Though he couldn’t see the butler’s expression with his head bowed, the duke, seeing him with nothing particular to say, thought the longtime butler had given loyal counsel for the family.

After the coffee contract matter was settled and they left the duke’s office, Arthe quietly expressed her gratitude to Ian.

“Sir Ian. Thank you for taking my side.”

“I didn’t take your side, Miss. I merely saw the investment value of the business. And……”

Ian, who had been answering politely, hesitated for a moment then opened his mouth.

“They said you’ve changed a lot…… It seems to be true. If you have any questions while doing business, please ask anytime.”

Ian, who raised his head, had a faint smile on his lips. He bowed deeply once more then turned around.

Looking at Ian’s retreating figure, Arthe fell deep in thought.

Ian Kaern. Though he was of commoner origin, after graduating first from the academy, he had risen to the position of the duke’s advisor at a young age with his outstanding abilities.

Certainly, he had a reputation for being honest and thorough, but.

‘For some reason, he was driven out after causing an incident before the ducal family’s downfall.’

Arthe stared at Ian’s retreating figure for a moment, then turned her gaze toward the duke’s office.

From inside the duke’s office, the voice of the butler still giving passionate speeches about Arthe’s recent conduct could be heard.

***

After the commotion, Arthe, who had returned to her room, hardened her expression thinking of the butler who had given passionate speeches to the end.

“Now that it’s come to this…… If the business fails, the butler will be delighted and run wild. I can’t just watch that happen.”

Arthe gritted her teeth looking at the coffee filling a whole bag.

“If they just taste it, it will become popular quickly, but I need to do some promotion before that. How should I do it?”

Unable to think of a suitable method and lost in thought, Mel joked with Arthe.

“Miss, did you want to drink this much coffee?”

“No way, I’m not planning to drink it all myself.”

“The baron said earlier that it has awakening effects. If you drink all this alone, you won’t be able to sleep a wink at night.”

“Of course I have to share it.”

While casually responding to Mel’s words, Arthe’s eyes caught the invitations piled on the table.

After her debutante, the social circles became actively busy in earnest.

And there’s always someone who steps forward as a frontrunner to receive attention among them.

[Lady Arthe, House Person wishes to invite you to a new tea tasting event……]

‘Share it……’

Looking at the splendid golden invitation, Arthe’s eyes suddenly lit up.

It was an invitation that Elisa had sent reluctantly, unable to leave out the ducal family’s lady who was currently the biggest issue in social circles.

“Come to think of it.”

“……Come to think of it?”

“Wasn’t there one lady who’s an expert at spreading word?”

‘New tea tasting event.’

How perfectly timed this was.

The tea tasting event held at House Person was a distinctive gathering of the marquis family.

Therefore, it was natural that figures  in the social circles would attend widely.

Mel’s joke had never been more welcome than today.

“Mel! Thank you! I must go to this tea tasting event right away!”

“What? You said you wouldn’t go to social gatherings because you’re busy.”

Arthe left Mel’s question behind and hummed while tearing open the invitation.

Indeed, tea, tea!

Tea was the problem.

***

At House Person’s garden.

Elisa Person was putting all her strength into shouting here and there.

“This teacup’s pattern looks too tacky. We should have set out the set that came as a gift this time.”

“My goodness, come to think of it, there’s no chocolate cake! They say salt bread is trendy these days too!”

House Person’s long tradition, the ‘tea tasting event.’

As the first social gathering she was hosting following the marchioness, she had to prepare everything — teacups, flowers, decorations — without lacking anything.

Moreover.

“Lady Frey is coming.”

At the news that Arthe was coming, Elisa gritted her teeth.

“Hmph, she must have wanted to come to my party after all. Of course! Whose tasting event is it?”

To avoid being caught with even the slightest flaw, Elisa, who had prepared the tea tasting event with all her might, urged the servants even more.

As a result, this year’s Marquis Person family tea tasting event was prepared more perfectly than ever before.

“My goodness, it’s so luxurious.”

“Oh my, isn’t this Bach’s teacup set? To see such luxury goods at a tea party!”

The young ladies were enjoying a pleasant time tasting various types of high-grade teas produced by House Person.

“Oh my…… But Lady Arthe is late.”

Since quite some time had passed since the tasting event started but Arthe hadn’t come at all, Elisa was also anxious.

“I decided to attend upon hearing Lady Arthe was coming.”

“Me too.”

When the young ladies whispered on one side, the anxious Elisa got up to manage the situation.

“Th, that is…… Lady Arthe probably has personal schedules…… She might be a little late……”

As Elisa rambled on, suddenly the reception room door opened.

“I’m sorry. I’m too late.”

It was Arthe wearing another utterly beautiful black dress today.

“My goodness! That’s Madam Cerneiz’s early limited edition dress!”

“And what about those shoes? What she’s wearing today would cost as much as a decent luxury carriage.”

“A, ahem! You’re quite late.”

Though she had also put effort into dressing up, somehow feeling small in front of Arthe, Elisa coughed and guided Arthe to the central table.

Arthe smiled gently and opened her mouth.

“To be late for an appointment you prepared so sincerely…… I prepared some desserts for this unexpected discourtesy. Cheesecake and macarons from Newport House.”

Newport House’s cheesecake and macarons! The young ladies’ eyes sparkled.

Newport House staff who had followed behind Arthe set down dessert boxes on each table.

The chocolate cake and salt bread that Elisa had prepared with great effort were pushed powerlessly to the corner of the table.

“Then, let’s serve Lady Arthe— ah, no, the ducal lady a cup. Jessie?”

Pretending to be nonchalant, Elisa smiled and ordered tea to be poured for Arthe.

“First, the marquis family’s greatest pride, tea made from young leaves picked first in the Shepona territory.”

“Mm……”

“A, and this is tea extracted from the Delphia highlands, with an excellent taste that’s not astringent.”

“Mmm……”

At Arthe’s reaction that seemed quite unsatisfactory, Elisa struggled to maintain her crumbling pride and opened her mouth.

“Lady. Do you perhaps have any particular tea you want?”

“Mmm, no. They’re all truly excellent teas. My former teacher who was driven out always said to treat even the most humble food preciously. They’re truly right teachings.”

“Y, you can speak honestly. Today is a tasting event after all.”

When Elisa became restless at the words that essentially called the prepared beverages humble, Arthe hesitated for a moment then politely opened her mouth.

“They really are excellent teas, but I was wondering if there might be coffee. Ah! Don’t mind me. As a guest, I embarrassingly had too many demands.”

“Wait! Coffee?”

“Yes, that ‘coffee’ that’s the latest trend in the capital these days.”

At that moment, Elisa staggered as if hit by an invisible fist.

‘Coffee? Latest trend?’

It was a name she had never heard in her life.

When Elisa stared at Arthe with her mouth slightly open and blinking, Arthe tilted her head.

“Oh my…… Do you perhaps not know?”

At Arthe’s lightning-like words, Elisa rolled her eyes to gauge the other young ladies’ reactions.

The nobles gathered today were young noble ladies more sensitive to trends than anyone.

‘To be behind on trends. I can’t show such a tacky appearance!’

Elisa forced a smile, pulling up her trembling lips with all her strength.

“Ohoho! As expected, the lady knows what to drink! Unfortunately, I didn’t prepare coffee today. It tastes so good that I dra, drank it all!”

“As expected, Lady Elisa knows too!”

“Of course! You can’t call yourself a lady of the capital without knowing coffee!”

“It’s such a pity there’s no coffee. It would have gone so well with the cheesecake I bought today……”

“O, of course! It goes perfectly with cheesecake. Ohoho!”

While the two had a friendly conversation about coffee, the noble ladies who had been watching also began to subtly join in.

“Coffee is quite hard to obtain, but…… Its taste can’t be compared to any black tea.”

“Oh my, you like coffee too? I also really like coffee.”

“Of course. That fine color! That fragrance!”

The noble ladies hurriedly chatted amicably about coffee.

However, at that moment, their heads were all filled with the same thought.

‘……What on earth is coffee?’

Looking at the young ladies’ expressions, Arthe elegantly took a sip of tea with a satisfied face.

Indeed, they say if you know your enemy and know yourself, you can fight a hundred battles and win a hundred times?

Looking at them who were second to none in spreading word, Arthe leisurely savored the tea’s fragrance.

‘Indeed, there’s nothing like this for promotion.’

***

“……Therefore, tea leaf production is expected to drop considerably.”

At the trading company master’s report, Marquis Person nodded.

“We’ll have to raise prices?”

“Yes. Prices seem likely to be set 1.5 times higher than last year. However, I’m a bit worried about quality……”

“Well, since when has tea quality been so important? Set the price at double.”

Stroking his beard with satisfaction, Marquis Person muttered.

The tea leaves produced by House Person, which operated large tea plantations, were sold with the best evaluations every year.