?Chapter 1017:


    “May you be blessed with children soon!”


    Various heartfelt wishes flowed effortlessly from their lips.


    Ellis consumed one ss after another, and despite his impressive tolerance for alcohol, telltale signs of intoxication began to manifest in his slightly unfocused gaze.


    He recognized, with diminishing rity, that the effects of alcohol were gradually overtaking his senses.


    “Let’s conclude this ritual,” he announced firmly before Frederick couldunch into another toast, his voice noticeably huskier than usual. “Freya remains our guest of honor tonight; let’s redirect our attention to celebrating her birthday properly.”


    “Just enjoy yourselves, guys.” Freya observed the unfolding scene with barely concealed satisfaction.


    While the drinking festivities had captivated everyone’s attention, she had discreetly dispatched someone to purchase a ring sizer.


    Once Ellis sumbedpletely to intoxication, she would seize the opportunity to measure his finger for the perfect ring size.


    Then, she couldmission a custom-designed ring without his knowledge.


    “Freya herself approves, soe now, Captain, surely you can manage just another drink!” Frederick insisted while refilling his ss, his youthful countenance particrly striking beneath the ambient lighting. “Should you bepletely inebriated, Freya stands ready to escort you safely home.”


    Ellis’s gaze flickered with dawningprehension, though the alcohol had already begun to blur the edges of his typically sharp perception. Noticing his gaze upon her, Freya elegantly poured herself a crystal flute of champagne.


    Throughout the evening, she had cautiously limited herself to a single libation—hardly enough to cause concern.


    Ellis deciphered her subtle intentions immediately, raising his ss to touch Frederick’s before refilling his own with practiced precision. When he clinked crystal with Freya’s delicate flute, Ellis deliberately diminished the space between them, his voice dropping to an intimate whisper. “Why do I sense everyone’s collective effort to push me toward intoxication?”


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    “Pardon?” Freya’s features arranged themselves into a portrait of perfect bewilderment.


    Her countenance remained outwardly serene, yet internally, a ripple of disquiet disturbed her carefully constructedposure. Could he truly possess such remarkable perceptiveness?


    Ellis scrutinized her expression, detecting nothing suspicious, yet persisted in his inquiry. “Wasn’t it you who orchestrated this conspiracy with Trent and Frederick topromise my sobriety?”


    “Certainly not,” Freya replied, shaking her head with quiet conviction. She cast a perfectly natural nce toward Trent and Frederick, her performance wless.


    Ellis, observing her reaction with meticulous attention, felt his suspicions partially subside, though a persistent seed of doubt continued to germinate within his analytical mind: Had he conjured this borate scenario from imagination alone?


    “If consuming alcohol contradicts your desires, simply abstain,” Freya counseled with apparent sincerity.


    Ellis raised the ss to his lips nheless.


    Thirty minutester, the gathering hadrgely concluded their culinary indulgences.


    Ellis, initially maintaining firmmand over his faculties despite moderate inebriation, began experiencing the unmistakable sensations of alcohol’s progressive influence.


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