At dawn, a pearly white light gradually appeared on the horizon, like a delicate ink painting, with faint rays spilling through the cracks into the room.
Erina lay with her golden hair scattered over her shoulders, clutching her head as waves of dizziness and headache washed over her.
The lingering scent of alcohol hung in the air, a reminder of the night's red wine flowing in crystal stemware amid clinking glasses.
'Wasn't I supposed to get Itsuki drunk first, and then... what was I supposed to do? My head hurts so much... I shouldn't have drunk so much...'
Looking around, Erina found herself in an elegant guest room at the Yukinoshita residence, though she couldn't remember how she'd gotten there. Her hangover made it impossible to recall the previous night's banquet, filling her with regret.
She couldn't even remember if Itsuki had remained conscious. Stumbling to her feet, she swayed toward the dressing table.
"..." A sudden coughing fit seized her throat with intense pain, "I knew I shouldn't have gotten completely drunk."
If Alice hadn't hinted at needing her help, she wouldn't have drunk glass after glass. Now her throat felt like it was blocked by a stone.
Erina pressed her throat uncomfortably, coughed a few careful times, then reached for the mineral water on the dressing table.
"Gulp! Gulp!"
After several satisfying drinks, she sank weakly onto the stool. Just as she tried to recall the previous night's events, something about the water caught her attention.
"Hm? Why does this water taste... sweet and refreshing? Could it be from a secret Yukinoshita family spring?"
Though she recognized the luxury brand bottle, the water quality was remarkably excellent — flawless, even.
As the bearer of the God's Tongue from the "Food's Demon King" bloodline, her taste buds could detect flaws in any ingredient's natural flavors. Even the finest water revealed its imperfections to her, yet this water was truly extraordinary.
"And my throat... cough cough cough... it's healed?" She tested a few coughs in amazement.
The water's effects were remarkably potent. As she tasted it again, seeking those subtle flavors, she frowned in confusion — the water's taste was gradually returning to that of ordinary luxury water, with no special healing properties.
That earlier sensation... She clicked her tongue unconsciously, the natural aftertaste still lingering, that hint of deliciousness touching her very soul.
"Hmm, did I taste something special last night?" Erina touched her lips in disbelief, her fragmented memories offering no answers.
Mustering her strength, she left the room. Upon reaching the hallway, she paused. This appeared to be private quarters — not a maid in sight.
Unfamiliar with the layout, she wandered aimlessly until she stumbled upon a room. As she pushed the wooden door slightly ajar, light filtered through the crack.
Erina had intended to greet whoever was inside.
But the scene that met her eyes in the faint light made her pupils dilate in shock.
'Mrs. Yukinoshita and Miss Haruno!' Her mind reeled as she spotted familiar small feet in the corner, '...Alice? And those are Momo's dolls scattered on the floor, and that red hair...'
An unimaginable scene lay before her!
Only the Yukinoshita family's second daughter was absent — Haruno, still somewhat lucid that night, had sent her away.
Even Hisako was among them...
'How did I manage to escape?' She stood dumbfounded.
Though reluctant to use herself as a bargaining chip, the Nakiri family's revival demanded sacrifices. They could certainly take a page from the Yukinoshita family's book!
The hangover should have been perfect cover for this sacrifice, yet somehow she'd been sent away — was this a deliberate exclusion?
The dim light roused Itsuki from her sleep. As her eyes adjusted and took in the chaotic scene, her mind went blank.
This was terrible! Miku had trusted her to watch over Daiki, but she'd failed by getting drunk. Bad enough on her own, but to involve others!
How could she possibly explain this to Miku, Nino, Ichika, and Yotsuba!
Catching sight of Erina's wide-eyed stare at the doorway, her heart plummeted further. But as she frantically searched for Daiki and spotted Mrs. Yukinoshita and Haruno, her panic oddly subsided.
While Miku had only involved her sisters, Haruno had gone much further...
Comparing the two situations, she found herself oddly relieved. This would give her some leverage when everything came to light.
'But wait — who is Daiki-kun supposed to marry now!' Itsuki's thoughts spiraled into chaos.
Before she could make sense of it, Hisako stirred alertly. Her memory wasn't entirely blank. Taking in the outrageous scene, her cheeks flushed. Upon noticing Erina, she hastily adjusted her clothes and approached the door.
"Lady Erina!" She looked anxiously at her mistress, sensing barely contained anger beneath her surface.
"Hisako, come with me. I need to know what happened yesterday!"
Noticing Mrs. Yukinoshita stirring, Erina quickly gestured for Hisako to follow her out.
In the hallway, they crossed paths with Yukino. Both Erina and Hisako managed awkward smiles before hastily departing, leaving Yukino perplexed by their odd behavior.
"Miss Erina, have you seen anyone else?"
"Everyone..." Erina blurted out without thinking.
Yukino glanced at them curiously before continuing toward her mother's room, where the wooden door stood slightly ajar.
She called softly, "Mother, may I come in now?"
"Wait!" Mrs. Yukinoshita cried out in panic.
The others jolted awake at once. They looked around in bewilderment, then shock, before finally accepting their situation with pressed lips.
After all, their drunkenness was merely an excuse — they remembered quite well what had transpired.
The only truly surprising thing was the sheer number of people involved!
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