Chapter 1 – Part 5

[Although we haven’t met, I know you’re different from them.]

‘Them,’ meaning people who came from another world like me.

It seemed my diary friend was trying to comfort me in their own way.

“I don’t quite understand what that means.”

Once they decided not to tell me something, they really wouldn’t tell me. They weren’t the type to easily change their mind.

For now, I decided to back off and gradually coax the information out of them over time.

So I changed the subject to something that would catch their interest.

[Okay, I’ll be careful. By the way, how’s your friend doing with the person he likes? Did he try what I suggested?]

My diary friend took the bait immediately.

[Yes. He’s very happy because he gets to spend much more time together now. But he’s worried that the other person doesn’t seem to enjoy it as much.]

[His crush doesn’t seem to enjoy it? Why not?]

[He said that the conversation keeps dying. My friend isn’t used to casual conversation since he’s surrounded by subordinates all the time. So he’s worried the other person is getting bored.]

[That’s strange. You’re so kind and fun when talking to me. Why would it be different?]

[……It’s not actually about me, but my friend.]

[Yeah, yeah. Let’s say it’s your friend.]

After hesitating for a moment, my diary friend confessed.

[Alright, it is about me. I felt embarrassed to admit it…]

[It’s okay, I knew from the start.]

So he was the type who gets stiff and awkward in front of their crush, even though he can talk so well with me.

“This person is really adorable.”

I eagerly passed on the relationship tips I had learned from books and people in my previous life to this endearing diary friend.

[How about preparing a few topics to discuss in advance? So if the other person seems bored, you can quickly switch the conversation.]

[What kind of topics should I prepare?]

[That, I don’t know. Just prepare a variety of safe topics. One of them might catch her interest.]

[Got it. Thank you. I’ll think of various topics. I’m always receiving help from you.]

[It’s alright. That’s what friends are for. You’ve helped me too, and you’ve listened to all my complaints about work.]

The person they had a crush on would soon realize what a sweet and warm person my exchange diary friend was, even if they lacked finesse.

‘I’m really lucky to be connected with such a kind and cute person through this exchange diary.’

When I discovered that suspicious shop, I thought it was just a quirky store with a serious magic theme.

When they sold me a diary they claimed was magical, I bought it thinking I’d been duped, but it turned out to be true.

I recalled an incident from not long ago.

When the brand-new diary kept filling with unfamiliar handwriting, I thought a perverted thief had broken into my room.

It couldn’t be normal for someone with the skills to break into a palace maid’s room without a trace to leave no sign of theft but only scribble in someone else’s diary and disappear.

The scribble read:

[Met that person again today. Could I be this lucky again?]

And another line said:

[This diary might truly be one that brings luck. If so, I hope to meet that person again tomorrow.]

I thought a lovesick lunatic had secretly scribbled in my diary and run off.

‘Sorry for misunderstanding you, diary friend.’

Anyway, I discovered this wasn’t an ordinary diary when I saw new words appearing in it while I was staring at the scribbles.

I tried to find the shop where I bought it again, but…

‘The shop and its sign had completely disappeared, as if it had never existed.’

Shaking off my reverie, I continued my conversation with my diary friend.

[When I open a tea shop later, I’ll invite you! Come visit with the person you like.]

[That sounds like a dream. Thank you. If you invite me, I will definitely come.]

[I’ll specially blend a tea for you! Assam and Ceylon blend with blueberry and other ingredients tastes amazing. The reddish color is deep and beautiful, and the sweet blueberry aroma mingles perfectly with the rich tea scent. It’s truly remarkable.]

[What are Assam and Ceylon?]

“Oh no.”

I explained it to my diary friend.

[Assam and Ceylon are names of regions from where I lived in my previous life. They named teas after those regions. But there are similar-tasting teas here too…]

[It’s dangerous content, so I will erase it.]

My considerate and meticulous diary friend blacked out the last few lines of our exchange with ink.

Just then, the clock tower’s chime rang out. The long, drawn-out tolling urged me to get to work.

“Oh no, I’m going to be late!”

I scribbled a note about going to work, hurriedly dressed, and headed to the tea storage room in the Crown Prince’s palace.

* * *

I am a professional tea maid. Today, I must deliver a perfect tea time to the Crown Prince and secure my job and salary.

If I stay here for five years, my savings will amount to 500 gold! With that money, I’ll squeeze out my inheritance from my parents.

‘They gave my sister the title and the estate, but surely they wouldn’t leave me with nothing!’

With that, I could buy a cozy three-story building in the capital, set up a tea shop on the first floor, a VIP area on the second floor, and live on the third.

Dreaming of my beautiful future, I rummaged through the cupboard in the tea storage room.

“What tea should I prepare this morning?”

Just then, an attendant came in to inform me of the Crown Prince’s schedule.

“Miss Erica, the Crown Prince is having breakfast now. It seems he had trouble sleeping last night.”

“The Crown Prince?”

He managed himself as meticulously as his demanding nature, so this was unusual.

The attendant nodded slightly.

“Yes, the aide hinted at it.”

“In that case, a strong and sweet tea would be good this morning.”

I chose suitable tea leaves from my pre-mixed flavored teas and headed to the main dining room where the Crown Prince always had his meals.

The dining room was bustling with breakfast.

The Crown Prince’s face looked a bit gaunt. He really must have had trouble sleeping last night.

His handsome face combined with sleepy eyes and dark circles made him look like an angel on the verge of falling.

‘Is the Crown Prince’s appearance finally starting to match his inner self?’

There’s a saying that the face before forty is given by one’s parents, but the face after forty is a mirror of one’s inner self.

Of course, the Crown Prince was far from forty, but…

‘His face might be aging early because his inner self is particularly petty.’

Muttering to myself, I set up a teacup and saucer in front of the Crown Prince and poured the tea, explaining as usual.

“This tea is brewed from leaves grown in the river valley near the southern border, with added cocoa and cinnamon for a rich flavor.”

The Crown Prince took a sip of the warm tea and quickly finished the cup. He must have liked it.

“Indeed, it feels like my fatigue is lifting. The sweet and strong flavor is invigorating, yet the aftertaste is clean. Give me another cup.”

It was a highly satisfactory evaluation.

With my exceptional skills, I was once again safe from being fired today.

‘I’ve protected my precious high salary!’

In a better mood thanks to the delicious tea, the Crown Prince let me go without any fuss. I quickly returned to the tea storage room.

* * *

Between the Crown Prince’s tea times, I had free time.

Though I couldn’t leave the palace since I had to prepare refreshments whenever the Crown Prince had unscheduled meetings with nobles, waiting idly in the tea storage room wasn’t so bad.

“Honestly, there’s no cushier job than this! As long as I don’t get fired, that is.”

With so much free time, I often missed my smartphone from my previous life. With that, I’d never be bored.

“Oh, how I miss the conveniences of civilization!”

In my previous life, just tapping on the screen of my smartphone would let me watch movies and play games.

Unable to find anything as stimulating as the entertainment I enjoyed in my past life, I eventually took up reading.

But the book my sister sent me this month along with my allowance had a rather ominous title.

<The Emperor is obsessed with the Duchess who was in the marriage of convenience with the terminally Ill Duke >, or <The Great Depression> for short!>

My sister said it was the biggest hit of the year, with an amazing title and an even more amazing story.

“If His Majesty the Emperor finds out, the author’s life might be in danger.”

This book was published anonymously, so no one knows who wrote it.

Judging by the content, the author is likely someone from a noble family with the power to maintain anonymity while being well-versed in royal affairs.

I stopped thinking about it there and spent my free time engrossed in the novel.

“This is so interesting!”