Jade's mind was filled with wild, chaotic thoughts.
Victoria, meanwhile, kept drinking with her.
Before, Jade had acted as Victoria's deputy. When they went out drinking, Victoria would aggressively pour the drinks, and Jade was responsible for getting people home safely.
This New Year, Victoria planned to get Jade properly drunk.
Jade's alcohol tolerance was fairly good, but it was no match for Victoria's.
She soon had flushed cheeks, and her breath was heavy with the smell of wine.
Finally, with bleary, drunken eyes, she declined: "My Lady, enough, enough. I can't handle any more."
"If you're drunk, just sleep here. You've been working very hard lately."
Victoria didn't press her further.
She started making small talk with Crystal.
Jade had previously expressed hope that Victoria could find a job for her daughter.
Now, by asking a few questions, Victoria wanted to see what stuff the girl was made of.
Crystal was very naive; within a few sentences, Victoria had seen through her completely.
Her mother, watching from the side, was deeply uncomfortable.
Jade had to endure the helplessness of drunkenness while also worrying about her daughter's answers.
Finally, she couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed onto the table.
"Chancellor, my mother is drunk..." Crystal said timidly.
It was her first time taking care of her mother; usually, it was the other way around, so she was flustered.
Victoria said cheerfully, "Don't worry, dear niece. If she's drunk, she can rest here. Someone, escort—"
"My Lady Sovereign, let me take someone to escort Lady Lyn to the guest room," Sylas suddenly interjected.
His gaze was deep and unreadable, lost in thought.
Victoria looked at him, then smiled and nodded: "Fine. You are careful and attentive. Take good care of Lady Lyn."
Sylas nodded, then stood up and came to Jade's side.
"Brother Sylas..." Crystal called out dazedly as he approached.
This time, Sylas didn't even offer a smile.
He just glanced sideways at Crystal and said calmly, "Speak properly. Don't be frivolous."
"Oh, oh, I wasn't being frivolous..." Crystal hurriedly agreed.
Sylas had no time to argue with her. With two maids, he helped Jade to the guest room.
The two maids attended to Jade's washing and brought her a sobering soup.
But she had drunk far too much; the sobering soup was useless.
Finally, she was helped into bed.
Sylas stared intently at the drunken Jade. He said softly, "You may all leave. Close the door."
The maids naturally didn't dare say more and quietly left.
They wouldn't gossip either.
Lord Sylas was always discreet. Even if he wanted a private rendezvous, he wouldn't do it on New Year's Eve, with the Master of the house present.
Once Sylas confirmed no one was outside, his anger finally erupted.
He found a towel, dipped it in cold water, went to Jade's side, and slapped it onto her face.
"Ouch..."
Jade was shocked by the cold water. Her eyes flew open.
When she saw who was by the bed, her already red face flushed even deeper.
She turned her head away, ashamed, and said, "Little Sylas, did you bring me here?
I... I'm sorry..."
Her emotions began to spiral out of control, tears flowing down her face.
Drunk people cry most easily.
Sylas looked at her coldly, his own breathing becoming rapid.
He leaned over and said in a low, furious voice, "Jade! You're their accomplice!
My family wasn't captured! Why didn't you tell me?!
And this damned Servant's Chain! Help me take it off now!"
"I'm sorry... I feel so guilty..."
Jade wiped her tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Help me take it off now!"
Sylas reached out to shake her shoulders.
Jade had a graceful figure, her shoulders full and soft, feeling like freshly made curds.
He touched them and immediately let go.
Forget it, better avoid physical contact.
But before he could pull his hand back, Jade grabbed it.
His pale, slender wrist was caught in the web of her thumb and forefinger; he couldn't pull it free.
Sylas said urgently, "Jade, let go of me! Now!"
"I'm so sorry..."
Jade cried pitifully for a few moments, then, dazed, held his hand and kissed its back.
While kissing it, she drunkenly offered an apologetic smile and said, "Little Sylas, you smell so nice."
"If you don't let go, I'll hit you!"
Sylas started to panic. He twisted his wrist but couldn't pull it free.
Fortunately, Jade had decent drinking manners and didn't throw a fit.
She took out a storage pouch and shoved it into Sylas's hand: "I brought you many gifts. I was too embarrassed to give them to you earlier. Now I'm giving them to you.
Will you forgive me?"
Sylas had no time to look at these gifts. He said faintly, "If you're truly remorseful, help me remove the Servant's Chain."
"Mmm~~~ No!"
Jade let out a surprisingly coquettish refusal.
Usually gentle and dignified, her petulant demeanor now made her seem like a lazy white cat.
"Why not?"
Sylas stopped trying to retrieve his hand. He was so anxious he felt like crying.
He leaned close to Jade's ear, his tone growing more agonized: "Why must you torture me? What decent man has to serve three or four women?
Let me die. I'm begging you, Auntie Jade."
"You're being pessimistic again. Don't die. It's the New Year; don't say such unlucky things.
Do you want your auntie to comfort you?
I remember, in the dungeon, every time you got pessimistic, talking about death all day, I was the one who counseled you.
And in the end, you always vowed not to die.
So, my methods were quite effective, weren't they?
Right?"
Jade's voice grew increasingly sugary. One of her hands suddenly rose, went around Sylas's head, and wrapped around his neck.
Sylas was shocked.
With one hand captured and his neck held, his whole body was almost pressed against hers.
He said urgently, "Let me go, let me go now..."
"Little Sylas, I've missed you. I've really missed you.
See, you want to die again. Let your auntie help you. I promise you won't want to die in a little while.
Auntie wants to hear you beg for mercy."
Jade seemed to be talking to herself. She pressed her burning hot cheek against Sylas's, exhaling her alcoholic breath onto his nose.
Sylas initially wanted to struggle, but he knew he couldn't break free.
Instead, he stared at Jade and said, "Auntie Jade, I can be with you. If you don't find me dirty, I'll be with you any way you want.
Just help me remove the Servant's Chain."
"You're not dirty. Little Sylas is very clean. I like Little Sylas very much... Can I have a kiss?"
Jade laughed happily.
She kissed Sylas's lips, pouring out her longing.
However, she was ultimately drunk and soon fell asleep.
Sylas extricated himself from her embrace and sat irritably on the edge of the bed.
Jade had taken advantage of him for ages but hadn't helped in the end.
Angrily, he pinched Jade's arm, leaving a small bruise on her fair skin.
But then, he stared at Jade, lost in thought for a long time.
Perhaps Jade was his only way out.