← Previous Chapter | Chapter Index | Next Chapter →

The Tale of the Wizrain Kingdom

A Mysterious Drink and Then... Part One

Translated by: S3

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

*****

「Elna! Is this the right spot for the table?」

「The sun’s too bright there. Use your head a little!」

「I did! I thought nice and warm would be good!」

「It’s not warm, it’s going to be scorching! What were you thinking?」

「Jipi, Noma, both of you calm down.」

The maid and the soldier shouting at each other was a common sight. However, since time was limited, Elna stepped in with a smile to settle the situation.

「But it’s true that the table might be better in the shade. It’s a very clear day today.」

「You’re right. Let’s move it!」

「Fine, I’ll help too!」

「I don’t need your thin arms!」

「You idiot, you have no idea how strong I am!」

As they bickered playfully, they moved the table. It was an incredibly heartwarming scene.

「Okay, the location is fine, I’ve asked Cross to handle security... what else?」

「Elna! About the food, most of the dishes—from the starters to the later courses—should be kept as cold as possible, right? I’ll go talk to the kitchen so everything moves smoothly.」

「If the preparations are finished, shall I go inform Lord Commonwald?」

「Then I’ll do a final check on everything.」

「Thank you, everyone. Can I leave it to you?」

The three maids responded in perfect unison with a pose, 「Leave it to us!」 Elna, holding the schedule in both hands, could only blink in surprise before letting out a small, wry smile. All three were Elna’s colleagues, but they had been taking great care of her lately. Even though they weren’t related by blood, they were so close they were often called the "three sisters." She could understand why people felt that way.

「Right. Kakami is helping out again... and the people in the kitchen too.」

She felt anxious thinking about what would happen if she failed, but there was no point in worrying before taking action. Many people were helping her, and she had managed to pull it all together. On top of her head, the hamster spirit was dancing around as if cheering her on. Fortunately, the weather was perfect, and the spirits were frolicking joyfully through the greenery.

「Elna, is here okay? There are three seats, right?」

「Yes. For Cro... Lord Vaid, Lord Feliol. And, Lord Kyle too.」

She felt a slight tension at the last name, and her voice came out a bit stiff. Elna gulped, her heart racing, but Noma didn't seem to notice.

「Are they really all coming?」

Noma looked at the three prepared seats with even more anxiety than Elna had felt. 「It’ll be fine,」 Elna replied, her voice steady this time. After all, Cross had promised.

「A *lunch meeting under the blue sky* for the two nations, Marls and Wizrain. I’ll make sure it’s a success!」

***

Feliol was like a frightened cat, his hair practically standing on end as he glared at Kyle with undisguised caution. In contrast, Kyle was smiling awkwardly. Cross, sitting almost directly across from them at the round table, acted as if he noticed nothing at all.

This cold atmosphere despite the warm, pleasant sunshine... Elna only realized after the three men had taken their seats that this combination of guests might have been a bad idea. Noma, the other maids, and Jipi—who had helped set everything up—were watching from a distance, ready to help if needed, but they looked restless. It was less like restlessness and more like an anxious look, or perhaps a look that said, "I told you so."

No, no, Elna shook her head. She couldn't afford to be weak-hearted. When she looked up, her eyes met Cross’s. He was watching her with his arms crossed, and after a brief moment, the corner of his mouth curled into a smirk. It was somewhat provocative.

Elna puffed out her cheeks slightly.

—Fine then, let’s do this.

She was the one who had asked for this gathering. She couldn't run away before it even began.

「Well. Lord Kyle. First, allow me to thank you for graciously accepting our proposal to join us for lunch.」

「No, the pleasure is mine. It is a wonderful opportunity. I truly hope to deepen my connection with King Crossgard and Lord Feliol.」

「...I am also honored to meet you.」

It was Elna who had asked Cross for the lunch meeting with Kyle, but since a mere maid couldn't be seen as the host, it was officially presented as Cross’s idea. Feliol was still on guard, but he managed to squeeze out some polite words.

(Feliol and Kyle have met before... but we can't let it be known that a member of the royal family was present there. They’re choosing their words carefully.)

To be precise, Elna and Feliol had simply witnessed Kyle being beaten by the self-proclaimed vigilantes at the tea shop. Regardless, in Feliol’s eyes, Kyle likely appeared to be a suspicious man. However, even he was now cooperating with Elna’s suggestion. Since she couldn't interfere with the conversation between the royalty and the envoy, Elna waited in silence as a server, her hands clasped in front of her apron and her head lowered.

Suddenly, Kyle spoke softly. 「You’re the maid from that time. Thank you for the other day.」 Surprised, Elna looked up to find Kyle smiling at her with a slight tilt of his head. His long bangs brushed against his face.

Elna lowered her head silently instead of replying. Then, Cross spoke up.

「Lord Kyle. 'That time'...?」

「She simply helped me a little in town.」

「I see. I hope you are able to fully enjoy this country during your stay.」

「Thank you. I am already having a very pleasant time.」

The meeting between Elna and Kyle hadn't been reported to Cross—officially—so this kind of artificial conversation was necessary. Keeping her head down, Elna glanced up just enough to see Feliol staring at Kyle so intensely it felt like he was trying to bore a hole through the man's face. Elna silently sent him an encouraging thought to do his best.

Eventually, the conversation settled, and they began preparing the meal.

「Please, enjoy this special arrangement that can only be appreciated while dining outdoors.」

Cross smiled at Kyle, who responded brightly, 「Of course.」 Their smiles felt somewhat forced. In Elna's pocket, the hamster spirit gave a little shiver.

The first dish was a caprese of tomato and cheese. While the tomatoes could have been served raw, searing them slightly brought out their sweetness, which was then perfectly balanced by the cold, fresh cheese sandwiched between them. The vibrant basil was refreshing, and the drizzle of olive oil created an exquisite harmony. It was a light appetizer that was easy to eat.

The second dish was a cold corn soup. One shouldn't think of it as just a simple soup; the cream and milk were blended in perfect proportions to create an incredibly creamy flavor. The popping texture of the corn kernels and the crunch of the croutons provided a delightful contrast. In the hot sun, the cold soup was a hit, and Elna felt relieved as everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Next was the fish dish. Because she disliked water and had little connection to rivers or the sea, Elna didn't know much about fish. However, in the royal capital, thanks to the development of spirit magic and logistics, fish dishes were apparently quite common. The dish placed before Kyle and the others was a large, plump fish. By deep-frying it slowly in low-temperature oil, even the scales became edible. Kyle was surprised by the crispy texture, and it seemed to be a favorite of Cross and Feliol as well.

As for the food, the chefs in the kitchen had wracked their brains trying to figure out how to please a guest from another country. Elna secretly pumped her fist. She was truly grateful to the chefs who had put so much thought into it and produced such perfect dishes.

Since they had served two cold dishes in a row, the warm fish dish helped fill their stomachs. Normally, the main course or dessert would follow, but Elna decided to change things up here. This was, after all, a light lunch for the purpose of cultural exchange. Despite the lingering air of artificiality, the conversation between Cross and Kyle was lively enough on the surface. It could be considered a success.

Her heart pounding, Elna brought out the final dessert and placed it before the three men.

「Hmm? This is...」

—Suddenly, Kyle’s brow furrowed, and he directed a sharp gaze at the plate in front of him.

Kyle, who had been praising every dish with almost suspicious enthusiasm, suddenly went silent. The atmosphere at the table, which had been so pleasant, suddenly turned cold. The other maids who were helping Elna felt the tension and gasped in fear, though Elna herself continued her duties calmly.

「Lord Kyle. Is something... wrong with that plate?」

Cross asked the question clearly, transcending the tension—or perhaps because he understood it.

「...No.」

After a long pause, Kyle shook his head vaguely while keeping his eyes down. The dessert placed before him was a simple chocolate cake. It was a plain cake with no cream or decorations. In that moment, anyone would have thought the lunch meeting was a failure. It was not the kind of food one should serve to a guest from another nation.

Since this dessert was the only thing not made by the castle’s chefs, the other servants had repeatedly asked Elna if she was sure about this while they were carrying the food. Kyle stared down at the clumsy cake without even picking up his fork. Then, he slowly opened his mouth.

「...King Crossgard, I am terribly sorry, but—」

「Excuse me.」

Elna softly stepped forward and placed a new cup in front of him. She had been worried because the preparations had taken until the very last second, making her timing a bit late. But she had made it in time.

「This is...」

This time, Kyle’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. He looked back and forth between Elna and the contents of the cup, then stared at the cup again as if he couldn't believe his eyes. It was a good sign. She had been right.

「I’ve never seen a drink like this. What on earth is it?」

The one who spoke up was Feliol, who had been silent until now.

Yes, this was something unfamiliar in the Kingdom of Wizrain. Cross looked at his younger brother with a wry smile. Then, he gave Elna permission to speak. 「You there. Explain, if you would.」

Aside from Feliol’s genuine curiosity, this entire interaction had been calculated.

「Yes. Lord Feliol, this is called coffee. It is a very popular drink among the people of Marls.」

「Popular? This black liquid?」

Feliol made a startled sound and then quickly covered his mouth. He had realized too late that a person who enjoyed that drink was sitting right there.

「It’s quite alright, Lord Feliol. It certainly looks strange to someone who isn't used to it.」

「No... it was thoughtless of me. I have been very rude. Please accept my apologies.」

「Truly, do not worry about it.」

Kyle waved his hands back and forth in a flustered manner toward Feliol, who had straightened his back in a formal apology.

「But, Miss Maid,」 Kyle turned toward Elna, looking troubled. Elna thought for a moment and checked with Cross using her eyes. Cross gave a small nod, so she decided it was fine to answer.

「My name is Elna.」

「Yes, Elna-san. Why serve coffee here? I mean, I’m very happy because I haven't had any since coming to this country, but I’m just so surprised. Was this King Crossgard’s idea?」

「The menu here was not my idea, but was primarily devised by the maid there... Elna.」

「I thought so.」

Kyle blinked his silver eyes in surprise.

Elna kept her hands clasped over her apron and smiled at Kyle after receiving Cross’s permission to explain.

A voice from her past whispered in her heart, telling her that she had once been an expert at this. Elnalfia was a woman who never lost her composure even before a large crowd, a figure of such grace she was remembered as a paragon of ladylike behavior.

Elna tucked her chin and straightened her posture.

The atmosphere shifted entirely. No one present could help but fix their eyes on her.

「When I met you at the tea shop previously, Lord Kyle, I found something quite strange.」

Her voice was dignified, carrying clearly through the breeze. her apricot-colored hair fluttered, standing out strikingly against the blue sky and green surroundings.

「...Found something strange?」

「You didn't take a single bite of the cake or the tea we served. It’s a tea shop, so it’s normal for people to come seeking something sweet. And yet...」

The reality was that he had been beaten and knocked unconscious, so it was possible he just didn't feel like eating. However, Elna knew that wasn't the case because the wind spirits had told her. She omitted that part. In all likelihood, Kyle hadn't entered the shop for the purpose of eating *food* or sweets.

「So, I wondered why you came to the shop. Then it occurred to me. You are not from the Kingdom of Wizrain, but from the nation of Marls. It is only natural for cultures to differ between countries. Upon investigation, I learned that in Marls, both coffee and tea are enjoyed.」

「...Marls has fewer mages who can manipulate the water spirits compared to Wizrain. That’s why our country collects water through its own unique methods. Different types of water mean different tastes. I was shocked to find that coffee is hardly distributed in this country at all. I’m more of a coffee person than a tea person. I can't get any motivation without a cup every day, so I was in a bind. The rest is as you guessed. I went to that shop thinking they might carry coffee too.」

Kyle’s tone was beginning to soften.

Elna had felt that Kyle’s expression changed more when the tea was served than when the cake was. She also remembered that Cross sometimes drank a strangely bitter beverage. That was how she learned about coffee.

Since Cross had been importing it to learn about other cultures, it was possible to obtain a small amount in the royal capital on short notice even if it wasn't widely distributed.

「...It looks unfamiliar, but it has a very striking aroma. A good scent.」

「Lord Feliol, it might be better to add sugar if you aren't used to it.」

「I-Is that so?」

Feliol, who had been staring intently at his cup, pulled his face away in a hurry after hearing Kyle’s advice. Seeing the hostile atmosphere dissipate, Elna felt her lips naturally curl into a smile. 「I have already added dissolved sugar to yours, Lord Feliol,」 she informed him.

「Oh, good.」

「But, as you might find it surprising at first... please add milk to your liking.」

She remembered her own past experience of almost spitting it out because of the bitterness. Cross let out a sudden laugh, as if he understood the meaning behind Elna’s complicated expression. Did he just laugh? She shot him a glance, but he was already back to his cool, indifferent expression.

「Feliol, try it. I drink it occasionally as well. It’s an addictive taste.」

「Is that so? Then, if you’ll excuse me.」

After adding a tiny drop of milk, Cross told him he could add as much as he liked, so Feliol poured in a generous amount with a look of relief. *They really are brothers*, Elna thought with a warm feeling.

「...Brother, it’s delicious! The coldness feels wonderful and fits this setting perfectly.」

「Hot coffee is more common, but the cold version suits this occasion well.」

Kyle also looked satisfied as he began to drink his coffee with practiced ease. Cross also enjoyed his coffee with elegant movements, without adding sugar or milk. Elna’s moment of relief was short-lived, however. Looking at the chocolate cake on his plate, Kyle’s expression turned slightly sad.

「I am very sorry, but I don't care much for sweets...」