Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Invitation from the Ducal Family

We set off on our journey back home after curing the epidemic in the Spirit Village.

Though it lasted less than a week, our trip to the Spirit Village was quite fruitful.

“We’re almost back to Kurt’s village.”

“Yeah, our village. It feels nostalgic even though we were away for a short time.”

One of the greatest things we gained from the Spirit Village was this girl.

She’s Chloe… a golden-haired elf girl who lived in the Spirit Village.

She has a pleasant personality and abundant knowledge about fruits from living in the Spirit Village, and she can use water magic.

Water magic can be quite useful if applied to agriculture.

In addition to her, a few other elves and a fox-eared beastman named Lunarl have come with us. According to Colt, the village chief of the Spirit Village, they all seem to be able to use elemental magic.

“Kurt, thank you so much. If you hadn’t come, the Spirit Village would have been finished.”

Chloe clings to my left arm.

I can feel her ample chest against my hand.

“Chloe, you’re clinging too much.”

Tina, a silver-haired beauty with fox ears, speaks up as she sees this.

She’s my important partner.

“It’s fine. It’s not like anything’s going to decrease.”

“Things will decrease. The purity of a girl, Kurt-sama’s rationality, and various other things.”

Tina, looking unamused, clings to my right arm and pulls it away.

She probably thinks I’m going to be taken away by Chloe.

But there’s no need for her to worry about that.

“Both of you, calm down. We have a lot of luggage with us now.”

“Ugh, sorry, Kurt-sama.”

“Hey, don’t be mad at me!”

I lightly flick Chloe’s forehead as I tease Tina.

“Try not to tease Tina too much.”

Chloe presses her hand to her forehead in an exaggerated manner, adopting a slightly sulky tone.

“Ugh, fine, I got it.”

Tina snorts in mock annoyance.

Watching us, the elves and beastmen walking behind us chuckle softly.

They’re the ones bringing the fruits from the Spirit Village.

The fruits from the Spirit Village are incredibly delicious.

We’re supposed to receive ten percent of the fruits harvested in the Spirit Village every year. Since we can’t carry them all ourselves, we’re getting some help.

However, even with their help, we still can’t carry everything, so we’ll have to come back for more as needed.

I’m looking forward to making sweets with the fruits from the Spirit Village.

◇

After walking for a while, we arrived at my village.

Naturally, there weren’t many changes in just one week.

As I walk toward my house, I make eye contact with Volg.

He’s my fiancée’s servant, the beloved daughter of the powerful nobleman Fernande, who oversees this region.

He also serves as Farne’s escort, so he’s quite skilled, serving as both my mentor and guardian.

“Kurt-sama, you’ve finally returned.”

“Ah, I’m back. What’s all the fuss about?”

It’s rare to see Volg so flustered.

Or rather, it’s the first time I’ve seen him like this.

“A serious situation has arisen. Would you please come to our mansion right away? Arnoldt Viscount’s family is on the verge of collapse. Count Fernande won’t let this slide easily.”

“That’s not good…”

I can’t quite imagine the severity of the situation.

Farne probably knows the details.

I’ll have to hear what’s going on before I can do anything.

“Tina, I’m going to see Farne now. Tell Solte we’ve returned and guide Chloe to the vacant house. Also, please make sure everyone who brought the fruits relaxes.”

“Understood, Kurt-sama. Please tell me the details later.”

“Of course.”

With that, I leave Chloe and the others in Tina’s care and head to Farne’s mansion with Volg.

With Solte and Tina, the leaders of the settlement, Chloe and the others should be fine.

◇

Farne’s mansion is located in my village.

It was built at the same time as her engagement.

All the materials were brought in from Count Fernande’s territory, so it’s a magnificent building that doesn’t quite fit the poor settlement.

As soon as we enter the mansion, we’re greeted by the servants.

They’re hired by Count Fernande, not me.

“Welcome back, master. I’ll inform Farne-sama of your return right away, so please wait a moment.”

The servants address me as master, which feels a bit premature.

They hurried off and soon returned.

“I apologize for the wait. Please follow me, Kurt-sama.”

With that, I was guided to the reception room where Farne awaited.

◇

“Welcome back, Kurt-sama.”

“I’m back, Farne.”

Farne greeted me with a smile.

She’s my fiancée, sixteen years old, with fluffy peach-colored hair giving her a gentle impression. And she has a feminine figure brimming with charm.

“From the look on your face, it seems you’ve successfully resolved the illness in the Spirit Village. Just as expected of my future husband.”

“It just happened to be an illness I knew about. I was able to make a special remedy with the materials I had on hand.”

I give a superficial explanation, withholding the truth.

It’s not that I don’t trust Farne, but she’s a Fernande. I can’t reveal the true nature of my magic, which could be a weakness.

“I’m glad you’ve returned safely.”

Farne let out a sigh of relief, her face expressing genuine happiness.

She must have been genuinely worried about me.

I appreciate her concern.

“I’m glad to see your face again too.”

Farne and I exchanged smiles.

A gentle moment passed between us.

Then, Farne cleared her throat.

“I apologize for bringing this up so soon after your return, Kurt-sama, but something serious has happened.”

“I’ve heard about it. What exactly happened?”

It’s not just Arnoldt at risk but even Fernande. It must be serious.

“Well, you see, Kurt-sama, the rose cookies you made as a gift for Duke Lenaril have become a problem.”

My heart sank.

Once, when Count Fernande was sending a gift to Duke Lenaril, he recommended my sweets.

Upon learning that Duke Lenaril adored roses, I crafted rose cookies that captured the scent, taste, and appearance of roses.

Did Duke Lenaril not appreciate my cookies?

Did he not only dislike them but also become so displeased that Count Fernande’s reputation was tarnished, and he’s now considering dismantling Arnoldt to save face?

If you incur the Duke’s displeasure, such a thing is entirely possible.

“My sweets didn’t measure up. I’ve caused trouble for Count Fernande. And, of course, for you, Farne. I’m truly sorry.”

I spoke with a trembling voice, squeezing my hand so tightly it bled.

I was confident in my sweets. But perhaps, being too presumptuous in the countryside, they weren’t satisfactory for a Duke who knows luxury inside out…

But Farne tilted her head in confusion.

“Um, Kurt-sama, you seem to have misunderstood.”

“What do you mean?”

“Duke Lenaril was extremely pleased with Kurt-sama’s rose cookies. He said it was the first time in his life he had ever enjoyed such sweets. Not only did he appreciate them, but I also heard that at a traditional gathering of the Empire’s four dukes, he showcased the rose cookies to show that such exquisite sweets exist in our territory.”

“I see, so my sweets weren’t rejected after all.”

“He was very pleased, and your father was proud as well.”

I felt relieved for the moment.

However, that relief was quickly shattered.

Given the gist of the conversation just now, I could guess what had transpired. This was bad.

“…However, he may have been a bit too impressed. It seems he went overboard in his enthusiasm, not only boasting excessively on the spot but also disparaging the sweets served at the previous host, Duke Laranetta’s, dinner party. Moreover, he mentioned that the rose cookies were just an example and that he could create even more splendid sweets.”

My head started to ache.

Noble posturing.

…Well, noble posturing often serves practical purposes to some extent.

By showcasing the cultural standards of one’s own territory, it serves as a deterrent to the opponent and increases one’s influence.

The competition among the four dukes would be even more intense.

If it’s a regular dinner gathering of the four dukes, then they’re probably engaged in such subtle power struggles on a daily basis.

And the fact that these rose cookies are just a glimpse of one’s abilities is likely not just a casual statement. A pastry chef capable of making rose cookies should be confident that they can create even more impressive sweets.

“Farne, I assume Count Fernande has received a request?”

“I suppose you figured it out… A messenger came to my father. He wants to invite the pastry chef who made the rose cookies to his own castle. My father said that as Kurt-sama oversees a territory, he can’t be absent for long periods and can’t go to the distant Lenaril territory… But his request was not accepted.”

“No, it’s understandable. If the other party is a duke, there’s no way you can refuse.”

In our country, the hierarchy starts with the king at the top, followed by the archdukes, then dukes, margraves, earls, viscounts, and barons.

Dukes are the highest-ranking after the royal family.

Count Fernande, as a margrave, may surpass even ducal families in terms of economic and military power, thanks to his control over trading cities and vast territories. However, in terms of pure political power, he falls short.

“Of course, just meeting won’t be enough.”

“Yes, it seems that the next scheduled dinner party is hosted by Duke Lenaril, and he’s aiming to make it the ultimate feast for the four dukes. He wants you to showcase your skills to the fullest there. He’s saying, ‘Just being delicious isn’t enough. Prepare something none of the dukes have experienced before.’ And if you can do that, he’s promising a substantial reward.”

Something none of the dukes have experienced before.

Well, that’s to be expected. Once you’re a duke, you’ve probably had your fill of fine cuisine.

Moreover, if you want to showcase cultural prowess to other dukes, something unprecedented is essential.

Considering that the duke is offering such a substantial reward, one can expect high anticipation.

But if…

“What if I disappoint their expectations?”

“You’ll end up humiliating yourself in front of the other four dukes. If it’s resolved with just your life and the dissolution of Arnoldt, it would be considered a miracle.”

A predictable response.

That’s what it means to deal with dukes.

But I’m looking forward to it.

How well will my cooking stand up against the various gourmet dishes of the dukes who have mastered the culinary arts of this country?

I’m excited.

“I understand the situation. Either way, I have no right to refuse. I’ll go. To Duke Lenaril’s territory.”

And thus, my new goal was set.

The risk is incredibly high, but the potential rewards are equally enormous.

Not only the rewards I may receive from the duke but also the chance to make a name for myself among all four dukes.