"Tea."
"……Thank you."
Rest sat across from Ulula on the terrace of the Margrave Lavender mansion, sharing a quiet tea service.
The black tea steaming in his cup gave off a rich, mellow aroma. The flavor was subtly different from any tea Rest had tasted before in this world.
"It has a unique flavor. I quite like it."
"Empire."
"Ah... you mean it's from the Empire?"
"Yes."
"It seems your relationship with them is going well. That’s a bit unexpected."
"Mm…… it changed."
Changed? He wondered exactly what she meant by that. Had their diplomatic approach to the Empire shifted? He had always heard that the House of Lavender harbored a fierce, deep-seated hostility toward the Empire.
"No need... for worry."
"You’re saying I don't need to be concerned?"
"Mhm."
Ulula gave a small nod. It was a reassuring sentiment, but Ulula was still young, and rumors painted her grandfather—the head of the house—as a stubborn, uncompromising man. He wondered if things could truly be as simple as she suggested.
"More importantly……"
"Right, you want me to try the sweets. I’ll gladly have some."
"Mhm."
Ulula pushed the plate of cookies toward Rest. He got the sense she was telling him to set aside the complicated politics and simply enjoy the tea party.
(She really isn't a bad girl, after all... I feel like I'm finally starting to understand what she’s trying to convey.)
Ulula was a girl of few words and even fewer expressions, but she was fundamentally sensible. She was far more rational than Yuri, who was a complete wildcard.
(Maybe I don't need to overthink things... at least not where she's concerned.)
"Oh?"
Taking a bite of the cookie she had recommended, Rest’s eyes went wide.
"Is this…… could it be red bean paste?"
It was a flavor he knew by heart. Sandwiched inside the cookie was a layer of sweet anko—the unmistakable taste of azuki beans.
"Empire."
"This is from the Empire too? Does that mean a Japanese person...?"
"Japan?"
"Ah, sorry. I was just talking to myself. It just... it reminded me of a sweet I ate a long time ago. It made me feel a bit nostalgic."
He picked up another cookie and took a crisp bite. The sweetness of the red bean paste spread across his tongue, followed by the rich aroma of the beans. Memories of his former life as a Japanese man came flooding back.
(The Japanese confectionery shop in my old neighborhood... their manju were so good.)
Between the Queen Dowager and various others, it seemed there were many reincarnators from his old world scattered across this one. Perhaps it was one of them who had introduced red bean sweets to the Empire.
"Like them? ……Take some?"
"You'll let me take some home as a souvenir?"
"Mhm."
"I’d love to, but... aren't these expensive? Let me pay you for them."
Since these hadn't reached the Aiwood Kingdom, their value must be incredibly high. Just as distilled spirits were still a rarity in the kingdom, the recipe for these sweets was likely a closely guarded secret.
"It’s fine…… however."
"However? Is there a condition?"
"…………Aah."
"Huh?"
Ulula opened her mouth and closed her eyes. Rest tilted his head, confused by the mysterious gesture, before the realization suddenly hit him.
"You... want me to feed you?"
"Aah."
"…………"
Essentially, she was demanding he give her an "Aaah." As Ulula waited with her mouth wide open, she looked exactly like a baby bird waiting for its mother to return to the nest.
"……Aah."
"Ahn."
"Whoa!"
When he held the cookie out as requested, Ulula bit down. But she didn't just stop at the cookie—she took Rest's fingers into her mouth as well.
Her tongue glided wetly over his skin, and he could feel the rhythmic sensation of her sucking on his fingers. Panicked, Rest hurriedly pulled his hand away.
"Tasty."
"…………I'm glad."
"In return."
This time, Ulula held a cookie out to him.
"……I’m not going to suck on yours, you know."
"Mm."
"Mmmph……"
Refusing to listen, Ulula shoved the cookie—and her fingers—firmly into his mouth.
(How did I end up in this situation...?)
He thought he was starting to figure her out, but perhaps Rest still knew nothing at all about the girl named Ulula Lavender.
As her fingers pressed against his lips, they carried the gentle, lingering sweetness of the red bean paste.