"Good morning, how are you feeling?"

The next day, Carsein went back to the Monique manor, wanting to check the girl's condition.

"Good morning Carsein, I'm feeling much better now." Aristia answered, drawing a smile on her face. "I'm sorry for making you worry."

"If you're sorry then don't get sick." The red-haired replied coldly. Adverting his eyes from the golden orbs. While the girl looked at him with a surprised look. Noticing the eye-bags under his clear-blue eyes, as if he stayed up all night.

"Are you... mad...?" She asked with a soft voice.

"Of course I'm—!" He thundered, about to scold her. But when he saw the golden-eyes that looked at him with a sorry look, he shut his lips. "No, forget it. Sorry, I can't think straight right now. Let's not train for a few days, get some rest. I'm going back now."

"Eh? Oh. Okay. Be careful on your way home."

The red-haired left the room and got on his carriage, heading back to his house. Suddenly, a memory flashed on his mind.

***

Clang!

A red-haired young man threw his sword to the ground.

"Darn it, nothing's working!"

Srk! Srk! Srk!

The sound of grass being stepped on can be heared, he glanced back and picked up his sword.

"You're here?"

"Ah, yes. Are you training a lot?" A silver-haired girl with golden eyes asked.

"Huh, not really." The red-haired replied coldly. "Hey. Are you better now?"

The girl flinched at the question. Then replied, "Yes, I'm better now. Sorry for making you worry."

"If you're sorry then don't get sick."

***

"Right... that happened before."

It was a piece of memory before they left the Monique estate in the previous timeline. Then, he recalled the short event that happened just now.

"Are you... mad...?"

' "Of course I'm mad." That's what I wanted to say just now.'

"Who.... just who.... am I mad at?" he let out a sad chuckle.

'Darn it, I'm tired. Might as well sleep when I get home.'

***

After a few days, Aristia's condition went back to normal. They went back to their usual training. However, this time, royal knights are overseeing them and assisting the girl.

After training for a few hours, they finally took a break.

"Sir Seymour, please come and have tea with us."

"I'm on duty, my Lady."

"You can guard me while you're having tea, so take it easy." The girl's fingers gently poured hibiscus tea into a cup, and gave it to the blonde-haired knight in white uniform. "Here you go, sir Seymour."

"I am honored, my Lady." The knight took the tea cup and sat on a chair.

Aristia took another cup and poured the tea, giving it to the red-haired young man. "Here is yours, Carsein."

"Ah, thanks." The red-haired took the cup and immediately took a sip.

"Eh, you should blow it first—..."

Carsein choked, his face went pale, not because of the heat of the tea, but because of...

"EKH! IT'S SOUR!" He whined, putting a disgusted look on his face.

No matter if its the past or the present, Carsein will be Carsein, who can't keep up with the sourness of the hibiscus tea.

"Huh? Really?" The silver-haired immediately sipped her cup, checking if she brew the tea correctly. But she was able to drink it normally. "Do you dislike sour things, Carsein?"

"Yeah, i hate it." Carsein blurted out, putting his cup on the table while exposing his burnt tongue to the air, cooling it off.

Suddenly, Aristia took his cup, then added two sugar cubes to it. After doing so, she returned his cup, and asked. "How about this?"

The red-haired who saw her moves remained silent and dazed. Two sugar cubes.

***

"SOUR!!!" The red-haired spat out his tea. "It's sour!!! I like the color, but the taste is strange. It feels weird on the tongue. Maybe its spoile....d...?"

Aristia drank her tea easily. The clear-blue eyes who saw that scene, had a surprised look in his face.

"It's supposed to taste like this."

"Seriously?! The taste doesn't bother you?" Carsein shouted in disbelief. "Is something wrong with your tastebuds? I knew it from the beginning but you sure do have weird tastes!"

Annoyed, the girl stood up and took his cup away from him.

"If you don't like it then don't drink it!" She exclaimed, annoyed at his attitude. "Well I apologize for my strange preferences in tea! But it looks like you won't be satisfied even if I offer you another one."

The girl took his and her teacup, then sat at another table while reading a book, isolating herself from the red-haired and the blonde-haired knight.

"Seriously, what's with her? I only said that she has a weird taste, isn't that so, sir Seymour?"

"Well, I am particularly fine with any kind of tea." The knight answered. "It is a big honor itself to drink the tea that the lady brews herself."

"Huh? What did you say?"

"The lady. Brews the tea. Herself."

Shocked, the red-haired started sweating.

'Oh shit, now I've done it.'

Slowly, Carsein started approaching the silver-haired girl. Noticing him come, the fitk asked.

"What? I thought you said that I have a weird taste?"

"But you don't have to take it away from me." The red-haired forced a smile, took his cup, and sipped it. Showing a face that is about to puke. But determined not to do so. "This Carsein de Rass, would not lose to a mere cup of tea!"

He swallowed the tea, but could not endure it's aftertaste. Seeing the boy look so determined, Aristia took the sugar container and added two sugar cubes to the boy's cup.

"How about this?" She asked, offering the cup to him.

He hesitated, but in the end took the cup, and sipped it, wanting to gulp it down as fast as he can. But then, his eyes widened in surprise.

"Huh?"

He took another sip, and another sip.

"This actually tastes pretty good!" Carsein exclaimed.

"Right?" The girl chuckled.

***

"Carsein? Carsein!"

A voice woke him up from reminiscing his memories.

"Huh? Yeah?"

"What's the matter? Do you want another type of tea?"

"Ah no, there's no need. Thank you, Aristia."

"Your welcome." The girl smiled, handing him the cup.

Carsein took the cup, and stared at it for a while. Then he sipped it lightly. A sense of nostalgia filled his whole body.

'This truly is the best cup of tea in the world.'