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“Th-then… haha… is that so? So, you’re saying it’s not bad, really?”
“Yes. Truly.”
“Hmm…”
At my firm answer, Marquis Even let out a worried groan. Perhaps he hadn’t expected such words, and the sight of him utterly flustered was almost amusing.
Seeing someone I had thought insolent struggle like this made me feel even better. Surely, he never imagined I would judge this way—but I was confident in my opinion.
I gave my honest opinion after truly tasting it, without any ulterior motive.
Setting aside every prejudice I had against Marquis Even, this was the result of judging purely by the taste of the lavender flower tea.
This tea cannot surpass Baron Evitt’s flower tea.
Having drunk his flower tea daily, I could tell. No, even Lucius, who hadn’t sampled it as frequently as I had but knew the taste of Baron Evitt’s tea, could discern the difference between this tea and his.
I looked at Marquis Even, still unable to calm his embarrassment, and spoke slowly.
“The aroma of the tea itself was wonderful. As expected from the use of top-grade lavender. I felt as if my entire mouth had become a lavender field.”
“Ah, really? Haha! Yes, that’s due to the rich scent of top-grade lavender…”
“But that’s all there is to it.”
“…Excuse me?”
The expression on Marquis Even’s face, which had briefly brightened at my praise of the aroma, fell again.
“The aroma is important in flower tea, yes. But what’s even more important is the flavor. The flavor, which should have been the focus, was ruined by the overwhelming scent.”
“Ah…”
“The nutty taste should linger in the mouth even after swallowing, but it didn’t. And perhaps because the tea leaves were steeped too long, there was quite a bitterness. The refreshing quality unique to herbal teas was also absent. No wonder it took longer than I expected… tasting it now, I understand why.”
“Th-then…”
With my relentless criticism, Marquis Even’s expression gradually stiffened. He probably never expected such a decisive judgment from me—especially a negative one. The situation must have been both shocking and frustrating for him. Yet there was a clear social hierarchy between us, with Lucius present. No matter how much he had been flaunting himself recently, he was still just a marquis. Even if he wanted to argue, he couldn’t do so easily.
So, if I was going to say it, I might as well do it properly—and settle the score for earlier.
“The scent of lavender does have a calming effect and is good for insomnia. But that’s only when used in moderation. No matter how good the quality, overusing it is harmful. And if the scent is too strong, some people may even find it unpleasant.”
“…”
“The strengths of flower tea lie in a gentle fragrance, a nutty undertone, clarity, and the unique flavor of the petals themselves. Unfortunately, I found very little of that in this tea. I had expectations because the tea sommelier you painstakingly recruited brewed it personally… but I suppose I expected too much.”
“Ah, um, ahem… I apologize for not meeting your expectations.”
Marquis Even lowered his head obediently, perhaps unable to offer a rebuttal. I had pointed out everything systematically; he likely had no words.
He must realize that I drink Baron Evitt’s flower tea frequently.
It was well known that Alexandra and I often visited the capital branch of Café Roland. That was probably why he confidently recommended this tea, hoping for validation—that his café’s flower tea was superior to Baron Evitt’s.
Even though Alexandra wasn’t present this time, Lucius was. The fact that it was just the two of us visiting may have seemed like a perfect opportunity to Marquis Even. There could be no better promoters than us.
Even for someone with political rivalries, business considerations were slightly separate. Even if he had adversaries, the arrival of someone like us praising the café’s tea must have felt like a boon. Positive word of mouth from us could not be ignored.
But he was far too confident.
He must have thought he had prepared perfectly. He had hired skilled horticulturists and tea sommeliers, grown top-quality flowers, and even the tea leaves themselves were of superior quality. In his mind, the taste should have been flawless.
Yet he overlooked the taste expectations of his clientele. Most tea drinkers were noblewomen. And Baron Evitt’s flower tea was currently all the rage, creating a surge of interest in flower teas among society’s elite.
Thus, many had already tasted Baron Evitt’s tea. Even if it was a fully reservation-only system, tea leaves were sold separately, and instructions for brewing the tea at home were provided so that customers could replicate the taste as closely as possible.
But still, the tea brewed personally by Baron Evitt is unforgettable.
The reputation of the sold products was good, but Baron Evitt’s personal brew was more widely recognized, and customers frequently requested reservations to taste it. To satisfy more patrons fairly, he limited each customer’s booking to once a week.
He worried that high-ranking guests might resist, but apparently, they accepted the rules surprisingly smoothly.
High-ranking patrons of Baron Evitt, who otherwise visited frequently, had to be asked for their understanding to allow more customers to enjoy the tea. Surprisingly, they complied without complaint, glad that others could also experience it. This approach even boosted sales of the packaged products.
From what I learned, these customers were neutral-party noblewomen—most of whom were kind and good-natured. When they took this initiative, nobles from other factions, including the emperor’s supporters, joined as well. Consequently, a wider range of people could experience Baron Evitt’s tea, and product sales flourished.
Marquis Even might have thought he was quick to prepare, but he was late to the mark. Copying the capital branch may have been intended to draw its customers, but the most important element—the taste of the tea—cannot be perfectly replicated.
If he had added something else to complement the tea, it might have been competitive. But with nothing extra, there was no real threat.
It might have been better if it had been something other than flower tea.
Instead of being stuck in the flower tea or café business, trying another trend could have had a chance. But Baron Evitt’s tea was already widespread; no matter what café opened elsewhere, his place would remain dominant.
It seems that in business, the son inherited more talent than the father.
I thought of the marquis’s illegitimate son, the manager of a restaurant I had met before. Running a decent-sized restaurant independently without Marquis Even’s help, he had an excellent reputation—even Lucius approved. If it were me, I would have appreciated his talent and considered a partnership regardless of his illegitimate status. Has Marquis Even not noticed his son? He sent him out and insisted he stay in the capital, so surely he must know what he is doing.
In the original story, the son was later brought in as the heir because the marquis’s intended daughter died in an accident. But now, the daughter was still alive, so perhaps the marquis had not yet turned his attention to the illegitimate son.
His name was Elram, right? The desserts at his restaurant were delicious.
Thinking of it made my mouth water. Oh dear, I wanted to try them.
I glanced at Marquis Even, who stood there with a serious expression, lips pressed tightly. I had nothing more to say and no desire to finish the tea, so it was time to leave.
Lucius, arms crossed, waited for me. I couldn’t help laughing inwardly at how little tea was left in the cup after just a single sip—our tastes were really alike.
Looking at the clock on the wall, it was almost lunchtime—perfect timing.
“Lucius, shall we go? Look at the time—it’s already this late. I’m getting a bit hungry.”
“Indeed, it’s lunchtime already. We don’t need to stay here any longer. Tiana, is there something you want to eat?”
“Hm, I’d like to enjoy something delicious for a change. I’m also craving the sweet desserts from that restaurant we tried before.”
“That restaurant, I see. Very well, let’s head there.”
Lucius understood immediately, stood, and offered his hand. I smiled, took his hand, and slowly rose from my chair.
Before leaving with Lucius escorting me, I greeted Marquis Even.
“Thank you for the tea. I happened to stop by since a new café opened, but I didn’t realize it was yours. With high-quality flowers and skilled tea sommeliers, I’m sure many customers will visit. I hope you achieve the results you expect.”
“Ah… thank you.”
Even after receiving my sharp critique, the marquis’s expression subtly shifted at my polite words. I smiled and continued.
“People’s tastes vary. Some will like the tea at this café. Unfortunately, it didn’t suit my palate. I believe the flavor of tea reflects the care given to those who drink it. Of course, using high-quality flowers to brew perfect tea is important. But…”
“…”
“You can truly sense the depth and care in tea when you taste it. Such nuanced flavors aren’t easy to achieve. Even someone skilled cannot easily create a clear, satisfying tea taste for everyone.”
“I-I see…”
Marquis Even no longer tried to hide his stiffening expression. It must be difficult for him to regain composure after all I said.
Passing him, with Lucius at my side, I added:
“The color of the leaves may be beautiful, but that doesn’t mean the roots are strong. If you want to judge quality, you must examine the form and substance thoroughly.”
With that, I left Marquis Even’s café. Boarding the waiting carriage, I glanced at him through the window—his face twisted, unable to move.
Watching him remain that way until the carriage departed, I couldn’t help but grin widely.
