I Was Reincarnated as the Villain Who Confines the Heroine in an Eroge World, But for Some Reason I'm the One Getting Confined by the Heroine Instead

Chapter 38: Wine Is a Forbidden Drink

After finishing dinner, I returned to the room.

Normally I would go straight to sleep at this point, but today the day would last a little longer.
Because when it comes to a trip, that means an evening drink.

“Is this really okay?”

“Today is special. We’re at a grape farm, so we have to enjoy it.”

Safira smiled softly as she placed a single wine bottle on the table.

The moment I saw the label, I involuntarily drew in a sharp breath.
It was wine made at this very farm.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, just like a wine from Bordeaux in France.

Just looking at it made my mouth water.
I almost reached out for it, but at the last second my reason kicked in.

Will she really let me drink it normally?

Before, the only way I could drink was by licking drops from her finger in a humiliating way.

So there was no guarantee she would let me drink normally this time either. In fact, I should stay on maximum alert.
Thinking that, I held back.

“You don’t have to hold back, you know?”

Safira said that, opened the bottle, and slowly poured the wine into a glass.

The glug-glug sound of it pouring sounded like a piano melody, and my heart almost started dancing.

“Is this really okay?”

“Don’t be shy.”

She offered the glass with a smile.
Before I knew it, I had reached out, taken the glass, and brought it to my nose to take in the aroma.

“This is amazing.”

There was an iron-like scent, yet a pleasant barrel note and fresh fruitiness. I could tell it was good wine even without drinking it.

“It’s amazing.”

“Hehe. This wine is the most expensive one at the farm. Production is low, so it’s hard to get.”

“Seriously? Is it okay to open something so precious?”

“Of course. Today is a special day, right?”

She said it while looking up at me.

“Special?”

“It’s our first trip together. It’s an important anniversary.”

I wasn’t sure if it counted as an anniversary, but today was definitely an important day.

“Anyway, you don’t have to hold back. Here, drink.”

Urged by Safira, I slowly brought the glass to my lips.

“Hah—!?”

In that instant, my tongue trembled.
Intense fruit flavor and deep tannins hit me, and I was shocked.

“This is delicious! It’s way too good!”

The taste was incredibly complex.
The mouthfeel was smooth and soft, yet the flavor was powerful and elegant. There was a black fruit cassis note, along with hints of spice, herbs, and even pencil lead.

It was a refined taste that couldn’t be described in one word.
As I was moved by how delicious it was,

“Want more?”

“Yes!”

“Hehe, you’re getting too excited.”

Safira giggled softly but still poured more wine slowly.
I swirled the glass, enjoying the changing aromas, and took a sip.

“This is amazing. Really amazing.”

After that, I kept savoring the wine.
The alcohol content was fairly high, so as I kept drinking, my vision started spinning.

Maybe I drank too fast?

I thought that but couldn’t stop. Since magic dwelled in my body, alcohol broke down faster than in a normal body. I could keep going.
Even while thinking that, Safira’s smiling face across the table looked blurry and wavering. The damage was greater than I expected.

“…Huh?”

The moment I set down the glass, the world swayed.

I had thought it was just normal drunkenness, but something was clearly wrong. My vision doubled, and my feet felt like they were floating.

“Want more?”

Safira’s voice sounded distant and muffled.
Even so, every time my glass emptied, she naturally refilled it.
If an attack came now, I wouldn’t be able to move properly.

“Grape… I want grape juice.”

I desperately squeezed out the words, and Safira let out a small sigh.

“Can’t be helped.”

She said that and took out a bottle of grape juice.
The moment I took it, I gulped it down.

“Delicious…”

But the strange feeling didn’t stop.
My body burned hot, my breathing somehow grew shallow.
The edges of my vision fogged, and sensation in my fingertips faded.

This is bad.

This wasn’t sleepiness. It was something else. Had she drugged me again?

“Uwah…”

Finally unable to stay seated, the instant I collapsed from the chair, Safira caught my body.

“It’s okay. I’ll protect you.”

She carried me in her arms straight to the bed.

Even though it was humiliating to be princess-carried by a girl, I had no strength left to resist.
On the contrary, my consciousness sank deeper and deeper.

“Safira?”

She tucked me in, and while my eyelids were about to close, I somehow managed to call out.

But she only smiled.

…What was that?

That smile felt different from her usual innocent one. It was somehow filled with determination, as if she had resolved herself to something. Her eyes looked like that.

“Safira?”

“It’s okay. I’ll protect you.”

When I called her name again, she gave the same words back.
At first glance it seemed like meaningless repetition, but looking closely, her smile was strained.

“I’ll protect you.”

After murmuring that, Safira turned her back and walked toward the door.

“Safira!”

I instinctively reached out, but couldn’t reach her.
Her back grew farther and farther away.

Wait!

I wanted to shout that, but no voice came out.
On the contrary, my eyelids slowly fell.

In that situation, the last expression I saw on her face was like a soldier heading to the battlefield.

And so I fell into a deep sleep.