Upstart Pastry Chef - Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Meeting Marquis Volg

Since early morning, I had been making prototype sweets in the kitchen.

Yesterday was enjoyable.

As expected of a Royal Capital restaurant. Just recalling the special beef dish I ate for the main course brought water to my mouth.

"Should I have them order that fruit resembling a mango for me? No, before that, it's the strawberries I bought alongside the durian."

Having spent good money to buy them, after all.

Even if I can't turn them into the dessert to present to the Royal Family, I want to use them with care.

Right now, they are being chilled in a cold storage box packed with ice made by Tina.

Someday, when the time comes, I'll use them properly.

After making several prototypes, I returned to my room and finished changing.

Perhaps thanks to the inspiration received at yesterday's restaurant, my research made great progress.

"Now then, things are about to get busy."

Though days remain until I am appointed a Baron, I won't be able to focus solely on sweet-making during that time.

I have to meet influential figures and have them remember my face and name.

The settings for that purpose were arranged by Duke Lenaril.

I cannot afford to ruin her reputation.

Preparations for gifts had been made as well.

I boxed up the special Durian Doughnuts that had been kept refrigerated.

Then, I wrapped them in the exclusive packaging used at the Arnoldt shop and adorned them with a ribbon.

With this, preparations were complete.

"Are you two ready?"

"Yes, leave it to me!"

"I'm fine, too."

Tina and Chloe had changed into servant uniforms.

I had considered having the two watch the house, but it seemed that having not a single attendant looked shameful.

Therefore, they were set to accompany me.

Let's see if the results of being thoroughly taught etiquette at yesterday's restaurant will shine through.

"Well then, shall we go? It seems the carriage has already arrived."

Today, I plan to meet three nobles.

A Marquis, a Count, and a Viscount.

It's a busy schedule, but let's go without letting our guard down until the very end.

The scheduled greetings to the Count and Viscount were completed.

At this point, I was utterly exhausted.

Confronting superiors is tiring.

One of the reasons for the exhaustion was that at both houses, I was urged to consider getting engaged to their daughters. I politely declined, stating that I was engaged to the daughter of Border Baron Fernande.

Even though I am to be promoted to a Baron, one would think they could catch a man of higher status than me, but they likely estimate that I am favored by Duke Lenaril and will advance further.

"Kurt, you look quite exhausted."

Duke Lenaril smiled gently at me.

This won't do. Showing exhaustion on one's face is a point deduction. Let's make an effort to appear composed, at least in front of this person.

After all, this person is trying far harder than I am.

"Just a little tired. But I'm fine."

"I see, then I'm relieved. The next one is the last. Let's do our best."

Duke Lenaril was looking out the window.

Her face was slightly red.

It was probably because she called me Kurt.

A pang of pain ran through my hand.

Looking in that direction, Tina was gripping my hand tightly with a pouting face.

Tina must have been jealous unconsciously.

Though still ignorant regarding romance, she seems to have noticed that the distance between me and Duke Lenaril has shortened.

"Tina, I'll bake a delicious pie when we get back, so look forward to it."

Here, if I were to say there's nothing between me and Duke Lenaril, it would cause various problems.

So, I simply said something that Tina would likely be happy about.

"Kurt-sama's pie! I can't wait!"

"Ah, of course I'm eating it, too!"

Chloe the elf, who had been left out of the loop, jumped in upon hearing about the pie.

"I'll have a taste, too. It's a prototype of the sweet to present to the Royal Family, right? The more tasters there are, the better."

"Yes, please do."

If Duke Lenaril is eating it as well, I can't cut corners.

...No, to begin with, when making sweets for my beloved Tina, I have never cut corners even once.

I shall treat them to a pie I love.

Today's final visit: Marquis Leamus Volg.

According to Duke Lenaril, among the Royalist nobles, he is a particularly influential figure, and if one is to operate within the Royalist faction, his mood must absolutely not be spoiled.

"I might not be able to support you much this time. I'm bad with that person."

"I'm surprised. To think there's someone Duke Lenaril is bad with."

"That person was my father's friend and acts as my uncle. He has known me since I was a child and doted on me greatly. Even now, he treats me like a child... Because he lent me a tremendous amount of help when I had just become the head of the house, I can't raise my head to him either. While it's certain he is a very good person, my rhythm gets thrown off a bit."

Presumably, Marquis Volg is the only person who can treat Duke Lenaril like a child.

"I'll try my best on my own this time."

"If you would do so, it would be a huge help."

A bit irreverent as it might be, I found myself wanting to see a flustered Duke Lenaril.

Arriving at the Volg residence, we were guided into the building and shown to the guest room.

Duke Lenaril and I took our seats, while the servants Tina and Chloe stood waiting behind us.

I felt a bit apologetic, but both of them had grown quite accustomed to this sort of thing.

Marquis Volg’s servants brought out tea and cookies.

Huh, these cookies are...

After waiting for about five minutes, a chubby man nearly fifty years old with greying hair and a pleasant demeanor arrived.

"Ooh, it has been a while, Theresia. Thank you for coming."

"Marquis Volg, please stop calling me Theresia."

"Hahaha! To me, no matter how old Theresia gets or how far she rises, she remains my cute Theresia. ...Though, if you command it as Duke Lenaril, as a Marquis I would have no choice but to obey."

He laughed with playfulness.

Seeing that, Duke Lenaril smiled wryly.

"Geez, Uncle Leamus is awful. There's no way I could issue such a command to Uncle Leamus, who has done so much for me."

"Hahaha, I'm glad to hear that, Theresia. And so, you are the rumored young Kurt, I take it? How do you do? I am Leamus Volg. I serve as the head of the Marquis Volg house."

Smiling, he held out his hand.

I hurriedly stood up and took that hand.

"How do you do? I am the eldest son of the Arnoldt Baronetcy, Kurt Arnoldt. I have come to the Royal Capital in order to become a Baron on this occasion."

Marquis Volg stared intently into my eyes as I said so.

After doing so for a few seconds, he released his hand.

"Good eyes. Arnoldt... The blood of the hero still lives on inside you, then. I wanted to express my gratitude to you. Thank you for helping Theresia. Through your skill as a pastry chef, Theresia's dignity was maintained. And I have heard that you saved Theresia's life. As an uncle, I am truly grateful."

"No, Duke Lenaril is a precious friend to me. Helping her and saving her life were only natural."

"Hmm, is that so?"

After looking back and forth between me and Duke Lenaril, Marquis Volg assumed a thoughtful posture and opened his mouth toward the servant behind him.

"Cancel bringing up an engagement with Emilia. If I do such a thing, I will be hated by Theresia."

"Uncle Leamus?!"

Duke Lenaril raised her voice with a bright red face.

"Calm down, Theresia. Stop making a scene in front of young Kurt. Be that as it may, let's talk at a relaxed pace. I love conversing with talented youths. It makes my heart leap and makes me feel rejuvenated. Now then, young Kurt. Tell me about yourself."

Saying so, he took a seat and urged us to sit down as well.

Once seated, he repeatedly asked various questions.

They were all small, trivial questions akin to small talk.

Listening to my stories with genuine enjoyment, he nodded along.

I have never seen someone who is such a master listener.

...However, at the same time, he is a person around whom one cannot let down their guard.

Though he wears a smile, his eyes capture me straight on. As if seeing through everything.

Presumably, this is his own style of observing people.

Whether I am someone suitable to draw into the Royalist faction, or whether I am someone suitable to place beside Duke Lenaril, whom he dotes on like a daughter—he is trying to discern it.

Precisely because of that, I stopped putting up a facade.

Lies won't pass against this person. The more superficial words one piles up, the lower the evaluation drops. Therefore, I decided to show myself as I truly am.

If I am not accepted for that, then it simply means I didn't click with this person. Accepting that resolution, I repeatedly offered answers true to myself.

We must have talked for about thirty minutes.

Perhaps due to tension, my throat became bone-dry, and I asked for a tea refill once.

And finally, his appraisal seemed to come to an end.

"Young Kurt. You are a fine man. Truly straightforward. Hahaha, I've taken a liking to you! Please take care of Theresia from here on, too. ...Hmm, as I thought, the engagement with Emilia after all—Whoops, just a joke. Theresia, don't glare at me like that."

Saying so, he laughed merrily.

Seeing Duke Lenaril puff out her cheeks the way Tina occasionally does, I almost burst out laughing. She makes that kind of face, too.

"It's early for dinner, but I've grown a bit hungry. Let's nibble on some cookies. In truth, I am a fan of your shop in Eclava, Arnoldt."

"Yes, I had noticed. The cookies served with tea today are the ones sold at my shop."

They are items I made myself. A single glance was enough to tell.

Noticing that brought me a little joy.

"Once a week, I have my servants go to buy them. Because there are weekly limited items, they have to go every week. How cruel of you. Thanks to that, my finances have taken a heavy blow!"

"Haha, as the shop owner, I can only say, 'Thank you very much for your purchase every time.'"

His words just now were likely not flattery.

Such an enthusiastic fan brings immense joy to a pastry chef.

"This time, I have brought a special sweet not sold in the shop."

"That is most appreciated. Fufufu, if it becomes known that I obtained Arnoldt's ultra-limited sweets, I can puff out my chest to my wife and daughters, and knowing it's a sweet just for me brings even greater delight."

When I gave a signal, Tina brought out a beautifully packaged Durian Doughnut and handed it over.

"Unfortunately, because I am handing these to the nobles who met with us like this, it is not a sweet meant solely for Marquis Volg."

"That is regrettable... Even so, being able to eat a special sweet makes me happy. However, as expected, I want a sweet meant just for me. That's it! I've thought of something good!"

Saying so, he clapped his hands with a pop.

On the contrary, I had nothing but a bad feeling about this.

"It's about time for dinner. Let me invite you all to dinner. In exchange, would young Kurt make us a dessert? I wanted to talk a bit more with young Kurt, and I wanted to talk with Theresia, too."

With eyes sparkling like a child's, being told such a thing made it terribly difficult to refuse.

He holds the rank of Marquis and stands at the center of the Royalist faction. Above all, he is someone who said he loves my sweets. I don't want to turn him down coldly.

"Uncle Leamus, I don't mind. What about the Next Baronet of Arnoldt?"

As expected in the presence of others, she doesn't call me Kurt.

She properly understands that sort of boundary.

While the authority to decide whether to accept the dinner invitation lies with me...

"I don't mind. Let's make an Arnoldt sweet to deepen our friendship."

"Ooh, that makes me happy! I shall make sure to reward you properly for this."

And so, dessert making at the Marquis Volg residence was decided.

Since this turn of events was unexpected, no ingredients had been brought along.

While the pouch I wear contains bare minimum seasonings, I will essentially have to use the ingredients available in this house.

An impromptu sweet-making session without even deciding what to make yet.

It seemed a bit difficult, but I thought it sounded interesting.

Now then, shall I exert my full strength to create the ultimate "makeshift" sweet? This, too, will serve as fine training.