Volume 5 Chapter 3.4 (2/2)

「Please, wait! I’ll be outside in a second to see you off properly.」

「It’s not necessary. I’m off.」

Even though he turned back to look at me when he said that, I saw a slight wrinkle between his brows that indicated displeasure. I thought his feelings were understandable. I somehow couldn’t run after him. I prayed he would be in a better mood after work and looked at young Lucius. He was staring at the teacup with his shoulders dropped in sadness.

「It’s only natural that my brother wouldn’t drink such tea…」

I was sorry but I couldn’t deny it. In the end, I should have stopped him back in the kitchen, so it wouldn’t have become such a problem later. I lost to this young boy’s irresistible proud smile. But it was as if I had allowed a toddler to write the word ‘beginner’, even though he wasn’t even able to say it yet.

Tea was something special to both me and that man. And only the people who received his permission were allowed to handle the herbal blends he made himself. He was just trying to help but in the end I unintentionally let him make and ruin the tea. I’m certain that even though it was the truth, that man wouldn’t have any interest in hearing it.

I did wrong to both Lucius and that man. I knew my husband’s character so well that if I only took a little time to think about the situation, I could have guessed the outcome very easily. I was overpowered by Lucius’s energetic will…. what kind of an excuse is that?

「Forgive me, master Lucius. Had I taught you how to brew it properly…」

「No, it’s not your fault, Filmina-neesama. It’s all because of my idleness, that’s all.」

Although he somehow managed to put on a smile on his face, there was no vigor in his voice. He must have felt shocked. His eyebrows, which were so similar to that man’s brows, were frowned in a pitiful way. Seeing this face like this I don’t think anybody would have been able to resist the urge to comfort him. I was no exception. I opened my eyes thinking of what words I should use when suddenly Lucius changed his countenance, as if he had a resolution of some kind.

I wondered what was the intention behind this brave look and blinked in surprise. He abruptly picked up his cup full of the herbal medicinal tea and drank it all in one gulp. Huh? I opened my eyes wide and looked at him finishing the whole cup of tea and putting it back onto the saucer. I thought that he should have at least added some honey. It might have reduced a bit of sourness from the mixture. Drinking it all in one go surely made the taste even more intense.

As one would expect, his eyes filled with tears. But then he took the teapot and started filling his cup full with the tea again. Without a second’s delay he drained his cup once more. I didn’t even have time to stop him. He clenched his fists and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes in a harsh move.

「Master Lucius?」

I said his name timidly. What in the world was his intention? With his face stiff and tightened, he turned his face towards me. His sunrise colored eyes were still wet from tears.

「Filmina-oneesama. I have a favor to ask you.」

「W-what is it?」

To the formal tone of his voice I straightened up immediately. Lucius took my hand in his across the table. There was no time to escape. He held my hand tightly with both of his so that I wouldn’t get away. He looked straight at my bewildered face.

「Would you teach me how to brew tea properly? I would like to make delicious tea for my brother to drink.」

……huh?

Did I hear him correctly? No, there was no mistake. This heir of a grand noble family… asks for something I would never have thought I would hear. I was at a loss for words. Was he being serious? But seeing his earnest face and his serious sunrise colored eyes I lost all my doubts.

It would have been great to just answer with something like 「No problem, it’s an easy task.」. Well, even though it’s a special blend of herbs, one could say it’s still only tea. However complicated it might be, it’s not like the brewing method is unteachable. If I would ask him why he wanted my help with making tea and if he said that it’s to make amends for his mistake, I must say it’d be an understandable reason. And I might have consented. If in fact he wasn’t staying here for two weeks, and if it wasn’t that man that Lucius wanted to please, I would have consented. But as the reality was so bad – I couldn’t have consented.