Adam slowly turned around at the reply, a wry smile spreading across his face.
"How many times have I told you? Can't you be a little more ladylike? You are a girl, after all."
Adam spoke with resignation, but his words only drew a trace of disdain from Lia.
Lia "poured" another mouthful of liquor down her throat before speaking.
"Uncle Rayleigh said this was the best way to enjoy it! Besides, what's the point of keeping up appearances? Even if I'm like this, would you dare not marry me?"
Lia sounded utterly unconcerned, but Adam broke into a violent coughing fit, rubbing his nose repeatedly in embarrassment.
"Ahem... let's get back to what we were..."
Adam rubbed his nose, trying to change the subject, but Lia gave him no chance. Her slender body pressed against him, and a delicate hand with black-painted nails rested lightly on his shoulder. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips parted with a languid, seductive air.
"What? Are you thinking of going back on your word?"
As she spoke, Lia rested a finger against Adam's lips, his face now bright red...
"How... how could I?! Of course I'll marry you!"
Adam was mortified. Both hands hovered in midair, as though he wanted to settle them on Lia's slender waist but couldn't quite bring himself to do it. After finally mustering the courage to say those words, he was just about to clasp her firmly in his arms when Lia slipped out of his "clutches," returned to her original spot, and picked up the liquor bottle.
"I didn't think you'd dare. Go on, then. What is it?"
Hearing her completely different tone, Adam was left utterly embarrassed, his hands still suspended in midair as though time had stopped.
Perhaps Lia's words finally broke the spell, because