“Is that so?”
Diana tilted her head.
She had been visiting the cemetery every month for several years now, but she had never encountered anyone else unless her visit coincided with an ongoing funeral ceremony.
Was there anyone who visited regularly other than her?
“Have you met the person that you’re searching for?”
“Maybe.”
“Is that so? Then, that’s a relief! That’s quite amazing. Encountering another person here, today was the first– Aack!”
Diana, who was speaking, fell forward because of the rattling wagon.
Normally, she would have bumped into the hard chair, but this time she fell on something soft. No, it was soft but solid.
Diana knew who she was hugging and took a deep breath.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m sorry!”
Senir held her with one arm.
“No, it’s okay. Please sit down carefully.”
Senir held her elbow until she sat down again, making her arm feel numb.
“After all, the carriage shakes a lot.”
“Yes, yes. Thank you.”
Diana fanned her face that was quickly turning red.
Unlike her who was embarrassed, Senir looked as if nothing had happened.
“We’re nearly there.”
“Right.”
“Once again, thank you. If it wasn’t for Lady Diana, I would have spent a day stuck there.”
Senir sighed then smiled beautifully.
“I’d like to express my gratitude. By any chance, do you have time?”
***
It was Diana’s first time coming to a coffee house. Entering Aachen’s tallest building, they got into a strange box. Senir pressed the button and in an instant, they were going up through the floors.
When they arrived, the place was divided into rooms, making it difficult to encounter other people. Entering the room that they were guided to, Diana exclaimed.
“Whoa…”
She could see the view of the city from the large window. Even the windmill of the Bordeaux territory was faintly visible.
“Is that the Arphe River over there? Oh, I can see the boat too.”
“When the sun goes down, the sunset will reflect onto Arphe River, and the scene will look pretty good.”
“Have you ever seen it before?”
“I saw it when I first came here yesterday.”
“Aha.”
Senir helped Diana take a seat that was close to the window.
“Ah, that’s nice of you. Thank you.”
Senir only smiled lightly without saying a word.
Diana carefully seated Sky next to her. The employee waited for Senir to take his seat before placing the menu down on the white table.
Senir handed her the menu first.
“Please choose first.”
His elegant voice once again tickled her airs. She changed the direction of her hand and shyly rubbed her ears, holding up the menu to cover her face.
Diana gasped loudly.
As soon as she saw the menu, a groan came out unconsciously from her mouth.
‘Why is it so expensive? And it’s just for tea!’
Does this price even make sense for a simple cup of tea? It cost as much as a month’s salary that Diana received from the Bordeaux mansion.
“You don’t have to worry because I’m the one who will be paying for it.”
Senir said, noticing her unease. Diana made a troubled face.
“Still, it’s too expensive.”
Senir looked at her as if he had just heard something strange.
“I don’t quite think what I did is worth this much…”
At this price, she could rent three of the carriages that she rode.
Senior’s long eyelashes hung down and then spoke as if he could not do anything about it.
“It’s not that the price burdens me, but if it bothers you, should we move?”
“Then I’d appreciate it.”
“Where would be a good place?”
“….”
She was speechless. There was no other suitable place that she knew. After all, it was her first time coming to a coffee house today.
After racking her head over and over, Diana said sullenly.
“Let’s just stay here.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Senir smiled brightly. Somehow she felt like she had been tricked.
‘I must be imagining things.’
Diana picked up the menu.
“I’ll take anything… Oh?”
Diana pointed at the menu then asked.
“By any chance, is this a c-coffo? Coffee? Is it the dark brown and fragrant tea?”
“That’s right. Among the types of coffees, that one is an espresso.”
“Then, I’ll take this one please.”
Among the items in the menu, it was the one with the lowest price. There was a hint of wonder in Senir’s eyes.
“It’ll be very bitter. Will it be okay?”
“Yes, it’s okay.”
After all, most teas were bitter and astringent. Even Atticia’s favorite black tea was just tasteless water without milk, honey, or sugar.
Senir called the staff, ordered two espresso cups and then chose another item on the menu.
Diana stared at Senir.
His figure when ordering looked strangely familiar to her. Come to think of it, there was an aide next to him, and there was also an escort beside the huge carriage.
‘Is he a noble?’
Diana’s face hardened a little. A noble is a bit…
“…Um.”
Senir sent the employee away and looked at her. His eyes told her to keep talking.
“By any chance, are you a noble?”
Senir smiled a little.
“No, I’m not.”
“…Ah, is that so?”
It was an unexpected answer, but she was relieved. Smiling lightly, Senir asked.
“The Lady’s puppy is very calm. Is Lady Diana the one who raised it?”
“Yes. The puppy’s cute, right? It’s very smart. It’s name is Sky.”
“It’s a cute name.”
Diana’s awkwardness and tension seemed to be forgotten. She welcomed Senir and the topic warmly.
“Really? It’s great, right? It really suits the puppy, right?”
“It still looks young, what breed is it?”
“I don’t know the breed. My guardian gave it to me as a gift.”
“Your guardian….”
Senir’s eyes glanced sharply at Sky, but Diana didn’t notice.
“Seems like that person is a good person.”
At the employee’s knock, their conversation stopped.
The employee brought a tray with two very small cups and a slice of cake. The cake was the type that had white cream and strawberries between the chiffon.
‘A strawberry cake at this season?’
The cake along with a small silver fork was placed in front of her.
“Ah, I didn’t order this one though.”
“I’m the one who ordered it.”
Diana’s round eyes opened widely.
Soon a silver spoon and small teacup were placed next to her.
The small glass was filled with a soft-looking light brown foam that gave off a lovely scent. It was the tea that her mother used to drink every morning when she was young.
But, was the cup this small back then? Her hazy memory was unclear.
It was quite a ridiculous amount for the price.
The employee placed a cute bottle full of sugar cubes. There were tongs next to it too.
“Lady Diana, are you not going to put in sugar?”
“Ah! Ah… yes!”
When he asked how many she wanted to be put in, she said in a small voice, “Only one.” Senir picked up the sugar cubes with the tongs. The sugar cubes melted away in an instant.
Was he originally a person this considerate? Or were the gentlemen living in the institution supposed to be like this?
She stirred the coffee with a spoon, covering up her doubts.
Senir drank the glass without adding any sugar. Diana, who confirmed that the sugar was all melted, followed his actions, and the moment she put it in her mouth.
“…!”
It was fortunate that she didn’t spit it out.
‘Bitter! Too bitter! Is this really something that people drink? Isn’t this poison? Ah, what should I do?!’
Diana remained in shock, unable to spit or swallow.
She could hear a cough and a small laugh from in front of her.
The reason he asked if I wanted sugar was because it’s bitter like this? Then, he should have told her about it in advance! No, he did tell her.
“You can spit it out,” Senir said at the tearful Diana
Not even a few seconds had passed by when she thought, ‘How could I spit out such an expensive thing?’ Diana was really, really sorry but she couldn’t stand it anymore and spat it out into an empty cup.
“Ugh.”
She felt that if she swallowed her saliva, the poison-like taste on her tongue would once again wash over her. Senir handed over a handkerchief.
Diana, who accepted it because she couldn’t say no, wiped her lips and trembled.
In the meantime, Senir called an employee again.
“Please bring us some water and the menu. Clean this up as well please.”
Senir said, pointing to Diana’s espresso.
Diana looked sadly at the glass that was taken by the employee.
‘…What a waste.’
But she didn’t dare to drink it again.
When she finished the glass of cold water that the employee brought, the bitter taste just barely went away.
‘Just what kind of taste are people who drink this looking for?’
Diana groaned internally. The coffee stains on the plain white handkerchief were clear.
With an embarrassed face, Diana spoke in a small voice.
“I’ll wash it and return it to you later. I’m sorry.”
Senir returned it with a light smile.
“It’s okay. Please don’t worry about it.”
Senir, held the teacup and drank the poison like nothing. Diana’s mouth gaped at the sight.
“Is it not bitter?”
“Of course, it’s bitter.”
Diana was relieved. Her taste buds were normal.
“I ordered it because it was the tea that my mom liked, but I should have looked into it before ordering.”
Senir’s eyes widened.
“Did your mother like coffee?”
“Yes.”
What was it that her mother told her again? Was it because it wouldn’t let a person sleep? She wouldn’t let her drink it no matter what. Now she understands why she didn’t let her touch it.
“It’s interesting.”
Senir stared at the teacup and continued.
“As far as I know, coffee has only been popular in the Heimbarden Empire for less than 10 years.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Yes. Originally, it was a drink consumed by people in the southern regions, especially the Academy people.”
Senir pushed the cake plate in front of her.
“If you eat the cake, it’ll be a bit better.”
“Can I really eat it?”
“Of course.”
“…Then, thank you. I’ll eat it well.”
She cut the cake into bite-sized pieces with a fork. As soon as she put it in her mouth, the soft chiffon wrapped around her tongue and the cream melted into her mouth.
“It’s delicious!”