Na-Isekai Ako
Chapter 22: Tea, Taho, and a Taste of Nobility

Chapter 22: Tea, Taho, and a Taste of Nobility

Katherine gracefully disembarked from her carriage, her soft violet gown shimmering in the sunlight as the palace attendant extended a hand to assist her.

Alright, Katherine. Noble mode: activated. No weird comments. No awkward stares. No reacting dramatically if someone calls you "dear" in that overly sweet noble-lady tone. You can do this.

The warmth of the afternoon breeze carried the fragrance of blooming flowers from the palace gardens, a deceptive calmness compared to the tiny storm of nerves swirling in her stomach.

This particular invitation had been an unexpected yet heartwarming gesture from Princess Laura, with whom Katherine had grown close during her time in Albania.

"This way, my lady," the attendant guided, leading her toward the venue.

Katherine followed with measured steps, resisting the urge to gape at the palace’s grandeur like a country girl seeing the capital for the first time.

Her thoughts drifted briefly to the world she now found herself in. The upcoming symposium in Athens held particular significance for her.

She recalled the pages of the book—Athens was where Florante and Adolfo had their fateful encounters, where their rivalry had escalated to dangerous extremes. Was this the time that would unfold as written? Was this the moment that would change the course of their lives?

Nope. Nope, stop it, Katherine. Today is not about book-plot doom. Today is about drinking tea, nodding politely, and making sure you don’t accidentally start a scandal by saying something weird.

Before she could entertain the thought further, the attendant spoke again, "My lady, we have arrived."

The entrance to the grand hall came into view. The soft hum of polite chatter filled the air as she stepped inside, and Katherine was immediately struck by the opulence surrounding her.

I bet I could fit three of my old apartment inside this one room.

The princess was already waiting for her, and her face lit up upon seeing Katherine.

"Lady Katherine, it’s such a delight to see you again!" Princess Laura said, rushing forward to greet her with an affectionate hug.

Katherine smiled warmly, grateful for the princess’s kindness.

"Your highness, thank you for such a warm reception," Katherine replied, glancing around at the other noblewomen present. There was an unmistakable curiosity in their eyes, likely wondering who she was and how she had earned the princess’s favor.

They’re analyzing me. Trying to figure out if I’m an interesting new friend or just another pretty decoration in their social circle. Be cool, Katherine. Be elegant. Don’t say something ridiculous like "Wow, your dress looks like a cake."

With poise, she made her introduction. "Good day to you all. I am Katherine, the niece of Marchioness Yevon. I am honored that Princess Laura invited me to join this gathering today."

The princess, ever gracious, introduced her guests with enthusiasm.

"Ladies, this is Katherine, a new friend of mine who has graciously joined us for today’s tea. Allow me to introduce Rosea from the Marquis Bauser Household, Shaya from Baron Pernay, and Camille from Duke Guillarche."

The introductions were met with polite smiles.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Katherine," Rosea, a noblewoman dressed in a soft purple gown, said with a warm smile.

"I am Shaya, from a merchant family, Baron Pernay," the young lady with black hair and a gentle voice added, her humility shining through. "The princess was kind enough to invite me despite my humble standing."

"And I am Camille, from the Duke Guillarche’s family," said a striking lady with chestnut brown hair, her deep blue dress matching her sharp yet friendly gaze. "It’s wonderful to meet you, Lady Katherine."

Katherine returned the greetings, feeling more at ease with each exchange. Alright, good start.

As they took their seats, the conversation turned naturally to lighter subjects. Camille, her curiosity piqued by Katherine’s arrival, leaned forward.

"I must say, Lady Katherine, I was absolutely fascinated by your carriage. How is it that it moves without the use of horses?"

"Yes," the princess added with a smile, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "It was quite the spectacle watching you step out of it. Such an unusual sight, yet you carried yourself with such grace. My father owns one of those carriages as well, but he refuses to let me ride in it alone. I remember seeing you arrive in it at the ball last time."

Katherine smiled, keeping her tone pleasant. "It’s powered by a machine," she explained. "It keeps the wheels moving, and the driver uses a steering wheel to guide it."

And it also means I will never again have to worry about falling off a horse and embarrassing myself in front of an entire estate. Not that they need to know that.

"A machine?" Camille’s eyes widened in surprise. "How does it work?"

"Well," Katherine continued, "it needs oil to keep running. If it runs out of oil, the machine will cease to function."

"Amazing," Camille marveled. "Do you think your aunt will release the plans to the public anytime soon? Only the Royal Family and the Marchioness’s residence have those kinds of carriages."

"I’m not entirely sure," Katherine admitted. "Right now, they wanted to present it to the king first—to show that such an invention is possible and to gauge his thoughts on it. Something this innovative needs the kingdom’s approval before being shared more widely."

"I do hope so," Camille interjected, her tone wistful. "I would love to have one for our household. Imagine how much simpler life would be! And the poor horses wouldn’t have to work so hard."

"I will be sure to inform you if that happens, Lady Camille." Katherine smiled politely. Although, I feel like half the noble population would use it for unnecessary drama... She sighed in her thoughts.

She paused, then added, "And to thank you all for such a warm welcome, I brought something with me today. It’s not as extravagant as the carriage, but I hope it will show my appreciation for your kindness."

"Oh?" Rosea raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "What is it?"

Katherine nodded to her attendant, who stepped forward holding a small, intricately designed glass box. The golden linings shimmered under the light, and inside were five delicate cups, adorned with Sampaguita patterns in soft pastel hues.

"What a beautiful container!" Princess Laura exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with delight. "And the cups are exquisite. What is inside?"

Katherine smiled, trying not to look too pleased with herself. "These are called Taho, a dessert I made myself. I designed the cups as well, and I hope they are to your liking."

"A dessert?" Shaya asked, her eyes lighting up. "Are you a chef, Lady Katherine?"

"Just a little," Katherine replied modestly. Or a lot. I did, after all, spend an unhealthy amount of time in my past life watching food videos instead of studying.

"Please, do try it and let me know your thoughts. I hope it pleases your palates."

The noblewomen carefully picked up their spoons, following Katherine’s instructions to mix the dessert before tasting it.

Alright, moment of truth. Either they’ll love it, or I’ll be exiled for feeding nobility ’commoner food’ in a fancy cup.

The first taste brought a collective pause. Then, expressions of surprise and delight spread across their faces.

"It’s divine!" Rosea exclaimed. "So rich and velvety."

"The texture of this white thing is so smooth," Camille added, marveling. "What is it made from?"

Katherine tried not to laugh. "This white thing" is an interesting way to describe tofu.

"It is called tofu," she explained, "made from softened soybeans that I blended into a creamy mixture. I wanted to ensure it had just the right texture and flavor."

"The syrup is simply delightful," Princess Laura said, her voice filled with wonder. "What’s in it?"

"It’s made from melted sugar and Aethervan," Katherine replied. "The Aethervan is aged for six months to deepen its richness."

Laura’s eyes widened. "Aethervan? I didn’t know it could be used like this. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever tasted before."

That’s because no one in this world has had bubble tea, my dear princess. But we’re getting there.

"I aged Aethervan to bring out a more intense flavor," Katherine explained. "It pairs perfectly with the tofu."

"And these pearls," Shaya said, her voice full of delight as she scooped another bite. "They look so beautiful, like little jewels. What are they made from?"

Katherine grinned. "They are indeed called... pearls, Lady Shaya. They are made from cassava."

The table stilled for a moment. Rosea blinked.

"Cassava? But that’s—"

"Normally a commoner’s food?" Katherine finished smoothly, tilting her head.

Rosea hesitated before nodding.

Katherine took a sip of her tea before replying, keeping her expression serene. "Yes, but food is about more than just status, isn’t it? Good flavors can come from anywhere."

"They truly look like jewels," Shaya remarked, her eyes gleaming with appreciation. "I’ve never seen cassava used like this before. You’ve made it so beautiful."

"I crafted them myself," Katherine replied with pride. "I wanted to make something special for all of you."

There was a pause, a warmth settling over the table.

"Thank you, Lady Katherine," Shaya said, her voice carrying a softness that hinted at something deeply personal. "You’ve brought back such fond memories for me. I used to eat cassava with my mother, but I never imagined it could be transformed into something so elegant."

Katherine smiled gently, sensing the emotion behind Shaya’s words.

"Food has a way of connecting us, doesn’t it?" she mused. "I wanted this dish to be something that anyone could enjoy, regardless of status. After all, good food should bring people together, not divide them."

The other ladies exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from polite intrigue to genuine admiration.

Rosea was the first to speak. "It’s a beautiful sentiment, Lady Katherine. This dessert isn’t just delicious—it carries a story. And that makes it all the more special."

The princess, too, seemed touched. "I’ve never tasted anything like this. You are incredibly talented, Lady Katherine."

"I’m so glad you like it," Katherine said warmly. "If you ever wish to try more, I plan to open a store soon."

Princess Laura practically beamed. "I will definitely visit your store when it opens."

"And I will too! I’ll bring all my friends." Camille added eagerly.

"I’ll make sure to bring my family as well," Shaya said, her smile sincere.

"Aren’t we all visiting?" Rosea chimed in with amusement.

Katherine felt a warmth in her chest, her heart swelling with joy as the women continued to praise the dessert. Seeing their genuine enjoyment, she couldn’t help but smile, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her own cup.

Mission success! I’ve infiltrated the noble society not with charm, not with elegance—but with Taho.

The afternoon flowed smoothly, with laughter and friendly conversation weaving through topics ranging from fashion to poetry, from courtly gossip to travel tales.

Katherine found herself relaxing, the initial wariness she felt upon arriving melting away with each passing moment.

The Taho had been well-received, and the women’s enthusiasm had exceeded her expectations. Their excited discussions about her upcoming shop filled her with hope.

Perhaps, in time, she would be able to share this treat with everyone—noble and commoner alike—just as it was meant to be.

The thought filled her with quiet determination.

This is just the beginning.

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