he had experienced countless deaths.

But in the end, he still chose to raise his glass today.

Julius looked at him and suddenly understood why this man was able to say those things.

He truly lived like that.

Drink when you want, talk when you want.

They won't become restrained just because others frown, nor will they prematurely turn themselves into corpses because death might lie ahead.

Julius received knightly training from a young age.