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chapter 31
Ten days later, a single piece of mail arrived by chance: Angelo’s letter of acceptance. Even as he held it in his hands, Angelo still looked completely overwhelmed in front of Lynette.
“I just kind of submitted it without thinking, and it actually got approved. So Angelo’s going to be Kevin’s senior, huh.”
Lynette chuckled softly and handed the acceptance letter to Angela. Angela was overjoyed, almost bouncing with happiness, but her worried gaze kept returning to Angelo. His listless, drained posture tugged at her heart.
“By the way, Lady Lynette, how are you so good with a wooden sword?”
“Well… I’d like to know that myself.”
It was clear she wasn’t a knight, yet she handled a wooden sword so skillfully and knew quite a lot about the knight academy.
“Did you perhaps work there before…?”
“Angela, sometimes people have secrets they want to keep hidden. So let’s end today’s questioning here and get back to work.”
Ten days later, Angelo went to the Knight Academy with his tuition. While living there, he was allowed to go out twice a month. Attending a boarding-style academy designed to control students seemed to require some preparation.
“What should I bring when I go there?”
“The basic tools are provided, but some people like to bring personal items. At the very least, some casual clothes and shoes, basic daily necessities… and…”
Lynette paused while making coffee, glanced back, and frowned slightly.
Why the hell is that guy coming here?
If no one were around, she would have muttered it aloud. But since it wasn’t suitable for Angela’s upbringing, she stayed silent.
“Welcome. What can I get for you?”
Angela spoke in Lynette’s stead. Edgar’s gaze shifted from Angela to Lynette.
“Alice told me this coffee shop has been really popular lately. Order whatever you want—I’ll pay.”
Not just Edgar, but the others came along too. With four guys in the small shop, it already looked crowded. They were all built the same—buff, muscular guys who stuck to their own group.
“I’ll have a caramel macchiato. Alice tried it and said it’s the best.”
“You mean Alice, the florist’s daughter you’re dating? Hmm… I’m not usually into places like this, but since your girlfriend recommended it, I’ll try one. Latte with milk, please.”
“Then what should I have… miss, what’s good?”
While ordering, one suddenly spoke casually to Lynette. Seeing Edgar’s slick-looking classmate, Lynette smiled.
“It depends on your taste, but if it’s your first time here, you can choose from the menu. The flavor descriptions are listed.”
Lynette opened the menu in front of him. A man touched it with his palm and gave a sly smile.
“What would you recommend for a lady?”
“I usually drink it straight, but of course, that option isn’t on the menu here. First-time visitors can’t drink it.”
Except for tasting tests, she didn’t usually drink coffee straight. But since the man’s demeanor was annoying, she mentioned espresso, which he wouldn’t normally be able to drink.
“Then I’ll try that. If no one else drinks it, I might as well challenge myself.”
“Hey! Andrew, are you sure about that? Don’t get cocky.”
A friend beside him tried to stop him, but Andrew was stubborn. Lynette silently reminded herself not to regret it as she took his order.
“By the way, miss, do you have a boyfriend?”
“That has nothing to do with coffee.”
“Come on, why not tell me? I don’t usually ask….”
“Ah! I’ll have a Sepiano. Moderate syrup, please.”
Seeing Andrew being persistent, Edgar stepped in, pushing his friend aside. Lynette let out a small chuckle, sending a glance that said stick to your group. Edgar just awkwardly smiled under her sharp gaze.
“One macchiato, one latte, one espresso, one Sepiano. That’s correct, right? Please wait a moment; I’ll prepare them.”
‘Please, just pick one or two…’ Lynette muttered to herself but brewed the coffee anyway. She placed the four cups on a tray.
“Angela, could you…?”
“Four cups? If a child carried this, it would spill. Better if you bring it yourself, miss.”
Her forehead seemed about to vein up from the effort, but luckily her bangs hid it. Lynette carried the tray herself, leaving Angela frozen, unsure what to do.
“Here’s your coffee. Enjoy.”
Except for you.
In front of Andrew, who was wearing a smug grin, she placed a highly concentrated espresso. Her bright smile seemed to say, taste life’s bitterness properly. She imagined him screaming as he sipped, when suddenly her sleeve was grabbed.
Andrew had grabbed Lynette’s sleeve as she set down the espresso. She tried to pull away, but it wouldn’t budge.
“Why don’t you sit next to me and have a drink? I’ll buy it.”
This isn’t a bar.
“I don’t drink with customers. I’m working right now.”
Lynette refused, glaring as if to say there’s no reason to share coffee with someone who can’t even buy a cup.
“You’re really dodging, huh? Aren’t customers kings?”
“No, not here. I hope you’re not planning a rebellion right now.”
“No, I just… um, never mind! Ahem!”
Andrew coughed awkwardly at her response. Even as a palace knight, he had no right to call himself a king. Lynette, seeing his audacity, immediately pulled her hand back and created distance.
“By the way, miss, what about service for us? Other tables have cookies.”
“Sorry, I forgot because I was talking too much. I’ll bring them soon. Cookies are light, so our young staff can carry them along with the coffee. Enjoy.”
Lynette placed cookies in a small basket for Angela to deliver. To prepare for a brief break, Lynette nibbled a cookie herself.
“Ah! What is this? Why is this coffee so bitter! Ugh!”
Andrew flailed from the espresso’s impact, then quickly sat down when he noticed other customers watching.
“Andrew, didn’t the boss warn you? You ignored it.”
“I told you not to get cocky! Really, fix that attitude of yours.”
His friends shook their heads as Andrew searched for water.
“Who could have expected this… Alright, miss! Something else, a latte? Yeah, that’s good. Latte, please.”
“That’ll be 35 bron.”
“Here, I have money. Take the latte and go.”
Lynette bit her lip at how reckless these knights were. Though they weren’t in uniform, people probably guessed they were knights by their behavior. She made the latte carefully and had Angela serve it.
She also sent Angela to get cookies for service. Since Lynette forgot to buy them yesterday, she had to work alone. She cleared tables and trays efficiently, but a strange vibe made her pause.
That bastard!
Andrew was staring in a disturbingly lecherous way. Lynette gritted her teeth but endured it.
“Miss, if you don’t have a boyfriend, want to meet me after work?”
Andrew reached out, but Edgar intervened, grabbing his hand.
“Andrew, even if your hands wander, must you do this here? This is a tea house, not a bar.”
“Alright, alright. You’re the uptight one here. You’re the only one drinking alone at a bar. Fine, fine.”
Edgar slammed a Sepiano cup on the table to emphasize his point. Andrew reluctantly sat down.
Even though Lynette had tried to avoid them coming here, she had no choice when Andrew insisted.
“Edgar’s right, behave. Your hands are dirty enough as it is.”
Another friend chimed in, and Andrew snorted. He stretched his legs as Lynette carried the empty cups on a tray. She quickly dodged his kick, barely maintaining balance.
Clink.
A cup shattered. Instinctively, Lynette’s right hand hit the floor to brace herself, wincing from pain. She wrapped it with her left hand.
“Oh dear, stretching without thinking… I’m sorry.”
She felt her temper flare. There was no other explanation than that he did it on purpose. She wanted to curse, but thinking of Edgar, she restrained herself.
“Andrew, that looks intentional.”
Edgar’s voice deepened. The friends shook their heads, realizing he was angry.
“So what? Just pay for the cup. Is that enough?”
Andrew threw coins on the floor instead of handing them properly. Lynette glared at him coldly.
“Ugh! How could anyone come here looking at you like that?”
Anger surged in her. She kicked the coin toward Andrew.
“I don’t need your petty change! If you do something like this again, I’ll report it directly to the Royal Knights!”
Andrew finally frowned, startled. He had tried to hide his identity by not wearing a uniform.
The Royal Knights valued honor. Such behavior was unacceptable. If the victim complained, the offender would face at least a month of probation.
“How did you know we’re knights?”
“Seriously? Can’t you tell from all those muscles?!”
Realizing he wouldn’t get any favor, Andrew gulped his coffee and left. Edgar slowly got up and handed Lynette something.
“Sorry.”
It was a small tube of pain-relieving ointment. Lynette quietly laughed.
As Edgar left, Andrew muttered lecherously, “But that girl… she’s really pretty. Big chest too. My type. Gonna catch her…”
Edgar quickly removed a glove and smacked Andrew in the face with it. Andrew glared at him.
“You bastard! Duel me! I’ll forgive you once, but not a second time!”
“You’re crazy! A duel?!”
Edgar shouted, and Andrew stepped back.
“That girl is my sister, you idiot.”
