Chapter 42

As evening approached.

The moon, gradually revealing itself, was as thin as a thread. It was a cold night, with breath rising in white puffs against the crisp sky.

Noah opened the door to the Teahouse Aterrisu, and I stepped through. When Emma noticed us, her face lit up with joy.

"Welcome! Congratulations on your engagement!"

"Congratulations."

The master also came out from the kitchen to offer his congratulations. I smiled, feeling both embarrassed and happy.

"Thank you."

"I never would have thought that Noah would be Einhardt. It seems our regulars had already noticed. It's so heartwarming to see two close friends getting married. When I think about the time Alicia and I ate a cream puff, it just makes my heart swell..."

Emma wiped away a tear, moved by the moment.

The master, with a wry smile, put his arm around Emma's shoulder and guided her back to the kitchen, turning to us over his shoulder.

"Tonight, I'll bring out a special wine. It's our way of celebrating."

"Thank you, Master."

Noah's voice was filled with happiness.

I sat in the chair he pulled out for me and turned to look at Noah, who was sitting next to me. The distance that once separated us by a chair now felt so close.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just remembered how far apart we used to sit."

"It was because you were a young lady with a fiancé. I didn't want to cause any scandal by getting too close."

"That thoughtful consideration hasn't changed, I see."

Not all the memories are happy, but I am much happier now than in the past. I never imagined that I would become engaged to someone I met here. Through the good times and the bad, even on the night when I was devastated by the prospect of a broken engagement, Noah was always by my side.

"Here you are. Brussels sprout cheese fritters and mozzarella grilled sandwiches."

"This wine is excellent. Have a taste."

Emma brought the dishes to our table, holding them in both hands.

The master brought the wine glasses and the bottle, and when Noah saw the bottle, he stood up in surprise.

"Master! This is a very rare vintage, isn't it? Most of it is reserved for the royal family and doesn't make it to the general market."

"You know your wines well."

"I couldn't even find it when I searched. How did you get this?"

"I have my connections."

The master smiled mischievously, wished us a pleasant evening, and returned to the kitchen with Emma.

Noah sat back down and chuckled in amazement.

"Who is that guy, really?"

"Is it that rare a wine?"

"It's made from grapes from a specific vineyard. The production is very limited, and it's not available to the general public..."

Looking closely at the wine bottle, even the white label seemed to glow with a divine light.

I wondered if it was right to enjoy such a rare wine, but since Master said it was a celebration, I decided to indulge today.

Noah uncorked the bottle and poured the wine into our glasses. The aroma that spread as he poured was intoxicating, a mix of sweet, ripe fruit and the rich, buttery scent.

I took the glass he offered, raised it with Noah, and took a sip.

The wine was dry yet easy to drink, with a gentle sweetness from the grapes. The freshness of the concentrated fruit made my body tremble.

Noah also took a sip and then swirled his glass in surprise.

"What is this? It's so delicious, it almost makes me dizzy."

"Once you taste a wine like this, other wines might seem lacking."

"True. We can't have it every day, but I'll try to get it for special occasions."

Noah placed a grilled sandwich and a fritter on my plate. I thanked him, and I loved the way his lips curved into a smile.

After saying a prayer of gratitude, I picked up my cutlery.

The grilled sandwich was made with thin slices of baguette and cheese. When I bit into the golden-brown sandwich, the cheese stretched out. The outside was crispy, but the baguette was soft, and the cheese was creamy.

The baguette, soaked in egg and milk, had a slight sweetness that paired perfectly with the salty cheese. It was delicious.

"This is amazing. I want to eat this at home too."

"These fritters are also delicious. I wonder if cheese is mixed into the batter."

The delicious meal and the excellent wine.

I felt truly happy to be able to enjoy them with someone.

"...You still eat so deliciously."

"It's because it's delicious."

"I was drawn to your honesty."

"What's with this sudden comment?"

"You're so cute."

"...Okay, okay."

I couldn't help but feel embarrassed by such a sudden compliment. I tried to brush it off, but I knew my face was red without even looking in a mirror.

Noah, hiding behind his thick bangs, must have been smiling.

To hide my embarrassment, I speared a fritter with my fork.

"Hey, are you sure you want to live in that house? We can build a new one if you want."

While enjoying our meal, Noah brought up the topic of our new home. We were supposed to live in one of the earl's mansions in the capital, which Noah's family was offering us. We had agreed to live there, but now Noah was suggesting building a new house.

"Building a new house now would take a lot of time. It might not be ready until after the wedding."

We were planning to get married in a year, but my mother had already been complaining about the lack of time for preparations.

"...I don't like that idea."

"Right? That mansion is close to my workplace."

"True."

"About the furniture, my brother said we can go see the warehouse. We can choose what we like, or if we find a craftsman we like, we can have them make custom pieces."

"Then let's go on our next day off."

We needed to prepare for the wedding and the new home.

It was busy but fulfilling, and I felt very happy to be celebrated by so many people.

When I took a bite of the fritter, the slightly soft batter released a cheese aroma. The Brussels sprouts were fresh, and each bite brought out their flavor. It was delicious.

"How many housemaids do you want?"

"How many... How many are usually hired?"

I could manage some housework, but considering the size of the mansion, I wouldn't be able to handle everything alone.

"You can have as many as you want. They'll be sent from the earl's household, so they're trustworthy."

That's right, if we hired new staff, there might be people who were only interested in "Einhardt." It would be better to have people who had served the earl's family, whom Noah could trust.

"I'm not used to this, so I'm not sure. We only had one at home, but I guess it's different for nobles."

"I'll check with the household and consult you again."

"Thank you."

This person always respects me.

He doesn't make decisions without me and accepts my opinions. It makes me so happy that my cheeks can't help but smile.

"You're in a good mood."

"Yes, I was just feeling how much I like you."

"...Ah, that's sneaky."

Noah drained his glass, finishing the wine. He refilled it and gestured for me to do the same.

After I finished my glass, I let out a sigh as the strong alcohol hit me. The taste seemed to change as time passed.

Noah refilled my glass and raised his own.

Even his gestures made my heart race, and I smiled at myself.