Unexpectedly, this glass bead, which had a slightly bluish tint, turned out to be the very culprit that brought Jon across from Earth! At this moment, Angell's mind was filled with not only shock and astonishment, but also a great deal of curiosity and complexity.
He was, of course, curious about such an extraordinary object. But more than that, there was a sense of complexity. If it weren't for this glass bead, his mentor might never have ended up in his current state. Perhaps, back on Earth, he would have lived a happy life with his wife and daughter.
Aside from that, there was an underlying voice in Angell's heart saying: if it weren't for the glass bead, he would never have met someone as learned as his mentor; without Jon's guidance, he might have turned into a spoiled heir, ignorant of life, values, and the world, with no purpose or understanding.
Angell's swirling thoughts, of course, went unnoticed by Jon. Jon gently spun the glass bead in his hand, then extended his nearly withered hand and, with great effort, placed the bead back into Angell's hands.
"Since I've discarded it, it means I've given it up. You found it, which means it's meant to be with you. The Eye of the Sky belongs to you now... I am close to the end, but you are still young. Perhaps, you may still have the chance to return to Earth." Jon smiled and shook his head. He didn't really believe this possibility himself, but he insisted on saying, "If you do go to Earth, I hope you'll take my ashes back to China, and bury them under the holly tree in my old home in Jiangdong..."
The night fog thickened as Angell sat by Jon's side, resting his chin in his hand, waiting for his mentor to fall asleep before he gently rubbed his sore arms and left.
Jon's condition was worsening, and Angell didn't know how much longer he could last. No matter how reluctant he felt, if what Jon said was true, and Gaia's consciousness intended for his mentor to die, there was nothing Angell could do. For now, the only thing he could do was to stay by Jon's side, offering comfort and filial duty in his final days.
When Angell left the courtyard, the moonlight bathed the land. Dressed in light clothes and wrapped in a fur cloak bearing the family emblem, Angell's silhouette stretched long under the moonlight as he walked toward the castle in the center of the manor.
Meanwhile, inside the castle's hall, a group of dancers, dressed in colorful, flouncy skirts, twirled joyfully to the music played by the musicians. Expensive candles made from deep-sea fish oil were lit by the maids, illuminating the hall as if it were midday.
The air was filled with pleasant aromas—wine, cheese, a faint floral scent, and the fragrance of tea.
When Angell entered, he was met with this lively and cheerful scene.
Leon stood in the center of the crowd, holding a glass of red wine, chatting loudly with several unfamiliar faces.
They must be from the Monn family, Angell thought.
As Angell observed the newcomers, Leon also spotted him and happily beckoned him over, introducing him to the group.
Standing at the front was a middle-aged man with striking emerald eyes and deep brown hair, his features sharp and angular. His overall aura was that of a drawn sword—precise, dignified, and powerful.
"Angell, you've come at the perfect time. Let me introduce you to Earl Eaton of the Monn family, the one who commands the front lines," Leon said.
Angell greeted him with grace, having long mastered the noble etiquette. Every gesture he made exuded elegance and nobility.
"These two are Allen and Irene, Earl Eaton's children."
Allen looked to be around fourteen, his age similar to Angell's. His features were still developing, and he was plump and cute. He had inherited his father's green eyes and brown hair, though his hair was curly and untamed, giving him a youthful and innocent look.
Irene, though younger, appeared far more mature than her brother. She had a more developed figure, and the luxurious noble gown she wore made her look like a princess ready to leave her childish years behind—radiating youthful charm.
As Angell observed the group, they too were observing him.
Angell's appearance fit the Empire's ideal beauty—blonde hair, blue eyes, fair but not sickly skin, and every feature was perfectly balanced, creating a striking effect. Specifically, when Angell smiled and greeted Allen and Irene, Irene's face immediately turned bright red. Using the excuse of holding a serving tray, she hid behind Allen.
This little girl...
Eaton secretly chuckled to himself. However, he was also surprised by Angell's appearance. He hadn't expected the seemingly unremarkable Old Pat to have sons as handsome as these two.
After a round of compliments, Leon, noticing that Eaton kept glancing around, said, "Since we're here for a tea party, we shouldn't just drink wine. Tea is the main event."
With a clap of his hands, Leon signaled for the dancing maids to stop and led everyone into the tea room.
Just then, the main door of the hall creaked and slowly opened.
The sound of rain was softly audible outside, and only then did everyone realize that it had begun to rain heavily.
A mysterious figure, cloaked entirely in black, slowly entered.
Leon frowned and said in a low voice, "Who is this guest?"
Before he could finish his question, Earl Eaton, along with Allen and Irene, hurried forward, respectfully gathering around the newcomer.
"Pat Viscount, this is my father, Moro Monn," Eaton introduced. "My father is very fond of light tea, and when he heard there was special tea today, he decided to join us. However, we had a delay on the way here, so he arrived a bit late."
Leon gave an "Oh," signaling his understanding, and then greeted this elder from the Monn family with even greater enthusiasm.
Angell, however, caught a glimpse of Moro's shoes, and his eyes subtly shifted... They were classic soft suede shoes, the edges caked with damp dirt. What caught Angell's attention was the reddish tint of the mud.
The soil in Gru Town was mostly made up of yellow and black earth. Red earth, however, could only be found in one place within a hundred miles... the Pat Tea Garden.
To be so focused on the tea garden, even going so far as to brave the rain to visit it before the tea party?
It seemed that the one asking about the morning dew after the rain must be that old man, Moro.
Yet, Angell still didn't quite understand—what was so special about the morning dew after rain? It tasted bitter, with only a slight sweetness in the aftertaste. Apart from his mentor, Jon, this was the first person who had shown such an interest in the morning dew.
Angell didn't expose Moro's actions but felt a bit stiff inside. The Monn family was so large and powerful, and as a small noble family in a rural area, they were simply no match for them. All he could hope for now was that today's tea party would satisfy the other party.
Moro, who had removed his hood, looked like an ordinary old man. His long white beard, his smiling eyes, and his somewhat kindly demeanor made him seem almost grandfatherly.
Leon immediately had the head maid, Mana, bring out all the tea snacks prepared for today. Next to the snacks, there were several delicate porcelain teapots, each intricately carved with patterns.
"These teapots contain all the varieties of tea grown here at our manor," Leon explained.
As he spoke, Mana began to lift the lids of the teapots, one by one.
The first teapot, when opened, released a rich floral fragrance, and a faint white steam rose slowly.
"This is Ice Honey Flower Tea, made from the petals of the Moon Honey Tree, a variety unique to Pat Manor. It is brewed with snowmelt from the Snow Mountain instead of milk. It has a sweet but not overwhelming taste and is cooling to the mind," Leon sighed, "It's a pity that we are already in the long winter season. If this were drunk in the height of summer, it would be even more refreshing."
After tasting the tea, everyone from the Monn family only took a few sips, with Irene being the only one who really enjoyed it and drank several more cups. The old man in the black cloak, Moro, merely sniffed the aroma before setting the cup aside.
The second teapot contained milk tea, but it wasn't the kind that was popular in the Empire—it had a rather unique flavor.
"This is called Lemon Milk Tea, made with a sour fruit called Summer Lemon, fermented milk, and thin lavender leaves," Leon continued. Then, pointing to Angell, he added, "My brother loves this tea. He drinks several large cups of it every day, and he even sneaks around, not wanting anyone to know. Hahaha."
Angell rolled his eyes at Leon in his mind, though he still smiled politely.
"Does Pat like it?" Irene's eyes lit up as she eagerly took the cup from Mana and drank a large gulp.
After drinking it, a thin layer of milk skin appeared on her lips. Irene closed her eyes, seemingly savoring the delightful taste—a bit sour, yet incredibly delicious!
"This is so good!" Irene exclaimed loudly, "It's even better than the flower tea!"
Hearing Irene's praise, her brother Allen took the cup and drank it in one go. He puckered his lips and squinted his eyes, thoroughly enjoying it, nodding in vigorous agreement with his sister Irene's taste.
Earl Eaton smiled at his two children but didn't take a sip of the milk tea. From Leon's words earlier, he had already deduced that this teapot was meant for Allen and Irene.
Moro, the old man, was also very indulgent toward his grandchildren. He pushed his own cup of milk tea toward Irene.
The next several teapots were opened by Mana, and they mostly contained varieties of milk tea and flower teas, but Moro showed little interest. He only tasted two pots of green tea, which were Jon's favorites. However, after tasting them, Moro still seemed uninterested.
Angell's eyes moved to the last teapot. This was the one containing the final type of tea that Jon, his mentor, loved most—the last of the three teas he had brought from Earth. It was none other than the Morning Dew after the Rain.