Chapter 14
***
“Ugh, I’m tired.”
After working nonstop for hours, Chloe came out into the hallway, saying she wanted to take a break. Her head was pounding.
“Madam, are you okay? Should I prepare some medicine?”
Ellie, whom she had brought out, asked worriedly. Chloe smiled as if to tell her not to worry.
“No, it’s okay. I’d rather have a cup of tea than medicine right now.”
Although she didn’t show it, Ellie’s heart raced at those words. Trying to shake off her anticipation, she asked.
“You would like some tea? What kind of tea would you like, madam?”
Chloe chuckled inwardly at her emotions in hee voice that was clearly leaking out, even though it seemed like she was trying to suppress her anticipation.
She was grateful and also thought it was cute that Ellie liked her tea.
“Well? You’ll see soon. You can look forward to it.”
They gathered the necessary tea leaves and went down to the kitchen.
Chloe now found the teapot quite skillfully and prepared the tea. She asked the kitchen maid to bring her some milk. Before long, fresh, thick milk was ready.
Ellie was watching her work with curious eyes. Chloe explained.
“I’m going to put milk in my black tea from now on.”
“Huh? Milk in your tea?”
Ellie looked surprised.
Chloe poured twice as much tea leaves as she usually did into a third of the cup of hot water. Now she had to wait five or six minutes for it to steep sufficiently.
“I, that, but madam… Putting milk in black tea is a bit… Is that really tasty?”
It was not that she didn’t understand Ellie’s reaction. In a neighborhood where there was no concept of putting milk in black tea, the idea of it would sound bazaar and unfamiliar.
Instead of explaining in detail, Chloe just strained the tea, which had turned a deep brown color, through a strainer and poured in some warm milk, smiling.
“So you’re not going to drink?”
“That is…”
Ellie paused. It was obvious she had caught the scent of the tea.
The tea Chloe brewed today was a caramel and chocolate flavored tea. The sweet aroma of caramel and chocolate filled the kitchen with warmth.
‘The fragrant dessert flavor of a rich base black tea like Assam goes best with milk tea.’1Assam tea is a black tea named after a place in India and could be said to be a breakfast tea according to Wikipedia.
Chloe thought with a pleased look.
‘And when you’re feeling tired, there’s nothing better than warm, sweet milk tea.’
Chloe stirred the teapot with enough sugar, placed the teacups and teapot on a tray, and took them to the living room. Of course, Ellie carried the tray for her.
When they arrived at the reception room, Ellie waited for Madam to serve her tea with a look of impatience on her face making her appear rather fierce.
“It smells really, really good. How can it be so sweet?”
Ellie clenched her fists and said. Chloe smiled and poured milk tea into her cup. Ellie quickly took the cup and blew on it, taking a sip.
“Ah, my goodness. This is…!”
Her eyes opened wide.
“It’s so… so delicious!”
Chloe followed suit and drank her milk tea, feeling satisfied.
The taste of strong black tea and soft milk, the sweet scent of chocolate and caramel stimulated Chloe’s taste buds and sense of smell.
The scent of dessert filling her nasal passages, the sweetness of sugar that went well with it, and the warm warmth filling her stomach.
Chloe became happy all of a sudden.
“Oh, how can there be such a delicious drink?”
Ellie said in a trembling voice.
“I’ve never had anything like this before. It’s a completely new taste! Madam, you’re like a magician!”
She looked like she was almost crying. Chloe felt embarrassed by her strong reaction.
“Yeah, it’s been a while since I made it and it’s really delicious.
“Next time, I should make a drink for the Duke too.”
***
Finally, the day of the party arrived.
Chloe looked around with a proud look on her face.
For this party, she had completely rearranged the furniture in the reception room.
She had to change it. To go along with the white hydrangeas and asteraceae in full bloom.
The decorated reception room was beautiful and smelled good.
She invited a small group of about 20 people.
As time passed, guests began to arrive one after another.
“Oh, Lady Battenberg. Thank you for inviting me to the tea party.”
“I am very pleased to have you, Lady Ackerman.”
As each guest arrived, Chloe personally greeted them.
“Oh my, Lady Battenberg.”
Lady Belladonna, who had previously invited Chloe to a tea party, approached her with a faint smile.
“Thank you for inviting me. These are the finest coffee beans from Amencia that my father obtained through the upper echelons. I brought them to you as a thank you for inviting me.”
“Oh my, and even a gift. Thank you, Your ladyship. Since the lady had invited me, it is only natural that I should invite your ladyship as well.”
Chloe said with a grin. Lady Belladonna asked with one corner of her mouth raised haughtily.
“You still… what do they call it… tea? Are you enjoying those dried leaves?”
“Yes. We have some good tea, and we plan to serve it at today’s tea party.”
“Oh, my… I don’t know about other people, but I’m not used to the drinks of barbarians yet. I wonder if it will suit my taste, which is accustomed to coffee.”
Chloe smiled, not caring what she said.
“So, I tried to choose teas that would appeal to first-time drinkers as much as possible, and I hope you like them. Oh, Lady Belladonna, would you please step aside now? There are many people waiting behind your ladyship.”
Lady Belladonna, who didn’t even realize that there was a line behind her waiting to talk to Chloe, was startled and stepped aside.
After all greetings were done the guests had been let into the reception room, Chloe went to the kitchen to make a final check to make sure all the refreshments were ready.
Of course, she didn’t forget to check the tea, which was the thing she wanted to show off the most today.
Chloe took a deep breath. However, she wasn’t that nervous. It was easier than standing in front of dozens of people at work and giving presentations.
She returned to the reception room and appeared before the guests.
“Thank you so much for coming to my tea party today. I hope you feel comfortable and enjoy it to your heart’s content.”
As luck would have it, the maids began to bring out side dishes. They were tea snacks that were slightly sweet and not too strong in flavor, and that would enhance the tea.
However, the guests’ eyes were more drawn to the tea set on the table than to the tea snacks. That was understandable, because the tea set looked so unique and exotic.
“Oh my, that cup is very unique. It doesn’t even have a handle.”
“The kettle is also very uniquely shaped.”
Chloe explained with a smile.
“These tea sets are imported from On, made of blue and white porcelain. Look at the glossy white porcelain and beautiful blue patterns. The glaze is perfect, and the curves are flawless. Don’t you feel the unique charm of the East?”
At those words, the guests carefully looked at the tea sets. Indeed, the porcelain from On, a country with a porcelain powerhouse, was attractive with its graceful shapes and elegant colors and patterns. It had a fresh charm that was different from the Western porcelains that were glazed with minerals such as lead.
The guests were amazed.
“It’s true, the subtle glaze sheen is luxurious.”
“The pattern is really delicate. I want to have such a wonderful piece of porcelain.”
“Oriental ceramics are not only beautiful in shape, but they are also made with natural glazes such as stone and wood ash, so they are safe to use as tableware, are sturdy, and are heat-resistant. It is a manufacturing method that reflects the unique philosophy of the East, which views nature not as something to be conquered, but as something to coexist with.”
As Chloe explained without hesitation, the faces of the guests gradually became more and more amazed. What they had thought were just strangely shaped ceramic cups and teapots began to feel like beautiful and fresh, unique foreign artifacts through her explanation.
Meanwhile, there was one person who did not like such compliments from the guests. It was Lady Belladonna who spoke in an unpleasant tone.
“Huh, but isn’t On a barbaric country? I heard that the people of the East are barbaric and irrational. They are short, have yellow skin, and slit eyes, and they live an uncivilized life, sitting on the floor and sleeping lying down?”
Chloe didn’t like those words. It was so discriminatory and rude, but she hid her feelings and answered in a calm tone.
“Well, I don’t think the people of the East are uncivilized. They have developed a unique and profound culture. Would you like to experience that culture?”
As she said that, she clapped her hands and the kitchen maids brought a teapot and hot water. Chloe made tea right there in the oriental teapot.
“Oh my…! What a unique and elegant movement.”
“I had no idea that Madame Battenberg had such skills.”
The guests’ chatter was clearly filled with goodwill.
As soon as the tea was ready, maids carried teapots and poured tea for the guests.
The noble ladies looked at the light yellow tea with curiosity.
