"Venelana, are you really sure you want to drink here?"
We were in the garden of my mansion; Venelana had come to visit.
She had also brought a few bottles of high-quality wine: "Yes, we can both vent our troubles together. After all, we promised to drink together."
We sat facing each other, and I poured two glasses.
Venelana opened the bottle and slowly filled the glasses: "Time really flies… I still remember the days you stayed at our house…"
"Right? Even back then, you used to tease me," I said and took a sip from the glass.
Venelana did the same.
"I just feel tired… I'm trying to hold on, but it feels like everything is piling up on me," she said.
I leaned back: "If everything is piling up on you, there are two things you can do: either go after whatever is piling up on you, or run away."
She gave me a side eye: "Lately Zeoticus has started getting even wilder. Our beds were already separate, but usually he would still talk to me and try to look like we were getting along well…"
"I'm getting fed up with all this business, too. Even though I love being a lawyer and helping people… after these last events, they'll come after my head."
Venelana stood up and sat next to me: "Don't worry, Zekram Bael is quite interested in you. You're one of the most popular men in the underworld right now; they gave you the name Devil's Advocate. Throwing yourself into the fire so calmly and exploding in your fight with Latia Astaroth, and your cold-bloodedness in the cases you took… You really looked cool in that fight with Latia."
"That wasn't my intention, but thank you," I said and continued drinking.
Venelana was drinking too, and her face had flushed.
"…Zeoticus the idiot is bringing new members to the harem, and it's very hard to keep the balance among them. The new ones are very ambitious and want a position in the harem… I'm really exhausted."
I touched her shoulder: "If you have a problem, I'm here. Is there anything I can do to support you?"
"You're still the Cassien I know. Even though your face doesn't show emotion, deep down you hide your own feelings."
This time, she started drinking straight from the bottle instead of the glass, and I joined her.
I saw Valerie and Cleria watching from afar, but I didn't pay attention.
"I don't hide my emotions; I just ask myself this question: Did I do everything I could? If the answer is yes, I'm usually at peace. If no, there's no point in regretting, and I try to change that thing."
Venelana touched my calf; she was wearing a very beautiful white dress, her brown hair cascading over her shoulders.
She stroked my calf a little: "I wish I could be like you. I have two children. One became Lucifer, the other will be the heir of Gremory. I can't imagine my life after 100 years. Maybe a boy will be born at that time… I can't even think about my life until then."
"Then don't think about it. The future is the future's business. Do what you can right now and leave it to the future. Why should you be sad if there's nothing you can do?"
Venelana leaned her head on my shoulder: "Actually, I have a bigger problem…"
"You can share it with me…"
"Zekram Bael said you have Power of Destruction… Zeoticus and the other lords talked, and they want to use me as a trade tool. I don't know what to do, Cassien," she said and looked into my face.
She looked like she was about to cry…
I looked into her eyes: "I can't tell you what to do, Venelana. Even if they pressure you, you don't have to listen…"
But she pulled me by the back of my neck and pressed her lips to mine.
Our tongues intertwined…
A few minutes later, she pulled back: "I'll think about this. I'll think about you a little myself and then decide whether to be with you or not. In the worst case, I'll cut Zeoticus's dick," she said.
Then she leaned on my shoulder again and fell asleep; she was very drunk.
I leaned on her too and closed my eyes.