Charioce settled in a small table near the coffee shop's window on the street. It was a comfortable place and it suited his tastes as it found itself down the road to the University's political science course. Plus, he liked their tea and about the staff - he glanced at the timid pink-haired girl - they were diligent and efficient to the right point. Once he got comfortable, Charioce took the book he was currently reading from the shoulder bag, Machiavelli's The Prince. A book from the '500s, in which the author presented the characteristics of the ideal prince and the methods on how to keep and conquer a State. Although of different ages, Charioce was surprised to find similarities to today's world. In order to reach the goal of preserving and strengthening the State, Machiavelli was mostly known for the infamous quote "the end justifying the means" according to which any action of the Prince would be justified, although in contravention of the laws of morality. As the author said, the qualities that an ideal prince must possess are: the ability to care about the wellbeing of the people; master the art of war - for the survival of the state; the wisdom of seeking advice only when it is necessary; the ability to understand that strength and violence can be essential to maintain stability and power.
It was better to be feared, rather than loved.
He narrowed his golden eyes and put his finger on the lower lip, folding it into a hook. Charioce devoured pages and pages of Machiavelli's most famous work.
Another concept that was slipped in the young blond man's mind was that "[...] The salvation of the State is necessary and must come before the personal ethical convictions of the Prince, for he is not the master, but the servant of the State."
Every line absorbed him further in the reading, so much that he didn't even realize that his tea had just been delivered. He looked up absent-mindedly for a moment from the book as a "thank you", then he heard the clink-noise of a second ceramic cup left on the table together with the teapot. He looked surprised as he raised his head and, in trying to understand what was going on, his eyes shifted to those of the shy pink-haired barista.
"What is it?"
"A- ...A cup of coffee." She muttered, covering half of her face with the tray.
He crooked an eyebrow. Indeed, he noticed it was a cup of coffee.
"Why? I didn't order any."
"I-I know... it's on the house!" the girls' cheeks became redder than before. "It's an espresso. I-I thought you might try a cup of coffee other than black tea..."
Charioce was stunned. It was one of the rare times he was confused. He couldn't understand the girl's gesture and why she had decided to make a cup of coffee for him. He set his book down on the table and he studied the girl. His reticence had made him wonder what her true intentions really were.
First thing he read the name on her badge, Nina, and then he focused on her. She had a little and round face. Her hazel eyes were big and full of bright, still they couldn't look at him as she was looking elsewhere. Her lips were at the time contracted in a little pout, the cheeks were chubby and, he was sure, they would turn out soft to the touch.
...cute. He was surprised by his spontaneous consideration, but Charioce had to admit she did have beautiful features.
After his silence the young barista, feeling his sharply gaze on her, once again blushed furiously.
Charioce didn't get any sign of malice from the girl. Instead, she had succeeded in catching his attention and he was now willing to know her purposes better.
After sitting through a silence that only seemed endless to her, Nina didn't know what to think. She didn't even know what had driven her to act on impulse and serve the handsome client with a cup of espresso. But when she spotted the small smile appearing on the young man's face and the shortly chuckling in his deep voice, Nina thought her heart would burst outside of her chest.
"Is it your favourite?"
She turned her head looking up right at him, her pink hair swirling in the air throughout the sudden motion. Nina's eyes were wide open, she was utterly surprised by the question.
"Oh no!"
To Charioce's surprise, the girl got all fired up with her fits clutched on the tray. He didn't know he would soon start a fervent debate on the different flavours of coffee. Still, he didn't mind listening to her preferences.
"-and then! There's the Frappuccino! Can you believe it's coffee mixed with ice?! So delicious! There's lots of variety! Like caramel, caramel cocoa, red velvet, strawberry, green tea... cinnamon too! I like cinnamon flavour the best! You should taste 'em! And...-!"
The outpouring of words was muffled by her awareness of having carried on a solitary speech. She directed a fleeting glance towards him. She wasn't sure if he had listened to her, but from his attentive eyes he seemed to be interested.
Charioce hummed in understanding. In fact, he had dwelt on his beloved black tea for so long that it had not crossed his mind to try to get into new tastes.
Another few seconds of silence passed before he spoke.
"What time."
"Huh?"
"What time do you get off from work?"
Nina tilted her head without understanding the reason behind his question. "In one hour, I think."
"Very well. I will be waiting there for the tasting of the coffee you early mentioned."
Nina's mouth was hanging open a little as her heart skipped a beat. Did he just... set up a date? A strong sensation of warmth coursed from her heart and into every inch of her being.
The plate she was holding fell from her grip and right on the floor, the fuss made most of the clients in the coffee shop turn their heads in her direction, some astonished and others just annoyed.
Nina could feel that her face was literally burning, but it wasn't because of her embarrassment. Mouth gaping, still no words could come out.
"Huh - huhh???"
"Nina? What are you doing?"
A sudden female voice called her back from her trance. Another barista came from her station after hearing the ruckus - hoping in her heart that it hadn't been caused by the pinkette and, especially knowing her friend's nature, that it wouldn't be too serious. The new barista wasn't as tall as Nina, with dark and short hair in contrast to her porcelain skin. On her badge was written Rita.
Rita narrowed her eyes at the sight of her co-worker with a flushed face and the blond client with handsome features. After examining the scene, a little grin came across her pale face.
"Oh? Is he the one you were always talking about? He's not bad at all-"
"R-R-RITA?!"
Nina jumped next to her friend, trying to stop her from saying more things. She steered the other barista on the opposite direction by gently pushing her on the shoulders, walking together towards the kitchen.
"W-we have work to do! More coffee and tea to do!" Nina spoke in a high pitch tone while laughing nervously.
Rita gave a last stare at the guy sitting at the table and shrugged in amusement.
"My, my." The corners of her mouth twitched as she fought to hold back a little smile. Rita picked up from the floor the plate and shot a comprehensive look at Nina. "I'm heading first then. Don't take too long."
Nina hummed cheerfully in agreement with a big smile on her face. Once she was left alone, in the company of the man and the unexpected twist of events, she winced.
The blond man was still waiting in his casual pose; his tea was untouched yet as if it didn't bother him if it turned cold. He hadn't taken his golden eyes off from Nina. Charioce was waiting for an answer from her; he didn't want to lose any hints that could either confirm or not his suspicions. To his astonishment, within himself he hoped she would accept. It was the first time for him to be intrigued by something (or, in this case, someone) out of his usual university field. The pink-haired barista managed to catch his attention with a mere cup of coffee; and her big and naive smile was so full of vitality he felt he was overwhelmed by her fondness.
Nina tried to avoid his gaze so as not to blush more, her eyes looking down on the now tepid tea as she frowned apologetically.
"I-I will leave you so you... you can enjoy your tea." She said faintly. Charioce just stared at her, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He nodded once, silently, and laid his golden eyes on the two cups of tea and coffee, as he expected she would decline his offer.
"I-!" Nina took a deep breath, "I'll not make you wait!"
As soon as he turned his head to look at the pink-haired barista better, Charioce raised an eyebrow, surprised by her suddenly outpouring.
She clutched her hands into fits in front of her and puffed her cheeks.
"Neither me or the coffees will!"
Charioce was a little startled and again caught off guard by her enthusiasm, however he couldn't hold back the little smile appearing on his face.
"So will I, Nina."
This time it was Nina's turn to be taken aback, speechless, by the man's reaction. She relaxed her fists, blinking a couple of times and then admiring how the lips of the young man turned upward in a gentle smile. And just when she realized what she was staring at and that he had called by her name, a deep blush hit her cheeks with full force. Nina was one hundred percent sure her heart would threaten to burst out of her chest. She tried to suffocate a high pitch screaming between her lips, all trying to maintain her composure without losing her self-control just like her friend Rita had suggested to her a thousand times; and before it could happen, she rushed her way into the kitchen.
From his seat at the table Charioce could only see her back running away at incredible speed. He let a little chuckle escape his lips and, submersed by those thoughts, he felt almost swamped with relief and anticipation for their future encounter as soon as he took the little spoon and twirled firstly the coffee in his hands.
fin.