Chapter 100 - The Path of Tea is Steep
This is the 100th post. Thank you as always!
After that, while I was talking to Fiona-san about our daily life and Flora's behavior, Flora, who had been sleeping on my lap, woke up naturally.
Flora had sleepy eyes for a while, but when she realized she had been sleeping on my lap, she smiled bashfully.
"...Ehehe."
Flora is incredibly cute.
"It's not 'ehehe.' Wake up, Aldo-san can't move if you're sleeping the whole time."
"Fueeh! Mother!? Why!?"
Flora, who had been wearing an innocent smile, sat up vigorously when Fiona-san spoke. It seemed to be the most agile movement Flora had ever made.
"What do you mean 'why'? I told you I was coming."
Hearing Fiona-san's somewhat exasperated voice, Flora checked the clock.
The time was already a little past noon. Seeing that, Flora turned back toward me vigorously.
"Aldo-san! Why didn't you wake me up!?"
"Sorry, sorry. When I gave you a lap pillow, I fell asleep too..."
"It's because I said it was fine to leave her as she was. Don't blame Aldo-san."
When I apologized, Fiona-san spoke as if to support me.
"...Y-Yes."
When told that much, Flora apparently couldn't speak strongly and calmed down.
Then, as if to change the atmosphere, Fiona-san clapped her hands.
"More importantly, Elgis will be here in a little while. It's already lunchtime, so please prepare lunch."
"Ah, that's right!"
Hearing Fiona-san's words, Flora began to move briskly and put on her apron.
I also stood up to help with the lunch cooking, but Flora stopped me.
"Ah, Aldo-san, please keep Mother and Father, who will be here later, company. Most of the preparation is already done, so it's not that much trouble."
It's true that it's not good to leave Fiona-san, who is a guest, and Elgis-san, who is coming soon, alone. In Fiona-san's case, I haven't even served a cup of tea, so I should be the one to keep them company here.
"I understand, I'll leave it to you. If you want help, feel free to say so."
"Thank you very much."
Flora answered with a smile and began putting away the souvenirs she received from Fiona-san on the shelf. It seems she won't be using the souvenirs she brought.
While Flora was sorting them out, I boiled water and prepared new tea.
For now, until the water boils, I'll talk with Fiona-san.
Thinking that, I returned to the sofa when the front door was knocked.
"Aldo-san? I'm late, it's Elgis!"
"Ah, yes! I'll open it now."
It seems Elgis-san has arrived this time.
"Ufufu, it's suddenly become lively, hasn't it?"
Watching our scene, Fiona-san murmured happily.
It's exactly as she says, but this is fun in its own way. Is it because it's an orderly liveliness, different from the usual Toak, Aisha, and Kurune?
While thinking that, I prepared the slippers and opened the front door.
There stood Elgis-san, holding a wine bottle.
"Ah, I'm sorry for being late. I had some work to do."
"No, no, please don't worry about it. Please, come in."
I know the circumstances, and talking outside is tiring.
To make up for what I couldn't do for Fiona-san, I guided Elgis-san as best as I could. Though it was a relatively short distance from the entrance to the living room.
"Aldo-san, this is a ten-year-old wine from Aisha-chan's place. You seemed to like it when you first drank it, so I brought it."
Saying that, Elgis-san offered the wine.
Looking at the label on the wine bottle, it said Nordende.
"It's a ten-year-old one, is that okay!?"
Elgis-san is a huge wine lover. Even so, is it okay to open a ten-year-old wine for us?
"These things are meant to be opened to make fun times even more fun."
Elgis-san said as if my concern was unnecessary.
I was happier than anything by Elgis-san's feelings and words.
"It's fine. I still have plenty of ten-year and twenty-year ones left."
When I was trembling with emotion, Elgis-san said somewhat proudly.
Yeah, as I thought, Elgis-san is quite a wine lover. He likely has many wines stored other than Nordende.
For now, I received the wine and placed it on the table.
Today is a dinner party where the whole family gathers. It should be fine to drink lightly even from midday.
"My, Aldo-san's house has changed quite a bit too. I only saw it when Aldo-san moved in and when Flora moved in, so I'm surprised."
"That's right. Until recently, perhaps because no one was using it, ivy was even crawling on the outside walls."
"Ah, but looking closely, there are many of our things. This carpet, for example, was in Flora's room, wasn't it?"
"Yes. Thanks to that, it somehow doesn't feel like someone else's house."
Elgis-san and Fiona-san had such a conversation while sitting on the sofa. It's good that they seem very relaxed.
Watching the two of them, the sound of boiling water occurred, so I headed to the kitchen.
Then I prepared the tableware and brewed tea for three people.
I was nervous because there were people here who were far better at brewing tea than I was, but I couldn't let the busy Flora or the guests, Fiona-san and the others, do it.
I brewed the tea, mobilizing all the knowledge Flora had taught me.
And when the tea set was ready, I put it on a tray and brought it to Fiona-san and Elgis-san.
"I'm sorry for the wait. Here's the tea."
"Thank you."
"Thank you very much."
When I offered the tea, Fiona-san and Elgis-san bowed their heads politely.
As expected, the two with polite manners looked like a well-matched couple when standing together.
While thinking that, I sat down on the opposite sofa.
Fiona-san and Elgis-san didn't suddenly drink the tea or add honey or sugar; they tilted their teacups and enjoyed the scent of the tea.
Both of them are very good at brewing tea, so I'm nervous.
After a while, the two of them slowly took the tea into their mouths.
"...I'm not as good at brewing it as everyone else, but how is the taste?"
When I asked timidly, Fiona-san and Elgis-san smiled brightly.
"I've had the tea Aldo-san brewed before, but you've improved a lot. The original taste of the tea leaves is coming out well, and it's delicious."
"Yes, it's very delicious. Aldo-san. Surely, Aldo-san, you must have a good sense of taste."
"Thank you. I was taught by Flora."
That's good. It seems I've reached the basic standard of the two who could be called tea professionals.
Seeing the two of them drinking with satisfaction, I let out a sigh of relief.
"However, it was steeped a bit too long. If you had brewed it a little sooner, it would have had a more natural taste."
Fiona-san pointed out with a smile.
As expected, Fiona-san, who enjoyed tea every day, wasn't easy on me.
When I turned my gaze toward Elgis-san, he nodded as if to agree while giving a wry smile.
It seems I still need more training to make the two of them groan in admiration.
I'll have to serve it to Toak, Aisha, and Kurune too, and practice brewing delicious tea.
Next, a bit of a story about negotiations is planned to come out briefly.