I Opened a Café in Another World.

Volume 1, Chapter 14: I went to a tea party.

“Risa, we’re having a tea party at our house today so you should come too!”

Tasia said smoothly over breakfast. At the time, I just nodded without thinking too deeply beyond wow, a tea party. I had no idea it would end up like that…

When I was lazing around in my room after breakfast, I heard a knock on the door. Tasia opened it and came in with a bunch of maids holding boxes of all sizes. When I looked at Tasia in confusion, she smiled sweetly and said, “Risa, it’s time to prepare for the tea party!”

“Huh?”

In an instant, I was stripped of my clothes, forced to put on a multi-colored dress, had my hair arranged and transformed into a lady for the tea party by the maids.

“Never underestimate Tasia and the power of maids…”

Suddenly forced into an outfit from head to toe, I collapsed onto the sofa. I’m a girl, so technically I don’t hate being fashionable. However, everything must be in moderation!

I couldn’t help but glare at Tasia and the maids, who seemed extremely happy with themselves.

After I recovered a bit, I asked Tasia about the tea party that would be happening today. It seems the tea party I had in mind was very different from the actual thing.

“Oh my, did I not tell you? Today’s tea party is also your debut party. Don’t worry, though, I kept it small so you wouldn’t be too overwhelmed. I’ve only invited about thirty people!”

Tasia said something so ridiculous without batting an eye as she picked out her own dress.

My debut party!? Wait, thirty people are coming!?

I collapsed onto the sofa again.

After Tasia finished her preparations, she dragged me to the garden where the tea party would be held. Gil, who was entertaining the guests as the host, was already there.

“Ah, Tasia and Risa, I’ve been waiting for you.”

Gil raised a hand in greeting and called us over. A lady guest who was talking to Gil turned to face us. Her muted green dress and wide-brimmed sun hat only accentuated her beauty.

“My, Adele! You came to the party! I’m so happy!!”

“I’m happy that you invited me!”

The lady guest seemed quite close to Tasia, and they hugged. After chatting a bit, she turned to me.

“Tasia, is this girl…”

“Yes, let me introduce you! This is Risa, the girl who is now our daughter.”

Tasia said, taking a step back to push me forward. I ended up right in front of the lady face to face.

“Risa, this is my best friend Adelisia. She’s also the queen.”

I see, Tasia’s best friend…wait, the queen!?

“I’m pretty much retired, though! My son is doing all the work. Nice to meet you, Risa. Please call me Adele.”

“…o-okay.”

I shook the porcelain hand she held out.

“I’m so jealous, I wanted a daughter too. Maybe I’ll try a bit harder now! Haha, just kidding.”

“Ohoho, isn’t she cute! You can do it if you try, Adele!”

The two left me speechless and began chatting. Gil looked on, smiling.

Is the queen really someone you can meet with so easily? I’m not sure about the royalty in another world, but neither the royal family of Japan nor Europe were like this. Well, it might just be my ignorance.

Seeing me stiff from meeting such a celebrity guest, Gil lightly clapped my shoulder. When I turned to him, he smiled and explained that Her Majesty was his cousin and Tasia’s childhood friend. She fell in love with His Majesty at first sight, but still kept her friendship with them even after becoming the queen. Even if she was the queen, friends are still friends, after all.

Their close friendship and their lighthearted chatting made sense now. They seemed to have a lot to catch up on, as they continued to chat up a storm. Gil rebuked the two, and the tea party finally started. Even though this was apparently a small tea party, I had no notion of tea parties in the first place and as such had no clue what to expect.

On the garden tables covered with lace tablecloth was some tea and the cookies I made, now a Claude family favorite. For some reason, bread was on the table as well. I had imagined a three-tier tea tray and afternoon tea, but I just remembered that the standard of food in this world is…

One day I’ll make that a reality.

Gil gave a simple greeting and introduced me to the guests. It seems the people invited today were only Gil and Tasia’s friends, so they welcomed me warmly.

Then Tasia explained the bread and cookies placed on each table. At her recommendation, everyone peered at the food and took a bite.

“What a wonderful crisp and flaky texture!”

“The rich flavor goes very well with the tea!!”

“What, this is bread!? It’s completely different from anything I’ve ever had!”

The excited thoughts flew across the tables, and Gil and Tasia couldn’t help but puff up their chests in pride. Similarly, I was surprised by most of the thoughts and was a little happy to hear them. What a wonderful thing it is to be able to share good food with others. It only made me happier to see that it was my food. After the noisy garden slowly calmed down, a peaceful calm settled onto each table.

“Hey, Risa.”

“Yes?”

Once I finally settled into my seat to drink tea after being dragged around to greet everyone, Her Majesty Adele called out to me at the same table. I straightened my back and turned to her.

“The cookies and bread you made were delicious! Tasia has also been talking my ear off about how good your other food is!”

“Thank you very much.”

I was surprised Tasia said that much…but I was happy to receive such honest words.

“Hey, if you’d like, why don’t you set up shop?”

“A shop?”

“Yes! It would be lovely if a lot of people got to eat good food like today! Isn’t it such a waste to keep it all at the Claude’s?”

Her Majesty Adele smiled.

“You say that, Adele, but really you just want to eat it yourself, don’t you?”

Tasia folded her arms behind me as she overheard the conversation.

“My, my, have I been found out?”

“Don’t ‘my, my’ me!”

A shop, huh.

I idly began to think about Her Majesty Adele’s suggestion as the two of them chattered away.

This conversation would start the ball rolling towards the place I truly belonged in another world.