Chapter 58
One drink turned into two, and two drinks turned into three.
The customer could hold her liquor well.
Even as she continued to drink, her face didn’t change color, and she leisurely savored each taste.
‘She knows how to drink.’
As she drank more, her face brightened, and I got excited making cocktails. Sometimes, this kind of comfort is just what someone needs.
In the meantime, it became the fourth glass.
“This one is ‘Kir Royale.'”
I presented an elegant champagne glass.
“It’s a cocktail with a brilliant red color, like you.”
“It looks just like a ruby.”
The customer swirled the cocktail leisurely.
The Kir Royale, where the distinctive sweetness of crème de cassis meets champagne to create an exquisite taste.
A single cherry lay trapped beneath the rising bubbles like a gem, giving off a mysterious vibe.
It seemed to suit this customer perfectly.
‘What should I make for the next glass? She seems like she’d enjoy a tea cocktail too.’
But I didn’t have anything prepared. I didn’t expect to have the opportunity to make a tea cocktail.
‘Too bad. I should have prepared in advance. Then… Ah! I could use those frozen flower ice cubes I made last time?’
It had been a long time since I felt this motivated.
As ideas flooded my mind all at once, getting lost in this happy dilemma, suddenly—
“Haa…..”
The customer firmly set down her glass.
I looked at her in surprise to see tears streaming down her cheek.
“Customer?”
“Hic…..”
The customer didn’t wipe away her overflowing tears, her shoulders trembling slightly.
‘Even her crying face is as pure as a flower in full bloom!’
Ah, now’s not the time for such thoughts. I collected myself and offered a handkerchief. Right after, the customer began sobbing miserably.
Did she get drunk?
This suddenly?
But her complexion is still fine and she doesn’t seem drunk at all?
‘Could it be…’
She might be the type who suddenly gets completely drunk after crossing a certain threshold.
“Huwaahh!”
The customer who had been sniffling now outright collapsed onto the bar counter, crying.
“Am I going to die?”
“What? No! What are you saying?”
I flusteredly responded. How do I console her?
“I’m going to kill every woman who chases after Cedric’s tail…..”
“Calm down. Here, have some warm water first. It will settle your stomach.”
I handed her warm water which she gulped down in one go.
“Listen.”
“Yes, please tell me anything.”
“I truly love Cedric. He’s the only one for me!”
‘What’s so great about that scumbag!’
I swallowed the words that had risen to the tip of my tongue. For now, I decided to listen to the customer’s story quietly.
It seemed there was some backstory here.
“Cedric came from the slums. I felt sorry for the poor guy and took him in, and then fell in love with him…..”
The customer spoke in a low voice.
“But it turned out that man was actually a prince. Something about a lowly maid stealing a child.”
“So, there was a secret about his birth.”
“Yeah, I was surprised at first too.”
A faint smile touched the customer’s lips, as if reminiscing.
“I have a special power that helped Cedric. Even though he was reinstated as a prince, his claim to the throne was weak.”
However, in the next moment, the customer’s expression hardened. She grit her teeth and clenched her fists.
‘Ah, with those long nails, her palms must hurt.’
I gently took her hands to uncurl her fists, under the pretense of holding them.
“Thanks to me, Cedric was called the de facto crown prince. The date for his coronation was finally set. But then…”
Her cheeks were once again wet with tears as emotions overwhelmed her. I held her hand tightly to comfort her.
“He suddenly changed. He started seeing other women and comparing me to them? Even when I told him not to fool around, he shamelessly did whatever he wanted. ‘That girl is pretty and pure, not like you,’ he’d say……”
“How shameless.”
“No, it means he still has feelings for me, right? If it weren’t for those women flirting with him!”
The customer’s golden eyes burned with rage as she cried out.
“Um, customer….”
Suddenly, it’s not Cedric’s fault, but the women’s? The conversation was taking an unexpected turn.
“They must have tried to come between Cedric and me. I’ll find whichever bitch it is and destroy her!”
The customer shouted, her voice almost frantic.
“Then…Cedric will look only at me again, right?”
“That’s…”
Unable to respond, the customer’s expression became distorted.
“Everyone is afraid of me and avoids me, but Cedric was the only one who saw my true self.”
“Customer…”
“He said it didn’t matter who I was, he just loved me. Cedric was the only one who did. If he doesn’t look at only me again, I’ll bite through my own tongue and die.”
“Customer, please calm down.”
I was trying to calmly console the customer, but listening to her, I was also getting angry.
Cedric, that bastard—let’s say his change of heart couldn’t be helped. People’s feelings can’t remain forever after all.
But then he should have chosen to part ways like an adult. Instead of seeing other women while coming back to the customer when needed? Is he just keeping her on the hook?
Moreover, since he was caught flirting with me, he clearly had no intention of hiding it at all.
Cedric didn’t consider the hurt this pretty Unnie would feel at all.
‘What a piece of trash. Not only is he two-timing his lover, but he’s redirecting the rage that should be aimed at him towards other women instead?’
Shifting all the blame while he conveniently slips away? Acting like an innocent third party?
I was furious. Seeing this amazing woman suffer because of that trash.
“If that man truly saw your true self, would he have cheated on someone as wonderful as you? In the end, he’s just the same.”
I firmly continued.
“Forget about a guy like that. I’ll make you a dessert cocktail to help take your mind off things.”
“A dessert cocktail?”
Fortunately, the customer showed some curiosity.
“Yes. It’s sweet and will make you feel better.”
I took out some orange ice cubes I had frozen for fun.
‘Now, which glass should I use….’
I decided on a glass with a wide mouth and short height, like an affogato glass.
‘Since she’s drunk, keep the alcohol content low.’
I poured some crème de cassis into a mini jug.
The orange ice cubes must have melted a bit by now. I prodded them with a spoon—they had a sherbet-like texture.
‘Perfect.’
I spooned the orange ice into the glass. I garnished it with a long spoon and the mini jug of crème de cassis.
“It’s a ‘Cassis Orange’. Just pour the liqueur over and enjoy.”
Essentially an affogato style.
“It’s just frozen orange juice, isn’t it?”
The customer poured the crème de cassis over the orange with a disgruntled look. The murky purple of the cassis contrasted starkly with the vibrant orange.
“Heheh, try it.”
“Well, if you insist.”
The customer reluctantly took a spoonful after I cheerfully encouraged her.
As the orange ice melts in your mouth, it naturally blends with the crème de cassis for an even sweeter flavor.
A sweet-tart taste that’s like orange but also like cassis?
“!”
Surprise filled the customer’s golden eyes as she tasted the Cassis Orange.
‘Heheh, just as I expected.’
After that first taste, the customer’s spoon didn’t stop.
Watching her, I carefully spoke up.
“But customer, in my opinion…this is your boyfriend’s fault.”
Bang!
Before I could even finish, the customer glared at me as she flung her spoon away.
“Why! If only there were no other women chasing his tail, Cedric wouldn’t have changed!”
“It’s his fault for falling for it.”
I firmly countered, and the customer bit her lower lip in vexation.
“To begin with, your boyfriend also flirted with me. He’s just that kind of person.”
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⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊ Translator Note ₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆
The Kir Royale is a classic French cocktail made by combining crème de cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur, with champagne. Named after Félix Kir, a former mayor of Dijon, this elegant and festive drink is a variation of the traditional Kir, which is made with white wine instead of champagne. The Kir Royale is typically served in a champagne flute, showcasing its sparkling effervescence and deep reddish hue. Its delightful balance of sweetness from the crème de cassis and the crisp, dry notes of the champagne make it a popular choice for celebrations and special occasions.
The Cassis Orange is a refreshing and fruity cocktail that combines the sweet and tangy flavors of crème de cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur, with freshly squeezed orange juice. This drink is known for its vibrant, deep reddish-purple color, contrasted by the bright orange hue. Typically served over ice in a highball glass, the Cassis Orange is a delightful blend that offers a balanced taste of sweetness and citrusy freshness. It’s a perfect choice for a light and enjoyable drink, especially popular in Japan and other parts of Asia for its easy preparation and delicious flavor.
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Thank you for reading! ♡
