Chapter : 19
The Bachelor Finds a Café
When I opened the living room window, the cool morning air drifted softly into the room.
The curtains fluttered lightly in the breeze.
“What a fine morning.”
Waking up early always feels good—especially when it happens without any trace of drowsiness.
Perhaps I woke up during the light phase of my sleep cycle.
Maybe it was the good food and drink from last night, but today I feel brimming with energy from the moment I opened my eyes.
“Since it’s such a nice day, maybe I’ll eat breakfast outside.”
The weather looked pleasant, and thanks to my early start, I had plenty of time to spare.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to explore and find a new café that serves breakfast.
Having decided, I got ready and stepped out of my apartment.
Because it was still early, the area around my apartment was quiet, but once I reached the central district, I began to see a few people here and there.
Most weapon shops and general stores were still closed, but the restaurants and markets were busy unloading goods and preparing to open.
In some of the homes above the shops, sleepy-looking women leaned out the windows to look at the street, while old men watered their potted plants on the balcony.
I liked this relaxed, unhurried atmosphere—it was different from the usual rush-hour crowd.
It was easy to walk around since there weren’t many people, too.
I strolled leisurely, glancing at the shops I usually passed by without a second thought.
The main street in the central district had plenty of cafés, but I’d already been to most of them. Going into the same places again felt dull.
If possible, I wanted to try somewhere different today.
The cafés along the main boulevard had large menus and spacious interiors—but they were always crowded, and I wasn’t fond of that.
Ideally, I wanted a quiet, comfortable place where I could enjoy a peaceful moment.
The royal capital’s streets spread out like a web—vast and intricate. Even though I’d lived here for years, I couldn’t say I knew every corner.
That’s why, whenever I had free time like this, I made a point to wander into streets I usually didn’t visit.
Sometimes a small spark of curiosity led to a wonderful new discovery.
As I followed a street I’d never taken before, I eventually found myself in a quiet residential area.
…Well, it figured there would only be houses around here.
I looked around, but I didn’t see any shops nearby.
Maybe I should turn back and look somewhere else.
Just as I thought that, my gaze caught on a brick building nestled among the houses—it looked like a café.
Peeking through the window, I saw a small, cozy interior.
But the furniture inside—it was extraordinary.
From large pieces like the china cabinet, sideboard, tables, and chairs, to smaller details like hanging shelves, fences, and cutlery boxes—everything was styled in antique fashion.
Compared to the spacious shops on the main road, it might look cramped and old-fashioned, but the space felt warm and deliberately arranged for comfort.
“I didn’t know there was a café like this here.”
From what I could see, there weren’t many customers inside.
No surprise—it was tucked away in such a quiet location that few people probably even knew it existed.
Satisfied that it wasn’t crowded, I decided to go in.
I pushed open the slightly heavy wooden door, and it closed behind me with a creak.
“…Welcome. Please sit wherever you like.”
Behind the counter stood a man in his forties, wearing a black dress shirt and a dark brown short apron.
He was probably the owner—and he suited the refined atmosphere of the place perfectly.
Guided by his calm voice, I took a seat in a corner chair.
Though it looked old, the chair was remarkably comfortable—no wobbling or unevenness at all.
The table was likely made of mahogany. Its reddish woodgrain and polished sheen were beautiful.
Years of aging had given it that distinctive antique charm that only time could create.
It was clear that the master of this café took great care of his furniture.
There’s a difference between the graceful aging of wood and the dull grime of neglect.
After admiring the surrounding décor for a while, I reached for the menu.
They had a breakfast set here too—toast, salad, a boiled egg, and a drink of your choice, all for 300 sol.
A very reasonable price.
I decided on the morning set without hesitation, and while I was considering which drink to choose, a grinding sound echoed through the café—followed by a nostalgic aroma.
“…This smell—?”
That distinctive bitterness and acidity, with a faint sweetness underneath… a complex fragrance I remembered well.
It was the scent of a drink I used to have often at cafés in my previous life.
I stood and approached the counter, where the master was turning the handle of a large box-like grinder.
“Master, could that be… coffee?”
He blinked in mild surprise.
“You know about coffee?”
“Yeah, I used to drink it a long time ago.”
In this world, coffee beans existed, but they were rarely distributed—only available in certain regions.
I’d once managed to get a small batch that had made its way to the capital and tried brewing it myself, but the flavor was nothing like the coffee from my previous life.
“I’m the same,” the master said with a gentle smile. “I once tasted it during my travels long ago, and I could never forget that flavor. That’s why I opened this café—and now I brew it as a hobby.”
“That’s a fine hobby you’ve got.”
Running a small café while pursuing what you love—
that’s a wonderful way to live.
“Thank you. Unfortunately, most customers don’t seem to appreciate it, so I spend my days studying and experimenting.”
“Well, it’s not easy to understand coffee’s appeal right away.”
In this country, coffee beans were rare, and the idea of drinking for pleasure wasn’t common.
It would be hard for most people to immediately grasp the charm of such an unfamiliar taste.
