CHAPTER 11
“A cold cup? Are you trying to drink cold water?”
“Mm, something like that.”
Pan brought out several types of cups and laid them on the table.
Everett picked up a dark silver pewter cup.
Embossed on the outside were grapevines and people clinking glasses.
“You’ve certainly got a good eye, miss.”
Pan quickly cleared the rest of the cups and brought out a pitcher filled with water.
“It’s just an ordinary cup right now. But watch this.”
As she poured water into the pewter cup, in just a few moments, frost began forming over the entire cup except the handle.
Noticing the slight smile forming on Everett’s lips, Pan offered the pewter cup to her.
“Try holding it. Interestingly, the handle doesn’t get cold at all.”
Just as he said, the handle remained warm to the touch. Even when she scraped at the frost with her finger, it didn’t flake off.
She brought the cup to her lips.
“Oof, that’s cold.”
The chilled water slid down her throat, and her eyes squinted involuntarily.
Pan took the cup from Everett and tossed the remaining water onto the floor.
“The cold vanishes in an instant.”
Just as he said, the frost covering the empty pewter cup disappeared immediately.
When Everett had drunk lukewarm Kuna before, she was reminded of beer served in a slightly frosted glass.
She had come to Pan’s shop on a whim, but it turned out he had exactly what she was looking for.
“How many times can this be used?”
“It’s semi-permanent. If it ever fails to cool water, we’ll repair it free of charge within a year. But that’s never happened before, miss.”
Pan tilted his chin up proudly.
“I’ll take it. How much is it?”
“It’s a bit pricey—an ice magic cup.”
“That’s fine. How many can I buy?”
Pan quickly went to the display cabinet and brought out all the remaining pewter cups.
“There are five in total.”
“Can’t you get any more?”
“I’m afraid not, at least not right away. I’ll need to check if they can be made again and schedule production. Give me some time, and I’ll find out.”
‘I wanted to buy at least ten… oh well. Fewer cups means it’ll feel more rewarding when people have to wait.’
Everett handed over the money she had saved by selling off items from the mansion.
Until she sold something else, she’d have to go back to eating stale bread—but she didn’t mind.
‘You have to invest to make a profit. And this pewter cup is my first investment.’
Pan, excited, carefully wrapped up the cups.
Everett, having purchased what she wanted, returned leisurely to Marsha’s tavern.
The place was a mess after a wave of customers. A worn-out Daisy sat slumped in a chair, looking dazed.
“Tough day, huh? Good job, Daisy.”
Everett took out one pewter cup and handed it to Marsha.
“Boss, could you pour some Kuna into this?”
“This… looks like an expensive cup.”
“Yes, it is. But it’s worth the price.”
Marsha poured the Kuna from a wooden cup into the pewter one.
Frost immediately spread over the outside.
Unlike with water, a layer of frost even formed on top of the Kuna.
“Miss, is this a magic cup?”
“Yes, it’s enchanted with ice magic. Please, give it a try.”
Marsha examined the frosted cup with fascination and took a sip of the Kuna.
She had been hot and exhausted from cooking and serving food just moments ago.
As soon as she swallowed, her eyes widened.
Without removing her lips from the cup, Marsha drained the entire drink in one go.
“Ahh! That’s refreshing! What kind of magic did you cast on this Kuna?”
She’d been drinking Kuna since her father first began developing it. If there was even a slight change in flavor, she would notice immediately.
“Miss, this is nothing like any Kuna I’ve had before. It’s just cold… but the taste is completely different!”
Without realizing it, Marsha kept smacking her lips.
“It tastes totally different when it’s cold, right?”
“Saying ‘different’ doesn’t do it justice. It instantly became an incredible drink. How did you know chilling it would make it taste like this?”
Everett snapped her fingers.
“Cold booze is a universal truth. Years of drinking experience—ah…”
Getting caught up in Marsha’s reaction, Everett quickly shut her mouth.
Marsha found the mix of mature insight and childlike excitement in Everett oddly charming.
‘I thought she was just spouting nonsense, but she comes back from a short trip and turns Kuna into something entirely new.’
Oddly enough, just one cold cup of Kuna seemed to wipe away her fatigue.
This time, Marsha offered Everett a seat.
“So, miss, about this business idea of yours—let’s hear it.”
“I can tell fortunes.”
“Fortunes? As in fortune-telling? You’re a noblewoman, and you read fortunes?”
Marsha glanced over at Daisy beside her.
Her eyes wide in disbelief, she seemed to ask for confirmation, and Daisy gave a small nod.
“Well, first you show up out of nowhere with cold Kuna, and now you’re a fortune-teller.”
Marsha leaned forward, staring intently at Everett.
“Miss, is there anything else surprising? Just tell me all at once so I can brace myself.”
Everett burst into laughter at her playful tone.
“I plan to tell fortunes using something called tarot cards. At first, I thought I’d just set up a stand in the plaza.”
“Absolutely not. No way. You alone on the streets… it’s far too dangerous.”
Marsha shook her head firmly.
“Daisy said the same thing. That’s why I thought of your tavern, boss.”
“My tavern?”
“Yes. I’d like to propose a shop-in-shop.”
“Shop… in? What now?”
Everett turned and pointed to the empty back area of the tavern.
“It means running another small shop within your existing shop.”
Marsha’s tavern was fairly large.
Round oak tables were sparsely placed, and there was a bar for single patrons near the kitchen.
Besides the main entrance, there was a small door tucked in a corner—that was where Everett pointed.
Unused chairs and clutter were piled up there.
“If we clean it up, put up a partition wall and a canopy, it could become a cozy space. I’ll run my tarot shop inside it. And of course, I’ll pay a weekly fee for using the space.”
“Hold on, miss.”
Marsha raised a hand, stopping her mid-sentence. With a serious look, she rubbed her chin.
“Just to be clear—are you saying you want to tell fortunes inside this tavern?”
“I said ‘fortunes’ to make it easier to understand, but it’s really more like future consultation.”
Marsha let out a deep sigh.
A fortune-teller?
She’d been enticed by the taste of the new Kuna, but never expected Everett to propose fortune-telling inside her tavern.
And now even setting up a second business under her roof?
‘It’s a lot to take in. I’d be confused too if I were her. But now that she’s tasted the new Kuna, it’ll be hard to say no.’
Just as Everett expected, Marsha gave the proposal serious thought.
Her daily life had grown monotonous.
Just back and forth between the tavern and her home, each day the same. With fewer customers, the tavern felt more draining than ever.
She didn’t think she could ever live with the same passion she once had.
But after just a brief conversation with Everett, her heart began to race.
‘That Kuna… was magical.’
She didn’t know how people would react to fortune-telling in the tavern, but with Everett, it felt like she might regain that old spark.
With a determined look, Marsha firmed her lips.
“Miss, have you thought about how you’ll build the space?”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean, if you’re planning this… shop-in thing, you must have a layout in mind.”
Everett pulled out a clumsily drawn plan from her bag and unfolded it.
Marsha scanned it, then rolled it up and tucked it into her top pocket.
“As it happens, I know a good carpenter who’s nearby on another job. I’ll handle the construction.”
“How long will it take?”
“There’s nothing too complicated. A week at most, but I’ll have to discuss it with the carpenter first.”
Everett took out a small pouch and set it on the table.
“What’s this?”
“Money.”
“That’s not necessary. I can cover this much myself.”
Everett gently opened Marsha’s hand and placed the pouch in her palm.
“I said I’d pay a weekly rental fee, didn’t I? Think of this as a deposit.”
“You don’t need to go this far. You already gave me a pewter cup—let’s call it even.”
Everett shook her head.
“The pewter cup is my investment. And I need to pay to feel comfortable using this space.”
A good business requires clear accounting.
But even more important is the willingness to go the extra mile for your partner—even if it means a small personal loss.
Everett knew how hard it was for a woman to run a shop alone, regardless of how much money she made.
“You really are a troublesome young lady.”
Marsha gave a short laugh, closing her fingers around the pouch.
“Fine. A businessperson shouldn’t refuse money when it’s offered. I’ll accept it. And since I’ve got extra funds now, maybe it’s time for some renovations too.”
