"Ellie, is there any dessert you'd like to try?"
While walking and choosing a dessert shop, Flora asked Ellie
who was looking around excitedly while being held in her arms.
As they walked, people on the street couldn't stop glancing at Ellie, but Ellie, who was excited, didn't pay attention to the stares directed her way.
"Flora, what's that?"
Ellie pointed to a shop.
It was a popular drink shop with a drink that was completely black. Its aroma was strong and unique, something even Flora had never tried before.
"Hmm... I don't know either," Flora said, shaking her head while tightening her hold on Ellie.
"How about we go to the shop Ellie pointed? I'm quite interested too."
"Okay!"
After Ellie nodded in agreement, Flora headed straight to the dessert shop.
The female staff greeted them and found them a place to sit. As usual, the staff member sneaked a curious glance at Ellie.
It seemed like Ellie was getting more accustomed to crowds because she didn't shy away from the staff like she did the first time she went outside.
Perhaps she understood now that no one would harm her.
"What do you want to try, Ellie?"
Flora asked while opening a menu with pictures of desserts along with their names.
"Ellie... wants to try this" Ellie said while pointing at a cake called 'Citrus Sunset Delight.'
"Hmm... do you want to try this one?"
"Yes! It looks so delicious, and I want that fragrant, black-colored drink too!"
"Hmm... then this big sis will have that drink and a warm glass of milk."
After deciding on their order, they called the staff to take it.
The female staff member saw the order and gave a slight, strained smile.
"Umm... Are you sure you want to order this 'coffee' drink?"
The staff member glanced at Ellie while speaking.
"Yes... Is there a problem?" Flora responded, looking at Ellie, who was now gazing out the window, her tail swaying back and forth, not paying attention to the staff.
"Uh... no problem. Your order is confirmed," the staff member said with a slight bow before heading to the back to prepare the order.
The order took a while to prepare.
"Pardon me, I'll serving your order now" the staff member said politely, her hands trembling slightly.
"Thank you," Flora responded
When Ellie saw Flora thank the staff, she turned to the staff member.
"Thank you, big sister" Ellie said softly, looking at the staff with innocent eyes.
'Gulp…'
The staff member swallowed and smiled, her lips trembling slightly.
"No problem... it's my job."
The staff member slowly walked to the back of the shop.
'Aaaaaahhhhhh!!'
As she returned to the back, a scream from the staff member echoed out.
Ellie looked curiously in the direction of the sound, while Flora, understanding the situation, couldn't help but smile.
"Alright... This is yours, Ellie," Flora said, arranging the dessert that was served.
After everything was set, Flora tried a piece of her cake, called 'Elegance of Crimson Velvet'
'Mmm… sweet and soft, with a hint of cheese to cut through the sweetness. Pretty delicious.'
Flora thought to herself after tasting her cake before noticing that Ellie hadn't touched her cake at all.
"Ellie, don't you want to eat?"
"N-No... it's not that," Ellie stammered.
"Then why not try a bite?"
Ellie looked uneasy as she tried to hold her fork, but her unfamiliarity with it made it difficult for her to cut the cake.
Her awkwardness made Flora smile with affection, reminding her of when she was young and didn't know how to use table manners or utensils.
It took her a long time with her nanny to learn these things.
"Ahh... I forgot to teach you how to hold a fork."
Flora moved Ellie's cake plate closer to herself.
"I'll feed you this time, and when we get back to the mansion, I'll teach you how to hold a fork."
Flora gently cut a piece of the cake with her fork and brought it to Ellie's mouth.
"Ahhh"
Ellie opened her mouth hesitantly and ate the cake that Flora offered.
"Is it good?" Flora asked.
Ellie savored the cake in her mouth, her tail wagging furiously.
"It's... it's so delicious!!"
Ellie exclaimed loudly, startling Flora, she raised a finger to her lips and shush to Ellie.
"S-Sorry..."
Ellie apologized, then opened her mouth again.
Flora understood that Ellie wanted more cake, so she fed her another piece. In just a few minutes, Ellie had finished her cake.
"Mmm... So delicious" Ellie said, closing her eyes, smiling, and licking her lips in satisfaction.
"Was it really that good?"
"Yes... It's the best thing I've ever eaten. Today is the day I feel happiest ever!"
"Hmm... Happier than when you're with me?" Flora teased, pretending to be sad.
Ellie, hearing Flora's playful words, quickly got down from her seat and hugged Flora's leg.
"N-No... I'm happiest when I'm with you, big sis!"
Flora laughed, her smile stretching wide as she picked Ellie up and placed her on her lap, pressing her cheek against Ellie's.
"Ellie, you're the cutest!"
Ellie let out a soft sound in her throat, not resisting Flora's affectionate embrace.
"Oh... right, Ellie, you haven't tried the drink you ordered yet," Flora said
Noticing the dark-colored drink with a frothy brown top. She brought the drink closer and stirred it slowly with a spoon.
'Hmm... it's not thick, but it smells so good. Very fragrant.'
She thought to herself as she lifted the drink and offered it to Ellie.
Ellie, seeing her drink in front of her, grabbed the cup and took a sip.
Just a small sip made her ears and tail stand up, her tail fur puffing out.
The drink was so overwhelming that Ellie froze, unable to swallow it, causing the liquid to drip from her mouth.
"Eek!"
Flora quickly pulled the cup away from Ellie and hurried to wipe her cheeks.
The drink that Ellie couldn't swallow had spilled onto her own clothes, leaving a mess on both her outfit and the floor. During all this, Ellie was in shock, frozen in place.
"Aww, Ellie..."
Flora gently wiped Ellie's clothes, now stained with the black drink. It took Ellie a moment to regain her senses.
"I'm sorry," Ellie said, tears welling up immediately as she clenched the edge of her dress and looked down.
Seeing Ellie's reaction, Flora felt her heart sink.
"It's okay, it's okay"
Flora said, pulling Ellie into a comforting embrace and gently patting her back.
"Is everything alright?"
The staff, who had been observing, quickly approached them.
"Ahh... could you please clean up the spilled drink on the floor?"
Flora continued to rub Ellie's back as she politely responded to the staff.
"Understood" the staff member, who had served them, replied before going to the back to fetch a mop to clean up the spill.
"It's okay, it's okay"
Flora reassured Ellie, who was still sobbing, clearly feeling bad and startled to the point of tears.
Seeing this, Flora couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
It took a while for Ellie to stop crying, and Flora gently wiped her tears before asking
"Why are you crying, Ellie?"
"B-Because... I got scared and..." Ellie stammered.
"I-I feel bad for causing you trouble..."
Hearing Ellie's response, Flora smiled and pressed her cheek against Ellie's.
"Hmm... Ellie can cause me as much trouble as you like. I'll never scold you"
Flora replied softly, with a gentle smile.
"But why couldn't you drink the drink you ordered, Ellie?"
"It... it was really bitter," Ellie answered.
"Ahh... I see"
Flora said, lifting the drink called 'coffee' and taking a sip herself.
'It's really bitter... so bitter. And it had bitterness lingers in the mouth.'
'No wonder Ellie couldn't drink it,' Flora thought, furrowing her brows before putting the coffee down and hugging Ellie a bit tighter.
"Ellie, drink some warm milk to wash away the bitter taste"
Flora offered the warm milk she had ordered to Ellie. Ellie accepted the milk hesitantly and slowly sipped it.
As Ellie drank the warm milk, Flora began to finish the coffee so it wouldn't go to waste, considering it was quite expensive.
It took her a while, but she eventually finished both cups.
"Didn't you find it bitter?"
Ellie asked after seeing Flora drink the extremely bitter coffee.
"Hmm... At first, it was bitter, but after a while, I started to appreciate its taste. Plus, it has a nice aroma" Flora explained honestly.
"R-Really?" Ellie responded with a grimace, thinking she could never feel the same way as Flora.
"Now that we've finished our meals, let's head back?"