DLFC 07

Chapter 07

At last, the day to brew coffee finally arrived.

That morning, Roana woke up early and opened the lid covering the plate to check the condition of the coffee beans.

A rich and sweet smell, almost like cookies, spread through the air. It was a sign that the beans had properly released carbon dioxide over the past three days.

Roana smiled as she breathed in the fragrance.

‘Good. This is absolutely perfect!’

Roana quickly moved around, placing the beans on the table before bringing over the grinder and dripper.

Since Ize had gone to the main residence to deliver the letter to Klaus, Roana had to prepare everything by herself.

But she did not find it difficult at all. Instead, old habits from her past work naturally returned, making her feel happy.

Humming softly, Roana walked to the window and pulled the curtains wide open. Bright morning sunlight poured into the room.

The transparent server shining under the sunlight and the silver kettle sparkling beside it looked exactly like a beautiful painting.

Knock knock knock!

Right on time, someone knocked on the door. When she opened it, Ize and Gerald were standing side by side outside.

“So today we finally get to taste this thing called coffee?”

Gerald asked impatiently, making Roana burst into laughter.

The dark circles under Gerald’s eyes made it obvious that he had been too excited about today’s coffee to sleep properly.

“Did everything go well at the main residence?”

Roana turned away from Gerald and asked Ize.

“Yes, my lady. I delivered the letter just as you instructed.”

“Well done.”

Ize shyly blushed at Roana’s praise.

It had only been a little over a month, yet Ize had already become completely loyal to Roana. She was willing to do anything if it meant helping her.

“Did he say he would come? He didn’t say anything else?”

“Well….”

Ize hesitated. She carefully recalled the conversation she had with Klaus before speaking.

“I think he’ll come. He didn’t refuse. And….”

Ize nervously pressed her lips together. She was unsure whether she should repeat what she had heard to Roana.

But her hesitation only lasted a moment. Ize was Roana’s maid, and anything she saw or heard should be reported to her mistress.

“He asked if I was the only maid serving you.”

“He asked that? Why?”

“I don’t know either. But… he didn’t look very pleased.”

“I see.”

Roana tilted her head slightly. She was very curious why Klaus had asked about her maid, but she could not guess the reason at all.

“Anyway, you did well. Come inside.”

Roana gently patted Ize’s head like an older sister and led her into the annex.

“Mr. Gerald, please come in too.”

As Roana stepped aside, Gerald quickly entered the annex.

At first, he had been awkward because it was the private annex where the duchess lived alone, but now that hesitation had completely disappeared.

Roana offered Gerald a chair and waited for someone from the duke’s castle to arrive.

But no matter how long they waited, nobody came from the main residence.

‘Did he decide not to come at all?’

Roana tilted her head.

Even though she had sent a letter, realizing Klaus might not come made her feel strangely empty. She had expected it, yet it still bothered her a little.

Roana shook her head, trying to brush away the disappointment.

In the first place, whether that man came or not had nothing to do with her. Honestly, it was probably better for Roana if Klaus did not come.

“So when exactly are we drinking the coffee?”

Roana thought about waiting a little longer, but Gerald kept urging her impatiently.

“Ize, please bring the teacups.”

Ize quickly brought three teacups. Roana placed them on the table and brought out the grinder she had prepared earlier.

“Since my lady wanted the Adanta fruit seeds ground into very fine powder, I paid special attention to it. This is a tool made with extremely delicate craftsmanship.”

The moment his creation appeared, Gerald proudly puffed out his chest. He had complained constantly while making it, yet now that Roana was finally using the tool he created, his craftsman’s pride seemed to overflow.

Roana smiled at Gerald before opening the lid covering the coffee beans.

“Wow.”

Ize could not stop herself from gasping.

“It smells completely different from before. It’s sweet and nutty.”

“That’s because the beans rested properly for three days.”

Roana poured some of the beans into the grinder. She carefully sealed the remaining beans so the aroma would not escape before grabbing the grinder handle.

As Roana started turning the handle, the beans first made clattering sounds as they knocked against each other.

Clatter, clatter.

Soon the sound changed.

Crunch, crunch.

Then finally:

Swish, swish.

The sound of fine powder swirling softly filled the room.

The sound strangely calmed the heart, and Ize slowly relaxed after returning tense from her visit to the main residence.

“It’s done.”

Roana excitedly opened the grinder lid. Inside was a pile of beautifully fine coffee powder.

Roana pulled the dripper closer, placed the paper filter and funnel inside, wet the filter with hot water, and carefully began pouring the coffee grounds into it.

Since even skilled people could spill powder during this process, everyone in the room held their breath.

“Phew.”

After transferring all the coffee grounds, Roana let out a relieved sigh and set down the grinder.

“Now, now finally…!”

Gerald bounced excitedly in his seat. Roana tried hard not to laugh as she filled the silver long-spouted kettle with hot water.

‘Dark roasted beans taste better when brewed at a slightly lower temperature.’

Roana waited for the water to cool slightly before pulling the dripper in front of her.

Then she slowly tilted the silver kettle and began pouring water over the neatly piled coffee grounds.

“Oh my.”

Ize gasped as the coffee grounds puffed up like bread wherever the water touched.

“That’s amazing….”

Ize watched the brewing process like someone enchanted.

Roana continued pouring the water in slow circles. Soon, coffee began collecting at the bottom of the server.

‘Finally!’

Seeing the beautifully colored coffee, Roana cheered inside her heart.

She carefully maintained her focus until the very end, poured all the water, and removed the dripper.

“Wow, the aroma….”

The moment the dripper was removed, a fragrance far richer than before filled the entire room.

Ize, Gerald, and Roana all looked completely captivated. Freshly brewed coffee truly had an irresistible aroma.

“Ize, please bring a little more hot water.”

Ize quickly ran to the kitchen and returned with more hot water in the kettle. Roana poured an appropriate amount of water into the three teacups before tilting the server and mixing in the coffee.

Soon, three teacups filled with perfectly balanced coffee sat neatly side by side.

“Now try it.”

Roana picked up her teacup first. The moment her lips touched the cup, the smooth coffee wrapped around her mouth like silk.

‘Ah… this is it. The taste I missed so much.’

Maybe it was her imagination, or maybe it was because it had been so long since she last drank coffee, but the moment she took a sip, her entire body felt energized and awake.

Even though caffeine should not work that quickly.

Roana continued drinking.

One cup was not enough to identify the exact variety of coffee in this world, but it was rich, nutty, and deeply flavorful. The quality was excellent.

The warm coffee heated her whole body, while the familiar and nostalgic taste awakened her senses.

“This…!”

Beside her, Gerald’s eyes widened after tasting the coffee.

“This…! This is really…! It’s real, truly real!”

Gerald seemed so moved that he could only repeat the word “real” over and over again.

“Ize, you should try it too.”

At Roana’s encouragement, Ize carefully lifted her teacup after nervously watching from the side.

The moment the coffee entered her mouth, her eyes widened into circles.

Ize closed her eyes and slowly savored the flavor before taking another sip.

And another.

Finally, after drinking half the cup, Ize cried out in amazement.

“It’s delicious!”

“It’s not too bitter?”

At Roana’s question, Ize quickly shook her head.

“It’s bitter, but not only bitter. It has this deep flavor that feels like nuts… and vanilla somehow… it’s delicious! I’ve never tasted anything like this before!”

After that, the three of them happily enjoyed their coffee time while endlessly chatting about the flavor.

Warm golden sunlight streamed through the windows, warming both their coffee cups and their bodies.

It was a peaceful afternoon that looked almost painted.

“Try smelling the coffee left at the bottom of the cup.”

When Ize was almost finished drinking, Roana spoke to her.

Ize tilted the cup so the small amount of remaining coffee gathered at the front and carefully inhaled the aroma.

Soon, her eyes widened.

“This… it smells sweet? Chocolate…? No, caramel!”

Ize looked completely shocked.

“How is that possible? You didn’t add sugar or sugarcane!”

“Coffee naturally has many different flavors.”

Green coffee beans originally contain tiny amounts of sugar. During roasting and brewing, those sugars transform into natural sweetness.