Michael was not sneaking into the Duke's mansion because he had any special motive.
He simply felt too lazy to deal with the guards and wanted to find Arianna directly.
With her, he could easily understand what was going on or what had happened during the past few days while he was unconscious.
Fortunately, it did not take long for Michael to find Arianna.
He went straight to the place where she usually had her tea, the sa place where she often entertained him or took him to rest after arriving at the mansion.
Though Michael had only been here a few tis, the place had left a bit of an impression on him.
Michael stopped in front of a familiar door.
The tea room.
He raised his hand and knocked lightly.
A brief pause followed.
Then a female voice answered from within, clear and calm.
"You may enter!"
Michael opened the door and stepped inside.
Sunlight stread through tall windows, falling across a low table neatly set with porcelain cups and a half finished pot of tea. The scent of herbs lingered in the air, subtle and comforting. Seated at the table was a young lady in a simple dress, her posture relaxed as she reached for her cup.
The mont her eyes landed on him, she froze.
Then her expression lit up.
"Sir Mic-!"
The words slipped out instinctively, bright and unguarded. Almost imdiately, she caught herself. Her shoulders stiffened, her gaze dipping as she cleared her throat and straightened in her seat, composure snapping back into place with practiced ease.
Michael smiled.
It was small and genuine.
"Long ti," he said lightly.
She looked back up at him, a hint of embarrassnt coloring her cheeks, but there was no hiding the relief in her eyes. She set the cup down carefully, her fingers lingering for just a mont before folding her hands in her lap.
"You disappeared," she said more softly. "Everyone said you were experiencing sothing important. It was even the great one who said we should not disturb you, but..." She hesitated, then shook her head. "I am just glad to see you standing."
Michael stepped further into the room, closing the door behind him. The quiet settled again, comfortable rather than tense.
"Sorry about that," he replied. "I will explain later."
She studied him for a second, as if checking whether he was truly alright, then nodded once, accepting the answer without pressing further.
"Would you like so tea?" she asked, rising to her feet.
Michael glanced at the table, then back at her, the sa easy smile still on his face.
"That would be nice."
As she moved to pour another cup, the room returned to its familiar rhythm, as if his absence had only been a brief interruption rather than days of uncertainty.
For the first ti since waking, Michael felt like he was exactly where he needed to be.
Michael accepted the cup when she handed it to him and took a slow sip.
He paused.
Then he blinked and took another sip.
'I knew it. I was never made to be this active. And why does tea taste so good here and not in the original world!
The taste spread across his tongue. It was light, clean, and layered. There was no bitterness, no sharp aftertaste, only a smooth warmth that settled gently in his chest. It felt balanced.
For a brief mont, his thoughts drifted.
He rembered the herbal teas his aunt used to make back ho. Teas she swore were rare, special, and prepared with care. They always slled pleasant, but the taste never quite matched the expectation. No matter how much honey she added, they still tasted like boiled leaves mixed into a strange concoction. Drinkable, but never sothing he looked forward to.
This was different.
This tasted like it had been made to be enjoyed.
Michael did not hide his reaction. His eyes softened slightly as he
looked down at the cup, then he let out a quiet breath of satisfaction.
Across from him, Arianna noticed imdiately.
When she saw the subtle curve of his lips and the way his shoulders
eased, her own expression brightened.
"Is it good?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
Michael looked up at her and smiled.
"It's incredible," he said honestly. "I don't think sothing like this
should even exist."
Arianna froze for half a second.
Then she let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "You're exaggerating," she said, though the way her eyes lingered on him
betrayed her words. "It's just tea."
Michael took another sip, slower this ti, as if proving a point. He set
the cup down carefully and looked at her again.
"If this is just tea," he replied, "then everything I've ever drunk before
was a mistake."
Her lips parted slightly.
"That's unfair," she muttered, turning her face away, but the faint
blush creeping up her cheeks made it clear she was pleased. "You
always talk like that."
"I'm serious," Michael added, his tone calm and sincere. "You have
good taste. Really good taste."
Arianna went still.
For a brief mont, she forgot to hide it. The smile that spread across
her face was soft, unguarded, and unmistakably happy. When she realized it, she cleared her throat and reached for her own cup, using the motion to compose herself.
"If you really want to appreciate ," she said after a mont, her voice lighter now, "then you can bring sothing next ti."
Michael raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
She glanced at him again, her eyes bright. "Those chocolates from
your hotown. The ones you brought before. Ever since I tasted them for the first ti, I've wanted more."
Michael laughed softly.
Arianna coughed lightly, pretending to focus on her tea. "I'm just
saying. If you happen to rember."
"I'll rember," Michael replied without hesitation. "Soon."
That seed to satisfy her.
The room settled into a comfortable quiet as they drank. Sunlight
shifted slowly across the floor, and the scent of tea lingered warmly in
the air. For a mont, there was no urgency, no questions, no
expectations.
After a while, Michael finally spoke.
"Just now, Princess, you ntioned the great one. Are you referring to
the old king's sister?"
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