Published at 27th of April 2021 9:38 am

Chapter 188 Part 2

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

「I apologize for my sudden intrusion. I just happened to overhear that Haruto-sama was staying in his mansion when I visited the Royal Castle. May I have the privilege for a short conversation with you if you have some free time? Naturally, I’ll come another day if today is not possible.」

Liselotte sighed as she asked Rio for some of his time for a conversation. Her face was slightly tense as she furtively glanced at Rio’s face. She couldn’t help herself since the one who had brought up the story about previous life to Rio was none other than Liselotte herself.

“――This might be a sudden question, but do you believe in your previous life, Lord Amakawa??”

She had asked that question when he visited her mansion back in Almond while he was helping Christina escape from Bertram Kingdom. At the end, even though Liselotte had indirectly told him that she remembered her previous life, Rio didn’t do the same. He kept his secret about his previous life’s memories from her, but――

―― It was only until their next private meeting.

As such, Liselotte didn’t directly tell him what she wanted and only hinted to him that she wanted to have a talk about their previous life. 8 or 9 out of 10 cases, the reason why Liselotte is visiting him today was for that reason.

「…… Understood. However, I apologize for the lacking reception since at the moment, there’s nothing in my mansion.」

Rio smiled softly, welcoming Liselotte into the mansion.

「It’ll be my honor. Well then, Aria, please stand by outside? I wished to have a private discussion with Haruto-sama.」

Liselotte curtsied to him and told Aria, who’s by her side, to stand by outside. As per normal situation, a trusted aide would come along until the point their master would allow. However, that doesn’t mean that the host side needed to entertain the attendant. As such they would usually be waiting at a suitable place since normally, there’s no risk coming from the host’s side.

「Understood」

Aria replied as she bowed but――,

「Since our discussion might last for quite a long time, please wait for us inside the mansion. This place happens to have a lot of rooms where you may wait. As for the coach, since the coachman needs to be looking after the coach, please use the Hut for the gatekeeper right there. There’s also a place to park the coach right beside the gate.」

Rio immediately proposed, pointing at the garage exclusively for the coach right beside the gate.

「Much obliged for your consideration. Well then, please follow us, Aria.」

「HAH!」

Thus, Aria followed them until they reached the mansion. Then, Rio led Liselotte towards the parlor room before leading Aria towards the waiting room. After that, he went to the kitchen for a while to prepare some tea and sweets.

「Well then, please wait in this room for a while, Aria-san. If you wish to, feel free to try the sweets and tea.」

Rio went to the waiting room and placed a tray with sweets and tea on top of the table in front of Aria.

「…. Someone of my position is unworthy of such hospitality, my lord.」

When Rio brought her the sweets and tea, Aria’s eyes blinked twice and thrice. She had never expected that Rio’d go all the way to prepare some refreshment for her too.

「Please enjoy it since I’ll serve the same kind of tea and sweets to Liselotte-sama too. I mean, you’re Celia’s friend after all. Feel free to enjoy my treat. I’ll be happy if you finished all of the sweets since I had accidentally made too many of them.」

「Truly, my deepest gratitude.」

Aria bowed, expressing her gratitude for his consideration.

「Well, I shall take my leave now as I can’t make Liselotte-sama wait too long. Ah, it’s just about the right time to drink the tea inside the pot. However, before that, please stir it lightly with the spoon first.」

Rio added before he took his leave. After he left, Aria looked at the sweets and tea that were placed on the table and subconsciously smiled when she looked at the lined up sweets.

「Well, I shall gladly partake.」

Aria muttered to herself as she lifted the teapot’s lid. The tea leaves that were still floating inside gave a rise of comforting fragrances. And for some time, she was only breathing in the aroma of the tea, enjoying it. It was only after she had done that she was willing to take a cup. The tea was just right, neither too hot nor cold. And when the liquid entered her lip.

「…. Wonderful」

Aria was, much like Celia, a girl who was often fussy about their tea. But, right then, she couldn’t find any fault in the tea that was brewed by Rio. The tea leaves that are used by Rio were really good, not to mention, it was brewed to perfection as well. If he took a test to hire an attendant and butler, he might just pass with the highest score.

It was only after she had savored the aftertaste of the tea that Aria heaved a sigh and reached to the sweets on the plate. And the moment she tasted it, the euphoria she experienced from the tea’s aftertaste reached another level altogether.

「Just…… Perfect.」

Aria’s earnest praise resounded in the quiet atmosphere of the waiting room.

◇　◇　◇

After he had served some treats to Aria, Rio went to the parlor where Liselotte had been waiting for him. Then after he had finished serving the refreshment on the table, he sat down in front of Liselotte.

From her expression, it was obvious that Liselotte was quite nervous. She also didn’t talk too much when he led her to the parlor room.

「Thank you for waiting, Liselotte-sama. Well then, may I implore the reason for your visit now?」

Rio broke the ice first as per his role as the master of the house.

「Do you remember…… the time you stop by Almond? It was when you were escorting Christina-sama. I… I want to ask about the matter I asked you at that time. The matter about previous life.」

Closing her eyes for a moment, she gathered her courage. Then she opened her eyes, looking straight at Rio as she asked him that question with a low voice; almost to the point of a whisper.

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