Chapter 84
“Welcome… Oh, Unnie!”
I jumped up to greet her. My mood, which had been down, instantly lifted at Sylvie’s visit.
“Our Sena. What were you doing?”
Sylvie approached me and asked, glancing at the door where my gaze had been fixed.
“I was looking at the sand.”
“The sand? Why?”
“Just because I was bored. Somehow today it’s especially quiet with no customers.”
“Hehe. That’s why your sister rushed over.”
Sylvie sat down first, hiding both hands behind her back. Sensing she wanted me to notice something, I glanced at her hands as I moved behind the bar counter.
“Oh? You seem a bit different today.”
“My, you noticed already? I got my nails done today.”
As Sylvie splayed out her fingers to show me, I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
On a vivid red background, there were tiny cherries and rising bubbles. This was clearly!
“It’s ‘Kir Royale’, isn’t it?”
“Yes. You recognize it?”
“Of course. Anyone can see it’s a cocktail, right?”
Sylvie’s eyes curved prettily as I recognized it immediately.
Sylvie looked beautiful today too, in a daringly low-cut black dress with sparkling diamond earrings.
Especially that languid yet fierce smile, wow!
“Give me a refreshing cocktail. Something with champagne like Kir Royale.”
“I just thought of the perfect cocktail!”
I smiled brightly as I took out the champagne.
I dropped a sugar cube into a round champagne glass and filled it with champagne.
‘A dash of my secret bitters!’
As I brought out a small bottle, Sylvie showed interest.
“What’s that? It doesn’t look like alcohol.”
“It’s bitters. A kind of seasoning.”
Angostura bitters. It’s a concentrate made by infusing rum with gentian root, used to add bitterness to drinks.
When I explain it like this, the response is always the same.
“Add bitterness? Alcohol is already bitter.”
“This champagne is sweet, so I used it to balance the flavors.”
People don’t eat wasabi alone, but they say it’s delicious when put on sushi.
Bitters play exactly that role. In terms of balancing and enhancing flavors.
Finally, I dropped in a lemon twist!
“This drink is called a ‘Champagne Cocktail’.”
The Champagne Cocktail gained popularity after appearing in a movie. There’s even a famous line associated with this cocktail.
“Cheers to your eyes.”
“Oh my. Our Sena…”
Sylvie lowered her eyes slightly and smiled.
“Are you trying to seduce me?”
“Yes. I’m going to seduce you with cocktails.”
The sight of the sugar cube dissolving and rising gently, mixing with the champagne bubbles, was breathtakingly beautiful.
Sylvie held the glass up to her eye level and admired it for a while before taking a sip.
“The cocktail is as sweet as you, Sena. Sena, why don’t you live with me forever? Hmm?”
Sylvie tilted her head towards me, playing with my hair. I felt mesmerized by her flowing red hair and seductive smile.
‘It’s a waste to enjoy this beauty with just the eyes.’
I should recreate it in a cocktail, adding scent and taste. It would be the perfect drink.
“Sena?”
Oops. I got lost in thought for too long. Realizing I had been staring, I cleared my throat and spoke.
“Forever might be difficult.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll live for a long time, Sylvie Unnie. I’m just a human.”
When I checked the character information, Sylvie was clearly over 200 years old. Though it didn’t show on the outside, Sylvie was a being beyond human.
“That’s true. Then shall I introduce you to a nice man? You can hang out with me along with your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. How about that?”
“Haha. That’s okay.”
She really has a completely different concept of time. I laughed it off while inwardly marveling at how casually Sylvie mentioned grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
But Sylvie seemed somewhat skeptical and leaned in closer.
“Why?”
“To be honest, I don’t quite trust your taste in men.”
Sylvie rated Cedric higher than Johan. Even though Johan was no less in looks or personality.
I naturally thought of Johan as a comparison, and Sylvie narrowed her eyes as if she could see right through my thoughts.
“Hmm. So our Sena’s taste is that high-and-mighty duke?”
“Th-that’s, nothing like that…”
As I quickly waved my hands in denial, Sylvie smiled broadly.
“I’m not too keen on it, but if our Sena likes him, I suppose I’ll have to step aside. Want me to kidnap that man for you?”
“I’ll pass.”
“Why? Don’t pass it up.”
“I absolutely decline!”
I shouted firmly, as if driving in a stake.
No wonder everyone misunderstood her as a terrifying person if she went around saying things like this.
‘Sylvie Unnie really needs to work on her common sense first.’
Still, it was reassuring to see Sylvie so engrossed in trivial chat. It seemed like the wounds left by Cedric had healed.
The image of Sylvie sobbing as if her world had crumbled because of Cedric when we first met was so deeply etched in my mind that it worried me from time to time.
‘This is good.’
I watched contentedly as Sylvie sipped her cocktail.
“Oh, speaking of man. The crown prince appointment ceremony was cancelled.”
“That’s good news.”
“Almost all the factions supporting Cedric have turned their backs on him. With me gone and Tatiana out of the picture, it became clear he wasn’t qualified.”
That made sense. When I was collecting rumors, I felt that while everyone was favorable towards Cedric, that was about it.
And even that image was likely created by Tatiana or Sylvie.
“Then who will become the crown prince?”
“It’s still a fierce competition. I think I’ll support the first prince. I was the matchmaker for that couple, after all.”
Sylvie said as she finished her glass.
“Love is beautiful. Those two were shining so brightly. I wish my destined partner would come to me soon too!”
Watching Sylvie, I silently prayed. Please let her next partner be a decent person.
“By the way, Sylvie Unnie, can I ask you something?”
“Sure. Anything.”
I actually had something I wanted to ask Sylvie when she came. I carefully broached the subject, watching her reaction.
“Unnie, you collect fairy tale dimensions, right? How is that possible?”
“Ah, witches can cross dimensions. Over time, they blend together through interaction.”
I was worried it might be a sensitive topic, but Sylvie answered casually, making my concern seem unnecessary.
“Only similar dimensions are possible though. And crossing dimensions isn’t easy.”
“I see.”
“But don’t you know more about dimensions than I do?”
I shook my head.
“No, I don’t know anything. In fact, crossing other dimensions isn’t even my ability…”
The concept of dimensions was still unfamiliar to me.
“It’s not your ability?”
“It’s more like someone is lending me power.”
I fumbled for words, finding it difficult to explain the system.
“Is that why you use it in such a unique way, because it’s borrowed power?”
“Huh?”
Use it in a unique way? Not understanding what she meant, I tilted my head.
“You gather customers and communicate with them through a single cocktail. That might be your real ability.”
“……”
My eyes widened as I silently listened to Sylvie.
Communication. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but is that how customers saw it?
Jingle.
Someone came in. I quickly raised my head, snapping out of my thoughts.
“Nice wind chime sound, right? I told you I picked a good one.”
Sylvie shrugged. After trying various chimes, she finally decided on that cute camel-shaped one.
“Welcome.”
As evening fell, customers started to trickle in.
Maybe because of the recent events in the fairy tale dimension? Lately, there’s been an increase in strangely familiar customers.
The customer who just entered sat down, patting her shoulder.
“Phew, I’m beat! Another day chasing bandits, what a job!”
“Good work. But it must have been a fulfilling day, right?”
“That’s true.”
This customer was younger than me, but chasing bandits was impressive.
‘She said they joined the patrol to get revenge on the wolf that ate their grandmother.’
At first, it was hard to recognize who it was because of their large, sturdy build, but after hearing their story, I could identify the customer.
This customer was ‘Little Red Riding Hood’.
“I’ll have the usual, please.”
“Certainly.”
I filled a tall glass with ice, added vodka, orange juice, cranberry juice, and stirred lightly.
‘Finishing touch with an orange slice on the rim.’
‘Madras’—a balance of orange sweetness and cranberry tartness.
Vodka tastes clean and delicious when mixed with juice. Mix it with orange juice and you get a ‘Screwdriver’, with cranberry juice you get a ‘Cape Codder’.
‘I wonder who thought to mix both?’
Thanks to that someone, the smooth ‘Madras’ was born.
“I’ll prepare a ‘Madras’ for you.”
“That’s not what it’s called. Call it ‘Wolf’s Blood’.”
Little Red Riding Hood’s eyes flashed with madness as she said this.
“One day, I’ll tear that wolf apart.”
Little Red Riding Hood raised her glass and muttered menacingly.
‘Um, customer, you’re scaring me.’
I forced a smile while trembling slightly.
Little Red Riding Hood’s order was always consistent. A reddish cocktail.
I didn’t realize she considered that red tint to be wolf’s blood.
Little Red Riding Hood drank almost half in one gulp and set her glass down.
Thud.
“Bartender Unnie.”
“Yes?”
“I want to become strong. Strong enough to kill the wolf. Right now, my hands shake just at the sight of a wolf, but…”
“You’re already strong, customer.”
I meant it sincerely. The muscular arms barely visible under the long red cloak were impressive.
‘She’d win an arm wrestling match in a second.’
This person might even be able to hold their own against Sylvie.
‘Business is good today.’
I shouldn’t have mentioned how quiet it was earlier. Now it’s not just lively, the place is packed. There’s even a customer who brought a heater to enjoy the night desert view.
‘Starting to lose motivation…’
When I felt tired, I would glance at Sylvie, my muse. Thanks to Sylvie’s eye smiles every time our eyes met, my motivation was revived.
‘I want to make a sweet cocktail. One where soft whipped cream touches your lips at the first sip!’
Just as I regained my motivation and started making cocktails…
Jingle.
“Welco—”
“Aaaaah!”
Someone’s scream cut off my greeting.
What happened? I turned around hastily, and my jaw dropped.
“Oh my god.”
Little Red Riding Hood, who had been drinking cocktails just fine moments ago, had turned to stone.
Not just Little Red Riding Hood, but all the other customers too!
🥂
⋆｡‧˚ʚ Translator Note ɞ˚‧｡⋆
The Champagne Cocktail is a classic, elegant drink that combines the effervescence of champagne with a hint of sweetness and subtle bitterness from a sugar cube and Angostura bitters. It’s a timeless choice for celebrations and special occasions, dating back to the mid-19th century.
The Madras is a refreshing, fruity cocktail made with vodka, cranberry juice, and orange juice, served over ice. It’s a light and colorful drink, perfect for warm weather or casual gatherings.
🥂
Thank you for reading! ♡
