Chapter 76
I’ve already sent in Viscount Caymon to the terrace, so what’s left was just the maid who fearfully waited on me to allow her to enter .
“Follow me . ”
I motioned to the maid to follow me to the gazebo . Meanwhile, Viscount Caymon had already sat at one of the vacant chairs and begun discussing the schedule . The gazebo, where it sat center of the terrace, had cylindrical pillars with a dome roof . It was kinda like a pavilion if you ask me . Other than that, 90cm fences had been built inbetween the pillars, except for the entrance .
I didn’t go inside the gazebo, and merely watched the maid serve the tea to the others . What the maid seemed to serve lemon tea . She extracted the lemons from the tea cart’s compartment, sliced them with a fruit knife . Took out tea leaves then started to place them in the teapot . 1 cup . 2 cups . 3 cups . 4 cups . 5 cups .
“Ain’t that too many?”
“Nn?”
The maid abruptly stopped moving upon hearing my unintentional comment . The hand holding the teaspoon trembled .
“Aren’t there only 3 people here? You should only put one teaspoon more instead of two . Is there a need to prepare extra?”
“I-Indeed . ”
“Count me out . And first of all, the price of those tea leaves are probably 2g~3g apiece right? You do know that, don’t you?”
“Ye-Yes . ”
“Then just put enough tea leaves in the pot for the people . ”
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Then I noticed one other thing . When I touched the teapot, the porcelian was cold to the touch .
“The teapot should be warm to produce delicious tea, do you know that?”
“N-No, I didn’t know that . ”
“Then, you do know that hot water is required to brew the tea, right?”
“PPardon me . ”
“No, it’s okay . Then, what’s the temperature of the water?”
“I-It should still be hot; its in the holding bag . ”
“Take it out . ”
“Ye-Yes—”
The slightly pale-faced maid extracted the pot from the tool bag from the tea pot’s lower compartment . she handed the pot to me, so I opened the lid to check the contents . A hot mist came up from the water . It seemed to be good enough .
I poured the water into the teapot and waited a bit . The maid only watched, fidgeting as she waited . Its as if she became my minion . Whatever . I transferred the hot water to the teapot with the leaves in already and handed the empty pot to the maid .
“Anyways, this is fine now . Please extract the tea leaves and put them in there . ”
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“Ye-yes . ”
Scared, the maid scooped the leaves up from the pot with a teaspoon and dumped them inside the newly warmed teapot . Next was to pour the hot water into it .
“Wait, the capacity for each person should be 150ml . Are you okay there?”
The maid didn’t reply . She merely shook her head with teary eyes .
“Then let me . ”
I received the hot water from the maid and poured it into the teapot .
By pouring the hot water with the jumping method, it caused the tea leaves to move around due to convection . The tea leaves were divided into those that still floated on the surface and those that had sunk . After waiting for a while, the floating ones finally sunk as well .
All the tea leaves finally sunk after about 3 minutes . While waiting for the tea taste to melt out, I explained to the maid that she could deliver the tea to try with the lemon cutlets to the gazebo shortly .
“I never thought that the black mask would be so thorough about tea . ”
When I realized that the three people, who were supposed to be in the middle of a meeting, had stopped to watch the exchange between the maid and me… I have never been so grateful that I was wearing a mask at the moment . Because the face behind the mask was burning red and sweated profusely due to embarrassment .
“I never thought that Shaft would have that kind of hobby . Is there a certain way to put the lemon in?”
Lapitiricsama listened silently, but with a smile on her face . I sensed no fear there . Its like the gallant figure of Lapitiricisama I saw back in the Emerald Demon Dungeon had returned .
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“Yes, pour the tea inside the teacup, but only put the lemon in before drinking . Stir lightly, and extract the lemon immediately . Leaving the lemon inside the tea for too long will cause the bitterness of the lemon skin to come out and affect the taste . ”
“Then let’s do that . Laila, would you please?”
“Ye-yes, Milady . ”
So that is the maid’s name .
From within the gazebo, I could hear remarks such as “Delicious” or “Tasty” . But I chose to ignore it . I stood guard outside the gazebo alongside Maid Laila .
Now that I thought about it, the tea I drank at Marida’s Company was quite delicious . But the same couldn’t be said with those served in the coffee shops and the restaurants in Barga . The taste differed vastly . It was probably the difference in the tea leaves’ quality, but this world hasn’t really developed the proper way of brewing tea .
I spent the rest of that day thinking about it .
During the escort mission, Ashley and I would need to stay awhile in the Bardiche Castle . Ashley got to sleep in a private room inside the waiting area since she’s a woman . Meanwhile, I would be staying in a separate room meant for guards a bit away from hers .
The room had 2 bunk beds that could actually be used for up to 4 people, but for this occasion, I got to monopolize the room for myself .
According to the schedule, we’d be leaving for the Royal Capital on the next day . Then, a few days later, head to the next city, Venere, in the east . It’s said that Venere is the largest entertainment city within Kurtmerga . I thought that I’d heard the name before . Sometime later, I remembered that Yagoche intended to sell Marida’s daughter and her maid to a high-end brothel there .
We’ll stay in Venere for a couple of days, return to the capital and then finally, Barga . Our journey shouldn’t be too dangerous . Although there are people like Yagoche out there, very few would dare to cross the Duke .
The problem is after we arrive in Venere . It was a large city where many nobles gathered to discuss various topics they’d otherwise wouldn’t mention in the capital . Be it politics, economy, or other topics .
Both the Duke and the knights had a similar conception that if someone wanted to harm Lapitiricisama, it’d be during her stay in Venere . However, even if everyone knows it’s dangerous, avoiding Venere during a noble’s social debut was regarded as a serious matter
I really didn’t understand the mysterious world of nobles . But seeing as Ashley herself is a noble, had she also debuted in Venere before as well? And just what kind of family is the Zephanel? I’ve meant to ask Ashley about it for a while . However, for some reason, I felt she was avoiding that topic .
As for today, Lapitiricsama was scheduled for training from morning to afternoon . An instructor from the Barga Mage Guild had been invited for it . And it took place in the Knight’s training grounds just outside the castle .
Lapitiricisama was 17 years old already . With the great merit of conquering the Emerald Demon Dungeon under her belt, it could be said that she’d graduated from her training period . Still, as a member of a noble family famed for their magical abilities, she had further room for growth . No, she’ll be fighting on a different battlefield . for her, as a woman and mage, she’ll have to put forth more effort into her life .
I turned from Lapitiricisama as she was training, and patrolled the one-story house that was being used for her training . The knights training outside the training hall caught my attention .
These knights were mainly using melee weapons, so if I were to fight them in close range, which type of CQB weapon should I use? 1 against many? What if the enemy consisted of knights and mages? I mulled those questions in my mind as I patrolled .
“Mock battle?”
“That’s right . The Mage Guild’s instructor wants to see just how Shaft-san would fare against a team of Knights and Mages . So, he wants you to participate in a mock battle . He said that it’d also serve as a good reference for Lapitiricisama . ”
That was what Ashley-san told me after Laptiricisama’s lessons were finished .