The tea begins working even before the first cup is lifted. As Emilia finishes preparing the herbs, the entire kitchen seems to change. The steam rises from the pot in waves, spreading its fragrance through the room.
"Oh…" one of the servants murmurs, pausing beside the stove.
She takes another breath, then looks down at her hands in surprise. The heaviness she has been feeling all morning seems to ease, leaving her feeling strangely refreshed.
The sharp, greasy smells that usually cling to the castle kitchen slowly give way to something much more pleasant. The first scent is green and fresh, like crushed leaves after morning rain, followed by a gentle sweetness reminiscent of wildflowers warmed by sunlight.
There's also a deep, earthy fragrance beneath it, filled with the familiar smell of damp soil and fresh roots. A faint bitterness lingers in the steam, but rather than being unpleasant, it gives the tea a clean, medicinal scent.
