Chapter 352 Tea Cups

[ Birthdays, the days we are born.

Just like the plant, how first a seed is planted into the ground and then that seed sprouts to become a beautiful plant after great care, and then a majestic tree.

Some fortunate ones become old big trees that guide the lost ones, bless others with their great wisdom, and support many other creatures under their vast reach.

I hope a young plant like you can become a great old being like those ancient trees too.

It's your birthday and the gift that I prepared with my dear heart and lacking capabilities is placed on my favorite place.

It's not something grand like others but it's something I made with great care.

I hope you like it~. ]

That clearly said she made the thing so it was clear that it wasn't tea.

Maybe it was something else but it definitely wasn't tea because, well, you can't 'make' tea.

Not in the actual sense of creation.

So he was right. And I still want to punch him.

He's a bastard who deserves it.

'But... damn that smile.'

There was a warm smile on his face as he looked at the letter with warm eyes.

They were different from his previous reactions and he was genuinely happy to read this thing.

I couldn't help but feel this strange feeling while looking at him but he definitely was... hawwwt!

'Ahem! Anyway... maybe he's happy to see that live-long thing?

There might be some special story I don't know yet. But anyway-'

"Let's go dum dum."

"I. Am. Not. Dum dum!!"

"Of course, you aren't. Haha~."

He was laughing now after making fun of me. In the first place, what does this dum dum even mean?!

I had no idea where this weirdness of his comes from some of the times but, I know I won't get some of my answers from him even if I wanted to.

'He hides some things deep within his mind and heart. Things that even I'm not allowed to know just yet.

Maybe I will know someday in the future but for now, it was something I can't know and shouldn't think too deeply about in the first place.'

I was lost in my thoughts so he just grabbed my hand and led me to the front garden where a single white umbrella, a tea table and two white-blue chairs were set.

This area was the front garden area on the right side and Aug's favorite tea spot.

This was a comfortable area where the calm wind that carried the fresh scent of the flowers on the left side of the garden flowed most of the time.

Especially in the evening. This place becomes the best outdoor dinner and tea place for us.

But this was still just late morning so there was bright sunlight all over this big front garden.

There was also a neat gift-wrapped box on the table so we knew that was Aug's gift.

'The area here was good and this was late morning... wasn't this perfect atmosphere for a cup of warm sweet tea?'

Maybe he understood my mind so he didn't waste any time and we reached the table.

He stood behind one of the chairs and pulled it back, politely requesting me to have a seat.

He was also bowing respectfully at me and I couldn't help my absurd smile at this sudden thing.

'But it's cute...'

With a pink blush on my face and bowing respectfully at him, I set down on the chair.

'A bit awkward too...'

"Ahem. Ahem."

He faked some cough and set down across me on his chair and picked up the box.

It was finely decorated, so good that no one would want to open the box just to take out the things inside it.

His thoughts were the same but we had to open it one way or another.

So... this bastard darling of mine first masterfully removed the golden ribbon on the box, turned it upside-down, used some kind of spell to relieve the packing of the cover on the box, took out the box and the two tea cups inside it, and put everything back, making the box exactly how it was a moment ago.

"Did... your master teach you how to pack a gift too?"

I couldn't help this question.

The way he did it was just that amazing.

"For a matter of fact... she wanted to but I decided to learn that one on my own. And she was surprised by my prowess after a few months of practice-."

"Shut that crap and look at these cups. Isn't one mine?"

I knew he was talking shit when he said that thing so as to not waste either of our time precious time, I interrupted him in the middle and just pointed at the two beautiful tea cups.

Two similar tea cups, one painted in gold and another one in purple.

There were pink patterns on the golden cup while there were red patterns on the purple one.

There was also a small pink crown on the golden cup while there was a similar red crown on the purple cup.

Both of them looked beautiful and I knew from a single glance that Aug made them and also that one of these two was mine.

But he narrowed his eyes and looked at me with confusion…

"They are my gifts. Why would one be yours?"

"Don't joke around, Eon. You also know both of them resemble us.

One is like you while the other one is like me.

It's only natural that one of them is mine, right?"

The confusion in his eyes turned into seriousness as he looked at me with sharp eyes.

"Do you think I'm joking right now?"

...

"No."

This bastard was seriously serious.

He actually meant it when he said that both of them were his.

'Petty bastard...'

Both of the tea cups were beautiful, and I really wanted one.

But now that wasn't possible.

He claimed both beautiful tea cups as his own.

"Hump..."

I turned my face away from him as he started preparing this special secret tea in a small teapot.

He also decorated the table with some fresh flowers and some snacks.

The fresh scent that covered the table was amazing and he was humming peacefully right now but I didn't look at him.

He didn't give me the teacup after having me sit here so respectfully then prepared some amazing tea.

He wasn't going to give the teacup to me then why was he even doing this?!

...

'Can't refuse the tea though...'

Especially his special milk tea.

That sweet thing is just amazing, almost like an eternal elixir.

'Not that I know what eternal elixir tastes like. But I bet even that thing would not come close to his special tea.

"Here. Three sugar cubes, more milk, average tea."

And now he was saying that with a bright smile on his face.

The seriousness from a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.

And the bastard gave me that golden cup that I liked more than the pink one.

He knew it and served me tea in something I can't ever have even if I wanted it dearly.

Something you can't buy with money…

"You can't have the cup but it can always belong to you if you want. How about it?"

"...?"

As soon as those words came out of his mouth, my eyes shot up at him and I looked at him with wide-open eyes, confused, shocked, and angry.

'I can't have it but it will always belong to me? Isn't this same as having the cup if we both will just stay with each other forever?'

This fucjking bastard!

"Why?!"

I mumbled under my breath as I held the warm tea cup and looked down at the brown-gold color of the fantastic tea.

There were two foam hearts on this one too. Something he usually does.

But I was angry right now...

"Hmm? What did you say cute dum dum?"

-Thump!

"First of all, cut that dum dum crap!! Second of all, you are a son of a... third thing, if you were going to let me use the cup anyway, what do you even get from these things?"

My poor cry and teary eyes would be soul-wreaking for any normal human but for him, this was just something... cute.

My misery, pain, and hurt, were fun to watch for this bastard.

There was a teardrop on the end of my eyes and he wiped it with his usual white handkerchief.

"The same thing you get from seeing me excited or focused.

Don't worry about it little pink one~. You are a good person.

You can use the cup as your personal cup but I will have the cup with me all the time.

It's nothing stranger than the usual things, right? Just be happy that you got an exclusive teacup."

He patted my head after that and I just sipped his tea while looking down.

He was a cruel person but… what can I even do now?

I was trapped with him so there is nothing more I want.

'These cookies he makes are good too... as always.'

I know I'm already addicted to his cooking but we have to maintain some things.

Like, the kiss.

We have to hasten that date so that I can control my poor desires a bit better.

...

Anyway, after our deep chat and some pass time, we opened the letter and this time... it was his second uncle.

The great advocate famous in the whole empire, Theo.

And just like how Aug's words are special, this one's writing itself is special,

Short, unique, beautiful, and attractive…