Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Unnecessary Interference of a Kind Person

Count Fernande suddenly exposed the lie my father told.

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

“My eyes aren’t full of holes.”

The Count’s voice was full of conviction.

“That village is Jorg’s village, and I only helped him.”

“I’m tired of hearing such lies. You can see it just by looking. The people in this village have been following you. Not a single one of them has seen Jorg. And your answers to my questions were accurate and carried the warmth of someone who had worked hard. Let me say it again, my eyes aren’t full of holes. I can at least tell whose village it is.”

I raised both hands in surrender.

“I give up. That village is the one I built. It took three years of blood, sweat, and tears to finally shape it.”

If my father found out, I’d be in big trouble. But there’s no help for it. It’s Jorg’s fault for not being able to answer properly.

“I’m glad you admitted it. Perhaps you think that the Baron Arnoldt had no choice but to choose Jorg due to tradition, and therefore took credit for your achievements?”

My heart made an unpleasant sound.

That emotion was anger. Anger at having my dream used.

“As expected of the Count of Fernand. You’ve seen through all that.”

As I said that, the Count chuckled.

“Indeed, even someone as capable as you cannot see the true intentions behind it.”

“The true intentions behind it?”

What kind of intentions could there be from my father, who trampled on my feelings?

“I apologize to the Baron Arnoldt, but let me tell you his secret. The Baron Arnoldt is not such a small-minded man. He has other thoughts. That’s why I didn’t rebuke his false report at that time.”

“That’s absurd.”

Just hearing that my village would be taken away and given to Jorg without any further explanation or understanding beyond that felt unjust.

“Do you love this village? Do you not wish to live here as the village head, even if you cannot become the lord? Do you not harbor such thoughts?”

“That’s correct.”

I wanted to fulfill my dream while spending time in this village. It was a strong desire born from my attachment to the village Tina and I created together, the bond with the villagers, and my fondness for cultivating various ingredients, envisioning the ultimate sweets made from the finest materials crafted by my own hands, incorporating the taste of traditional Japanese sweets with fruits and honey from my family’s orchard in Yamanashi, which had become renowned in my past life.

“That’s why. Your father decided to take this village away because he thought you would cling to it. He came up with a plausible excuse for it.”

“Why would he do something so terrible!”

If it were for practical reasons, I could understand. But to take away the village as a form of harassment towards me, I couldn’t forgive such a thing.

“Let me tell you. Baron Arnoldt asked me to hire you after the selection ceremony. It’s the first time I’ve heard of such a thing.”

“Wha–!?”

I had never heard of such a thing before.

“Baron Arnoldt said so himself. He wants to pass on the Arnoldt family legacy, but he lacks the spear talent required. However, your talent would be wasted if you were to only serve as the village head in the baron’s domain. He passionately spoke about how you could flourish under my guidance if you had the opportunity.”

“So, he wants to take away this village I’m attached to…”

Father had good intentions.

If things went as he intended, and if I were invited by the count after losing the village, I wouldn’t refuse.

“In other words, as long as I continued to stay in this village, I wouldn’t have nodded in agreement.”

“I value you highly. Your level of knowledge and intelligence were evident through your work with manuscripts. Your practical skills are also apparent from observing this village. Moreover, the villagers’ regard for you is clear. I want to hire you and give you an important position.”

Everything fell into place.

Perhaps my father’s actions were all for my sake, even today’s inspection by Count Fernande, who had surely considered the possibility of uncovering lies.

The village inspection itself served as an interview by Count Fernande for me.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left just the two of us alone. There was a high risk of me exposing everything.

While showcasing my abilities to Count Fernande, I was also upholding Yorda’s reputation.

Probably, if I went to Count Fernande’s side, my future would be promising… even so.

“Count Fernande, I must decline your offer.”

“Oh, may I ask why?”

“I haven’t given up on becoming a lord.”

“Hmm, even if you became a lord, I believe your future would be brighter with me than in such a borderland.”

“I understand that as well. However, I have a dream. A dream that can only be fulfilled here.”

“Is it worth rejecting my offer?”

“Yes, it’s a dream worth dedicating my life to. If you’re willing, please allow me to share my dream with you.”

I decided to take Count Fernande and Farne to the raspberry flower field Tina and I created together.

◇

“This is a magnificent flower field.”

“Did you create this flower field, Kurt-sama?”

A raspberry field boasting pure white flowers. In the midst of nature, their delicate beauty emanated a shimmer of life that touched the hearts of the two, accustomed to seeing various luxurious flowers.

“Yes, it’s a flower field created by me and a girl named Tina. And over there, you’ll see wooden boxes where bees come and go. Those are artificial hives designed to extract honey without destroying the bee’s nest.”

“Ah, so each time the bees store honey, it can be harvested multiple times.”

“Yes, we can only manage ten boxes for now, but since this year’s harvest was successful, we plan to increase it to around fifty boxes from next year onwards. With each box yielding around forty liters of honey per year, it’ll become a major industry.”

In this era, honey was extremely precious. Many villages engaged in beekeeping, but the traditional method of destroying the nest to extract honey was inefficient and labor-intensive, making it very expensive. However, we could produce it in large quantities at a low cost.

“Is your dream to rise through large-scale beekeeping then?”

“No, beekeeping is just a means to an end.”

I opened the bento box Tina had prepared for me and took out honey cookies, handing them to Count Fernande and Farne.

I have to thank Tina for providing these cookies. She’s like my goddess of luck.

“My dream is to become the world’s greatest pastry chef. Honey is the starting point, as without ingredients, I can’t begin. So, I’ll sell these cookies, made with honey, as a specialty of this village. With the money earned, I’ll buy fruit seedlings and create an orchard. I’ll expand the variety and quantity of sweets, use them as capital to trade for rare ingredients, and eventually create ideal sweets by combining them with the village’s materials… That’s my dream.”

A distant dream.

But I don’t think it’s impossible. I can see the path ahead clearly.

“What a fanciful dream. Are you willing to sacrifice a clearly promising future for such a dream? Your dream, as you describe it, seems sweeter than any dessert.”

“Whether it’s possible or not, decide after tasting this cookie. It’s made with honey harvested here. This cookie represents my determination and the first step towards my dream.”

“Putting everything on such a small, simple pastry… with no fancy decorations whatsoever. Interesting, let’s give it a try.”

Count Fernande and Farne said as they took a bite of the cookie.

Crunch, crunch, the delightful sound echoed.

Accustomed to luxurious and extravagant sweets, only when I can satisfy them will my dream start to seem feasible.

“My goodness… such deliciousness in such a small village. Compared to this, all the sweets I’ve had so far are no different from sugar blocks.”

“What a delightful sweetness, dream-like texture, not overly rich, just melts away. Oh, why is there only one piece!?”

The simplicity of it highlights the excellence of the honey used as its base ingredient, and the crispiness and pleasant aftertaste result from meticulous baking without compromise.

“Well, I admit defeat. Through this cookie, I see a clear path to your dream. You seem capable even without coming to me. But at this rate, you might lose control of this village.”

“I’ll be fine. I will prevail. I’ll seize the position of lord.”

“Ah, such confidence. Do you have something up your sleeve?”

“If not, I wouldn’t have requested chickens as a reward earlier. It would be meaningless if I were to be driven out of this village.”

“That’s true.”

Fernande Border Count smiled wryly at my answer. In fact, during today’s inspection, I finally came up with a way to acquire skills in a short period.

A secret plan to complete the acquisition of a skill that takes two months, even with an S proficiency, in just one week, or even one day.

“But, it’s a pity. I was hoping to gain a capable subordinate… And now, knowing you can create such wonderful sweets, it’s even harder to let you go.”

Upon hearing those words, Fernande Border Count, Farne, and I burst into laughter.

“If you’re that concerned, I’ll wrap up the cookies along with the transcribed documents. I’m glad to know how my father feels. Well, his concern was unnecessary meddling, but I’ll carve out my own path in life.”

I said, grateful to Count Fernande for sparing me from resenting my father.

“Wow, we get your sweets as souvenirs!? That’s amazing!”

“Yes, I’ll make them with great care.”

“I’m thrilled too. One piece is just not enough. If these cookies are so wonderful… I’ve got it, I must prepare a gift for the Duke soon. He’s a great gourmet, you see. Sending your cookies might be a good idea. The simplicity will resonate with him amidst all the luxury. I’ll accompany them with his favorite roses.”

I hesitated for a moment. Indeed, these cookies were delicious. But for the Duke…

“I don’t mind. However, if it’s for the Duke, it would be best to use the finest ingredients. Along with the honey and wheat from this village, some unsalted butter from cows, almonds, rose petals if he likes roses, and rum. With those, I can make the best cookies.”

“Is there something better than this? Then after the selection ceremony, come to the mansion. I’ll have the ingredients ready, so could you make them there?”

“Yes, gladly.”

It would definitely be advantageous to owe a favor to the Count for the future. But first, I had to become the lord. I needed to tighten my focus.

“Oh, and about the chickens. I will bring them when you come to attend the selection ceremony. Prepare a coop for them by then.”

“So soon? That’s helpful.”

“Also, I realized I want to eat more of your sweets. I can’t wait until you come to the mansion. When you have the chickens, could you also bring some eggs? I thought you could make some sweets with them.”

I pondered a recipe, one that would showcase the flavor of the eggs.

…There’s only one option.

“I have a request. Could you prepare around fifty eggs?”

“Possible, but what do you plan to do with them?”

“I want to treat everyone at the festival of the Arnoldt Viscount’s household, celebrating the new lord. I’d like to offer sweets to all two hundred guests who will attend. That’s why I need fifty eggs.”

“…You’re truly amusing. Very well, I’ll deliver them as soon as possible.”

“There’s no need for that. There will be two hours between the end of the selection ceremony and the start of the festival. With that much time, I can handle enough for two hundred people.”

As I smiled, this time it was Count Fernande who chuckled aloud.