Chapter : 19
Late afternoon the next day.
“…This is exhausting.”
I pressed firmly around my eyes. Milan looked at me like I was pathetic, but I rolled my eyes around and even did a quick eye massage.
I was too tired to care about saving face.
Which was only natural.
‘I’d been up since dawn, stopped by the capital’s grocery stores… and then had to deal with all the customers flooding into the café because of what happened with Farhan….’
Word of mouth had really spread—there were even more people than on the first day. And wherever crowds gather, troublesome customers are bound to appear.
“Hey, why aren’t you giving me coffee?! Miss, are you discriminating against people or what?”
“Sir, we’re in a soft-opening period, so we can only sell twenty cups of coffee per day.”
“I don’t care about that! Just give me coffee!”
I ended up arguing with a couple of people like that.
Thankfully, I managed to calm them down and send them off without any real trouble.
That was thanks to Milan, who happened to come to the minibar on business. His cold, intimidating look was surprisingly useful.
Anyway, after selling twenty cups of coffee during the day, dealing with customers… and even watching the sunset over the reed field…
‘There’s no way I wouldn’t be tired.’
On top of that, I’d been experimenting with drinks for Rumi in between, which made it even worse.
As a result—
Energy: 20%
Only twenty percent energy left.
‘That’s strange.’
I’d definitely checked that my energy was at 100% this morning.
On the first day, it hadn’t dropped this drastically.
Even though a lot had happened, my energy had been around 10% before going to bed yesterday.
Considering that energy drains faster the lower it gets… I must’ve had over 30% when I arrived at Freesia’s furniture shop yesterday.
But now it was already down to 20% before even getting there.
And this time, I was riding in a carriage without Milan’s help.
‘…This is cutting it close.’
What if I can’t make it back to the café? What if I pass out at the furniture shop?
‘Why is my energy draining so fast?’
I retraced everything that had happened today.
Was it because I dealt with problem customers? Or because I used my brain too much making Rumi’s drink?
Or both?
“…I should test it later.”
Whether this energy includes mental stamina as well, or if it’s just physical.
As I muttered to myself, Milan casually spoke up.
“What exactly are you planning to test? Are you thinking of doing something strange again?”
“…Since when have I ever done anything strange?”
“You’ve been doing strange things all day. What do you call that, then?”
“That wasn’t strange, it was—”
I hurriedly cut myself off.
To Milan, it probably did look strange. I’d been wailing to various gods while experimenting with Rumi’s drink.
“Hahaha…”
I laughed awkwardly and turned my head away. I could feel his persistent gaze, but I absolutely refused to look back at him.
Thankfully, that was when it was time to get off the carriage.
I quickly escaped and headed straight into the furniture shop. The space itself hadn’t changed at all since my first visit, but the atmosphere felt… off.
The cozy feeling was completely gone—it was almost chilly.
“…No way.”
With a bad feeling, I hurried up to the second floor. I ran without stopping until I reached Rumi’s room.
The door was wide open.
And I immediately understood why the shop’s atmosphere had felt so dark.
“Please, Rumi… won’t you look at Mom? Hm?”
“If you don’t like Mom, what about Hugh? He’s sitting on your head right now.”
“…Please open your eyes, my daughter.”
Freesia was clutching Rumi’s hand, begging her. She held back her tears as she pleaded with the child lying motionless.
But Rumi didn’t respond.
I carefully knocked on the open door. Iliana, who was standing beside Freesia, noticed me.
“Welcome, Leila.”
“…Did something happen?”
“…Yesterday was especially bad. But Rumi is always this sick. Freesia always stays by her side like this, and I…”
Iliana’s gaze shifted to Freesia. Even without her finishing the sentence, I could tell how long this situation had gone on.
I nodded lightly and slowly approached them.
Freesia still hadn’t noticed me. In the end, Iliana gently touched her shoulder.
Freesia’s gaze moved to Iliana—then immediately locked onto me. Her tear-filled eyes were overflowing with desperation.
“…Is it still far off? This is the first time Rumi’s been this weak. No matter how sick she was, she always reacted when I talked to her.”
No mother could stay calm when her child was suffering. Having discarded all her usual liveliness, Freesia was on the verge of collapse.
What if the child stopped breathing? What if she left her?
Trembling with fear, she looked at me. I felt her emotions pouring directly into me.
I took a deep breath and opened the bag I’d brought with me, then pulled out something tightly wrapped in cloth.
“I’ll make it right now. It was too risky to bring it already prepared, so I brought everything instead. Please wait just a little longer.”
I met her eyes with determination and untied the cloth.
Inside were a steamer, a glass jar half-filled with strawberry syrup, half a bottle of milk, sugar, and a spoon.
Everything was perfectly intact—nothing had leaked. I immediately began setting everything up, then wiped my hands thoroughly with the cloth I’d brought.
From here on, it was a battle of concentration.
‘Even the slightest mistake, and it won’t work.’
So I had to succeed in one go.
Using every ounce of focus I could muster.
“Hoo…”
I took a deep breath and began.
It was time to put on display the recipe I’d researched all day at the café.
I added three spoonfuls of strawberry syrup and an appropriate amount of milk into the steamer. Then one spoonful of sugar, stirring until everything was evenly mixed.
After that, I activated Milan’s innovative steamer. Chiiii— the familiar sound filled the air as it went to work.
One tap, then a shake.
That would normally be the end—but there was still one last step.
I pulled out another cloth-wrapped item from my bag. Carefully unwrapping it, I revealed a small teacup decorated with strawberry vines.
It was Grandma Basha’s teacup.
I gently placed the teacup down and poured the drink into it with care.
Finally, I topped it with a little more strawberry syrup.
Strawberry latte—complete!
The sweet-and-tart scent of strawberries filled the room.
“…Did it work?”
Holding my breath, I checked the finished drink.
Strawberry Latte Filled with Desperation!
– Made more perfectly due to the desperate feelings poured into it.
Effect
– Removes status abnormalities
Ah… thank goodness.
I’d been worried the effect might change.
Smiling in relief, I handed the strawberry latte to Freesia.
“The drink you asked for is ready, Freesia.”
“…Really?”
I nodded and urged her to take it quickly. After staring at me blankly for a moment, Freesia hurried over.
Carefully holding the teacup, she went to Rumi’s side.
“Rumi, wake up. Leila made this drink just for you.”
“…Mm…?”
Rumi, who had been sleeping the whole time, slowly opened her eyes. She didn’t even seem to have the strength to lift her eyelids. Still, she struggled to sit up.
After catching her breath a few times, Rumi accepted the teacup Freesia offered. She slowly inhaled the aroma, then drank the strawberry latte.
“…Gulp.”
The room was so quiet you could even hear her swallow.
That was how important this moment was.
A moment where everyone had to focus on a single person.
But the most anxious person couldn’t hold back any longer.
“S-So? Is it the same as the one you drank before?”
Even though her voice trembled, Freesia clasped her hands tightly as she asked.
Rumi blinked, her mouth covered in white foam.
“Mm…”
Her eyes darted around. She stayed silent for a long time, as if thinking carefully.
Then, having reached a conclusion, the child shouted loudly—
“I like this!”
It’s delicious!
At the same time—
Freesia’s Request Complete!
Would you like to receive your reward?
– Intimacy with Freesia
– 1,000 Gold
[Accept]
The window I’d been longing to see finally appeared.
