Chapter 7: The Tea Party

It was unexpected that this glass bead, which looked slightly bluish, was actually the culprit behind Jon’s transmigration from Earth! At this moment, beyond astonishment and surprise, Angel felt a deeper sense of curiosity and complexity in his heart.

Curiosity toward such a transcendent item was natural. But the complexity stemmed from the fact that if not for this glass bead, his mentor would not have ended up in his current state; perhaps he would have been living a happy life on Earth with his beloved wife and daughter.

Beyond that, a faint voice in the depths of Angel’s heart whispered: if not for the glass bead, he would never have met someone as learned as his mentor in this lifetime. Without his mentor’s guidance, he might have already become a dissolute playboy, living a life of obscurity, devoid of any concept of life, values, or the world.

Jon was naturally unaware of the myriad thoughts swirling in Angel’s mind. He turned the glass bead over in his palm, then extended a hand that had become nearly withered, laboriously placing the bead back into Angel’s hand.

"Since I have already discarded it, that means I have given up on it. You were the one who picked it up, which means it has a connection with you. Keep the 'Eye of the Outer Heavens'... I am nearing the grave, but you are still young. Perhaps, you might still have a chance to go to Earth." Jon smiled and shook his head; he didn't believe in this possibility himself, but he insisted, "If you ever reach Earth, I hope you can bring my ashes back to Huaxia and bury them under that mistletoe tree in my old home in Jiangdong..."

……

The night mist was heavy. Angel rested his chin on his hand, keeping watch by Jon’s side until he fell asleep, only then leaving while rubbing his aching arm.

His mentor’s health was deteriorating, and he didn't know how much longer he could hold on. No matter how reluctant Angel felt, if it were truly as his mentor said—that the Gaia consciousness willed his death—what could he do? Now, the only thing he could do was to stay happily by his mentor’s side, fulfilling his filial duties during his final days.

When he left the small courtyard, moonlight illuminated the earth. Angel wore thin clothing, draped in a fur cloak embroidered with the family crest, his shadow stretching long under the moonlight as he walked alone toward the castle in the center of the manor.

On the other side, in the castle’s grand hall, dancers in gorgeous attire lifted the hems of their colorful puffy skirts, spinning joyfully to the music of the performers. Expensive candles made from deep-sea fish oil were lit one by one by the maids, illuminating the hall as if it were broad daylight.

The hall was filled with pleasant aromas: the scent of red wine, the mellow fragrance of cheese, and faint notes of flowers and tea.

When Angel entered, this was the lively and bustling scene he beheld.

Leon stood in the center of the crowd, holding a glass of red wine, laughing and talking loudly with several unfamiliar faces.

Presumably, those must be the visitors from the Monn family.

As Angel quietly observed the guests, Leon spotted him and happily pulled him into the center of the crowd to introduce them.

Standing at the front was a middle-aged man dressed like a true gentleman. He had emerald eyes, deep brown hair, and sharp, angular features; his overall temperament was like a long sword unsheathed.

"Angel, you’ve come at just the right time. Let me introduce you; this is Count Eton, who guards the front lines for the Monn family," Leon introduced.

Angel greeted them with ease; aristocratic etiquette was already etched into his bones, and every movement he made carried an elegant, noble air.

"These two are Alan and Eileen, Count Eton’s children."

Alan looked to be about fourteen, similar in age to Angel. His features had not yet fully matured, and he was chubby and quite cute. He had inherited his father’s green eyes and brown hair, though his hair was curly and unkempt, giving him a more childish appearance.

Although Eileen was the younger sister, she looked much more mature than Alan. Her figure was gradually filling out, and draped in a gorgeous aristocratic gown, she looked like a young princess just emerging from her innocence, full of youthful appeal.

While Angel was observing them, they were also observing him.

Angel’s appearance fit the empire’s standard of beauty: golden hair, blue eyes, and fair skin that didn't look sickly. Every feature was flawless, and their combination was breathtaking. The result was that when Angel smiled and greeted the siblings, Eileen’s face immediately turned bright red, and she hid behind Alan under the pretext of holding a serving tray.

*This little girl...*

Eton chuckled inwardly, though he was also surprised by Angel’s appearance. He hadn't expected that the unremarkable Old Pat would have two sons, each more handsome than the last.

After a round of pleasantries, Leon noticed Eton glancing back repeatedly and said, "Since this is a tea party, we can't just drink wine; tea is the main event."

With that, Leon clapped his hands, signaled the dancing maids to stop, and led everyone to the tea room to be seated.

Just then, the main door of the hall creaked open.

The sound of rain pattering outside could be heard; only then did everyone realize it had started to rain heavily.

A mysterious figure covered in a black robe walked in slowly.

Leon frowned and said in a low voice, "This guest, who are you..."

Before he could finish, he saw Count Eton, along with Alan and Eileen, step forward and respectfully surround the newcomer.

"Viscount Pat, this is my father, Moro Monn," Eton introduced. "My father usually enjoys light tea, and hearing that there was special tea today, he came along. However, he had some business on the way and was delayed, which is why he just arrived."

Leon said "Oh" to show he understood, then greeted the elder of the Monn family with even greater enthusiasm.

Angel, however, glanced at Moro’s shoes, his eyes flickering slightly... His shoes were typical soft suede, the edges covered in damp mud. What particularly caught Angel’s attention was that the color of the mud was slightly reddish.

The soil in Grue Town was mostly yellow or black. There was only one place within a hundred miles that had red soil... the Pat tea plantation.

To be so concerned about the tea plantation that he would brave the rain to visit it before the tea party?

It seemed that the person who had been asking about the "dew after the rain" must be this old man, Moro. Angel still didn't understand what was so special about the dew after the rain. It was bitter, with only a slight sweetness after swallowing. Aside from his mentor, this was the first person to show interest in it.

Angel did not expose Moro’s actions, though his expression stiffened slightly. The Monn family was powerful, and their small, rural noble family could not possibly contend with them. He only hoped that today’s tea party would satisfy them.

Moro, having lowered his hood, looked like a very ordinary old man. He had a long white beard and smiling eyes, giving him a somewhat kind appearance.

Leon immediately had the head maid, Mana, bring out all the tea and refreshments prepared for the day. Beside the refreshments sat several exquisite porcelain pots carved with patterns.

"These teapots contain all the varieties of tea produced by our own manor."

As Leon introduced them, Mana uncovered the lids one by one.

As the first lid was lifted, a faint white mist rose, accompanied by a rich floral fragrance.

"This is Ice Honey Flower Tea. The leaves are taken from the petals of the Moon Honey Tree, unique to the Pat Manor. It is not brewed with milk, but with melted snow from the mountains. The taste is sweet but not cloying, cooling right to the brain." Leon sighed, "It’s a pity that it is already the long winter; if it were drunk in the height of summer, it would be even more refreshing."

After the Monn party tasted the tea, only Eileen seemed to like it enough to drink a few extra sips; the others only took a shallow taste. The black-robed old man, Moro, even just sniffed it and set it aside.

The second teapot contained milk tea, but unlike the milk tea popular in the empire, its taste was very unique.

"Its name is Summer Lemon Milk Tea. It is made using a sour fruit called Summer Lemon, paired with fermented cow’s milk and Thin Orchid leaves," Leon said, then pointed to Angel beside him. "My younger brother loves this tea the most; he drinks several large bowls every day and tries to hide it so others won't know. Hahaha."

Angel rolled his eyes at Leon in his heart, though he kept a smile on his face.

"Is it something Brother Pat likes to drink?" Eileen’s eyes lit up. Expectantly, she took the porcelain cup from Mana and drank a large gulp.

After finishing it, a thin layer of milk foam stained her lips. Eileen closed her eyes, seemingly savoring the pleasant milky fragrance; it was slightly sour, but it tasted wonderful!

"It’s so good!" Eileen said loudly. "Even better than the flower tea from before!"

Hearing Eileen say this, her brother Alan also took a cup and drank it in one gulp. Alan smacked his lips, his eyes narrowing into slits, and he nodded with great enjoyment, strongly agreeing with his sister’s taste.

Count Eton looked at his two children and just smiled. He didn't drink the milk tea; he could tell from Leon’s words that this pot was clearly prepared for Alan and Eileen.

Old man Moro was also very doting toward his two grandchildren, pushing his own cup of milk tea directly toward Eileen.

For the rest of the time, Mana opened several more lids. Most of the tea types were milk teas or flower teas, in which Moro had no interest. Only the two pots of green tea that Jon loved did he taste slightly. But even after tasting them, Moro remained uninterested.

Angel turned his gaze to the last pot. That pot contained the last of the three teas his mentor Jon loved most, and the only tea plant he had brought from Earth—the Dew After the Rain.