The door chimed.
And every spoon in Steam & Sugar froze in place as the noblewoman entered.
Lady Geneviève Lysandra de Thorne, a Marquess's daughter from the capital, swathed in silks and lace, and absolutely radiating disdain.
Her eyes swept the modest café like one might inspect an alley cat. "So… this is the place they're raving about at the capital?"
Lavinia looked up from the counter, brow arching. "Welcome to Steam & Sugar."
Geneviève tilted her chin. "I'll have a light roast Ceylon-infused espresso with an air-frothed oat milk crown and a non-cloying, raspberry-frangipane puff—warm, but not hot. Crisp, but not dry."
Corwin gawked. Like stupid.
And Elias let out a quiet, long-suffering sigh and turned to Lavinia. "That's your cue."
**
A few minutes later, the noble lady was seated, still in full hauteur mode.
Until the blossom tart was placed in front of her—a flaky, golden puff shaped like an open flower. Its center oozed warm raspberry preserves, encircled by velvety almond cream and topped with candied rose petals and a fine dusting of powdered sugar.
She took one bite.
And her fan fluttered to the floor.
"Dear heavens…" She whispered. Eyes twinkled.
Lavinia crossed her arms. "Too cloying?"
"Too perfect!" Geneviève breathed, gaze as wide as a pan. "Is this… magic?"
"No, my lady." Lavinia replied. "Skill." She smiled.
It was victorious.
**
Right after, Elias approached with a steaming cup. No flourish. Just the rich scent of deep roast and spice.
Geneviève sipped it.
Then blinked.
Then sipped again.
Then clutched the porcelain cup like it might vanish.
"This isn't coffee…" She whispered. "It's… prophecy."
Elias gave a smug little shrug. "You're welcome."
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☕ Elias's Full Coffee Blend Recipe: Crown's Whisper
Ingredients:
- 2 parts Ethyopian Yirgacheffe beans (floral, light acidity)
- 1 part Somatran Mandheling beans (earthy, chocolate notes)
- 1 part Goatemalan Antigua (balanced body and spice)
- ¼ part ground cacao nibs
- 1 cinnamon stick (crushed)
- Pinch of dried orange peel
- Whole clove (optional, 1 per brew pot)
Brewing Method:
Grind beans medium-coarse for pour-over, or finer for espresso. Mix in cacao nibs, crushed cinnamon, and a bit of orange peel. Use filtered water just below boiling (195–205°F). Brew as espresso, French press, or pour-over. Optional: Add a whisper of cream and sugar to round the notes.
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Lavinia's Raspberry-Frangipane Blossom Tart Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- ⅓ cup raspberry preserves
- ½ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 egg + 1 yolk
- 1 tbsp soft butter
- ½ tsp almond extract
- Candied rose petals (or sliced almonds)
- Powdered sugar to finish
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut puff pastry into 5-inch rounds. Slice shallow petals into edges like a flower. In a bowl, mix almond flour, sugar, butter, egg yolk, and almond extract into smooth frangipane. Spoon a teaspoon of raspberry preserve in center. Pipe or spoon almond cream in a ring around it. Bake 15–18 min until golden and puffed. Top with candied petals and powdered sugar once cool.
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Later, as Geneviève sighed happily at her second tart, she turned to Elias with dreamy eyes.
"You said you were just a barista."
"I lied." He replied smoothly, clearing her plate.
From the counter, Lavinia smirked. "Should I add 'Matchmaking' to our menu?"
**
Geneviève returned the very next morning.
Wearing fewer jewels but no less presence, she stood in front of the café with a parasol shaped like a swan and a satchel full of pamphlets.
"I've designed five new branding concepts for you." She announced as Lavinia opened the door. "Steam & Sugar could expand into three new cities by spring. I'm quite close with at least two dukes and a count who would invest in a heartbeat."
Lavinia blinked. "You came back."
"Obviously." Geneviève cheerfully responded, breezing in. "You don't just walk away from coffee that makes you cry and pastries that flirt with your soul."
Elias snorted behind the counter, frothing milk.
Geneviève twirled toward Lavinia. "Now. Let's talk growth strategy. Picture this: The Crown's Favorite Café. Tagline: Where Secrets Are Steeped and Scandal is Served With Cream."
Lavinia coughed on her tea. "Absolutely not."
Geneviève pouted. "But why not? Your story has intrigue, Miss Lavinia. Royal scandal, a charming town, a devastatingly attractive barista, and a knight brooding in the corner. You're a literary goldmine."
"I just want peace, my lady." Lavinia said softly, hands resting on the counter. "A quiet corner of the world where I can make food that makes people smile. Not headlines."
Geneviève stared at her for a long moment—long enough to surprise Lavinia by going quiet.
Then she smiled.
A little softer than before.
"I see…" She said. "You're the kind of heroine who wants to be the quiet ending, not the flashy climax... though I'm sure your happy ending story is grand one. I have instinct, you see. Then again maybe I could be wrong."
Lavinia blinked. "I'm not sure that's a compliment."
"Oh but it is!" Geneviève exclaimed, folding her parasol. "The palace is filled with loud endings. They scream and shine and burn out. But you're… peace. Which means you're probably the one who survives the story."
There was a thoughtful pause between them, broken only by the gentle hum of the espresso machine and the clatter of Sir Corwin dropping a tray in the back.
Then, Geneviève sighed dramatically. "Fine. No expansion. For now."
Lavinia chuckled. "Thank you."
"But I will be back!" Her eyes filled with determination, gathering her satchel and tossing her curls. "And I will bring my friends. Highborn ladies, insufferable counts, and one or two duchesses with deep pockets and shallower palates."
She leaned forward suddenly, eyes gleaming.
"And I do intend to be your friend, Miss Lavinia. Even if you think you're too quiet for scandal."
A beat.
Then she added more, like a child telling a secret, "and—purely for formality's sake—I'm also declaring myself your rival for the handsome barista's affections."
Lavinia blinked.
Elias dropped his spoon.
"You're what?" He asked, half-laughing, half-horrified.
Geneviève grinned at Lavinia. "It's only fair. Every good love story needs a rival. Don't worry—I'll lose beautifully."
Lavinia, to her own surprise, found herself laughing. A soft, real sound.
Geneviève curtsied with a flourish. "Until next time, Miss Lavinia."
Then she swept out the door like she was storming a ballroom.
The café fell quiet again.
Elias looked at Lavinia over his cup. "So… you have a noble fangirl now."
"She's not so bad." Lavinia admitted. "Dramatic. But sincere."
Elias leaned in, smirking. "And what do you think about her declaring herself your romantic rival?"
Lavinia turned away with a small smile. "I think… she doesn't stand a chance."