Hangover

I returned to the castle's annex with Shabel on my back.

Shabel, who had been whining the entire way, finally quieted down when we reached the door to her room.

She had completely passed out, unable to overcome her drunkenness.

‘Why is she so chatty?’

It was the first time I'd realized she could be this talkative.

I opened the door, entered the room, and gently laid Shabel down on the bed.

A flush of red warmth colored her cheeks beneath her tousled green hair.

Lying there on the bed, she looked like nothing so much as a young child utterly exhausted.

I took off her bothersome shoes and pulled the blanket up over her.

Shabel instinctively sought out the warmth and curled up inside the blanket...