"... My husband, he's lost a lot of money gambling again..."
A seemingly casual remark exhausted all her strength, and tears welled up in her eyes, which she desperately held back.
Draco waited for her to continue, and Diana took another swig of her drink; the alcohol seemed to give her a little more courage.
She forced a smile, a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"He was desperate, so he tried to persuade me to spend a night with a rich man, and then we could get a million!"
"How could he say something like that?" Draco asked.
These words struck a nerve with Diana, touching her most vulnerable spot.
She had heard enough perfunctory words of comfort these past few days, but this one sentence was the only one that made all the pent-up grievances well up up.
"Yes, it's disgusting, and I didn't agree!"
"You don't need to put up with this. Nobody should be treated like this. It's not your fault," Draco affirmed.
Diana nodded, then shook her head. She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, before continuing:
"After I rejected him, he didn't give up and came up with another plan... He told me to go find Collard."
Upon hearing the name, Draco's fingers, which were holding the wine glass, paused. A subtle, unusual glint flashed in his eyes, but he remained outwardly calm, waiting for her to continue.
But Diana didn't notice his subtle change; her attention was completely absorbed by her own predicament.
" Collard... I'm his gambling assistant. He's very polite and told me I could ask him for help if I ever had any problems."
"Since you know he's willing to help you, why haven't you tried to go to him?" Draco continued to press.
"I didn't want to be left with no other options, so I went to him with a purpose. He's a good person, at least to me. He respects me and gives me dignity. I didn't want him to think I was using him. And I especially didn't want... him to see me in such a pathetic state."
A very subtle feeling rose in Draco's heart.
"If you don't want to go, then you don't have to go."
The whiskey's aftereffects came on quickly and intensely. Diana's arms, which were supporting her on the table, gradually went weak, and her head became so dizzy that she couldn't lift it. The lights, tables, and chairs in front of her became blurry and indistinct.
Nevertheless, her hand seemed to have its own will, reaching for the nearly empty bottle of whiskey in the center of the table, wanting to refill her empty glass.
"Stop drinking. If you drink any more, you'll only feel worse tonight with a headache S.P.E.W.." Draco pressed his hand against the bottle opening.
"I want to drink..." Diana tried to see the person in front of her clearly, but her vision was blurry. The alcohol amplified her grievances and vulnerability. She pouted, "I feel so choked up!"
"I know," Draco softened his tone, slowly releasing his grip on the bottle, but then subtly moving the glass in front of her closer to himself, making it out of her reach.
"But drinking yourself into oblivion won't solve anything; it will only make you more vulnerable to those rotten people and troubles."
The cruel words startled Diana, and her muddled mind seemed to clear for a second. She blinked and focused her gaze on Draco, only to see that his expression was calm.
"Actually... Collard and I are very close friends."
These words were like a bucket of cool water, instantly dispelling most of Diana's drunkenness. She stared blankly at Draco...
Does he know Collard? Are they close friends? Is that... possible? Or is she just too drunk and hallucinating?
"Don't be afraid, and don't feel embarrassed. I know Collard. If he knew your situation, he would definitely help you." Draco's words reassured her, without giving her much time to process the information.
"Are you telling the truth?" Diana was a little bewildered. She had never imagined that the man in front of her would know Collard.
"Of course it's true," Draco nodded slightly, casually adding, "If you're truly desperate, I can pass on a message for you, telling him the truth about your situation. At least you won't have to beg him for a solution in such a pathetic way."
After saying that, he didn't bring up the topic again to avoid putting pressure on her. He simply pressed down on the bottle again, preventing her from touching the alcohol. "You can't drink anymore. The more you drink, the more confused you become, and it will only make you more miserable. There's always a solution to things. There's no need to ruin yourself first."
"Thank you!" Diana said gratefully, but then added, "Actually, this matter has nothing to do with you; it's my family matter. It's really not good to trouble you."
"It's no trouble at all. Just a word." Draco shook his head, then returned the choice entirely to her.
"As for whether you need my help, and when you need it, it's all up to you. You don't need to feel any pressure."
"I'm already so grateful for your words." Diana's eyes welled up slightly; the pent-up grievances and helplessness in her heart finally began to ease, but she remained confused.
"My mind is really in a mess right now. I really don't know what to do or which path to choose."
"You don't need to rush into any decisions. Get a good night's sleep, clear your mind, and think things through slowly." Draco didn't urge her, giving her ample space and time.
Diana gave a soft "hmm" and didn't say anything more.
"Mmm..." Diana responded.
He didn't insist on having more alcohol, but his gaze was somewhat vacant as he stared at the distant, hazy, flickering lights and blurry figures.
"I'll think about it carefully."
After a brief respite of sobriety, the aftereffects of the whiskey return fiercely, even more intensely than before.
Her hands, which were supporting her on the table, slowly slid down, her head felt incredibly heavy, and she leaned against her crossed arms.
She wasn't completely asleep; her consciousness hovered on the edge of a half-awake, half-asleep state. But she was so drunk that her whole body felt weak, and occasionally a very indistinct murmur would escape from her throat.
"So drunk, yet still trying to act tough..." Draco shook his head.
He gestured for the waiter to come over, paid the bill, gave Little Filch, then got up, walked around the table, and went to Diana's side.
After observing her for a moment and confirming that she was simply drunk and had no other discomfort, I leaned down and gently supported her swaying shoulder with one hand, while carefully putting the other hand around her back.
He carefully avoided touching any sensitive areas with his hands, then gently helped her up from the chair by holding her arm.
"I'll take you back to your room to rest."
"Mmm..." Diana mumbled, too drunk to open her eyes, only vaguely feeling a strong arm supporting her, and smelling a man's scent.
She subconsciously leaned closer to him, gently nuzzling her head against his arm, her whole body softly resting against him.
Draco half-carried, half-supported her, steadying her unsteady steps, and led her out of the bar. Diana leaned entirely on him, her steps faltering, but fortunately Draco held her steady.
As she reached the door, a night breeze blew, and Diana seemed to wake up a little. She shook her head, which was buried in Draco's arms.
"No... no, don't go back to the four-person room..."