Drinking Together

“That’s the story. I woke up as a girl, and these past five years haven’t exactly been humane…” Selina said, her face flushed with barely contained embarrassment as she recounted her tale. She omitted the deal with the god, framing it as a transaction with the Elven Empress instead.

Divine matters were too sensitive to reveal lightly.

“Well, you’re an elf now. Of course life’s different from a human’s,” Leisen said thoughtfully, stroking his stubbly chin.

“Hey, where’s your focus? As your dear friend, your brother-in-arms, shouldn’t you be more concerned about my tragic gender switch?” Selina huffed, tapping the table in frustration.

The moment she revealed her identity to her old friend, her guard dropped. Perhaps it was the wine, but her cheeks glowed pink, adding to her indignant charm.

“Oh, right. As your dear brother-in-arms, shouldn’t I sell this juicy news for a fortune?” Leisen teased, offering his glass with a grin. “A toast?”

“You jerk!” Selina grumbled, but her glass clinked against his with familiar ease. The clear chime rang out, and they both sipped the rich red wine.

“So, you’re an elven princess now, right?” Leisen asked.

“By all rational standards, yes,” Selina replied, nodding expressionlessly.

Baring her true identity to her friend left her at a loss for the right expression. Embarrassment clashed with the joy of reuniting, leaving her with a cold, impassive face.

Leisen, understanding her mood, didn’t press or tease further.

“As a princess, you must have some serious clout, huh?”

“What, looking to use my connections for some shady business?” Selina asked, eyeing the middle-aged man warily as she elegantly held her glass.

“Well, sort of. Kendall’s market is small. My wine’s top-notch, but without broader channels, sales are stuck. How about using your status to get my wine into the Elven Forest? Elves don’t mind a drink, right? We split the profits, say, 30-70?” Leisen suggested, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together.

“No way!” Selina shot down, stone-faced.

Despite his serious pitch, she knew Leisen was teasing her new feminine form. Beneath his cool, middle-aged exterior, he was a pure prankster.

“Your wine’s awful. Elves wouldn’t touch it,” she said, sipping his wine while crafting an excuse.

“You’re drinking my wine and calling it awful? That’s some double standard,” Leisen sighed, refilling her nearly empty glass from the decanter.

“If you’re short on cash, I can lend you some. But using princess privileges? Forget it,” Selina added, glancing at him cautiously. She could pull strings to get his wine into the Elven Forest—Karina wouldn’t refuse her. But the thought of groveling to her mother, who’d revel in her submission, was unbearable. Even as her daughter, she refused to be constantly outmaneuvered.

“Heh, kidding. Getting distribution rights now would be tough anyway,” Leisen chuckled.

Relieved by his light tone, Selina asked, “What, some big client snapped up your wine?”

“Something like that.”

“By the way, you said you’re heading to Tianqi Academy. Is that true?”

“Yeah, why?” Selina replied.

“I got a business permit for Tianqi. In a few months, I’ll open a branch there in the outer city. When you’re a student, I’ll be running my tavern nearby,” Leisen said, his tone relaxed, clearly enjoying their banter.

“No way! Those permits are hard to get, and you pulled it off?” Selina exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise and a touch of envy.

A shop in Tianqi’s outer city was a goldmine.

“Used some connections. A bit of money and high-tier warrior contacts go a long way,” Leisen said, striking an exaggerated pose. Tonight, his usual sternness gave way to a rare, youthful joy, belying his forty-something years.

“With your high-tier warrior skills, you could aim for a tactics instructor role at Tianqi. Why stick to tavern-keeping?” Selina asked. “A teacher’s status far outranks a barkeep, and the benefits are unmatched.”

“Teach? With my character, I’d ruin the kids. Misleading students isn’t my style. Besides, I prefer being a humble bartender,” Leisen said, gazing into his wine with a contented look, envisioning a bright future.

Seeing his relaxed joy, Selina felt genuine happiness for him. If everyone could be like Leisen, the world might have less sorrow.

“The moment I knew you were alive, I was thrilled,” Leisen said, looking at her again.

“Don’t you find it odd? I look nothing like before,” Selina asked earnestly.

“Odd? You used to disguise yourself in my tavern for missions. No matter how you change, I’ll always spot you by your eyes, anytime, anywhere, as long as you’re alive,” he said, his deep voice echoing in the tavern.

Selina stared, stunned, then her gaze softened. “Thanks for waiting for me.”

“No need. Just visit my new place at Tianqi and boost my sales,” Leisen laughed, raising his glass. “To a bright future—cheers!”

“Cheers!” Selina clinked her glass against his, the red wine shimmering vibrantly.

In that moment, time seemed to freeze their vow, old friends reunited like fallen leaves returning to their roots.