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Everard also picked up another glass, despite getting a corner-eyed glare from Alexander, and he also handed a glass to Alexander saying, “Live a little, Alex.”

“No, I’m good.” Alexander denied it because he was now sure that at some point in the ball, he would have to take care of his drunk friend. And he didn’t want to be equally drunk if and when Everard needed his help.

However, he quickly regretted denying the offered glass because Everard shrugged saying, “Your loss” and then gulped down the wine as if it was plain water.

The vampires didn’t think much of it, thinking that it was normal for werewolves and humans to drink their wines in one go like that.

But it came as quite a shock for Anastasia. ‘What has gotten into him?’ she was worried about her friend.

‘Yes, he must still be deeply grieving his father’s loss,’ she assumed on her own and wondered if it was the appropriate time to express her condolences. However, she decided to keep quiet for now since no one was bringing that topic up.

After drinking the fourth glass of wine, Everard dabbed his mouth with the tips of his fingers and then raised another glass that he had originally picked up for himself.

He glanced at Anastasia with longing eyes and then proposed a toast among the ones who were closely standing around him, “To my lovely friend, Anastasia, who recently got married to this gentleman here.”

.....

Anastasia felt a little uncomfortable when Everard proposed a toast for her on his big day. “Eve! You didn’t have to...” she mumbled. She still gave a smile and a gentle nod in response, and she waited for her husband to raise his glass first.

Alexander was now thinking that it was time to drag Everard away from there. He didn’t sound drunk yet, but he was starting to say stupid things now.

Caspian, on the other hand, was wondering if toasting to Anastasia was a trick to make all of them take at least a sip of the wine.

Even though Everard was drinking the wine served from the same tray, Caspian wasn’t yet convinced that the werewolf hadn’t spiked his drink. There were poisons that were specifically toxic to vampires and not to the other species.

Vincent was quick enough to understand Caspian’s concern. So, he instantly raised his glass in response to Everard’s toast and said, “To our Queen.” Then he took a big gulp.

Caspian sharply inhaled in shock when Vincent drank the wine. “Vince!” He held out his hand in an attempt to stop Vincent. But he had already downed another gulp as well. Caspian was worried that something bad was going to happen to his old friend.

After seeing Caspian’s action, Everard also caught up on why he was hesitating to raise the glass when he had toasted for Anastasia.

So, he chuckled and then said to reassure Caspian, “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I haven’t slipped anything in your drink. I would never use such a cheap trick.” He instantly finished his fifth glass of wine and chased off the maid after handing the glass to her.

His eyes narrowed when he further mumbled in a slightly slurry voice, “I would rrrather fight you head-on, my friend’s husband.”

As if he hadn’t spoken enough already, Everard patted Caspian’s chest and said while glaring into Caspian’s red eyes, “You can rest assured. For now.”

‘Mmm...’ Hamilton pursed his lips and cocked his head to the side. ‘Shouldn’t have done that...’ he thought and turned his gaze at Caspian’s face.

As expected, Caspian already looked angry. He clenched his jaw and noticeably looked down at his chest where Everard was still resting his hand. He opened his mouth and drew in a sharp breath to say something.

However, he was interrupted when Alexander quickly pulled Everard away from Caspian and stood in between the two of them. He gave a nervous laugh and then said to his brother-in-law, “Please excuse his behavior, Your Majesty. I think Everard had a little too many drinks tonight. I will take him away.”

Caspian forced a smile and said in a monotone, “Yes, I think that will save the new King from humiliating himself in front of all of his guests. Please take good care of him. We can catch up later.”

Alexander smiled and nodded his head. “Yes, I will be back after making sure that Everard is okay. I still have a lot to talk about with you and my dear sister.”

Everard suddenly sprung forward and asked Caspian while looking directly into his eyes, “Hey, what do you mean by humiliating myself?” He cleared his throat and said in a much harsher tone, “I am not drunk! Do you think-”

“Okay! That’s enough interaction for the night, my King.” Alexander put Everard’s arm around his shoulder and swiftly turned on his heels.

“Hey, I am not done talking!” Everard mumbled while resisting taking a single step towards the stairs.

He was surprisingly strong for Alexander. So, Alexander tried to talk Everard into quietly following him, “Eve! Come on! Everyone’s watching you, you know. If you’re not drunk then stop making a scene like a drunk person. Please.”

Caspian let out a deep sigh after seeing Everard being forcefully taken away. It was taking every bit of his willpower to control his anger. He didn’t know how long he would have been able to hold himself back from snapping if Everard had kept on standing in front of him.

He handed the glass of wine to Vincent and dusted his coat as though he was disgusted by Everard’s touch.

He then scoffed and kept on glaring at Everard, who was still resisting being taken away. ‘What did that stinky thing say to me? He would rather fight me head-on? Yeah, sure. I would be happy to beat you to a pulp, you bastard.’

Jerome, who had been quietly standing nearby and watching his King’s actions now thought that it was time for him to intervene. He was walking toward his King when he saw someone overtaking him and heading in the same direction.

“Need a hand?” Alexander heard the most irritating voice that he had ever heard in his life.

He looked at the short man with a sparkling white mask, and then muttered irately, “Of course! Somehow you are also here.”

“Yes, I am.” Lorenzo chuckled while ignoring the obvious hateful tone from Alexander. “Nice to see you again, milord.” He gave a crooked smile to Alexander and then gave a low bow after saying, “Or should I say, nice to meet you, Your Highness.”

“Ah! Lorenzo! Where were you?” Everard asked while giving him a smile.

Lorenzo bowed to Everard and politely said, “I was around, my King. You were busy with your important guests, so I thought it wasn’t right for a person of low status like me to interrupt you.”

“Oh, it’s alright.” Everard patted Lorenzo’s shoulder and invited him to the balcony, “Come with me. Let’s have a drink together.”

“Sure, Your Majes-”

“He’s already drunk,” Alexander crudely said to Lorenzo and dragged Everard towards the stairs with all his might.

Lorenzo didn’t take the hint. He simply sprinted after the two of them. Then he took the liberty to grab Everard’s other arm and wrapped it around his shoulder saying, “Let me help.”

Alexander was yet again surprised when Lorenzo suddenly shifted Everard’s whole weight on his side. He was handling a drunk person’s weight rather easily. ‘He is strong for a short person,’ he thought while furrowing his brows.

“Congratulations on being crowned as the King, Your Majesty,” Lorenzo said to Everard while they climbed the stairs.

Everard smiled and replied, “Thank you, my friend. Let’s go upstairs and celebrate. I want to have some snacks and drink with you.”

Lorenzo smiled back and took a peek at Alexander. Even though the Crown Prince looked pissed at him, he happily accepted the King’s offer, “Yes, Your Majesty. I cannot deny your generous offer.”

“That’s my boy! Learn something from Lorenzo, Alex,” Everard said while laughing. By now, he had forgotten that he was trying to go back to where Caspian and Anastasia were.

From a corner of the balcony, a tall man with light brown hair was keenly watching everything unfold. He smiled to himself and thought while sipping on some wine, ‘If my gut feeling is right then things are about to get very interesting.”