I Became the Maid of the Lout Prince - Chapter 262 [Suspicious Tea (2)]

The first thing Ethan and I did after returning to the annex was to pack our luggage for tomorrow’s journey to the Witch’s Forest.

Since it was a long journey, we had to leave by carriage as soon as dawn broke, so if we didn’t pack our bags in advance, we’d probably be in trouble tomorrow morning. If we messed up, we might even be late for our scheduled arrival.

Seraphine had arranged the carriage and coachman before she left, so there was no particular problem. I heard she had entrusted the coachman to someone relatively trustworthy, so well, we just had to trust that. [Only on DarkStar Translations! / Axiomatic]

Anyway, because of this, Dittmeyer, who had stayed in the Imperial Capital just in case, was scheduled to return to the Blackwood Estate tomorrow with the Blackwood carriage. On the way, he would also inform Harold that Ethan and I would be returning late, so the preparations were perfect.

<Clothes packed, food packed, camping gear packed…>

<Did you pack the bug-repellent perfume, Lilith?>

<I put that in a portable backpack instead of the luggage bag. I think we’ll need to use it frequently once we enter the Witch’s Forest. You should carry one separately too, Ethan, and spray it often. I’ve heard there are sometimes insects with dangerous venom in the Witch’s Forest.>

<Okay, got it.>

That conversation while packing our travel bags together happened a few hours ago.

After that, we just washed up, had dinner, and rested a bit, and before we knew it, it was the night before our departure.

“Really, all sorts of things happened in just a few days.”

Defeating Machart, the miniboss of Part 4, and the demon Evelyn, revealing to Seraphine that I’m the real Saint, planning the summer vacation event, dating Ethan, and then the incident with Cat’s grandmother.

It had been such a packed week that it was hard to believe all of this happened in just a few days. This was even before the main event of Luminor Academy’s summer vacation had begun.

“It feels like I’ve forgotten something… Ah.”

Ah, right. I haven’t asked Ethan about his wish yet.

I had promised to grant his wish after the Machart incident was resolved, but since he hasn’t mentioned it yet, I thought it might be better if I asked first.

“Should I just ask him tomorrow while we’re in the carriage? Ah, but Agnes will be riding with us, so it might be a bit awkward?”

Knowing Ethan, he’d probably make some kind of lewd request, but he couldn’t say that outright in front of Agnes.

Of course, as I said before, it was entirely up to Ethan when to state his wish. Maybe he didn’t want anything from me right now.

But I didn’t like the idea of just letting a day or two pass and having the wish fizzle out. It was a matter of pride to not casually dismiss this kind of reward, especially one I had offered while being indebted to Ethan.

“But if I ask him directly now, it might seem like I’m pressuring him to decide quickly…”

It would be nice if there was just a casual opportunity to ask, but dinner time had already passed, so there wasn’t really any excuse to call Ethan.

We have to get on the carriage first thing in the morning tomorrow, so it would be a bit odd to call him over for a glass of wine now. [Only on DarkStar Translations! / Axiomatic]

<Make sure to drink it together when you’re alone with your lover.>

“Ah.”

Right, come to think of it, that existed.

I took out Miss Cassimily’s gift, which I had put in my luggage bag because I didn’t know where to use it, and immediately checked its contents.

“I don’t know about alcohol, but tea should be fine.”

Even though we’re leaving tomorrow morning, there should be plenty of time for a cup of tea. Tea would be relatively less burdensome on the body than alcohol.

There were several slightly pink-tinged tea leaves as if they had been dyed with something. I opened the gift, which kindly included instructions on the proper amount, and checked its contents.

“This is the amount for one serving. When brewing, use about 6-7 tea leaves and 500 mL of boiling water, steep for 3 minutes, and when drinking, make sure to make eye contact with your partner and savor the aroma as much as possible…”

Since it was a gift meant to be drunk with a lover, there was only enough for two or three cups of tea.

Wait, does that mean people without lovers can’t drink this tea? It was a precaution that oddly stirred up wounds from my past life.

Well, it was obviously a gift meant for Ethan and me to drink together, so it couldn’t be helped.

Sniff, sniff.

“It seems like there’s some kind of subtle aroma…”

Judging by the lack of a strong scent wafting up, the aroma from the tea leaves themselves didn’t seem very strong. It would probably bloom when hot water was poured over them.

“…Once we go to the Witch’s Forest, we won’t have a chance to drink this for a while, right?”

It didn’t seem very possible to leisurely drink tea in uncomfortable places like inside the carriage or in the Witch’s Forest, and once we set out on our journey, it would be impossible to meet Miss Cassimily’s condition of drinking it alone together.

If that was the case, today was essentially our only chance. It would be too late after we returned from the forest, and usually, these things have an expiration date, so drinking them sooner is said to be more effective.

Since I also had something to ask Ethan, I thought this was the best time to get it over with under the pretext of the tea. With that in mind, I knocked on the door to the adjacent room, holding the tea leaves Miss Cassimily had gifted.

Knock, knock knock.

“Ethan, do you have a moment?”

I hope he hasn’t gone to sleep already.

There was a possibility that he had gone to bed early considering tomorrow’s schedule, but fortunately, Ethan’s voice came from beyond the door not long after I called him.

“Yeah, it’s fine. What’s the matter?”

“I’d like to talk in person. Is it okay if I come in for a moment?”

“…Ah, sure. Come in.”

Creeak.

It seemed he hadn’t gone to bed yet, as I saw Ethan sitting at the table, writing something.

Come to think of it, I think he was working on some kind of task earlier in the day too. He’s really working hard even here.

Judging by the fact that he was still in his formal uniform and hadn’t changed into his pajamas, he seemed quite busy. I wasn’t exactly sure what he was busy with, though.

“What’s wrong, Lili? Did you have a nightmare?”

“…I told you last time that it was over. Do you think I’m a child who can’t sleep without someone next to me?”

“Well, that’s good then. …Actually, even if it’s not a nightmare, I’d be fine with it anytime if you wanted to sleep together, Lili…”

“What?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

How silly. As I walked over and sat down at the small table in the center of the guest room, Ethan also quietly came over from his work desk and sat down in the chair opposite me.

“If it’s not because of a nightmare, what brings you here?”

“It’s nothing much, just thought we could have a cup of this.”

“Hm?”

“It’s the tea leaves Miss Cassimily gave us. You know, the gift from the perfume shop earlier.”

“Ah, that one from then.” [Only on DarkStar Translations! / Axiomatic]

Ethan quietly looked down at the tea leaves in the paper bag as he listened to my explanation.

“I thought if not today, we probably won’t have time to leisurely drink tea. At least if not now, we won’t have time to relax together until we return from the Witch’s Forest, right?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“Miss Cassimily said to make sure I drank it with a lover, so I can’t drink it alone, and I brought it to deal with it with you now that I’ve thought of it.”

“…L-Lover…”

“W-Well, you and I aren’t really lovers, but we are temporary partners, right? Since it’s obvious that Miss Cassimily gave it for you and me to drink, using it like this is the intended use, isn’t it?”

“…Yeah, that’s right.”

Understanding my words, Ethan rang the call bell to summon a servant and received a teapot filled with boiling water as an errand.

I opened the lid of the teapot filled with hot water, poured all seven tea leaves into the water, and quietly closed the lid.

A strange brewing aroma began to waft up towards the spout of the teapot.

Click.

“It said it would be ready in three minutes, Ethan.”

“Okay.”

“So, shall we talk for those three minutes? Actually, that’s also why I came at this hour.”

“Hm?”

Ethan tilted his head as if it was a bit unexpected that I had come because I had something to say, but soon nodded as if he understood.

“Sure, I like talking with you alone too, Lili. So, what did you want to talk about?”

“…It’s about that incident with Prince Machart from a while ago.”

“…Why that dead bastard?”

Seeing Ethan’s expression harden ominously as soon as Machart was mentioned, I hastily corrected myself, feeling like I had said something wrong.

“Ah, no, um, I misspoke. What I wanted to ask about was, it seems like you glossed over something you were supposed to talk about with me after Prince Machart died.”

“Something I was supposed to talk about?”

“…You didn’t forget, did you? I said I’d grant one of your ‘wishes’ if the Machart incident passed safely, remember?”

“……”

“…E-Ethan?”

Surely this promise wasn’t something only I remembered?

Was it that Ethan never really cared whether I granted his wish or not, and I was just overestimating the value of my wish and waiting? [Only on DarkStar Translations! / Axiomatic]

As thoughts like ‘Was it that he didn’t really have anything to wish for and was going to let it pass, but I unnecessarily brought it up and caused this?’ were swirling in my head, fortunately, Ethan nodded as if he had, of course, been waiting for it.

“E-Ethan…? Did you perhaps forget about the wish I offered…?”

“Of course, I remember.”

“…Oh, I see. I thought maybe you had forgotten to tell me your wish.”

“How could I forget? It’s a precious wish granted by you, Lili. I could never forget it.”

“……”

“So, do I have to use the wish right now, Lili?”

“…Ethan?”

With a strangely pressuring tone, Ethan leaned in closer, and I had no choice but to awkwardly avert my gaze to the side.

What’s with this atmosphere?

Somehow, he feels a bit different from the usual Ethan…?