OCOB 38

Chapter : 38

Milena seemed to ponder for a moment before nodding.

“Hmm, yes. I was curious myself, after all…”

Yes!

I cheered inwardly and flashed a bright smile.

Baron Antonio, who had been carefully watching the mood between us, quickly chimed in.

“In that case, Miss Token, you may use the Viola family’s kitchen.”

The kitchen?

Did he just say the kitchen?

An opportunity like this had to be seized without a second thought!

I turned to Milena with sparkling eyes.

“Oh my, would that really be all right, Madam?”

“W-well… yes, then.”

When I asked with an innocent expression, Milena reluctantly granted permission to use the kitchen.

I followed a maid toward the kitchen.

Ah, I wonder what they have there? What kind of drink should I make?

“Hmm~”

A little hum escaped me from excitement.

Of course, I always carried my “drip coffee kit” (a set consisting of ground beans, a small metal pot, and a kettle), so I could simply make coffee…

But honestly, I was very curious.

In a world where beverage production had become a problem, how exactly were people drinking beverages?

Thinking back, even at the restaurant I visited with Milrun, there had only been two options.

Water and sparkling water.

At more formal restaurants, they would add a slice of lemon to the water for variation.

At first, I hadn’t thought it strange.

I hadn’t even realized that black tea was nowhere to be seen.

It was only after hearing Iliana’s story about the “disaster” that I understood the earlier signs.

There truly were no drinks here other than water and sparkling water!

That was why I had grown even more curious while preparing for the tea party.

How on earth did the nobles enjoy tea parties after the disaster?

A “tea” party without tea was unthinkable… Did they have some other way of enjoying it?

Well, my curiosity had been building up.

And now, by gaining Milena’s interest, I’d been given the perfect chance to find out.

If I let this opportunity slip, that wouldn’t be me.

Once I stepped into the Viola family’s kitchen, I’d finally get my answer!

The moment I entered, I began looking around.

“Oh…”

The Viola family’s kitchen felt extremely well organized. It was completely different from Freesia’s cozy kitchen, which carried the warmth of frequent use.

This one felt more like the kitchen of a restaurant that would rank among Tyrone’s top eateries.

That was how spotless it was—without a speck of dust, perfectly arranged.

As I stood there admiring it, someone came to stand beside me.

It was a man dressed as a chef, about my height.

“So, what do you think? My kitchen.”

“…Are you the head chef here?”

“Yes, I’m the head chef. The name’s Hesse Brington. Just call me Hesse.”

“Ah, I’m Layla Token. Please call me comfortably as well.”

“Alright, Layla.”

Hesse immediately held out his hand with a bright grin. What a bold personality. I shook his hand and smiled kindly.

“But you’re the head chef here? You look young.”

“Ha! I was wondering when that would come up. Everyone says that first when they see me. I do have a baby face.”

“Hmm…”

“If you deny it there, I’ll look ridiculous, Layla.”

“You definitely look young, Hesse.”

“Right, right.”

Looking at him now, he really did suit this clean kitchen.

“Our family’s known for cooking, and I’ve been good at it since I was young. So the Baron hired me. He treats me very well—I’m quite satisfied.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Since you’ve come all the way here… I suppose you’re in charge of the Rose Garden Tea Party this time?”

“Yes, I’ll be preparing it.”

The moment I finished speaking, Hesse looked at me with pity. As if that wasn’t enough, he even patted my shoulder a couple of times.

“Do your best. It won’t be easy.”

“…I’ll try my best. Actually, there’s something I want to ask.”

“Ask anything.”

“How does the Viola family handle beverages?”

“Oh, drinks? We just serve water or sparkling water.”

I see. So even a noble household isn’t any different.

I nodded slightly.

Then the tea party mission should go smoothly. If I just prepare coffee or black tea properly, it’ll be revolutionary to these people!

But Hesse soon added something else.

“Though in high-ranking noble families—marquis or duke houses—they probably drink coffee or black tea. Well… wine or drinks that require even more effort are only available at the royal palace.”

That was news to me.

I thought no one in the Kingdom of Zenen could enjoy tea or alcohol… but that’s not it?

As confusion spread across my face, Hesse gave me a mischievous smile. He looked like he was debating whether to share what he knew.

My eyebrows naturally furrowed into a worried crease. I urged him silently with my expression to hurry up, and he chuckled before explaining.

“If you import only a very tiny amount, apparently it’s fine.”

“Importing is fine?”

“More like turning a blind eye. If you sneak in very small quantities—like dried leaves or roasted powder—it’s acceptable. But the difficulty is high, so unless you’re a wealthy high noble, you can’t manage it.

Even our Baron Antonio tried and lost quite a bit of money. And even if you manage to get some, you have to consume it all within a day. Otherwise it spoils. And it’s not like tea leaves or coffee beans import successfully every time.”

He spoke rapidly, almost like rapping, but he explained it clearly enough that I understood.

So high nobles only get to drink it occasionally.

They had found their own methods, after all.

As I nodded faintly, another question came to mind.

“Then what about the royal family?”

If the frequency increased with higher status, what about those at the very top?

Ultimately, to achieve what this game wanted, I would have to win over the royal family. So I needed to gather as much information as possible.

And I happened to be talking to someone full of information.

Hesse hesitated briefly, then shrugged.

“Layla, do you know how much money the royal family poured into the Temple of Dael? Even a god should grant them that much.”

“Ah…”

“Maybe it’s thanks to their generous donations, but they say beverages can be made inside the royal palace. I’ve heard even the royal knights brew their own drinks. My father works at the palace, so I’m pretty knowledgeable in this area.”

Come to think of it, Walter and Lev—the first ones I served coffee to—were royal knights.

Was that why they hadn’t reacted so strongly when I brewed coffee? Or perhaps they assumed the disaster hadn’t reached the outskirts of the capital.

Well, anyway—

So the royal family still drinks it even now.

The higher you go, the higher the difficulty.

I nodded slightly.

Later, I should ask Antonio about the scale of this tea party and who will be attending.

Once I confirmed that, I’d need to make a detailed plan. I had intended to prepare broadly and fill in the rest later, but that might not be enough.

I continued asking Hesse various questions, learning about the kitchen.

In particular, he explained the Viola family’s tastes in detail.

They liked sweets more than I expected. They preferred bitter flavors over sour ones.

Then he showed me the remaining beverage-making tools stored in the kitchen.

“I organized them all on one side, thinking they might be useful someday. There’s no tea or coffee beans… but we do have milk and fruits. Use whatever you need.”

“Really?”

“Use anything. If you’re preparing that tea party, you should get familiar with this kitchen as soon as possible.”

“Understood, Hesse.”

He gave me a wink and returned to his place.

It was nearly time to start preparing dinner.

Considering how long meals took to prepare here, it wasn’t early at all.

Hesse began commanding the entire kitchen. A head chef indeed.

I lightly tapped my cheeks with my palms.

“I should hurry too.”

I had wasted quite a bit of time asking questions. If I didn’t present something soon, the favor I had built up would plummet.

After bracing myself, I moved quickly.