Chapter 12
What on earth was this about all of a sudden?
Lynette tilted her head, bewildered by Sharon, who had just blurted out something thoughtless in the middle of a busy moment.
“Sorry to come out of nowhere and say this, but…”
“That’s enough for now. First, could you take this coffee to table two? And also clear off table three, please.”
Since things were already hectic, Lynette decided to treat Sharon as a part-timer for the day. What she couldn’t understand was why Sharon—someone wealthy enough to offer twice the listed price for the shop—would ask her for a job.
While Lynette brewed coffee, Sharon busied herself with washing dishes and drying cups with a cloth. Customers came in so quickly there was no time for the cups to dry naturally. The business was thriving, but Lynette’s energy was running thin.
Only after the shop closed and all the customers had left did Lynette finally get a moment to breathe.
She glanced at Sharon, who was also exhausted. Unlike when she had first walked in, her energy was drained, but she was mopping the floor without being told. She even cleaned up properly on her own initiative.
Maybe it was because Sharon had grown up as an illegitimate child, always reading the room too much, Lynette thought. She asked casually while watching her clean:
“Is there anything you like about this café?”
“Eh? Ah… actually, I’m not very familiar with the menu yet.”
Sharon gave an awkward smile and immediately returned to wiping down the tables. As Lynette finished closing up, she treated herself to a sweet caramel macchiato to end the tiring day.
“Come sit here for a moment.”
Once Sharon finished cleaning, she cautiously sat across from Lynette, watching her nervously.
“Try this first.”
Sharon took a sip of the caramel macchiato with the wooden straw and her eyes widened in surprise. Now she understood why people ordered this so often.
“It’s so sweet and smooth. Really delicious—it feels like all the day’s fatigue just vanished.”
For Sharon, who wasn’t used to coffee, Lynette had deliberately lessened the concentrate. Seeing Sharon’s delighted reaction, Lynette said softly:
“Sorry for pushing all that work on you earlier when things were chaotic.”
“No, not at all. I actually wanted to help.”
She’s kind, Lynette thought—but she also knew Sharon’s personality: if she ever got angry, she’d pay back what she received with interest. Lynette handed her some pay for today’s work.
“I actually don’t need money.”
Of course she didn’t. The Duke of Michaela had surely given her a hefty sum on the condition that she never appear again.
“Then why do you want to work here?”
At Lynette’s question, Sharon swallowed hard, nervously crumpling her skirt in her hands. Finally, with an awkward smile, she confessed:
“I know you probably won’t like hearing this… but I want to learn how to make coffee.”
“And what would you do with that?”
“You might not like it if I said I wanted to open a branch of Ikkulim someday… but honestly, I just want to learn coffee. I swear I won’t take any pay, just please teach me.”
Originally, Sharon had been destined to run a teahouse here, but Lynette had interfered and taken that chance away. Having twisted Sharon’s fate unwillingly, Lynette let out a deep sigh.
“I’m not really the type to teach anyone.”
“Then I’ll just learn by watching over your shoulder. And I’ll open a shop in another region, never near here. I promise you won’t lose anything.”
Lynette saw the desperate look in Sharon’s eyes and finally told her she would think about it, then sent her home.
“Oh my! Miss, what happened to your face? Good heavens. Did business go that badly?”
When Lynette hadn’t returned home on time, Katrin came to the shop. Seeing Lynette’s weary expression, she assumed business had been terrible.
“No, it’s the opposite—it went too well. Look at this.”
Lynette showed her the money, and Katrin’s eyes widened.
“My word! You worked so hard, Miss. Is that why you look so worn out? See, I told you I should’ve come to help…”
Even though Katrin often offered to help, Lynette always refused. Watching Lynette slump in exhaustion today, Katrin regretted not insisting.
“It’s not that. Do you remember that young lady who wanted to buy this shop from me?”
“Of course. She even offered more money, but you turned her down. Why?”
“She came today asking me to hire her as a worker. Said she didn’t need pay, just wanted me to teach her how to make coffee.”
“What! Absolutely not! You’ll teach her and then she’ll open a shop right next door!”
Katrin knew how much coffee Lynette had experimented with before finally opening Ikkulim. Roasting this way, blending that way, always adjusting until the flavor was right. To hand over that method was unthinkable.
“But she asked so desperately. And she said she’d open somewhere far away.”
“Miss, you know better than anyone that people aren’t to be trusted so easily.”
“You’re right. No one knows that better than I do. Too well, in fact.”
Lynette gave a bitter laugh, recalling how badly she’d been betrayed by Fernando and Esther. Together, she and Katrin closed up and headed home.
After washing up, Lynette found the table set with delicious dishes—everything she loved. Katrin beamed with satisfaction as Lynette enjoyed the meal. Only when Lynette, too full to eat another bite, set down her fork did Katrin finally eat herself.
“See? I told you we should eat together.”
“I feel full just watching you eat, Miss.”
Later, as Lynette dozed off reading on the sofa, Katrin gently nudged her awake.
“Miss, you should sleep in your room.”
“Mmm… yawn.”
Lynette fell asleep the moment she lay on the bed. Katrin sat beside her, gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead, and whispered:
“Have sweet dreams tonight as well.”
The next morning, after shopping for beans and tea leaves, Lynette was carrying her load when someone rushed up and grabbed them from her.
“Let me carry those.”
It was Sharon. Lynette had only said she would “think about it,” yet here Sharon was, appearing the very next day.
“I told you I needed time to think—”
“Goodness, were you carrying these heavy things all by yourself? You should’ve just asked me. Where shall I put them?”
Her bright smile made it impossible for Lynette to scold her. With no other choice, she hired Sharon—considering it a price for having stolen Sharon’s original chance.
“But you’ll accept wages.”
“Please, just consider it payment for teaching me.”
“No, just take the pay. By the way, I’m twenty—how old are you, Sharon?”
“I turned twenty this year too, I’m an adult now.”
Lynette already knew, but asked anyway. Same age—but while Lynette was destined to die branded as a villainess, Sharon’s hard early life would lead to happiness as a noblewoman a few years later. Perhaps even blessed with heroine’s luck. Lynette gave a faint smile.
“From now on, I’ll just call you Sharon. So you can call me Lynette.”
“Oh! Really? Is that okay?”
Her sparkling eyes nearly burst with joy. Lynette turned away from the overwhelming gaze and began roasting beans. Sharon leaned in, watching eagerly.
“Mmm, such a rich aroma! This is exactly what drew me in whenever I passed by the shop.”
The fragrant smell that could stop passersby in their tracks made Sharon smile brightly.
Grinding the roasted beans, Lynette placed them in filter paper and poured water.
“This is today’s first coffee.”
“Oh, I don’t need to drink—”
“You said you wanted to learn coffee. Then you need to taste it first.”
“Ah!”
Lynette handed her a plain Sepiano (without syrup). Sharon took a sip and shivered.
“Yesterday was so sweet, but this is bitter. Yet… it’s a pleasant bitterness. Nutty too… haah, it makes me feel so good.”
At that moment, Thomas arrived from the farm with milk and cream.
“Ah, smells like coffee already! Oh, this must be the milk and cream you asked for today.”
Proudly pointing out how fresh it was, Thomas licked his lips watching Lynette’s coffee.
“Thanks for bringing it. While you’re here, want a cup?”
“Ha ha! Of course! Honestly, coming here for your coffee is the highlight of my day.”
Every time he delivered, Lynette treated him to coffee. Just one cup from her and he felt he could power through the whole day. Thomas grinned, savoring the taste.
“Thanks, Miss Lynette. Keep using our products, and may business boom.”
“And may you make lots of money too, sir.”
They exchanged cheerful words, a good start to the day. As soon as the morning coffee was done, it was opening time again.
Business was hectic as always. Sharon, who wanted to learn, hardly had time to observe.
“Lynette, I think people are waiting longer because coffee’s too popular. But with so few tables…”
There were only six tables, seating at most sixteen even if people shared. Many had no choice but to stand with cups in hand.
“I didn’t expect it to get this busy. I’m thinking of offering drinks in bamboo tubes soon, so people can carry them around.”
“Oh! That’s a great idea. Wooden cups take too much work and can’t be single-use, but if you smooth the edge of cut bamboo, it’s easy and practical.”
The shop was near a park, making it perfect—couples or strollers could enjoy coffee from bamboo tubes, then take them home or toss them out.
“Also, I’ll give a discount to anyone who brings back a bamboo tube.”
“That’s brilliant.”
It was the birth of takeout. Coffee served in bamboo tubes or customers’ own cups and kettles, at a discount.
The strategy worked perfectly. Those who wanted to savor the shop’s atmosphere stayed inside, while others happily took theirs to go.
Other teahouses tried copying the idea, but none matched Ikkulim’s success.
Because it wasn’t just any tea—it was coffee. The rich aroma and sweet allure fascinated people, drawing them inside almost against their will.
“You’re back again. What will it be today?”
Their regular visited daily without fail. Sharon recognized him and greeted first.
“Vanilla latte today…”
She relayed the order, and soon Lynette served it. The smile on the regular’s face as he drank hadn’t yet faded when someone else entered.
A man with short silver hair and golden eyes—anyone could see his noble aura. When he smiled at Sharon, she frowned playfully.
“Hey! Mason, I told you not to come here.”
Hearing his name and seeing him, Lynette almost choked. Not because of his looks—though he was stunning—but because the male lead of the original story had just appeared.
Mason Sepiano.
The crown prince of the Sepia Empire, in disguise, had arrived.
Was this the moment she was supposed to kneel?
