MCB Chapter 18

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Chapter 18fe0bfa3ad69f3fb9

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In the early part of f3bda2ae03 Volume 1, the gardener revived 8d2c506865 the derelict garden.47404f539048a1be

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In the middle of Volume f4ea4bc84b 1, the duchess successfully hosted 5a45549824 a tea party in the 2637afc250 lush, blooming garden.9dbbb1e51883c8de

‘This story flow seems off.’7551957ca45ffa57

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In the last episode of c1021c73f0 Volume 1, the duchess rewarded e6cb22da91 the gardener with a special cde93cacf6 meat party for his excellent be1011fe34 work.7de2d27f439784bd

Puzzled, I flipped b77114a605 through Volume 2, afa09e363a which showed the be38de7752 brawny gardener proudly 5ed912cb6a displaying his perfect af961601db topiary skills. It even hints at 7e24e49d6b him entering a topiary 3da3d1b608 competition.6e8b902a8eda0c12

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Was this supposed fb7081f2ad to be a ec90f11971 gardening book? False advertising with that title?f7fafe37c0590c5d

‘Well, the Duchess does seem like an excellent employer…’5a857b3c09b82321

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Feeling let down, 3c438d4bb0 I closed the b45ba1e1ca book and got f447ac0c61 up. After reading about 5e7147f67c someone working so 7012b3bb00 diligently, I felt 731219198d oddly melancholic about b6456dd9da having to go e70f647380 to work myself.bf993bc1ef6f2ed2

“Still, I should get up. Ugh…”9f3e18c71c9c7fb8

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The cocktail bar 65dede9b83 has been getting 7fcf2bb005 more customers recently.8b4bc087732efb03

 999a7b038b3a5493

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“Did you come because of the posters, by any chance?”d6790f106e16d367

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I asked hopefully, right after 7de60c29a8 putting up meticulously made posters 0768afedc3 everywhere.657498d88b4b8d80

 decb1811afe2a7d4

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“No? A friend recommended this place.”9040df978f2562d8

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Turned out they 2594d47bd9 all came by 2f3dbf9513 word-of-mouth recommendations from 67f6611813 others.1ac9d8b564cf3e94

‘A hidden gem that will disappear if only I know about it,’ they said, but it seems everyone’s been actively spreading the word.b4c74129193ee543

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‘It really was frighteningly true.’5071d4b8a5f337ce

The customers kept 99ad577c0a saying the cocktails 8b4ec14063 were delicious, but 879c89c749 there were too d4e6eac7a7 few customers.7203e58bcc47ebb8

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‘They’re more passionate about this place than I am.’6d68f68905c1a7e8

In fact, the 46ed8694aa recent half-price discount b90b03d257 was their suggestion 44f36fc2fd too.8c378829858ce79e

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“Still, it remains quiet for now.”80e353c86f372282

Why did I used to c5260b5582 come in 30 minutes early daf5978476 to prepare the snacks?c951a517a0b9fb45

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It was because 522f050b25 there were so 2b9423add7 many customers visiting.35bff0c16135d75f

Nowadays, there would be no 1b282c9f68 one even if I came 2469e9f741 30 minutes late.837281e15763bc0b

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‘I should enjoy this leisure.’e665f04b17c5511c

I whistled as I got dressed in my bartender’s uniform and stood behind the bar counter.4244a77f5e89ffe7

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Even after casually having 64b2f0313e a gin and tonic, c58d4cdf3e there were no customers, d217014e9e so I stacked the bda71d1eb8 empty glasses neatly.109148ba2fd018cb

‘Gotta be careful, don’t want them breaking!’751b1139b88fb2f0

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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…7d8b1c9afa76e46d

‘Who am I having a champagne party for with no customers?’e730d37726c79470

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Since I finished 2b629768af stacking, I should b5e5d66db7 start cleaning up. Just as I finished 23d2610ac7 with the glasses, the 0e50b49884 door opened.4956430cdd302177

“Welcome.”721404c939031ceb

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This customer had a bow a7034bd2bc slung across his back. He definitely gave off 5e2e62de21 a hunter vibe.2a9e1d29c1999a3f

Ignoring my greeting, 678c33d85d he plopped down 0f0969df54 on an empty 6c9d4b60b4 seat.8f065d6c6cee683b

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‘Ah, this isn’t a good sign.’d68791e0bb9a6cc4

The man scanned the b68db702aa surroundings suspiciously before bluntly b77ac82f05 staring at me.79318af35edbbcaf

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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?”58415f515e9053ad

As expected, the man c22d336cef spoke in a mocking aa41266a16 tone.cb315be5357fe869

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‘Why the hostility right off the bat?’98b063abeb91c765

Hiding my thoughts, I e9660a1017 calmly responded.42197b1091e0cb3d

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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.”210d615815a69059

“Those bottles are ingredients? For making booze?”dfd059ac4b3e3444

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“Yes, by mixing various—”07c97c138c85dc6a

“Mixing liquor? That just makes it spoil faster!”c86275a34e526aa5

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The man suddenly raised his 72bfe32c2a voice.ebdf0153a3039fac

“That’s simply our establishment’s policy.”703420d18aeea90a

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“You don’t know how to drink liquor properly. Who would consume such a mishmash!”053bc9098a71eaf1

“Whether it’s a mishmash or not, you’d have to try it to know, right?”f7954e4faeb18829

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Regardless of his huffing, I e12908fddd calmly responded.557142d23f25f032

“Fine. Since you’re so confident….. bring me a drink that’s rich yet sweet, emotional yet fragrant, and unique.”3300b888294d84a2

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“Yes! Order received.”f14c9c7926405b29

It was an outrageous order, f5cb1341c5 but I nodded as I daa969fcbd mulled over the details in 21033cb705 my head.6723d3e5bf5021ea

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Seeming displeased with my composed 0df16b096d demeanor, the man furrowed his 0a9238b9b0 brow.a8063d61adc7f187

“One more thing to add.”eb67a201af0164ab

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“Yes, go ahead.”6a03686cb020e422

“It’s awfully cold today. I want to drink something warm.”1af5585eb2f92c8f

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The man gave a cruel e8476ca7c9 smile. It felt more fa8a5e6ada like an attack e401dd3805 than an order.64c4fe8acffff683

Every other day, there 3d63359a95 was a troublesome customer.67388a254d3b655c

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But this was nothing I couldn’t handle.b692cde4b227a77a

“Understood.”60d90a7660422fa1

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I smiled faintly as 0c39c41096 I selected Y.00b37c9db63cd804

Just wait.8d4074d0edd58d20

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I’ll serve a drink so delicious, it’ll make you regret picking this fight.78a642c4c80d60a7

🫧82bef6366b692d0e

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The man, Ephesus, was filled ba27fb69f1 with recent grievances.748179e267153e4b

A momentary mistake had sent 2e57615f4b his life spiraling downward.f1ccf992716ab95e

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Where did it d6f9d782f5 all go wrong?04e1690bdd4c3658

When he, who loved baking, b82a8cdd6f ended up following the family 2b5765345a trade as a hunter instead?8fc349606747dd17

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Or when the queen ordered fa1b2657d2 him to kill the princess?862e0fc32a4fd26f

Or perhaps when he couldn’t bring himself to kill the beautiful princess and let her go?ccce36aa961c42c5

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Snow White, with skin as 5460861186 pale as snow, full red 067dd053a1 lips, and raven black hair, 25a180e094 was so breathtakingly beautiful that df158beaf8 she drew both admiration and 22d826753d envy.2dca071601527a21

Maybe her beauty 0e7a0c314e was the root 1dccafe88e cause of everything.3670621a22cf907c

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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.8fe7687412bc4c41

“Haah…”85a424192843775d

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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.6a0eed2c7bef29c5

And here he was, witnessing 1bcca9b3de someone leisurely mixing drinks in de982511c6 a place as serene as 1fc1124cbb a clean room.0b7b134ffa855ec6

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Anger welled up in him, 93ef944c03 prompting that unreasonable order—the situation 05fc54da8b he now found himself in.a115262c32fb43b2

Then, a rich aroma wafted into Ephesus’s nose. His eyes shot wide open.59900df40476be30

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“Hey!”73684a064fa424f3

“Yes?”642d689f30cd472b

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The bartender stopped 85f661d782 what she was 2257384912 doing and looked 27a61d3d17 at him, her b2f38149db face calm as dd523cbfd3 if asking why 2d7ffc188d he had called.ee0e55b48c53ac15

“Yes, a savory yet sweet, emotional yet fragrant and unique warm drink, correct?”e9eab049eb98c3fa

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“Then why are you mashing butter?”7fc2159ae20785bc

Befitting someone who once 3512c3942f dreamed of being a b0bc54e40e baker, Ephesus recognized the b0ef2dbc0f ingredients just from the 8e7c994271 aroma and was dumbfounded. The bartender was vigorously mashing 059884316e something into the butter.fe049b4cd579ac3f

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“Are you trying to make bread?”d769f1ad4d139f0c

“The butter is for richness.”d3c45ec4d438857e

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“In a drink? Butter?”81bda2d886dcb6a0

“Yes. And milk too.”b1b74166e6be05dd

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The bartender smiled brightly as 5bca6f6055 she pointed to a pot. Just as she ef1ad926af said, milk was f419272946 bubbling away, steaming 03ae5276dc in the pot.8d61a1e11f97e5b6

Ephesus was flabbergasted.e82690f5bce4f304

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“I guess all those liquor bottles are just for show…”272a056850a53e5b

“The drink includes rum. Dark rum, to be precise.”5469d9ad81b661eb

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“Oh, so you are planning to bake. With dark rum, you must be making canelé, right?”19f0a6d83080e5db

Ephesus mocked.7cd191c3f4b998a7

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Rum is a spirit distilled 07dc446580 from sugarcane. If not aged, it’s cf98962868 white rum. If aged briefly in oak a1c7dcb224 barrels, it’s gold rum. And if aged for a 0abaa2ae79 long time, it’s dark rum. The longer it ages, the 0e6981a3ca deeper the flavor and the 1c04e0b631 higher the price.36e858aa44ede258

‘She probably picked it because it’s expensive and doesn’t know any better.’11e1ec0c60f4ab1a

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Tsk.Ephesus clicked his tongue. Wasting expensive dark e67f709b9b rum by playing 210eb32051 around with butter 67820dfb3f and milk.1ea9e01a981d205b

With his arms crossed, Ephesus 131b427803 watched the bartender mix the f40b363a40 dark rum with milk and 202dd2e6fe butter.75307fa275bacdf4

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After thoroughly combining the 5dc8bd5e85 drink, the bartender poured 177b1fd3c7 it into a glass 12ae444fe7 and finally garnished it 7178d79df4 with a cinnamon stick cea478fef0 before presenting it to d40d3e8aeb Ephesus.41fe83d0598a95d2

“The cocktail I’ve prepared is a ‘Hot Buttered Rum’. Since you wanted richness, I made the classic version with milk instead of water.”21b1ca3a72e169a2

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“Hmph. But the butter is floating separately?”5ee15ec9daa20d1a

“That’s intentional, to create a floating layer.”7726d714aa6b984f

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Heh. Ephesus let out a derisive ed1153a18e chuckle as he lifted the e1f908b0a7 glass.fd9bcfb4318a6412

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…df460eeed0a5f639

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‘Fragrant.’3238dfe214659734

Ephesus’s eyes suddenly widened.d58f9c235d85c3e0

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As the glass neared, a 1c02b9529b faint spiced aroma wafted out. This scent reminded him 90f9074493 of the tea his c5e15a3e8f mother used to brew 8b86027e5c whenever he caught a d70961e1a0 cold as a child.44c457ea2dac95af

‘Come to think of it, I have been feeling under the weather today…’caf4f43f7f9cbea5

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Ephesus, now feeling a bit eb4f8ba02d nostalgic, took a sip of 32871b954a the Hot Buttered Rum.695fcfe04617565b

The initial taste of rich 579e2f0bc4 butter was pleasantly savory. Combined with the f0d0342d93 sweetness of the e67c4a2264 sugar, it was 3077640cff like having a 216fad5972 butter candy.68df045fbe153029

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Taking a deeper sip, the rum’s robust notes mingled smoothly with the warmth of the buttered milk.984e0774cafce7d5

The warm milk, enhanced by b691e8cdf7 the alcohol, seemed to melt e9923d677a away the chill in his 7bec3f708f body.5b61e128a95758de

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“Adding butter to alcohol is certainly unique.”7276dbd7fc64a7b3

Ephesus muttered involuntarily.c61529db4217fc18

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The milk and 100942d321 butter could have eb6b5bf4d5 been overly rich, bf27e496b1 but the spices 146365b586 reined it in f1617ab51e nicely.0300bead3982467b

“Cloves?”76681577eac14c74

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“Yes. I added a bit of clove while mashing the butter.”4e2e7b0b5621998e

“Just like baking, there are many ingredients in this buttered rum too.”8f5eda866a76537d

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Ephesus savored each sip of 3a2616d9f3 the Hot Buttered Rum, regretting 26c1c064cb how quickly the cocktail diminished.8e31eb8e7bc521c9

‘It feels like being filled with the rich aroma of rum and butter.’37f460ecd9fe7e1a

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Ephesus found himself licking 008a37db34 his lips in disappointment 231bf6e595 as he reached the 14acf07e60 bottom of the glass.6211d98f02510bf9

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.’daa2c1344114c219

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“Did you open this tavern because you wanted to?”0d1ccd21d2b048a0

“Hmm, not exactly a tavern I opened out of desire, but…”f99459892b301320

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The bartender trailed off in c0c6b6d0c4 thought before shrugging.4c83ba27f99fd97f

“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.”bf2872afae3144ca

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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.”bc3f0d9fd983514a

The mocking words 55da258051 slipped out, something 2dc6aa9ba7 Ephesus would normally 5f81a1ef02 have swallowed.174293301c4144cd

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⋆｡‧˚ʚ Translator Note ɞ˚‧｡⋆b6cd0f5221186340

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Hot Buttered Rumis a warm and 9bd85318b0 comforting cocktail, perfect for 282ee0731b cold weather. This traditional American 7037c65289 drink dates back 932212cbf0 to colonial times. It is made by b183c7f76a mixing rum with hot 647155820c water, a pat of ba8a2d9b89 butter, sweeteners like brown deb78eaa80 sugar or honey, and 5cc037ace0 a variety of spices 72d1e27b47 such as cinnamon, nutmeg, c2923da608 and cloves. Some recipes also include vanilla 7fbe4c962a or a splash of apple faf1939506 cider for added flavor.
Hot Buttered Rum is often 9a099fce03 enjoyed during the holiday season d02bcb6495 or on chilly evenings, offering c9784aff3d a rich, warming, and flavorful dd797473fd beverage that evokes a sense c804661f0e of coziness and tradition.3176589be1e4ae3d

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