Chapter 360 After the Wine...
William was not a heartless person.
Although he always tried to appear strict towards Alice, his habit of protecting those close to him over the years sometimes made it hard for him to refuse her some impudent requests.
"Why are you holding on so tightly? Trying to strangle me?" William, carrying Alice on his back, asked through gritted teeth, "You said your legs were weak, so why are your arms so strong?"
"My legs are weak, what does that have to do with my arms?" Alice responded as if it were the most natural thing, then slightly loosened her grip, comfortably lying on William's back.
The last time she had been this close to William was when crossing a log bridge on Ravenwood Mountain.
It had to be said, William's natural scent was really pleasant.
There was no perfume, just a very nice smell that made even shallow breathing while lying on him feel utterly relaxing.
William didn't bother to argue with Alice, fully aware of the immense pressure she had just faced.
With him not by her side, if anything had gone slightly wrong, Alice and Steven might not have been able to leave the grand hall of the Emerald Lion Guild.
Alice lay on William's back, dozing off into a deep sleep.
"Master, I will take my leave now," Steven, not quite clear about the exact nature of William and Alice's relationship, decided not to intrude any further.
Previously, William had said Alice was his disciple, but Alice's behavior and mannerisms didn't quite fit that of a typical disciple.
William nodded, continuing to walk outside with Alice on his back.
All the way, Alice slept soundly, her head resting on William's shoulder, a faint smile on her lips.
William, not devoid of emotions and being a man full of vigor, couldn't always avoid physiological reactions in certain situations.
To prevent any unnecessary complications, William teleported instantly, appearing in his bedroom with Alice, and then carefully placed her on the bed.
Glancing at Alice on the bed, William took a deep breath and walked out of the bedroom.
No way!
Did he just feel something for Alice?
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
It must have been because he slept too long previously, causing his desires to go unexpressed.
It's known that a normal man experiences physiological reactions upon waking up in the morning, and William, having slept for fifty years straight, had even more abundant energy.
For the past month, with various beautiful women around him, it was already commendable that he had kept his self-control.
Thinking about all this, William sat under a wutong tree and adjusted his breath, finally calming down.
It was now three in the afternoon.
Previously, at this time, William would either be at school or a bookstore, or he might be playing cards or fishing with Nathaniel and the others.
But Nathaniel had already passed away.
William had planned to dig up the barrel of old wine they had buried five hundred years ago to enjoy together, but now Nathaniel was gone, and the wine had yet to be opened.
With nothing pressing on his hands, William decided to find a shovel and slowly unearth the barrel of wine.
That barrel, placed on the stone table, was certainly a rare delicacy in this world, but at this moment, William couldn't find a suitable person to share it with.
William himself had an excellent capacity for alcohol and, with his strong willpower, could drink continuously without getting drunk.
Having dug up the barrel of wine, he decided to indulge himself and fully enjoy the moment.
Unable to find a kindred spirit to share the drink, William opened the barrel in front of him and began to drink deeply.
The wine was brewed by William himself, incorporating countless cosmic energies. For ordinary people, drinking this wine could significantly extend life, its miraculous effects comparable to the legendary Nectar.
"Life is short, and time is swift, Roses fade, and shadows shift," William mused while drinking.
William thought of the great poets in history, such as Shakespeare, whose talent and works are still celebrated to this day.
"In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria," he chuckled to himself while drinking.
Astraeus, having lived for over two thousand years, might have also felt a sense of loneliness. William, with an even longer lifespan, had grown accustomed to solitude.
"Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be," William's smile held a tinge of melancholy.
While others find life partners to grow old with, what about him? A person doesn't get drunk because their heart isn't yet intoxicated.
William finished the wine in the barrel, his eyes gradually becoming blurry.
He walked into the bedroom, where Alice was still sound asleep. He gently lay down beside her.
Alice, somewhat drowsy, unconsciously leaned towards William, drawn by his pleasant scent.
William, accustomed to sleeping alone, found the soft warmth beside him unusual. In his sleep, he turned and his hand rested on Alice's waist.
Alice felt the touch and suddenly opened her eyes. Her long eyelashes trembled, her heartbeat racing. She turned her head to see William's sleeping face and her breath caught.
She could smell the faint scent of alcohol on him, seemingly not having drunk much, still as pleasant as ever, unlike those reeking of heavy drinking.
Could it be?
Was her master not good with alcohol?
Alice secretly smiled, gazing at William's face, her heart fluttering wildly.
So embarrassed!
So embarrassed!
She couldn't deny her attraction to handsome faces, and William's flawless features were like a lethal weapon to a girl like her.
Alice turned to face William, so close she could feel the heat of his breath.
Gulping, Alice stared at William's lips, her face blushing as if it were bleeding, her breathing quickening...
Her mentor, just a kiss wouldn't be presumptuous, right?
After much internal struggle, Alice finally closed her eyes and leaned in.
As soon as her lips touched William's, his eyelids fluttered slightly.
William, though rarely drunk, still had sharp instincts. Having lived through many years, he wasn't a novice in matters of the heart, his reactions almost instinctual.
And his skills were certainly not something a young woman like Alice could match.
...
Alice curled up in the bed, her cheeks red and eyes filled with shyness.
After William awoke, he had already left the bedroom. The situation had almost gotten out of control, but thankfully, he regained his composure in time, avoiding any rash actions.
Stepping out of the bedroom, William felt confused and guilty.
"What's happening to me? Why did I drink at that moment?" he wondered.
"Was it deliberate?" This thought unnerved him.
William sat on a stone chair, supporting his forehead with his hand, deeply reflecting. That moment, he had almost crossed an irreversible line.
Now, he pondered over his actions, feeling deeply conflicted and puzzled.
William wasn't overly conservative. He didn't believe that romantic feelings between a mentor and apprentice were inherently unacceptable. But the problem was, he was still unsure about his feelings for Alice.
What exactly did he feel for Alice?
Was his recent behavior a mere instinctual response or something more?
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