MCB Chapter 18

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Chapter 182be2c7dda30c6114

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In the early part 85fded111a of Volume 1, the 9ef0f5a10f gardener revived the derelict c83e4c5b89 garden.c2e990f55a5afe63

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In the middle of de7e7b9780 Volume 1, the duchess b6a93ab27e successfully hosted a tea a190818363 party in the lush, db91d1cef9 blooming garden.7744fffc14ff9f5e

‘This story flow seems off.’ad5e5ccda7d4f3bb

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In the last episode of 0fa1c40713 Volume 1, the duchess rewarded 7de912ec0e the gardener with a special 5b880e3c50 meat party for his excellent b5d593bd0c work.af1ea6fd2849af93

Puzzled, I flipped through Volume e8480c7220 2, which showed the brawny 9964285dbe gardener proudly displaying his perfect 0359eec539 topiary skills. It even hints at 8dba26d8a5 him entering a topiary f804b49ace competition.77feeeb69f9021a6

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Was this supposed to be 890498489f a gardening book? False advertising with that title?e09ad78b27cfb9ab

‘Well, the Duchess does seem like an excellent employer…’97034f14218d53f5

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Feeling let down, I closed bd323b119c the book and got up. After reading about someone 45872f396f working so diligently, I 054e8180c8 felt oddly melancholic about e03f32c990 having to go to 92dd08405c work myself.d734ef63853876b7

“Still, I should get up. Ugh…”6009465af6bfd1c8

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The cocktail bar has f6e54c6ca2 been getting more customers 969fd8aae9 recently.84e8cc6c3ed60adf

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“Did you come because of the posters, by any chance?”35f8daf3917fd8eb

 712228bbeba638f0

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I asked hopefully, right a32500b158 after putting up meticulously 351888c672 made posters everywhere.bb1e84d4b3359226

 9ecd2dee0a16f8ba

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“No? A friend recommended this place.”2baf9d00a35f8481

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Turned out they all came 034db29156 by word-of-mouth recommendations from others.a85fd496bc61c6ff

‘A hidden gem that will disappear if only I know about it,’ they said, but it seems everyone’s been actively spreading the word.38010deb6c2dd19b

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‘It really was frighteningly true.’5a17d17d5865c7ab

The customers kept saying the 00828b658d cocktails were delicious, but there 90afca5da5 were too few customers.0f0a8a91ae74b266

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‘They’re more passionate about this place than I am.’071aa3ae4c36a762

In fact, the recent half-price 6e432858ce discount was their suggestion too.30daead3d2e0a0cd

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“Still, it remains quiet for now.”54bfb7a2c7020b1b

Why did I used 97436aa114 to come in 30 86e567333b minutes early to prepare 2f98d54586 the snacks?9842293646c890ba

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It was because there were 0e979800c8 so many customers visiting.6b60355145a189a7

Nowadays, there would 06cdc55ab7 be no one 07a750015e even if I e5d6d6ad26 came 30 minutes caddf9c1e6 late.816e5d922d4dc1a8

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‘I should enjoy this leisure.’7d709ca7aa494461

I whistled as I got dressed in my bartender’s uniform and stood behind the bar counter.611d98b81acc3531

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Even after casually having 6e052289d6 a gin and tonic, fe1a188846 there were no customers, 67d8b9e673 so I stacked the a0d5eafc30 empty glasses neatly.9e99de09adc82919

‘Gotta be careful, don’t want them breaking!’b9bfcb207ab46315

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I surveyed the tower of stacked glasses with satisfaction. It would be nice to host a champagne party in this mood, but…a5b5b8ab24ebe6e1

‘Who am I having a champagne party for with no customers?’48a176b608858b7c

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Since I finished 5761d1e617 stacking, I should 31649c0309 start cleaning up. Just as I finished with 79b17625a0 the glasses, the door opened.1ab7c64a18ae4dfb

“Welcome.”5547b04c0e723b69

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This customer had 613215ea12 a bow slung 7be7401076 across his back. He definitely gave off ee1e1e666e a hunter vibe.3f9ce3e1cdb6d68e

Ignoring my greeting, he ffa3a98c74 plopped down on an d296df0c4f empty seat.4647fde51377cc96

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‘Ah, this isn’t a good sign.’f15635c5be769d11

The man scanned 40a8b49732 the surroundings suspiciously 916542a441 before bluntly staring 9a76754859 at me.b560824148bee2c4

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“You’ve got a lot of bottles on display. Seems like you’ve collected every kind of booze. Is this place competing on quantity?”cf270b5023ba4abc

As expected, the 3097f364f3 man spoke in 9a894b7f8d a mocking tone.88034e8dfb51351a

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‘Why the hostility right off the bat?’ba3b106800401f28

Hiding my thoughts, I 823a2ad250 calmly responded.003a6538d728ec99

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“Our establishment prides itself on variety. All those bottles are ingredients for making cocktails. We strive to create the perfect drink tailored to each customer’s taste.”8057bdea554e4dbf

“Those bottles are ingredients? For making booze?”04b028fd1b76bacc

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“Yes, by mixing various—”86eccac20b22a62f

“Mixing liquor? That just makes it spoil faster!”4a9a178fe3b32d9b

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The man suddenly raised ba087dbd16 his voice.0b3c5bb9310c1243

“That’s simply our establishment’s policy.”f581d384c854b18d

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“You don’t know how to drink liquor properly. Who would consume such a mishmash!”f0bf467bb8c6d792

“Whether it’s a mishmash or not, you’d have to try it to know, right?”cef5bc638c207180

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Regardless of his huffing, 4fd517c1e6 I calmly responded.c926ba7fe1ad5782

“Fine. Since you’re so confident….. bring me a drink that’s rich yet sweet, emotional yet fragrant, and unique.”f13868aab32af46f

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“Yes! Order received.”93b6130b2a8f3498

It was an 99b44793d6 outrageous order, but 916f1546ab I nodded as 23ae7d016c I mulled over 57a19474a3 the details in d317fb2daa my head.ebd75c9d1d785efa

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Seeming displeased with my composed d4017b010b demeanor, the man furrowed his aa42427e44 brow.0d4e5eb83fd878de

“One more thing to add.”5726d116d19d5e10

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“Yes, go ahead.”c7076a4789200d9c

“It’s awfully cold today. I want to drink something warm.”660c41d69185d13c

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The man gave a 859fa8ea82 cruel smile. It felt more a46d388eec like an attack 4048c84cd3 than an order.52165ca5960a9f84

Every other day, be4ddc076d there was a 91a6340a6e troublesome customer.3a8328a5839edb32

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But this was nothing I couldn’t handle.35dde9517ac1838d

“Understood.”3a9f158dc2078b78

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I smiled faintly 4162a1fca7 as I selected b15b31aa38 Y.c649be0332ce20b9

Just wait.17461e5619cab5e5

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I’ll serve a drink so delicious, it’ll make you regret picking this fight.a8f578e95a7d2b1d

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The man, Ephesus, was 7b487dfdad filled with recent grievances.88a8a492e7a5520c

A momentary mistake had 06b0b5678f sent his life spiraling bf95f62c28 downward.43f85537f0f85f13

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Where did it all b452c13d0a go wrong?ab9cd04c3768520d

When he, who loved baking, e59602c4bd ended up following the family 1d2d86de80 trade as a hunter instead?4b17a475c6160f56

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Or when the dbe714e95c queen ordered him 2ff9635683 to kill the e41dfc1fdb princess?15430754b58064fd

Or perhaps when he couldn’t bring himself to kill the beautiful princess and let her go?c25ce55f238668d0

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Snow White, with skin as bcfb64ce79 pale as snow, full red 1ee336ce52 lips, and raven black hair, a39dd6ab4b was so breathtakingly beautiful that 39580ca313 she drew both admiration and ee018a1332 envy.682166e54df757f2

Maybe her beauty 42ae0dd521 was the root fc8b6ddd8e cause of everything.0b8be7be8582964f

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Regardless, Ephesus released Snow White, believing it was the right choice at the time. But it ultimately incurred the queen’s wrath, turning him into a fugitive.0ec2925d3f2d8ef4

“Haah…”1f4ad0ee781ab7ec

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Ephesus let out a deep sigh. He barely escaped the queen’s clutches, but didn’t know when he might be pursued again.50f4ba3580dedcad

And here he was, 801d8379eb witnessing someone leisurely mixing 798c6a86f7 drinks in a place f2e6875fc4 as serene as a 286da56a3f clean room.546b41a919545a84

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Anger welled up in 59b6cc4085 him, prompting that unreasonable a050975bc3 order—the situation he now 18a4ea768f found himself in.518e692199d77f63

Then, a rich aroma wafted into Ephesus’s nose. His eyes shot wide open.3cf1767ee5a6ea4f

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“Hey!”c0db9905c0160b86

“Yes?”2a8e570cfa084170

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The bartender stopped 03fcd586da what she was 728484e92f doing and looked 56fca1b638 at him, her a9c01b88c8 face calm as cd8f1cfd6d if asking why 9d315e05b1 he had called.63beb162f595e6ca

“Yes, a savory yet sweet, emotional yet fragrant and unique warm drink, correct?”88449e0fb8dab3a4

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“Then why are you mashing butter?”c65e7b0bcfcfc69c

Befitting someone who once dreamed 32d5b76d64 of being a baker, Ephesus c9a42a9e32 recognized the ingredients just from 4ac7073e05 the aroma and was dumbfounded. The bartender was vigorously f625f4dae2 mashing something into the 59f9c7b0cb butter.6889e1081f491275

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“Are you trying to make bread?”f7ae1e6422534469

“The butter is for richness.”2ca29eba1438293f

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“In a drink? Butter?”302394bebf6c6cd4

“Yes. And milk too.”4a49777b7be7b02a

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The bartender smiled 799e00e9bb brightly as she ce1f0e7968 pointed to a a7870ee384 pot. Just as she e3c9c9f0e9 said, milk was dc3bcabc98 bubbling away, steaming bb5d216173 in the pot.9dc1ece3fe51d232

Ephesus was flabbergasted.07dcc41193be199a

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“I guess all those liquor bottles are just for show…”c65f8f9725f97214

“The drink includes rum. Dark rum, to be precise.”e82f8b456d6864a5

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“Oh, so you are planning to bake. With dark rum, you must be making canelé, right?”0cbd1f19553a4d4e

Ephesus mocked.868d46872f4522a6

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Rum is a e9b9559361 spirit distilled from ca5b6537e2 sugarcane. If not aged, it’s 72928c17fb white rum. If aged briefly 2c9e006726 in oak barrels, cd82ba56f1 it’s gold rum. And if aged for c66ce71600 a long time, it’s 499c2a6bf3 dark rum. The longer it 91a0f4f584 ages, the deeper 6559da9145 the flavor and 6b8a41148f the higher the 7b89b92a06 price.1752de1c57793ba6

‘She probably picked it because it’s expensive and doesn’t know any better.’94aa44f933a34f48

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Tsk.Ephesus clicked his tongue. Wasting expensive dark 0a78aae684 rum by playing 9c17967ca5 around with butter 8b20b9a453 and milk.b483921b755cb56e

With his arms crossed, Ephesus e76168244e watched the bartender mix the fee992635d dark rum with milk and a8353f74b6 butter.75689407748ecc70

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After thoroughly combining the 2e8c3ce772 drink, the bartender poured 578629b9ba it into a glass e51df11a80 and finally garnished it 71ff607fed with a cinnamon stick 929a9af9bc before presenting it to 5309d2255c Ephesus.1eabf6be3ace79f8

“The cocktail I’ve prepared is a ‘Hot Buttered Rum’. Since you wanted richness, I made the classic version with milk instead of water.”e24a1a70b80fff1e

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“Hmph. But the butter is floating separately?”49ac44d61535a358

“That’s intentional, to create a floating layer.”9abd073563afe16d

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Heh. Ephesus let out a derisive 617704ef14 chuckle as he lifted the 79efaf7111 glass.381dcd059e527bc6

He had a keen sense of taste and smell. He planned to take a sip and immediately call out the absurdity of such a strange concoction…d3686c4bd1959b8b

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‘Fragrant.’de87a4077644dac7

Ephesus’s eyes suddenly widened.2338fd800608eca1

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As the glass neared, 14912bf949 a faint spiced aroma f878abf713 wafted out. This scent reminded him of be07b027ea the tea his mother used 2e4cc8dd2b to brew whenever he caught 53b6058cd1 a cold as a child.9bb77861a350f078

‘Come to think of it, I have been feeling under the weather today…’75b51dbd9f9c7983

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Ephesus, now feeling e0b9b6afa5 a bit nostalgic, 636efff787 took a sip 49eef1f08f of the Hot 3e9b5e0e58 Buttered Rum.b0e9e87524974a06

The initial taste 721bbf733d of rich butter 17e4918efb was pleasantly savory. Combined with the sweetness of f59db30882 the sugar, it was like 4f40aa4bda having a butter candy.d715e9c065bbca3f

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Taking a deeper sip, the rum’s robust notes mingled smoothly with the warmth of the buttered milk.6bc80a49adfc5fa8

The warm milk, a2a20e32e8 enhanced by the f09551b34e alcohol, seemed to d5833b4052 melt away the 62a04819ef chill in his 64b24228d5 body.f2d211a541a14fb8

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“Adding butter to alcohol is certainly unique.”9f9e678b69fc6b91

Ephesus muttered involuntarily.43edf1eb67d53810

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The milk and butter 47862aa1a5 could have been overly 8605ddc919 rich, but the spices f3887da7b3 reined it in nicely.0c42ec68f3d5aa3f

“Cloves?”6536dab61f49b397

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“Yes. I added a bit of clove while mashing the butter.”15a73ebf6b17847e

“Just like baking, there are many ingredients in this buttered rum too.”9b8f5ff660c8bbb4

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Ephesus savored each sip of c7b28c27fb the Hot Buttered Rum, regretting 4fb87d63fb how quickly the cocktail diminished.908f96d2d7e5f9a0

‘It feels like being filled with the rich aroma of rum and butter.’7056bc447fafd7dc

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Ephesus found himself licking his 47da603023 lips in disappointment as he c4b60014d2 reached the bottom of the 06c434acf1 glass.87e7f66001751e74

Surprisingly, this young bartender had perfectly met his complex and seemingly impossible order for a ‘savory yet sweet, emotional yet fragrant and unique warm drink.’eceb1d8698fde99e

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“Did you open this tavern because you wanted to?”c99b52277f994d73

“Hmm, not exactly a tavern I opened out of desire, but…”cbd97570f6b06917

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The bartender trailed off in 9aa4ea5711 thought before shrugging.16dfbb66a5e761eb

“Well, I did want to become a bartender. I guess you could say I’m satisfied with the end result. I just really love cocktails.”597c78f9a58346fa

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“I envy you. A life that flows according to your wishes. If life were that simple, it would be worth living.”4908e78ca82fc58e

The mocking words ff07d44946 slipped out, something 32f5536152 Ephesus would normally e8487acfc7 have swallowed.fd6042f52b0e5a81

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⋆｡‧˚ʚ Translator Note ɞ˚‧｡⋆4d4b64f679fb3ab3

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Hot Buttered Rumis a warm and comforting 9570786469 cocktail, perfect for cold weather. This traditional American e393d55a3b drink dates back 7311d58246 to colonial times. It is made by mixing 6eb334e641 rum with hot water, a 740fb26f8b pat of butter, sweeteners like d417dc968d brown sugar or honey, and f8c9e088ec a variety of spices such 7b1054b547 as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Some recipes also include 663bed587c vanilla or a splash 1249f1bdb4 of apple cider for 46ef624e5a added flavor.
Hot Buttered Rum is often 384a7e7a50 enjoyed during the holiday season c42325230d or on chilly evenings, offering f33429db0b a rich, warming, and flavorful ef629675de beverage that evokes a sense 78604b3ad6 of coziness and tradition.3ec8733f58238b82

🫧750ce59511bc2907

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