The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 155

Chapter 155: Fatigue and Sweet Tea

“So this is the confection that was served. It’s quite sweet, isn’t it?”

Having finished a tiring morning task and returned to my office, Günter, who had been out inspecting the new windmills, stopped by to report. Standing behind Melfina in the reception room, he and the still-hungry Theodor were happily eating the cream puffs I’d had brought out.

“Incredibly delicious. The ease of eating it is also a plus. What is the name of this confection?”

“The outer pastry is a choux, and the inside is cream, so I think the name ‘cream puff’ will do.”

“Ho… The fact that the pastry itself has a name implies that if the filling changes, the name also changes?”

“Yes, I think we can create various variations in the filling and shape.”

If we were to replace the custard cream with ice cream, it would become a “choux ice,” or we could make a Paris-Brest, a round choux pastry, or a croquembouche, a tower of small choux pastries coated in caramel, or if we were to shape them long and coat them in chocolate, we would have an éclair; but so far, I had not yet encountered chocolate in this world.

“If we didn’t put sweet cream inside, it could also serve as a substitute for bread, couldn’t it?”

“It could also be eaten like a sandwich with vegetables and meat inside.”

Watching them excitedly exchange ideas, Melfina felt a sense of relief wash over her. She took a sip of corn tea, letting out a sigh.

“I’m so tired, though… I’m not cut out for that sort of thing.”

“No, you were magnificent. That merchant was terrified; Romana merchants will not be trying any foolish schemes for a while.”

“I hope so…”

I tried my best, remembering Melfina from the game, but I’m still not comfortable with the haughty demeanor expected of a noble.

This is partly due to the mixture of my past life’s memories and sensibilities, but even before that, Melfina wasn’t particularly overbearing.

How exactly did she become so harsh that she would strike Maria’s hand with her fan, scolding her with, “What dreadful manners! What kind of upbringing did you have?!” I find that even more puzzling.

“This cream is also my first time trying it. Yellow, smooth, and with a curious texture.”

“You can make it with eggs, milk, sugar, and Romana wheat flour. Especially the choux part. It’s difficult to make this light shell with Francesca wheat.”

“Then, we should certainly strive to maintain smooth relations with Romana in the future.”

“I hope so.”

I had previously spoken with Julius about how young female rulers are often underestimated.

At that time, he said that having a formidable backer and a capable governor were necessary to counterbalance that perception, but it seems to have worked out for now.

I understood that Lorenzo had many misunderstandings, and I deliberately misled him.

He must be incredibly confused, but just as information is crucial for a merchant, for a politician, controlling what is true and what should be hidden is essential.

Intrigue and deception are not Melfina’s strengths, but she must strive as a lord.

“My Lady Melfina, shall I make some fresh tea?”

“Yes, instead of corn tea, would you mind making some black tea?”

Marie smiled and left the office. The secretary’s kindness was deeply comforting.

Lorenzo seemed to be trying to investigate the lord’s mansion, but there is little that Melfina needs to keep secret.

Regarding the ale, once the brewery is operational, “Lord’s Manor Ale” will be available at any time within the Enkar region.

Once we successfully develop an ale with a higher alcohol content achieved through a higher wort concentration and a greater hop addition, transportation will become significantly easier.

The ale that, in my past life, endured the voyage from England to India will first be consumed throughout the north, then throughout Francesca, and will eventually be exported to other countries through waterways from Elban.

Cheese is also a significant source of income for the temple, but there’s no law against private production.

The reason we developed it secretly in the basement until now was because we didn’t want to be interrupted before the product was finalized, and the relationship with Alexis was unstable.

Since reconciling with Alexis, the public unveiling has essentially been done through the martial arts tournament prize.

The impact of the Saint’s arrival on Melfina next summer is still unknown, but once the lord’s position is solidified and stable supply becomes possible, it will become one of the industries of the Enkar region, alongside ale and whiskey.

Regarding the sugar, it is certain that it will become a specialty product of the north under the ducal family’s leadership next year onward.

The secrets of the lord’s mansion basement are no longer really secrets.

Ultimately, Lorenzo’s mistake was not in trying to find information, but in doing something unpleasant to the lord.

—But that’s not something that can be so easily dismissed, is it? That’s the reality of being a lord.

Because Alexis is a strict person who reacts severely to injustice and disrespect, those around him fear and respect him.

Maintaining a dignified attitude as a noble and a lord is also part of the job.

—However, regarding the sugar, we’ll have to use it sparingly in the lord’s manor for a while.

This is not so much to keep it a secret, but simply because the remaining amount is insufficient for abundant use.

Originally, Melfina, Marie, and Cedric made sugar in the basement of the lord’s manor.

Making sugar from sugar beets involves many steps: slicing the sugar beets, dissolving the sugar in a large amount of hot water, adding milk of lime, skimming off the supernatant liquid, boiling it down into syrup, and pouring the syrup into molds. It’s both labor-intensive and physically demanding.

Handling heavy pots and triangular earthenware filtration devices was difficult for Melfina and Marie’s slender arms, so they relied entirely on Cedric.

Cedric is no longer here. During the summer, both Melfina and Marie were busy with their duties, and it’s difficult to find time for small-batch production.

We made a decent amount during the winter, so we won’t be in immediate trouble, but it’s still a limited resource.

—I unconsciously assumed that Cedric would always be here.

Even though I knew Cedric would eventually become the Earl of Carlisle, I was quite complacent, thinking we could just make more once autumn ends and I have more time.

The Saint’s arrival next summer, if all goes well, will start sugar production in the ducal family. Since we have a deal to receive sugar from the ducal family, we will have an abundant supply from then on.

The basement inventory will last until then, but that’s questionable. At the current rate of confection making, it will be consumed very quickly.

We could also make more if we have the time and energy until the end of autumn, but somehow, I didn’t feel like it.

It’s not that I don’t trust Theodor, and if I mention that the deal with the ducal family is already done, he’ll probably help.

But it’s where the three of us researched what would become a specialty product of the Enkar region.

It was work, but it was a very enjoyable time.

If I start new developments there with other people, those memories will gradually fade, and that place will eventually become completely different from the one where we spent time together as three.

And that feels very lonely.

While I think that’s a rather silly sentiment, I didn’t want anyone other than Marie and Cedric in that basement.

“My Lady Melfina, your tea.”

“Thank you, Marie.”

I drop a small lump of sugar, shaved from the sugar bowl, into the steaming hot tea.

It melts and loses its shape along with Melfina’s pensive thoughts.

“Now, we must work hard today. We have a mountain of things to do.”

After taking a sip of sweet tea, she announced in a bright voice, and everyone in the office straightened their backs, responding with, “Yes”.

It’s fine to worry about the past and the future when I’m alone.

Concealing sentimentality and acting calmly is also one of the duties of a lord.