Chapter 3: Pastry More Expensive than An Estate

Leaving the Arnold fief in the morning, we arrived in the port town of Eclaba slightly after the sun set. Ive obtained the license to open a store in Eclaba, but I think this distance would be a ha.s.sle.

Itll be better if I have some mode of transportation thats faster than a coach, though If Im solely thinking about the mode of transportation, running with mana will be faster, but the small number of products that can be carried that way will become an issue.

Ojousama, Kurt-sama, we can already see the manor.

Volg, Farunos butler-turned-coachman, informed us that we arrived in the Fernandes manor.

We arrived without any problems this time, huh?

I bitterly laugh.

Before, in the trip going to this place, I was miserably a.s.saulted by the bandits. From Arnolds perspective, that incident enabled me to gain the store opening license and import tax annulment so it leads to our benefits, but I cant say that the trip went without any trouble.

Since then, we have been thoroughly investigating the incident so that theres no chance of a recurrence. Besides, I am here as well. If they know Im with someone, usually they wont attack.

Volgs words dont sound like an empty bluff. Hes a mana wielder, an Ability user, and possesses rich knowledge. He obtained many deeds from the previous war, a weirdly capable person who became Farunos butler.

True, that. I know much about Volgs skills, much more than I wish I did.

Its only Kurt-sama. Youre the only one who can say that they know my skills. Because the one to whom Ive shown all of my strength right now is only you.

Every morning, I train under his guidance. Right now, I still cannot catch up with his prowess. However, Im confident that I will catch up in just a bit more.

Their male bonding is great, isnt it?

Yes, Kurt-sama looks so happy.

Faruno and Tina looked at my conversation with Volg with envy.

Its not that great, though. Moreover, Faruno. Its the hometown that you havent seen in a while. Dont you feel nostalgia?

Yes, its a tiny bit nostalgic. The regular bookstore, cafe. It makes me want to visit them and say hi.

Faruno looks outside, muttering with deep emotions. The escort will come two days from now, right? Please enjoy the hometown that you havent seen in a while.

Its vexing, but Arnold fief, compared to Eclaba, is only a remote, rural area. It must have been unsatisfying for Faruno, whos always lived here.

I dont have that much free time, because I need to collect the ingredients for Kurt-samas sake.

Apologies. But, youre a great help.

I can help and become Kurt-samas strength. As your fiancee, Im proud of it.

Farunos eyes are blooming with the pride that she said. Im truly grateful that shes happier to help me out than going to her favorite book store or cafe.

With that, we arrived at Farunos house, the mansion of Margrave Fernande.

When we arrived at Fernandes mansion, we received the summons of Margrave Fernande waiting for me. It says that I have to enter his office room after Im done refres.h.i.+ng up and making myself look proper.

Faruno doesnt come with me. She already goes to arrange the ingredients that I wished for. The amount and varieties will definitely need some time to get.

What Im asking her for are the things that I definitely cant obtain in Arnold, the ultra high grade ingredients and all sorts of herbs. Precisely because this is a port town, Ill be able to get a great variety of herbs from all around the world.

When I went there last time, I already marked all kinds of herbs that I wished to obtain, according to my knowledge and adjustment. The depth of the cooking will entirely depend on whether I have those or not.

Kurt Arnold-sama, please, this way.

Im escorted by the Fernande servants in front of me. Then, one of them knocks on a door, waiting for their masters reply before sending me in.

Its a large office room. Inside, there is Margrave Fernandes exquisite work desk in the center of the room and a soft looking sofa.

Youve come, this is great.

I apologize for not coming sooner. Margrave Fernande.

I lower my head deeply. Even though Im Farunos fiancee, at this moment, Im talking directly with someone who has great influence.

Raise your head, please. Your fief seems to be flouris.h.i.+ng. Looking at the honey production, I even doubted my eyes. Its just like magic.

Currently, my fiefs specialty is beekeeping. Compared to the primitive apiculture in this world, the amount and quality of harvested honey will be entirely different, naturally.

Thanks to you, we can somehow manage.

You dont have to be humble. Its your own ability. You have shown your best power for a while now, right? The methods to make organic fertilizer that you taught us before, after being implemented in my own territory, yielded a very successful result, way out of my expectations. I was thoroughly surprised. Then, I also thank you. That girl seems to be having so much fun, by what I can gather from her letters. She must have been enjoying her current life from the bottom of her heart.

Likewise, Ive been relying on Faruno-sama so many times. Shes really excellent.

Its only been about three months, but in this short time, she has become an existence that my pioneering village cannot do without.

As a parent, hearing such a rave review of Faruno makes me really proud. That, I have troubled Kurt-kun this time. I deeply apologize. I never predicted that the outcome could have become this important.

Margrave Fernande stands up before bowing before me. This man, he doesnt look like a n.o.ble, in a good way. Hes willing to admit his own mistakes.

No, this is not Margrave Fernandes fault. For me, it is also a situation where I can advertise myself, as I wished for in the first place.

Being recognized by a ducal house. I wanted that kind of reputation. Regarding the result that backfired, I couldnt blame Margrave Fernande for it.

If you say so, Im relieved. Please, have a seat.

After being offered, I sit on the sofa right in the middle of the room. Its a great sofa. Its soft and feels nice as well.

Margrave Fernande also sits right in the opposing seat.

I take it that youve heard from Faruno.

Yes. She has told me about a request from d.u.c.h.ess Renalier, my pastry to be presented in the Four Grand Dukes banquet nine days from now.

In our empire, there are four grand dukes governing the East, West, South, and North directions. A grand duke is someone with royal blood, but its not a simple decorative t.i.tle. In actuality, the four grand dukes occupy the top power of this empire right after the emperor. d.u.c.h.ess Renalier occupies the East territory; Margrave Fernande, and of course, the Baronet of Arnold, must answer to her.

Exactly. In that place, she ordered for the best banquet that no one has ever witnessed before. I meant to apply for a refusal, but it was ultimately denied.

Margrave Fernandes face twists in suffering.

I truly understand. Theres only one thing that intrigues me in that speech. The food that I must cook, that no one has ever tasted before, is my pastry, isnt it? Or is it, a full course that no one has ever tasted before?

Margrave Fernande laughs in all the bitterness. Then, he speaks.

Gravely and regretfully, its the full course.

Ive prepared myself, but still, hearing it confirmed in person shakes me to the core.

In the restaurant where I worked as the pastry chef in my past life, a ptissier is the one responsible for the dessert, the last dish to be presented that will leave the most long lasting memory for the customer. In that restaurant, it is the position that requires the highest ability. Plus, in order to be able to pair the best dessert with the full course, the pastry chef has to become completely familiar with all the dishes in the restaurant. Thats why, I had to master every single dish. I have no lack of ability in that department.

However, after I came to this side, I rarely cooked anything other than pastries. Im concerned regarding how far my senses have dulled.

Of course, I have no intention to push all the responsibility to you. I will have all the most excellent cooks to support you. They are extremely capable.

The cooks that Margrave Fernande appointed as my support will be very essential. Being employed by Margrave Fernande wont befit someone without the best talent.

Then, I will leave the cooking to them. My focus is simply the pastry, isnt it?

No, at most, he can only be your support. Its not just him. Being the best cooks in this Eclaba means that they have received training in d.u.c.h.ess Renaliers domain, in general. To put it bluntly, they wont be able to make any new dishes that the d.u.c.h.ess has never tasted before.

That is logical. The further from the capital, the later it could follow the latest trend. Even so, Im grateful that I can receive the aid of an excellent support.

I see Then, I will receive him as the extension of my limbs. But is it all right? To trust me. Im a country b.u.mpkin who was born and raised in the poorest countryside.

When I say that, he grins.

I thoroughly understand that. But still, you can do this, cant you? Not only your pastry making methods, even your village management, agriculture, and industry, you showed me how you surpa.s.sed their forefront development while being a rural country b.u.mpkin. I, for one, believe in your strength.

Being told to that extent, I have to answer his expectations. I must survive this ordeal.

Still, it was all very sudden, wasnt it? If only I have about a month, I wouldve been able to prepare everything.

Preparing the cooking ingredients, if managed poorly, can take more than several months. Having only one week as the whole preparation time, naturally equals to having an unreasonable limitation.

I also think that its cruel. However, her impatience is understandable.

Margrave Fernande smiles bitterly.

Is it really understandable? I thought that it was simply caused by a stubborn rivalry for sure.

You see, that person, shes not someone who will abuse her power out of stubbornness. Right now, the aristocrats of this empire are split cleanly into two factions, the royal and the n.o.ble. Many are leaning towards the n.o.ble faction. As someone from the royal faction, she must have wished to increase her influence, no matter by how much. The banquet where the four Grand Dukes attend will be a valid method for such display.

Frankly, I dont have that aha moment. From this talk about politics, I cant decide anything without experiencing the atmosphere in that place by myself, as I thought.

And which one does Margrave Fernande belong to?

I try to be neutral, but still leaning towards the royal faction.

I see, that means loyalty and respect to the empire, right?

No, it doesnt equal to that notion. Its simply about different opinions. The royal faction wants to use the empires resources to enrich the current empire, while the n.o.ble faction wishes to use the resources to invade other kingdoms and pillage their resources. The group of the n.o.ble faction wishes for new land, which is also for the sake of increasing their resources. Compared to developing their current territory, it is indeed more effortless.

Margrave Fernande explains it in a simple way that I can digest.

So thats how it is. But what intrigues me is the reason why Margrave Fernande avoids war. Rather, isnt it a good opportunity to raise your reputation, with your strength?

A chill runs down my spine.

Theres a dark light dwelling inside Margrave Fernandes eyes. Thats an endlessly deep darkness.

Its simple. If I do it that way, I wont win. Those who experienced the previous war, those who stood and fought on the front lines, everyone knows this. Its bad for me, as the possessor of the greatest military power in the east to say this, though. Its unthinkable to launch an a.s.sault from here. It will only bring death to those soldiers for nothing. As one would expect, its easy to be intercepted with a homeland advantage while launching an attack. If an a.s.sault is launched from here, it will waste the resources in vain, while appearing suspicious as well.

He doesnt excessively overestimate or underestimate the enemy. If he says so, it means hes certain about it.

Kurt-kun, personally speaking, I wish that you can lend your strength to help d.u.c.h.ess Renalier. I fully understand that its impossible to stop a war simply with the power of a pastry. However, by increasing the influence of d.u.c.h.ess Renalier who belongs to the royal faction, it will become one of the powers that will stop the war.

I see now. I understand. I will devote all of my power. If I may speak bluntly, I didnt have the motivation to do this because I thought was going to be involved in the selfishness of a hysterical woman. However, if theres such reason, I will cooperate.

From the bottom of my heart, I can feel power seething up. And with that vigor, I speak.

First and foremost, if theres a war, I will definitely be troubled due to being sent to the front lines. In that kind of situation, I wont have the time to make my pastries. Compared to cooking for the enemy camp, I prefer to cook for the sake of the d.u.c.h.ess.

I wonder if my joke hits the bulls eye, because Margrave Fernande raises his voice and laughs. In that kind of moment, someone forcefully opens the door.

Kurt-sama, Ive obtained it. The most important thing from your request, that!

The one who appears is Faruno. Theres a cloth bag in her hand. I can hear a jingling sound, similar to rubbing beans.

Faruno, its improper. You even surprised Kurt-kun, you know.

I apologize. Otousama. But, I cannot possibly stay still.

Faruno lowers her head and heads in my direction. Then, she opens the cloth bag on my palm. Theres a rich fragrance, the nostalgic fragrant that even appears in my dreams. I open my eyes, and put my hand in the cloth. Theres a long, slender, reddish brown bean in my hand.

Thank you, Faruno. Youve done well by finding this.

Yes, it was truly difficult. But, Kurt-sama. This is truly expensive. This one small bag can buy a large house.

Its definitely worth it. Margrave Fernande, have you seen this?

I have seen that before, but I havent eaten it.

Im relieved. If even Margrave Fernande is only that acquainted with this, despite him living in the port town with abundant types of ingredients across the sea, then

Theres no mistake. d.u.c.h.ess Renalier will see this for the first time.

The true culprit behind this ingredient that has to be imported from across the sea and cannot be cultivated in this continent, is

This is called Cacao. By using this, I will show you that I can make the best cake in existence.

The King of Chocolate Cake, thats how we called the cake we arranged as the specialty of the restaurant back then. There were guests from the overseas who deliberately came to eat my cake, my pride, the alpha of the full course.

Thats what Im making.