Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: The Festival

Carrying the completed sweets, Tina and I headed from the mansion’s kitchen to the festival venue.

The madeleines were packed in a basket, while the hollandaise sauce made from egg yolks was carried in a clay pot.

Since the two of us couldn’t carry everything, we enlisted the help of the mansion’s servants. Even though we hadn’t specifically requested it, the servants were considerate enough to offer their assistance, wondering if there was anything they could help with.

Previously, the servants had been indifferent to me, thinking that my brother would inherit the Arnoldt family. Suddenly, they were being overly friendly, which felt somewhat uncomfortable.

They were probably trying to flatter me now that I had become the lord. Honestly, I didn’t blame them. They were just trying to protect their livelihoods.

◇

When we arrived at the venue, the festival was about to begin.

We had barely made it, but somehow we managed to finish making enough sweets for two hundred people.

Tables were set up tightly in the square, adorned with lavish feasts.

Although Arnoldt Territory was poor, there was enough ambition to indulge in luxury to celebrate the next generation of the master.

The villagers, who could only indulge occasionally, were sparkling with excitement.

“Finally here, Kurt. Is that basket filled with the rumored sweets?” Fernande, the frontier count, was the first to greet me upon my arrival at the venue.

My father and Fernande’s daughter, Farne, were also present.

I was glad that my father had joined the festival. Now I could convey my feelings and my sweets to him.

“Yes, I put all my heart into making them. The eggs given to me by Count Fernande were excellent, so the finished product exceeds expectations.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“We’ll distribute Arnoldt’s Madeleines at the end of the festival, so please wait a little longer.”

Arnoldt’s Madeleine is a confectionery whose taste changes with temperature.

To conclude the festival, we’ll distribute the baskets to each table, and the arrangement has been made for Tina to warm up the hollandaise sauce just before eating.

“Oh, Kurt, there’s something important I need to discuss with you after the festival. Could you spare some time?”

“Of course. I’ll be happy to hear it.”

It’s probably about my future as the next head of the family. I need to brace myself for it.

As I pondered over these thoughts, my father spoke up.

“Count Fernande, I apologize. It’s about time for me to give the opening speech for the festival, so please excuse us. Kurt, come with me. Logory will guide you from here on.”

“Sure, that’s fine.”

The count nodded in response to my father’s words.

Logory is a middle-aged man and my father’s right-hand man. He’s in charge of managing the Arnoldt family’s finances and is a loyal and trustworthy servant. I have no doubts leaving things to him.

“Well then, Count Fernande. We’ll see you later. Kurt, follow me.”

With a nod, my father led the way, and we left the area.

◇

My father and I ascended to the platform.

Taking a deep breath, my father addressed the crowd.

“My dear villagers, from now on, we will hold a festival to celebrate the determination of the next head of the Arnoldt family.”

The crowd erupted in cheers.

It seems like it’s about time to start serving the feast; they can’t wait any longer.

“First of all, let me express my gratitude. Thanks to the cooperation from various villages, we were able to prepare plenty of feasts. Thank you. Today, please enjoy eating, drinking, and making merry to your heart’s content.”

The mansion’s servants began bringing bottles of sake to each table.

The villagers wore smiles of delight. In this territory, alcohol was a rare commodity. This could be considered quite a splurge.

I’ve been thinking about making mead, honey wine, once we succeed in increasing honey production. But with the current production level, it’s challenging to venture into that.

I raised an eyebrow as I observed the wine the servants brought. It was strange. Instead of the relatively cheap ale, they brought wine made from grapes.

I couldn’t believe the Arnoldt family could afford such a thing.

As the servants uncorked the bottles and poured them into the villagers’ cups, the aroma alone indicated that it was indeed fine wine.

The villagers salivated at the sight of this high-quality wine, something they had never seen before.

“This wine is a gift from Count Fernande, in celebration. Recently, my son Kurt provided various knowledge to the count and received a reward in the form of chickens and eggs. However, Kurt’s knowledge seemed to be more impressive than imagined. Upon the advice of the count’s subordinates, it was deemed that relying solely on chickens and eggs would tarnish the count’s reputation despite the significant profits gained. Therefore, as an additional reward, wine has been prepared. I hope Count Fernande and Kurt will enjoy today’s wine with our gratitude.”

As soon as my father finished speaking, the villagers all turned to look at me simultaneously, their eyes filled with respect.

I couldn’t help but blush at the unexpected attention.

Glancing at Count Fernande, I noticed he was grinning mischievously, looking back at me.

It seemed he deliberately kept quiet to surprise me.

…Just with this incident alone, I could tell I’ve won over the villagers’ hearts. Managing the territory in the future should be easier. It’s grateful, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I’ve been outsmarted. I decided to repay this kindness someday.

Still buzzing with excitement, my father continued his speech.

“As you all know, through the selection ceremony, Kurt has been chosen as the next head of the Arnoldt family. With Kurt as the next head, Arnoldt territory will become even more prosperous. This can be seen not only from the incident with the wine today but also from the pioneering village Kurt established three years ago. Some of you may have heard rumors, but Kurt’s village will become the most prosperous in this territory by next year. The benefits of that will eventually extend to other villages.”

The villagers began to murmur. Clearly, what mattered most to them was their own livelihoods tomorrow.

Perhaps my father’s words alone wouldn’t have been enough to instill positivity, but Count Fernande’s surprise had convinced the villagers that I was an extraordinary individual.

They envisioned a bright future and conversed with their companions beside them.

There was hope in the air.

“With that, I’ll conclude my remarks. Kurt, I’ll leave it to you to address the villagers and propose a toast.”

Upon my father’s words, I stepped forward.

The villagers remained silent, hanging onto my every word.

“I’m grateful to be able to address you all here. I am Kurt Arnoldt, the man who will be the next head of Arnoldt territory.”

With these words, I finally felt the reality of becoming the next lord sink in.

“I aspire to enrich this territory. However, there are things that words alone cannot convey. Today, I’ve prepared a piece of confectionery—a sweet treat. I’ve imbued this confectionery with my vision for the future. I’d like to share my determination with you after you’ve tasted it.”

Upon hearing about the sweet treat, the villagers’ reactions were filled with anticipation, much like when they heard about the wine.

In a world where sugar was scarce, sweet treats held an almost violent allure.

“Now, let’s raise our glasses.”

I instructed.

The villagers simultaneously raised their cups filled with wine.

“To prosperity!”

The clinking of glasses marked the beginning of the feast.