The kingdom of Noir was one of the greatest on the continent. And so it was no surprise that the royal castle in the capital of Belm was of a magnificent size.
And I was standing right in front of that very castle. Well, in front of the castle gates in any case. The tall and solid castle walls and the crowd that had gathered to attend were obstructing my view. I could not see a thing.
“You there, come forward.”
“Yes!”
After waiting in line for nearly half an hour, my turn had finally come. The bored looking guard called me forward.
I went through the gates as I was instructed and ended up in front of a reception counter. There was a different guard waiting here. A well dressed but grouchy looking official. He was probably a noble whose office included the management of guests.
“State your name and business.”
“I am Liliana Flohe. I was summoned here today by Lord Sylvester Brail.”
“…Lord Brail?”
I was suddenly being stared at rather suspiciously. It continued as his gaze brazenly inspected me up and down. Why on earth?
I had worn my best clothing as I was to visit the castle. Even my hair, which was blonde with a slight shade of pink had been combed more thoroughly than usual. It was sparkling even. I should not look like a suspicious person.
“And what business would a commoner like you have with Lord Brail?”
“It was I who was called. So I do not know the purpose…”
“I see no reason why his lordship would ever call for some commoner.”
“But, but even so…”
I myself would have liked to turn around and go home. But there was a reason why I could not do that.
“Oh, the letter! I have a letter from Lord Brail!”
I frantically remove the envelope from my bag, which the official quickly snatched away and inspected. He read it over and over and his eyes widened in surprise.
“…It’s real. This is definitely his seal.”
Serves you right! I don’t go quite so far, but I do feel a sense of relief due to his attitude.
Of course, it was his job to be suspicious of others. After all, it would cause quite the uproar were he to allow an actually dangerous person inside.
After receiving the entry permit, I followed after a guide who was assigned to me.
I wonder what the interior of the castle would be like? Was it really so very extravagant?
It was my first time entering a castle, and my uneasy gaze would constantly fly from one thing to the next.
However, the guide in front of me was now walking in the opposite direction of the castle.
“Um, the castle is down the opposite path?”
“This is the correct path.”
Was all the reply I received. Once I knew I was not to see the inside of the castle, my interest vanished in a blink.
We continued on and on until I began to become worried about just how far we were going. It continued on even further until a single building finally came into view.
It was a grand mansion, made of the same stone material as the castle. Behind the mansion, I could see a dense forest. This really was in the corner of the castle grounds.
We entered the front door after ringing the bell, and a pretty young woman appeared from a side room. She was wearing a light blue dress and had long, flaxen hair that was tied behind her back. The woman was shockingly beautiful.
“I have brought a guest for Lord Brail.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Even her smile was so beautiful that I nearly swooned. However, the voice that came from her mouth was lower than any women’s voice I had ever heard. In fact, it was the voice of a man.
Ahh, I understood it at once. I didn’t know if this was unfortunate or fortunate. It was complicated.
The guide left me with the young miss and left.
“Well, would you please follow me? You adorable young lady. Sylvester is out now. But he should be returning very soon.”
No matter how aware I was that it was only polite flattery, I was unaccustomed to being praised and could not help but feel bashful. Even more so because this person was so beautiful.
However, I was genuinely surprised when I saw the room that she led me to. While it did take the shape of a drawing room, there was baggage scattered all over the place. Numerous books were crudely stacked on top of each other. It did not seem like a room to invite people into.
“Forgive me. It is a little messy here. But this is actually an improvement compared to how it usually is.”
A little?
This is a little?
And an improvement?
In this state?
A chill went down my spine when I imagined what the room might usually look like.
While it was in a far corner, this was still a part of the castle. I had been expecting gorgeous furniture lined up beautifully. But I suppose that only happened in fairy tales.
But the tea set that the young miss brought out was something worthy of the royal palace. It had pretty little flowers painted on its white, porcelain surface. Once it was in the hand of the young miss, it was as if we were at a fancy tea party.
I chose a sofa that had the least amount of things covering it and picked up the expensive looking cup. I wonder how much just one cup would cost? Somehow, I doubted that a month of my salary would cover it.
The tea leaves were probably quite expensive as well. The fragrance was so different compared to the tea that I was used to drinking.
The taste must surely be delicious as well, I think as I take a sip.
“Gggg…!”
What was this…!
I nearly died in agony over how despicable it was. It was bitter. Too bitter.
“Wha-what is…”
“Dear me, was it not to your liking?”
“No, it’s not really a matter of liking, but…”
I took a peek inside of the teapot, and inside was an unfathomable amount of tea leaves. The lid of the teapot was even sitting atop of the leaves. Oh, God.
“You must forgive me. I’ve never poured tea in my life…”
Could such a person exist in this country, where tea was practically a substitute for water? Yes. There was such a person right in front of me.
Well, such a thing was more likely among nobles, I suppose.
Most of the people who worked here at the castle were of the noble class.
There were common folk too, but aside from those who were especially gifted, most were either soldiers or servants.
But this young miss must be a noble. The fact that she(?) didn’t know how to pour tea and her actions and words were proof of it.
The dress that she was wearing was not particularly elaborate, but judging by the materials and tailoring, it was of high quality. Only a noble would find it financially viable to wear something like that as everyday clothing.
And she had also referred to Lord Brail as ‘Sylvester.’ Not by his surname but his first name. She had also not added his title, which meant that she was likely his equal or even superior in status.
So that meant I had allowed a noblewoman to pour me some tea. A very high ranking one at that.
Hahahaha. I was in a near panic, but the young miss was cocking her head to the side as if not understanding what she had done wrong. The answer was the amount of tea leaves.
“Uh, um…”
“What is it?”
“May I make the tea?”
“Heavens! As if I could allow a guest to do such a thing.”
“It is fine, it is fine!”
It was I who was sorry to have allowed a noble to make me tea.
A new tea set was brought out and I prepared the tea in my usual, skillful manner.
“So you only need a small portion of the leaves.”
“Yes. Generally, one tablespoon is considered appropriate for a single person. As we are two, I shall use two spoonfuls.”
“Is that all one needs to observe?”
“It is most important to maintain a high temperature. Both the pot and the cups should be heated in advance. Then you must pour the boiling hot water into the pot with the tea leaves as quickly as you can. After that, place the tea cozy around the pot and wait for three to four minutes. Then it is complete.”
I offer the finished product to her.
“It’s delicious! It is completely different to what we’ve just been drinking.”
“Thank you very much.”
Thank goodness. It was to the noblewoman’s liking.
Now that I had received her seal of approval, I too could relax and drink.
But, just then.
“Ah, so you’ve already arrived then.”
A single man appeared.
Lord Sylvester Brail.
The person who had called me here.
The kingdom of Noir was one of the greatest on the continent. And so it was no surprise that the royal castle in the capital of Belm was of a magnificent size.
And I was standing right in front of that very castle. Well, in front of the castle gates in any case. The tall and solid castle walls and the crowd that had gathered to attend were obstructing my view. I could not see a thing.
“You there, come forward.”
“Yes!”
After waiting in line for nearly half an hour, my turn had finally come. The bored looking guard called me forward.
I went through the gates as I was instructed and ended up in front of a reception counter. There was a different guard waiting here. A well dressed but grouchy looking official. He was probably a noble whose office included the management of guests.
“State your name and business.”
“I am Liliana Flohe. I was summoned here today by Lord Sylvester Brail.”
“…Lord Brail?”
I was suddenly being stared at rather suspiciously. It continued as his gaze brazenly inspected me up and down. Why on earth?
I had worn my best clothing as I was to visit the castle. Even my hair, which was blonde with a slight shade of pink had been combed more thoroughly than usual. It was sparkling even. I should not look like a suspicious person.
“And what business would a commoner like you have with Lord Brail?”
“It was I who was called. So I do not know the purpose…”
“I see no reason why his lordship would ever call for some commoner.”
“But, but even so…”
I myself would have liked to turn around and go home. But there was a reason why I could not do that.
“Oh, the letter! I have a letter from Lord Brail!”
I frantically remove the envelope from my bag, which the official quickly snatched away and inspected. He read it over and over and his eyes widened in surprise.
“…It’s real. This is definitely his seal.”
Serves you right! I don’t go quite so far, but I do feel a sense of relief due to his attitude.
Of course, it was his job to be suspicious of others. After all, it would cause quite the uproar were he to allow an actually dangerous person inside.
After receiving the entry permit, I followed after a guide who was assigned to me.
I wonder what the interior of the castle would be like? Was it really so very extravagant?
It was my first time entering a castle, and my uneasy gaze would constantly fly from one thing to the next.
However, the guide in front of me was now walking in the opposite direction of the castle.
“Um, the castle is down the opposite path?”
“This is the correct path.”
Was all the reply I received. Once I knew I was not to see the inside of the castle, my interest vanished in a blink.
We continued on and on until I began to become worried about just how far we were going. It continued on even further until a single building finally came into view.
It was a grand mansion, made of the same stone material as the castle. Behind the mansion, I could see a dense forest. This really was in the corner of the castle grounds.
We entered the front door after ringing the bell, and a pretty young woman appeared from a side room. She was wearing a light blue dress and had long, flaxen hair that was tied behind her back. The woman was shockingly beautiful.
“I have brought a guest for Lord Brail.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Even her smile was so beautiful that I nearly swooned. However, the voice that came from her mouth was lower than any women’s voice I had ever heard. In fact, it was the voice of a man.
Ahh, I understood it at once. I didn’t know if this was unfortunate or fortunate. It was complicated.
The guide left me with the young miss and left.
“Well, would you please follow me? You adorable young lady. Sylvester is out now. But he should be returning very soon.”
No matter how aware I was that it was only polite flattery, I was unaccustomed to being praised and could not help but feel bashful. Even more so because this person was so beautiful.
However, I was genuinely surprised when I saw the room that she led me to. While it did take the shape of a drawing room, there was baggage scattered all over the place. Numerous books were crudely stacked on top of each other. It did not seem like a room to invite people into.
“Forgive me. It is a little messy here. But this is actually an improvement compared to how it usually is.”
A little?
This is a little?
And an improvement?
In this state?
A chill went down my spine when I imagined what the room might usually look like.
While it was in a far corner, this was still a part of the castle. I had been expecting gorgeous furniture lined up beautifully. But I suppose that only happened in fairy tales.
But the tea set that the young miss brought out was something worthy of the royal palace. It had pretty little flowers painted on its white, porcelain surface. Once it was in the hand of the young miss, it was as if we were at a fancy tea party.
I chose a sofa that had the least amount of things covering it and picked up the expensive looking cup. I wonder how much just one cup would cost? Somehow, I doubted that a month of my salary would cover it.
The tea leaves were probably quite expensive as well. The fragrance was so different compared to the tea that I was used to drinking.
The taste must surely be delicious as well, I think as I take a sip.
“Gggg…!”
What was this…!
I nearly died in agony over how despicable it was. It was bitter. Too bitter.
“Wha-what is…”
“Dear me, was it not to your liking?”
“No, it’s not really a matter of liking, but…”
I took a peek inside of the teapot, and inside was an unfathomable amount of tea leaves. The lid of the teapot was even sitting atop of the leaves. Oh, God.
“You must forgive me. I’ve never poured tea in my life…”
Could such a person exist in this country, where tea was practically a substitute for water? Yes. There was such a person right in front of me.
Well, such a thing was more likely among nobles, I suppose.
Most of the people who worked here at the castle were of the noble class.
There were common folk too, but aside from those who were especially gifted, most were either soldiers or servants.
But this young miss must be a noble. The fact that she(?) didn’t know how to pour tea and her actions and words were proof of it.
The dress that she was wearing was not particularly elaborate, but judging by the materials and tailoring, it was of high quality. Only a noble would find it financially viable to wear something like that as everyday clothing.
And she had also referred to Lord Brail as ‘Sylvester.’ Not by his surname but his first name. She had also not added his title, which meant that she was likely his equal or even superior in status.
So that meant I had allowed a noblewoman to pour me some tea. A very high ranking one at that.
Hahahaha. I was in a near panic, but the young miss was cocking her head to the side as if not understanding what she had done wrong. The answer was the amount of tea leaves.
“Uh, um…”
“What is it?”
“May I make the tea?”
“Heavens! As if I could allow a guest to do such a thing.”
“It is fine, it is fine!”
It was I who was sorry to have allowed a noble to make me tea.
A new tea set was brought out and I prepared the tea in my usual, skillful manner.
“So you only need a small portion of the leaves.”
“Yes. Generally, one tablespoon is considered appropriate for a single person. As we are two, I shall use two spoonfuls.”
“Is that all one needs to observe?”
“It is most important to maintain a high temperature. Both the pot and the cups should be heated in advance. Then you must pour the boiling hot water into the pot with the tea leaves as quickly as you can. After that, place the tea cozy around the pot and wait for three to four minutes. Then it is complete.”
I offer the finished product to her.
“It’s delicious! It is completely different to what we’ve just been drinking.”
“Thank you very much.”
Thank goodness. It was to the noblewoman’s liking.
Now that I had received her seal of approval, I too could relax and drink.
But, just then.
“Ah, so you’ve already arrived then.”
A single man appeared.
Lord Sylvester Brail.
The person who had called me here.
