Magic's Return: I Can See The Spirits
chapter-120

"Young Master Vaan, Lady Elara, should I serve the food?" Gabel questioned with a respectful look on his face, completely ignoring how Elara was sitting on Vaan's lap and had a deep blush on her face.

He was a true professional.

Vaan nodded in satisfaction, then, with a slight smile on his face, he answered Gabel's question,

"Yes, bring the food.

Also, arrange that together with it."

"That?" Gabel frowned in confusion.

"Alcohol.

I would like to let lose today."

Vaan spoke up.

"What…?"

Gabel tilted his head with a confused look on his face.

Consuming Alcohol in the Vesta House was not prohibited, however, it was looked down upon.

In Vaan's case, things were even more problematic since Vaan had just declared himself as one of the Prospective Heirs. If the fact that a Prospective Heir is consuming Alcohol is revealed, it could be problematic, especially for Vaan who was known for his questionable personality.

"A-Alcohol? I-I don't think you should consume Alcohol. It is not good for your health." Elara spoke up, she was against consuming Alcohol as well.

Vaan observed Gabel and Elara for a while, then, he glanced at Gabel and,

"Isn't this where you need to show your skills as my butler, Gabel? Your Young Master is requesting something from you, shouldn't you bring it for me?"

"I apologize, Young Master but I agree with Lady Elara here, I don't think you should be consuming Alcohol, it could lead to too many complica-"

"Gabel, I understand the consequences more than you do.

This is the reason I am asking you rather than the maids who serve the food.

At this point, I trust you can grasp the direction I'm heading."

Vaan spoke as he glanced at Gabel with a small smile on his face.

Gabel's expression changed as he understood Vaan's intentions.

'No one would know if you stay silent.'

Vaan was extending a hand towards him, a chance to gain his trust. He wanted Gabel to bring Alcohol in secret and keep the entire matter secret, even from Astra.

"…" Gabel turned silent and continued to observe Vaan.

It was the time to decide.

Vaan didn't rush him either, sensing the weird tension in the room, Elara momentarily turned silent as well.

"I understand, Young Master Vaan. Please give me a while, I will arrange what you have asked for."

Gabel bowed his head.

Vaan's smile widened as he nodded, Gabel quickly turned around and left.

Elara, who was finally left alone with Vaan spoke with a worried look on her face.

"You shouldn't consume Alcohol. It is not good…"

Vaan then turned towards his fiancé and,

"I am not going to drink it alone, Elara."

"Hmm?" Elara tilted her head in confusion and then,

"You are going to drink together with me," Vaan revealed and Elara's eyes widened in surprise.

After thinking for a long long time, this was the grand solution Vaan had come up with.

Elara was too reserved, he needed to do something about that reservation, he wanted Elara to open up to him, he wanted Elara to lose her awkwardness, at least around him.

That would be the actual first step in corrupting her.

And the best way to do that?

Booze of course!

Even the most reserved persons open up under the effects of alcohol, how could Elara not?

Also, Vaan was actually looking forward to how the drunk Elara would look like. Just imagining the cute Elara being tipsy, with red cheeks, no reservations, and fuzzy mind… Just thinking about it rose Vaan's protective instincts to the maximum.

However,

"I-I can't! I have never consumed Alcohol before!"

Convincing someone like Elara to drink Alcohol wasn't easy.

"There is always a first time for everything, my fiancé." Vaan smiled playfully.

"No, Teacher said consuming Alcohol is bad for health, it even affects a Mage's ability to think, eventually affecting the Mage's performance and potential negatively.

Not to mention it can be addictive and consuming it more could even harm a Mage's Future. I will not drink it and I hope Young Master Vaan stays away from it as well." Elara's resistance was much stronger than Vaan expected.

"Consuming it every once in a while is not harmful, Elara." Vaan tried to convince her.

"That is how every addiction starts," Elara replied.

Vaan sighed as he was forced to use his trump card.

He didn't wish to use it, however, he was left with no choice.

"Treat it as a part of your training, Elara."

"What…?" Elara frowned in confusion.

"That is correct."

"I do not see any benefits of co-"

"That is for me to decide, you promised me that you would follow whatever I say, didn't you?"

"B-But-"

"Do you not trust your fiancé?" Vaan questioned and this time, Elara turned silent.

Seeing his chance, Vaan moved his hand around Elara's waist, then pulling her close to him, he whispered in a gentle tone,

"Trust me, I would never do something that would potentially harm you."

"…" Elara stared into Vaan's eyes for a while.

Then, she gave in.

Vaan's smile widened, and as if he had been waiting for it, Gabel walked into the room bringing what Vaan wanted.

Soon, the food and drinks were served, Elara glanced at the glass of alcohol in front of her with a strange look on her face. Vaan grabbed his glass and, "Just do what I am doing." He spoke.

Elara nodded with an unsure look on her face as she held her glass.

Then, Vaan gulped down the entire thing in one go.

Elara blinked a few times, but seeing as how Vaan was staring at her, she copied what he did and,

"Accckkk!"

She coughed out.

"I-It is too bitter!" She spoke.

"Hahaha~ That's the fun of it. Now don't waste it, close your eyes and drink everything in one go." Vaan laughed as he gently patted Elara's back.

Elara nodded, then, she did as Vaan told and drank the whole thing.

"W-Why would you drink something that tastes so bad?" She questioned.

Vaan just smiled.

"Why don't you try another glass to understand the answer?" Vaan questioned, as he gulped down another glass before filling Elara's glass as well.

Elara's expression changed, however, in the end, she drank the second glass as well.

Together with the food, Elara continued to drink one glass after another, obviously, as a first-time drinker, her resistance wasn't high, and soon, the alcohol started its magic.

"Y-Young Master Vaan… I feel weird…"

Elara stuttered.

"You are calling me Young Master again, didn't I tell you to just call me Vaan?" Vaan questioned.

"I knoww~ but how am I supposed to change my habits so quickly~

I am not like you, you know?

I can't become a completely new person in one night.

Young Master Vaan is the weird one here."

Elara spoke as she drank another glass.

This time, she wasn't even copying Vaan, she drank it on her own. Seeing that, Vaan smiled as he filled her glass again. Finally, his fiancé gave him non-one-sentence answers.

She was speaking!

"You called me Young Master again." Vaan pointed out.

"Vaan~ Vaan~ Vaan~ Is this okay?"

"Mhm, perfectly fine.

You can even call me darling if you want.

I won't mind it.

I would actually prefer that."

Vaan spoke with a playful smile on his face and this time, Elara turned silent and stared at Vaan's face.

"…what happened?" Vaan questioned with a slight frown on his face.

Elara then drank another glass, her mind was hazy, however, she could understand one thing, if she drank what she was drinking, she could talk freely, without holding back.

"Suddenly saying embarrassing words like these, it feels so strange~ you are so strange, young master Va- Oops, I meant Vaan~"

"I am strange?"

"Of course~ You used to push me away, hit me, and look at me with that annoyed look on your face, but then one day, you appeared in front of me in my Magic training room, asked me to teach you magic, started calling me your fiancé, then started doing all these things that felt strange but comforting at the same time. Even now, I sit here on your lap while you hug me like this, what person would look at a person with hate and then hug them like this the other day? If this doesn't make you strange then what does?"

Elara wasn't stopping, she drank another glass. As more alcohol went into her system, more words came out.

"Do you hate sitting here?" Vaan questioned.

"I don't. I just feel weird." Elara replied, then suddenly, she placed her hands over Vaan's neck, looked into his eyes and,

"I am just trying to understand why Youn- Vaan is doing this."

"Doing what?"

"Being good to me. Why is Vaan being good to me? What do you want…?" Elara tilted her head with a curious look on her face.

"Have I not made it clear yet?

It is because I want Elara all to myself."

"Huh?"

"I want Elara, who I love, to be mine. That's why I am trying to impress you and being nice to you." Vaan replied.

"You… love me?"