NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9 - Part 2
Chapter 9 – Part 2
As Edgar sat by the window drinking his coffee, someone walked in.
“Nickson? Why did the butler come here?
“It’s my day off, so I wanted to have some tea. I didn’t know this was Miss Lynet’s shop.”
Upon receiving a look that said not to lie, Nickson’s eyes met Edgar’s. He seemed like he wasn’t the first customer.
Lynet, having brewed the coffee a bit lighter since it was their first time, didn’t take the money Nickson offered.
“It’s okay. If you have money to spare for this while being a wage earner, you should buy snacks for your grandson.”
Nixon shoved the money into his pocket. Not long ago, he had been told that when he got home, his grandson’s jokes would kill him.
“But it’s your first customer today…”
“What are you talking about? I’m the first customer, so just do as Lynet says.”
When Edgar muttered under his breath from a corner, Nixon chuckled. Holding the coffee he had never tasted before, Nixon sat down at the adjacent table.
Nixon smirked at Edgar, who was drinking coffee in the corner. Nixon sat down at the table next to him, holding a cup of coffee he’d never had before.
When he first heard about Lynet’s tea shop, he shook his head. She’d never had a social life, and the idea of a tearoom didn’t make sense to her.
He initially thought Lynet was being capricious or rebellious against her father. However, upon coming here, he felt a different atmosphere.
Usually a teahouse would have a fresh scent, but this one had an old-fashioned aroma. It was like a perfume that made people’s hearts flutter.
After hurriedly drinking the coffee, Nickson promised to spread the word. Lynet asked him not to mention that she was of noble blood.
If a nobleman were known to run such a tea shop, they would become a laughingstock in society. Moreover, commoners would be intimidated and hesitant to come. So, she asked him to keep her status hidden and just spread the word.
After seeing Nickson off to the door, Lynet quickly stood up when a new customer appeared.
“Welcome. What can I get you?”
Smiling kindly and asking, the customer also smiled and looked at the menu.
“Is this the coffee that can only be tasted in the Sepia Empire? I happened to pass by and wanted to taste it for myself after hearing rumors about it.”
A real customer had come in. After looking at the menu, the customer made their choice.
“Please give me a cup of Sepiano.”
Instead of an Americano, he ordered a coffee named “Sepiano”
As Lynet took the 30 bronze the customer was about to give her, a golden coin was placed on top. While prices were relatively low compared to modern times, 1 bronze was equivalent to 1 cent, 1 silver was equivalent to $100, and 1 gold was equivalent to $10,000.
So, this was like drinking a $30 coffee and giving a check for $1 million.
“Oh my, sir. What should I do? I don’t have change for this.”
“You can just take it since I’m the first customer. You don’t need to give me change. I really… I really liked it.”
The awakening effect of the coffee he had tasted for the first time seemed to have caused some side effects.
“Oh my, my! It’s so exciting! To think you would give a whole gold for it. It really makes my heart flutter.”
While ordinary tea cost about 10 bronze, coffee was a bit more expensive. So, after drinking the expensive coffee and receiving a gold coin, the customer who had been watching suddenly seemed to gain faith in the taste of the coffee.
Reluctantly taking the gold coin, Lynet gave the customer the price of the Sepiano and handed them the coffee. As the customer sat down where Edgar had been sitting and took a sip, they exclaimed in admiration.
“This is a combination of sweet and bitter, a nice balance of flavors. Later, when I’m more tolerant, I’d like to try a pure sepiano without syrup.”
Lynet smiles broadly, relieved to see that her customer liked it, rather than frowning. Now all that was left was word of mouth.
“Still, it seems that the gentleman thinks a lot about you, Miss. Giving such a large sum of money and all.”
“I must have eaten something wrong for breakfast.”
It didn’t seem to be the case at all. Edgar, who had just come out from outside, said so.
“Ugh! What to do when there are no customers. But if I tell my friends, they’ll all come here. And those brats will bother Lynet if they get infatuated with her.”
Despite appearing worried, Katrine smiled faintly as she thought of Edgar giving it to his sister.
After the first satisfied smile of the true first customer, Lynet smiled brightly as she left. It had been a while since then, but no one else had come in. Just as she was about to close shop for the day, someone else came in.
“Welcome, sir!”
The sturdy man, wearing a deep hat, hesitated as he looked at Lynet. Seeing that, Lynet grinned. Somehow, his appearance didn’t seem unfamiliar.
“Have you ever tasted coffee before?”
Nodding slowly, the man smiled back and looked at the menu.
“In that case, let me explain in detail what the flavors are.”
Listening to Lynet’s explanation, the man cautiously pointed to the cafe latte with his finger. Since it was his first time, Lynet added syrup. After settling the bill, Lynet made the coffee and handed it to the customer.
The man with the caffe latte nodded. Lynet looked at him and asked cautiously.
“What do you think it tastes like?”
The man was silent for a moment, then moved his lips thoughtfully.
“It’s soft and sweet, but it tastes like a first love that you can’t resist because you’re so thirsty.”
“Dum spiro spero”