Please Fall in Love with Me! – A Villainess on Her Second Loop, using 'Seduction' to Avoid Ruin! - Chapter 2.8

“Show me the coffee beans. I need ones from Indelaseed that have already been roasted.”

“…I’ve already brewed a cup and brought it to you. Why are you here?”

Well, that’s fair. A proper noble lady normally wouldn’t step foot in the kitchen or pantry. It’s only natural for him to find it strange.

“I want to try something. That’s why I came here myself. Can you bring them to me?”

Claude furrowed his brows slightly, looking both suspicious and mildly annoyed, but he said nothing and disappeared into the back.

—Hold on a second. Showing annoyance is absolutely not something a butler should do, you know?

“Save your facial expressions for a more appropriate time.”

…No, I shouldn’t get upset. I came here to recruit Claude, after all.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I waited. Soon, Claude returned, carrying a canister in his hand.

“This is the finest quality from Indelaseed.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“What!?”

As I took the canister and thanked him, Claude gave me a look as if he had just seen something unbelievable.

“T-The young lady, who has no regard for the feelings of others… just said thank you? Did I mishear that…?”

—That was an incredibly rude remark, but given how terribly Adelaide treated her servants, I’ll let it slide.

“Let’s see…”

I opened the canister and inspected the beans inside. A fragrant aroma with hints of herbs and cinnamon filled the air. The beans were glossy black, evenly roasted with no inconsistencies.

“Yes, this will do. Now, I need a coffee mill. Also, bring me boiling water, a water pitcher, a coffee pot, and a bowl. Lastly, prepare two coffee cups.”

Claude slightly furrowed his brows at my request.

“If you intend to brew coffee, shouldn’t you be using a pot and a cloth filter? Boiling water alone won’t be sufficient. You don’t plan to simmer the grounds?”

“No, I won’t be needing that method this time. Like I said, I have something I want to try.”

The world of White Lily and the Knights of the Round is modeled after 19th-century Europe.

That said, it’s a fantasy world where magical creatures exist, and instead of scientific advancements, magic has developed. Since game mechanics prioritize smooth progression, historical accuracy is often overlooked—some things that should exist in that era are missing, while other anachronistic elements are present. The result is a pseudo-Europe.

For example, you can turn on room lights with the press of a button, the plumbing system is perfectly functional, and both the bath and hot water supply work automatically. Even the toilets, while lacking bidets, are nearly identical to modern ones.

On the other hand, railroads, steam-powered automobiles, and early gasoline cars—things that should exist—are completely absent, likely to preserve the world’s aesthetic.

As for coffee, instead of real-world names like Brazil, Colombia, or Kenya, the game has altered versions of those names. (For instance, Indelaseed refers to Indonesia.) However, the coffee itself is practically the same as what you’d find in 21st-century Japan.

In history, cloth-filtered drip brewing was in its early stages, and siphon brewing had already emerged. But in this world, neither method exists—probably because they’d feel too modern.

Here, coffee is made by boiling water with ground coffee in a pot, then straining it through a cloth before serving. This method was commonly used in Japan during the Taisho era.

Of course, that method isn’t bad. It results in a strong, bold flavor with a punch.

But that’s not the kind of coffee I want.

Please, just don’t boil it.

I want a coffee that’s aromatic, rich, slightly bitter yet subtly sweet, with a crisp finish!

You see, I am an absolute coffee enthusiast.

In my previous life—as an otaku in my thirties—whenever I heard about a shop that served excellent coffee, I would travel far and wide to try it. Not just within my usual areas, but all across Japan.

I regularly attended coffee festivals and even experimented with brewing techniques at home to perfect my own coffee.

A cup of aromatic coffee and a heart-fluttering otome game were my daily escapes.

So, in my “first life,” after deciding to completely isolate myself from the heroine and the love interests, the very first thing I did was create a nel drip and siphon brewing setup.

And that was the start of my connection with him.

That’s why, this time as well, I need him to drink my coffee first.

Indelaseed—Indonesian Mandheling.

Claude’s favorite coffee from my “first life.”

I reached into the pocket of my dress and pulled out the makeshift nel drip filter I had crafted just yesterday.

I twisted a wire into a shape resembling a kingyo-sukui scooper, then cut up a brand-new flannel nightgown and sewed the pieces together.

To ensure Claude would take a look at my ultimate presentation materials (thirty-five sheets of parchment), I first needed to pique his interest with coffee.

As I ground the coffee beans using a manual mill, all the necessary equipment, along with hot and cold water, was prepared.

“Thank you.”

“…!”

Feigning ignorance of his subtle reaction to my gratitude, I poured the boiling water into the coffee pot, added a small amount of cool water, and held my hand over the rising steam before gently touching the pot.

“—Alright, this should be just right.”