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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. I’ve obtained the license to open a store in Eclaba, but I think this distance would be a hassle.

It’ll be better if I have some mode of transportation that’s faster than a coach, though... If I’m 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, Faruno’s butler-turned-coachman, informed us that we arrived in the Fernande’s manor.

“We arrived without any problems this time, huh?”

I bitterly laugh.

Before, in the trip going to this place, I was miserably assaulted by the bandits. From Arnold’s perspective, that incident enabled me to gain the store opening license and import tax annulment so it leads to our benefits, but I can’t say that the trip went without any trouble.

“Since then, we have been thoroughly investigating the incident so that there’s no chance of a recurrence. Besides, I am here as well. If they know I’m with someone, usually they won’t attack.”

Volg’s words don’t sound like an empty bluff. He’s a mana wielder, an Ability user, and possesses rich knowledge. He obtained many deeds from the previous war, a weirdly capable person who became Faruno’s butler.

“True, that. I know much about Volg’s skills, much more than I wish I did.”

“It’s only Kurt-sama. You’re the only one who can say that they know my skills. Because the one to whom I’ve 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, I’m confident that I will catch up in just a bit more.

“Their male bonding is great, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Kurt-sama looks so happy.”

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

“It’s not that great, though. Moreover, Faruno. It’s the hometown that you haven’t seen in a while. Don’t you feel nostalgia?”

“Yes, it’s 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 haven’t seen in a while.”

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

“I don’t have that much free time, because I need to collect the ingredients for Kurt-sama’s sake.”

“Apologies. But, you’re a great help.”

“I can help and become Kurt-sama’s strength. As your fiancee, I’m proud of it.”

Faruno’s eyes are blooming with the pride that she said. I’m truly grateful that she’s happier to help me out than going to her favorite book store or cafe.

With that, we arrived at Faruno’s house, the mansion of Margrave Fernande.

☘

When we arrived at Fernande’s mansion, we received the summons of Margrave Fernande waiting for me. It says that I have to enter his office room after I’m done refreshing up and making myself look proper.

Faruno doesn’t 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 I’m asking her for are the things that I definitely can’t obtain in Arnold, the ultra high grade ingredients and all sorts of herbs. Precisely because this is a port town, I’ll 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.”

I’m escorted by the Fernande servants in front of me. Then, one of them knocks on a door, waiting for their master’s reply before sending me in.

It’s a large office room. Inside, there is Margrave Fernande’s exquisite work desk in the center of the room and a soft looking sofa.

“You’ve come, this is great.”

“I apologize for not coming sooner. Margrave Fernande.”

I lower my head deeply. Even though I’m Faruno’s fiancee, at this moment, I’m talking directly with someone who has great influence.

“Raise your head, please. Your fief seems to be flourishing. Looking at the honey production, I even doubted my eyes. It’s just like magic.”

Currently, my fief’s 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 don’t have to be humble. It’s 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, I’ve been relying on Faruno-sama so many times. She’s really excellent.”

It’s 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 doesn’t look like a noble, in a good way. He’s willing to admit his own mistakes.

“No, this is not Margrave Fernande’s 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 couldn’t blame Margrave Fernande for it.

“If you say so, I’m relieved. Please, have a seat.”

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

Margrave Fernande also sits right in the opposing seat.

“I take it that you’ve heard from Faruno.”

“Yes. She has told me about a request from Duchess Renalier, my pastry to be presented in the Four Grand Duke’s 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 it’s not a simple decorative title. In actuality, the four grand dukes occupy the top power of this empire right after the emperor. Duchess 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 Fernande’s face twists in suffering.

“I truly understand. There’s 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, isn’t 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, it’s the full course.”

I’ve 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 pâtissier 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. That’s 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. I’m 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 won’t befit someone without the best talent.

“Then, I will leave the cooking to them. My focus is simply the pastry, isn’t it?”

“No, at most, he can only be your support. It’s not just him. Being the best cooks in this Eclaba means that they have received training in Duchess Renalier’s domain, in general. To put it bluntly, they won’t be able to make any new dishes that the Duchess has never tasted before.”

That is logical. The further from the capital, the later it could follow the latest trend. Even so, I’m 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. I’m a country bumpkin 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, can’t you? Not only your pastry making methods, even your village management, agriculture, and industry, you showed me how you surpassed their forefront development while being a rural country bumpkin. 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, wasn’t it? If only I have about a month, I would’ve 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 it’s 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, she’s 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 noble. Many are leaning towards the noble 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 don’t have that aha moment. From this talk about politics, I can’t 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 doesn’t equal to that notion. It’s simply about different opinions. The royal faction wants to use the empire’s resources to enrich the current empire, while the noble faction wishes to use the resources to invade other kingdoms and pillage their resources. The group of the noble 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 that’s how it is. But what intrigues me is the reason why Margrave Fernande avoids war. Rather, isn’t it a good opportunity to raise your reputation, with your strength?”

A chill runs down my spine.

There’s a dark light dwelling inside Margrave Fernande’s eyes. That’s an endlessly deep darkness.

“It’s simple. If I do it that way, I won’t win. ......Those who experienced the previous war, those who stood and fought on the front lines, everyone knows this. It’s bad for me, as the possessor of the greatest military power in the east to say this, though. It’s unthinkable to launch an assault from here. It will only bring death to those soldiers for nothing. As one would expect, it’s easy to be intercepted with a homeland advantage while launching an attack. If an assault is launched from here, it will waste the resources in vain, while appearing suspicious as well.”

He doesn’t excessively overestimate or underestimate the enemy. If he says so, it means he’s certain about it.

“Kurt-kun, personally speaking, I wish that you can lend your strength to help Duchess Renalier. I fully understand that it’s impossible to stop a war simply with the power of a pastry. However, by increasing the influence of Duchess 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 didn’t have the motivation to do this because I thought was going to be involved in the selfishness of a hysterical woman. However, if there’s 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 there’s a war, I will definitely be troubled due to being sent to the front lines. In that kind of situation, I won’t have the time to make my pastries. Compared to cooking for the enemy camp, I prefer to cook for the sake of the Duchess.”

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

“Kurt-sama, I’ve obtained it. The most important thing from your request, that!”

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

“Faruno, it’s 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. There’s a rich fragrance, the nostalgic fragrant that even appears in my dreams. I open my eyes, and put my hand in the cloth. There’s a long, slender, reddish brown bean in my hand.

“Thank you, Faruno. You’ve 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.”

“It’s definitely worth it. ......Margrave Fernande, have you seen this?”

“I have seen that before, but I haven’t eaten it.”

I’m 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...

There’s no mistake. Duchess 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, that’s 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.

That’s what I’m making.