Chapter 12
By the time Jake and Jessica arrived at the duke's daughter's camp, only the fading light of sunset remained.
Three carriages had been positioned in a triangle.
Several campfires burned in the middle.
Sausages were being grilled over the fires.
Soup simmered in pots.
Aside from the servants preparing food, everyone else was maintaining equipment or handling personal matters.
The mage guided Jake and Jessica toward the most luxurious carriage.
"I brought the mercenaries."
When she stopped them in front of the carriage, the door opened.
A young woman stepped down.
She wore an expensive dress that was elegant without being overly flashy.
A beautiful girl who looked perhaps one or two years older than Jake.
"This is Lady Rachel."
Even without the mage's introduction...
Both Jake and Jessica already knew who she was.
Jessica had seen her from a distance while working in the territory.
Jake had personally traveled with an older version of her decades in the future.
"My name is Jay."
"I'm Jessica."
Jake bowed using proper court etiquette.
Then he noticed the strange atmosphere around him.
Damn.
Jessica was still bent forward, staring at him in shock.
Several other people were also looking at him curiously.
That was a mistake.
I greeted her too properly.
"You were taught very well somewhere."
Even Rachel looked at him with an unusual expression.
Jake became awkward.
Several excuses immediately appeared in his mind.
But this was not a good place to start explaining himself.
"I didn't invite you here just to exchange greetings."
Fortunately, Rachel let the matter go.
"I invited you to share dinner."
She smiled gently.
"And afterward, I thought I might hear a little about how ordinary people are living."
She really was wise.
Inviting mercenaries to eat while listening to the lives of commoners...
It was the kind of thing people in high positions were always told they should do.
Almost no one actually did it.
Yet even at this age...
Rachel had apparently been doing it regularly.
So it was always part of her personality.
In the future, Jake had assumed she mixed easily with ordinary people only because she had been reduced to the life of a fugitive.
Apparently...
She had always been far more down-to-earth than he realized.
After that slightly awkward introduction...
Jake and Jessica joined the others and ate dinner.
The meal was quite good.
The bread was soft.
The soup contained plenty of meat.
And the seasoning was excellent.
The food was satisfying.
The tea served afterward...
Was terrible.
Jessica and the soldiers simply drank it without caring.
Rachel took one sip and quietly pushed the cup aside.
Unfortunately...
The party did not seem to have a proper butler or dedicated maid who knew how to prepare tea.
They had probably left the Imperial Capital too suddenly to bring enough staff.
"Thank you for the meal."
Jessica thanked Rachel after finishing.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Rachel answered with a smile.
She asked Jessica a few questions about herself.
The moment she heard Jessica came from Lutetia Territory...
Rachel immediately began asking about home.
Rachel had left the territory long ago in preparation to become crown princess.
She did need to hear about the wider world.
But she wanted to hear about her homeland even more.
Jessica happily began talking.
Rachel and the mage listened closely.
Jake sat there awkwardly for a while.
Eventually...
He quietly stood.
There was no reason for him to sit among women discussing their hometown.
Holding the cup of terrible tea, Jake leaned against a carriage and looked around the camp.
Soldiers were beginning to stand watch.
Some people were already preparing to sleep.
Knights spoke quietly with one another nearby.
The camp had a relaxed atmosphere.
Yet...
It felt different from an ordinary campsite.
Everyone kept stealing glances toward Rachel.
Not because they were uncomfortable around a noble.
No.
They were looking at her with sympathy.
She's loved.
Jake could clearly see it.
Not only from her own people.
Even Jessica had spoken about Rachel with affection.
And watching Rachel continue considering the people around her without showing any weakness reminded Jake of the future empress.
Even as a fugitive...
She had constantly encouraged everyone around her.
Jake had been unable to remain with her until the end, so he never learned exactly how she died.
Still...
He had received a great deal of strength from her.
If we meet again someday, won't you make me some delicious tea?
The thing I'll miss most once you're gone is not being able to drink good tea anymore.
Jake remembered those words.
She had held his hand while saying them when they parted for the final time.
That memory made it impossible for Jake to remain still.
"Maybe I should repay a little of that debt."
Jake approached the servants cleaning up the cooking area.
After receiving permission...
He began preparing tea.
The tea he had just drunk, and the tea he was now making...
Were the same kind of tea as black tea from Earth.
The name was different here.
But the preparation and flavor were the same.
Jake had enjoyed drinking it in this world too.
Unlike Earth, however...
Black tea was not common here.
Mostly nobles and wealthy merchants drank it.
Ordinary people rarely encountered tea at all.
Perhaps because of that...
When Jake offered to prepare the tea himself, the servants immediately gave him space.
Jake carefully began brewing.
Like any proper tea...
The most important things were water, temperature, and time.
But accurately controlling those things in a campsite was difficult.
At times like this...
A shortcut was necessary.
Jake mixed some remaining milk into the brewed tea.
Then he added some jam that had been used for bread.
Milk tea complete.
If he had done this inside the Imperial Palace, someone might have screamed that he was ruining perfectly good tea.
But during her years as a fugitive...
The future empress had loved warm milk tea on difficult nights.
For the exhausted-looking Rachel...
Jake added one more secret ingredient.
Then he carried the cups toward the women.
"As thanks for sharing your meal with us, I prepared some tea."
Jake offered the tray.
"I hope you'll try it."
