Menu No.14 - Royal Family

One of the knights raised a gloved hand.
Arumi stepped forward quietly, her notebook already in hand.

“Good evening. What would you like to order?”

Their leader spoke with a clear, commanding tone. “One V60. Three Coldbrews.”

I blinked. Did I hear that right?

“Alisa . . . ” I whispered. “Who are these people? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

She swallowed hard, her voice trembling slightly.
“They’re from the Hartmann Order—a royal family branch with high-ranking military power. Practically the highest status in the kingdom’s chain of command.”

My jaw nearly dropped. Royal blood. In our guild café.

Then Arumi turned toward me, completely calm. “One V60 and three Coldbrews,” she repeated.

Alisa’s eyes widened. “Wait—Arumi-san, did you say V60?”

Arumi didn’t even glance up. “Your hearing’s fine, dear.”

Alisa grabbed both my shoulders, shaking me slightly. “Mika! The reputation of this entire guild rests on your coffee right now!”

I gulped so hard it felt like I swallowed my heartbeat.

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I started preparing immediately. My hands moved faster than my thoughts—selecting beans, heating the kettle, and checking the grind size. The Coldbrews were ready to pour, but the V60 had to be brewed by hand.

“Arumi, can you handle the Coldbrews first?” I asked, my voice barely steady.

She nodded and went to work, her movements efficient and elegant. Meanwhile, I focused on the V60. The rhythmic swirl of hot water steadied my nerves as the coffee bloomed, releasing its delicate scent.

When I finished, I turned to hand the tray to Arumi. But instead, she crossed her arms.

“They want to meet the barista personally,” she said.

My heart froze. “M-me?”

“Yes. You’re the one who made it, after all.”

The world spun for a second. Meeting royal knights in person? What if they hated it? What if I got arrested for offending the crown with bad coffee?

Still, I forced a breath, straightened my back, and stepped forward with the tray.

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When I reached their table, the atmosphere felt heavy—calm but sharp. Every knight wore armor polished to silver perfection, their helms shaped like Valkyrie masks.

I carefully placed the V60 pot on the table and poured a small amount into the cup before them. The golden-brown liquid shimmered under the lantern light.

“Please enjoy,” I said, bowing slightly.

The knight with the long spear strapped to his back tilted his head. “Are you the barista who made this?”

“Yes, sir,” I answered nervously, still half-bowed.

One of the knights, slimmer than the rest, reached for the cup. She brought it to her lips and took a small sip—then coughed suddenly.

My stomach dropped. Oh no. Did I mess up the ratio? Too bitter? Too strong?!

“Lady Raiza! Are you all right?!” shouted another knight, this one with a quiver of arrows on her back. “What did you put in that drink, you—!”

I froze. My soul practically left my body.

But the coughing knight—Lady Raiza—lifted a hand to calm her comrade.
“It’s fine, Lysette,” she said gently. “I just swallowed wrong.”

Then, without hesitation, she took another sip. Then another—until the cup was completely empty.

“ . . . Remarkable,” she said softly. “I’ve never tasted bitterness this pleasant before.”

Her eyes found mine. “Tell me your name, Barista.”

“M-Mika Daiki Mahendra, ma’am,” I stammered.

“Daiki-kun, then.”

She reached up, removed her helmet—and my heart skipped a beat.

A woman. Her long blond hair fell gracefully, her expression calm yet radiant. No wonder her voice had carried such clarity.

“My name is Raiza von Hartmann, successor of the Order of Light,” she said with a small, confident smile. “It’s an honor to finally meet the man who discovered this drink.”

“Th-the honor is mine,” I replied awkwardly, bowing again.

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Alisa approached the table just then, clearly nervous.

Raiza turned to her. “Alisa-san, I’ve been assigned to lead the next expedition to Dungeon Drachenfall. I’ll need provisions, beverages, and lodging for my unit. I’ve heard your coffee grants stamina and recovery during combat. I intend to test its effects myself—and frankly, it’s quite delicious.”

My eyes widened. Alisa’s mouth opened too, but no sound came out.

“I would like to purchase several bottles for my expedition,” Raiza continued. “If its effects prove genuine, I’ll commission a larger supply directly from you. Can you prepare them by tomorrow?”

Tomorrow?!

Alisa and I both froze like statues, our mouths hanging open.

Raiza tilted her head, slightly amused by our silence. “Was that . . . too soon?”

“N-not at all!” I blurted out. “I’ll prepare as much as I can!”

“Good.” She smiled faintly, setting down her empty cup. “I’ll also require lodging for my squad tonight.”

Alisa quickly flipped open her small notebook, her hands trembling slightly. “We . . .  we still have a few rooms available at the back of the guild.”

Raiza nodded approvingly. “Perfect. Do you have a stable nearby? My knights need a place for the horses, and a porter to carry our supplies.”

“Yes! There’s a stable to the east side of the guild,” Asuna answered, her professional voice barely hiding her nerves. “We’ll send someone to assist immediately.”

Raiza turned to one of her knights. “Joan, guide them to the carriages and coordinate with the porters.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

Then she looked at another. “Lysette, oversee the supplies. Rowan and I will check into our quarters.”

“Understood, my Lady.”

Finally, Raiza faced me again. “Thank you, Daiki-kun. Your coffee is . . . inspiring.”

Before I could even think of a reply, she gave me a polite nod and followed Asuna toward the guild’s back hall, her silver armor gleaming faintly under the warm lights.

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As they left, I stood there motionless for a moment, the faint aroma of V60 still lingering in the air.

My hands were still trembling slightly — part fear, part excitement.

Who would’ve thought that my little hobby, a simple pour-over, would catch the attention of royalty?

Asuna returned after showing them their rooms. She exhaled deeply, resting her hands on her hips.

“Mika,” she said, “I think you just made the most important coffee in the kingdom.”

I laughed weakly. “Or the most dangerous one.”

She chuckled. “Either way . . . we’d better start brewing early tomorrow.”

I looked back at the empty cup Raiza had left behind.
Its surface shimmered faintly under the light — almost like it held a quiet promise.

A promise that Dungeon Caffee was about to change forever.