The Duke's eyes widened in disbelief, his composed demeanor cracking for the first time. Cassius and the Head Butler were no less stunned, their gazes fixed on Ashok as though they were witnessing an impossibility unfold before them.
The Duke's shock wasn't unwarranted. He had never, in all his years, witnessed a single Ranker—or even the most seasoned nobles—handle Spirit Wine without employing Mana or Aura to mitigate its potent effects.
Spirit Wine wasn't just an alcoholic beverage; it was a symbol of luxury, strength, and status, its price of 1,000 Gold per bottle ensuring it was reserved solely for those of significant wealth and power.
Ashok, on the other hand, was entirely unbothered by their stares. For him, the world had momentarily faded away, replaced by the intoxicating taste of the wine. The rich, full-bodied flavor danced on his tongue, while the burning sensation coursed through his throat and into his body, leaving a trail of fiery ecstasy in its wake.
