Our Cafe is Open as Usual - Chapter 39
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 39
After some time had passed.
“…Ahem!”
Milena barely managed to hold back her expression that was about to brighten. Her dignity as a noble almost flew away in an instant.
Even thinking about it again, it had been a dangerous moment.
Milena looked at the glass cup placed in front of her.
Due to the disaster that started 5 years ago, there hadn’t been much occasion to use this glass cup.
A tall glass cup made by a famous glass craftsman who had carved roses into it.
Before that incident, Milena used to enjoy drinking strong green tea in this glass cup. If there was ice, she would add a couple of pieces, and plenty of sugar too.
When she could no longer drink green tea, the rose-carved glass cup was simply displayed in the pantry.
After hearing from a noblewoman that she had barely managed to obtain green tea, Milena tried to persuade Antonio to import some, but the result was failure.
After that, Milena didn’t even look at the glass cup.
But then.
“This glass cup that was displayed in the pantry was so beautiful. It seemed to contain the rose garden of this place, so I tried using it once. Ah, I got permission from the head chef too!”
The woman with light pink hair. That cafe owner, Lailah, who claimed she could make beverages, had boldly used that glass cup.
What on earth was Hese thinking? He must have given it to her knowing that she cherished that glass cup.
Even though Hese had good interpersonal skills, he usually distinguished clearly between public and private matters…
Milena thought she would have to confront Hese about this later.
Certainly, that’s what she had been thinking.
However, when Lailah took out a large glass bottle, the situation changed.
“The weather is a bit hot today. Hese told me that you prefer your beverages cold, so… I prepared it iced.
Also, since all the desserts that came out are sweet baked goods, I made the beverage with a slightly bitter taste.”
The large glass bottle was filled with a dark brown beverage. It was also full of ice, looking refreshing just by sight.
However, the taste was hard to gauge.
She said she made it slightly bitter, but a brown-colored beverage?
‘Could it be chocolate?’
When the question arose, Lailah continued her explanation.
“I heard you like sweet things, so I made this specially. This is called cafe mocha – it’s a coffee beverage made by adding milk and chocolate to espresso.”
Her explanation alone didn’t help imagine the taste very well.
While she had heard of coffee beans with chocolate aroma, a beverage mixing chocolate and espresso was a first.
At least it wouldn’t be a beverage sold in the capital, Noren.
Milena hesitated for a moment but couldn’t take her eyes off the brown beverage filling the glass cup.
Not wanting to act like a child who drinks whatever is given immediately, Milena took her time. But her husband sitting beside her was already sipping away.
He exclaimed in admiration as soon as he drank it.
“This is delicious too!”
“The ingredients at the Viola Estate are all top-grade, so the taste should be even better.”
“You still speak so well.”
“You seem to have expectations, so I always keep that in mind.”
He was even having a cheerful conversation with Lailah. Even though his first impression of her had been very good, he hadn’t completely accepted Lailah yet.
Milena glanced disapprovingly at the oblivious Antonio and picked up her glass cup.
The sweet chocolate aroma combined with the bitter coffee scent to create an attractive fragrance.
Milena licked her lips and carefully took a sip.
‘This taste is?’
And she almost cheered.
Actually, milk, chocolate, and coffee – all three types felt heavy to Milena. That’s why she used to drink green tea loaded with sugar… but mixing those three like that made it drinkable even considering that heaviness.
No, this was something that had to be drunk!
The chocolate aroma lingering in her mouth. Yet the finish was bitter, creating the right balance. The milk neutralized both with its smoothness in between, and the ice doubled that taste.
Milena took another sip.
It was still sweet and delicious, almost making her expression melt.
Milena barely maintained her elegant expression and picked up a financier placed in front of her.
Taking a bite of financier and a sip of cafe mocha…
“Mmm…”
A hum came out naturally.
With her poker face finally broken, Milena fanned herself as if embarrassed.
“It’s really delicious, Lailah.”
“I’m so relieved it suits your taste. I worried about it a lot.”
“What kind of worries did you have?”
“At first I was going to make it with only the ingredients I brought, but the ingredients here are so good. There are so many fresh fruits like lemons and grapefruits that I considered making an ade.
But there wasn’t enough time to make syrup… so I made the beverage I had thought of in advance.
If I get another chance later, I’ll make other things for you too.”
Lailah smiled as refreshingly as a lemon.
Seeing her like this, she was unmistakably a young girl, yet Lailah was emanating the aura of a professional with evident experience.
Milena looked at Lailah like that, then lowered her gaze. The cafe mocha she made came into view.
Antonio probably had the same thought as herself.
‘…With beverages like this, it will definitely work.’
Everyone had been longing for such flavors.
The luxuries they once enjoyed seemed like they would be realized again through her hands. For some reason, she looked like she would even avoid the disaster.
Was it because the taste was outstanding? Or was it because of her confident appearance?
Milena let out a long breath. She liked confident people.
The head chef Hese was like that, and her husband Antonio was always a confident person too.
Of course, both of them sometimes didn’t understand her feelings at all, to an extremely annoying degree.
So…
‘Should I watch and see?’
If it really didn’t seem to work out after watching, she could just proceed with the tea party as originally planned.
The tea party was only 5 days away. The preparations were already finished.
The beverages were always just carbonated water and plain water… Lailah would just need to add her beverages.
‘Yes, this should be fine.
Antonio must have prepared for the case of failure too.’
Milena emptied all the cafe mocha in the glass cup. And then she smiled brightly.
“If you have anything to ask about the tea party, feel free to ask.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Milena decided to trust Antonio’s decision.
* * *
As soon as Milena’s permission was granted, I cheered inwardly.
‘Yes!’
Nothing was more thrilling than this.
Turning around the heart of someone who viewed me unfavorably. I loved this moment because the changing gaze and tone seemed to acknowledge me.
Having someone who needs me, having someone who likes me – these were always heart-stirring things.
I smiled brightly. Indeed, choosing to show my skills with cafe mocha had been the right decision.
As I had explained to Milena, there were many fresh fruits in the kitchen, so I had hesitated for a moment.
It wasn’t like I had been thinking of cafe mocha from the beginning either.
But then Hese’s story about her particularly liking sweet things came to mind.
Rather than sour things, bitter things. And sweet things.
‘Then the answer is cafe mocha!’
After quickly deciding, I swiftly prepared the cafe mocha. Having all the ingredients and tools made it very convenient.
Except for the coffee beans, everything was top-grade, so the result was good too.
Since it had the modifier ‘finest’, that said it all.
‘Ingredients really make a big difference too.’
I couldn’t just roughly get whatever and use it. I had been getting supplies from cost-effective grocery stores until now, but it seemed I needed to get better quality groceries.
‘Originally, the ultimate in this field is farming.’
Self-sufficiency. Running the cafe with fruits and herbs grown directly through farming.
‘…Should I calculate the costs when I have time? The backyard happens to be sitting idle anyway.’
I made simple plans in my head while continuing my conversation with Milena.
The main topic was the tea party that would be held this time.
The scale would be at least 50 people. She said it was a very large party where all the high-ranking nobles would come.
Just hearing the description made me feel intimidated.
However, a big stage means it’s an opportunity to maximize my reputation.
And.
‘If I get scared, I’m dead.’
There’s no way back for me.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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