"Ooh, ooh, ooh, I never expected that you would think like that, madam. This Topo, I never thought it would come to this."
"Ah, don't apologize. I should have been clearer. If I had listened to Mio, I would have only touched the things I really liked—ah, but I'm sorry, everything was so delicious! I was so happy!"
"Ah, ah, madam. Ooh, ooh, ooh."
Topo, who started crying again, was comforted by Cyrus and me, patting him continuously.
Finally, when his tears dried up, Topo stood up with a beaming smile.
"Really, I'm so glad! If I had known, I would have brought dessert after the meal! Topo was just baking an apple pie. It's a sweet treat, perfect for a snack before bedtime, with five apples, plenty of butter, and topped with whipped cream."
What?
Topo, who went to the kitchen with excitement, made Cyrus sigh with a wry smile.
"That 'never thought it would come to this' was about the fact that no one else could finish the amount of food he prepared."
"Ah, well... I'm really full, and I can't manage dessert."
"I understand. Don't worry, I know you have a small appetite."
I don't think I have that small of an appetite... but five apples in an apple pie? And what kind of snack is it before bedtime?
While I was confused, the freshly baked apple pie made by the head chef was placed on the table. Oh, it's big.
However, Cyrus took it in stride, took a piece, and immediately started eating with a fork.
He took a big bite and stuffed his cheeks.
"Mm, it's delicious. Marie, you should try it too, maybe tomorrow."
He continued to eat with a big mouthful.
I just stared at him with my mouth open.
Cyrus, unlike me, hadn't had dinner, so it made sense that he had room in his stomach. But the scene was quite unusual, and I cautiously asked:
"Do you like sweet things?"
"Hmm? Is there someone who doesn't?"
I got a question in return.
"Well... my father only drank alcohol and hardly ever ate sweets, and I thought all men were like that. ...I don't really know."
"I see. Come to think of it, I've never asked other men. I just assumed it was normal because the people in this castle and my friends all eat them regularly."
"Topo loves the sweets he makes!"
The head chef, Topo, smiled and started cutting the remaining pie. I was really confused, but it seemed Topo understood. He took the pie, which he had only cut, and left the dining room.
"Where did he go?"
"Probably to his room. This was just a piece he shared with me from his own snack."
I see.
"He'll make sure to save some for Marie. Or he might bake another one... don't worry, you won't miss out."
No, I wasn't worried about that.
Soon, the kitchen door opened again, and Mio returned. She was carrying a large tray with something in each hand. She was supposed to make tea, right?
"You're late. I've already finished the dessert."
"I couldn't help it. I also missed dinner."
Mio placed a huge omelet rice on the table. The table shook. It was huge, even bigger than the apple pie.
"If you were that hungry, you could have eaten with us earlier."
"The amount wouldn't have been enough. Instead, I brought a good tea."
Cyrus smiled slyly.
What is it? It was a strange object. It looked like a teapot, but it was stacked in two layers.
"This is called a Chai Danluk, a teapot from the Eastern Republic. Every household, no matter how poor, has one."
I tilted my head.
"In the East, isn't tea more like a medicine, and coffee more common as a beverage?"
"That information is outdated. Two hundred years ago, the tax on coffee increased due to the war. Since then, tea has been much more popular in the East. The brewing method is a bit unique, though—"
As Cyrus started explaining, Mio said, "Take your time," and left with the omelet rice.
Wait, just the two of us?
Cyrus didn't seem to notice my anxiety and happily explained the two-layered teapot.
"First, you boil water in the lower pot. The heat indirectly warms the upper pot. The upper pot contains tea leaves, which are steeped slowly to bring out the flavor."
"Wow..."
"When the time is right, you pour the hot water into the upper pot and wait. Then, you dilute the strong tea with the remaining hot water. It's quite different from the kingdom's brewing method, but it's delicious."
"You can adjust the strength to your taste..."
"Exactly, which makes it perfect for serving guests. People in the East enjoy socializing. It's interesting. If you visit someone's home, they'll invite you in, and if you're shopping, the shop owner will offer you tea, so you can't walk around calmly."
I heard all this for the first time. The reference books at my house were quite old, and they were dry, focusing on geography and history, lacking a sense of daily life. I guess you really need to experience it firsthand.
Eastern Republic-style tea. I wonder what it tastes like.
In front of my excited self, Cyrus took the upper pot, poured hot water from the lower pot, and then stacked them again—sitting down.
He didn't move.
—...? ...Ah, right, he said we need to wait for it to steep. How long will it take?
"About as long as a light meal."
Cyrus answered my unspoken question.
A light meal... that's quite a while.
"So, do people usually start brewing it before a meal?"
"No. They just wait around the pot without doing anything."
"Huh?"
"I told you, it's for socializing. This is probably done on purpose to pass the time while getting to know each other better, chatting and all."
Chatting...
Just the two of us? Me and Cyrus?
What on earth are we supposed to talk about!?
Cyrus narrowed his eyes at my anxiety, propping his cheek on his hand and looking at me closely.
"Let's become friends, Marie. Tell me what you like."