It was a sunny afternoon and I was sitting at a table in the backyard when Nebula and Illness-san called me over. I was told that it was for an unveiling of their new creation.
Yep. They apparently made something new again. What is it this time? Glassware? Or perhaps, does it have something to do with the several unfamiliar trees growing in the backyard?
[Milord, thank you for waiting!]
[No. About that new creation...]
[Yeeeees. It's thiiiiis.]
[...Errr, this is... Milk tea?]
The teacup that Illness-san put in front of me was filled with a drink that looked like milk tea. The sweet and soft aroma wafted through the air. I have never drank milk tea that much, but just with the aroma alone, I'm convinced that this was definitely a delicious milk tea.
[It's a royal milk teaaaaa.]
[Fumu... Sorry for my lack of knowledge. What's the difference between milk tea and royal milk tea?]
Somehow, I got the impression that royal milk tea feels more... well, royal, but I didn't know exactly how it was different.
When I asked them about it, Nebula slightly nodded before explaining.
[Milk tea is made by mixing black tea brewed normally with hot water and milk. On the other hand, for royal milk tea, after steeping the tea leaves with a small amount of hot water to unfurl them, milk is added to extract its flavors.]
[I see...]
To put it very simply, milk tea is mainly black tea with milk added, but when the tea is predominantly milk-based, it's referred to as royal milk tea?
For the time being, taking a sip before it cools down... I could taste its incredibly rich milk flavor with the neat infusion of black tea's taste, giving it a gentle and soothing flavor that almost makes me let out a sigh of satisfaction.
[...Delicious. I've never had royal milk tea before, but it tasted this good huh.]
[Kuhihi, about thaaaaat, it's due in large paaaaaart to the tea leaves made by Nebulaaaaaa.]
[Yes! The tea leaves that I newly cultivated are the perfect ones for royal milk tea, as they deliver the best flavor when extracted with milk. Normally, hot water is used to unfurl the tea leaves before brewing with milk, but this tea can easily be brewed with milk only at low temperatures. If you are so inclined, you can even make cold royal milk tea out of these!]
[That sounds like great tea leaves. As expected of Nebula, you really are amazing.]
[I am Absolute after all!]
While lightly stroking the proud Nebula's head, I sipped on the royal milk tea. I see, tea leaves especially cultivated for royal milk tea huh. Moreover, from what I heard, it seems these tea leaves can be extracted even under conditions that would be difficult with regular tea leaves.
Just from what I heard, these tea leaves seem incredible, but since Nebula is a Plant Spirit, I guess she is capable of selective breeding. Well, with how amazing of a child Nebula is, it isn't really surprising if she could cultivate completely new breeds of tea leaves.
[They really are interesting tea leaaaaaves. Since it's specialized for royal milk teaaaa, if you extract it with regular teaaaaa, it will turn out tasting weeeeeeird. You could say they really aaaaaaare tea leaves exclusively for royal milk teaaaaa. Since Miladyyyyy also loves royal milk tea, I plan to have her sample it tooooooo.]
[...I see. However, with how amazing these tea leaves are, wouldn't Ein-san and the others want to procure these again?]
[I already made sure not to overlook that aspect. I prepared an abundant amount in advance, so even if there are people who would want some, we can accommodate them. I will also give several cans of these to Milord, so if people ask you for some, you can give those to them.]
[Alright. Thanks, Nebula.]
In fact, I think Ein-san would be quite delighted with these, and Jutia-san, who also loves tea, might also be interested in having some. For the time being, since I already thought of those two, I'll go deliver some to them right away.