I didn't wake up until late afternoon. The victory banquet had stretched late into the night—or maybe into the early morning—and I must have slept deeply out of sheer exhaustion. The moment I came down to the living room, I heard Michael's voice.
"Damn it, I think I drank way too much at the banquet yesterday."
Michael was suffering from a hangover. Margareta glared at him with utter disdain and ordered an attendant to bring him honey water. My younger brother-in-law was nowhere to be seen.
Spotting me, Margareta asked, "Shall I have some honey water made for you too, brother-in-law?"
"No, I'm fine. I don't get hangovers."
"If I remember correctly, you drank an enormous amount keeping up with the imperial crown prince."
"No matter how much I drink, I never get drunk."
"What? I can't let that slide! Brother-in-law! How about a drinking match with me?"
