Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Kurt Arnoldt’s Determination

At the social gathering following the banquet, I was invited to dance by Duke Lenaril.

I accepted her offer and began to dance with her, taking her hand.

By touching her hand like this, facing each other, I realized that she was still a girl in her late teens.

How much responsibility does she carry on those small shoulders?

“Your hands are big, aren’t they? And strong and firm. I’ve never felt such firm hands from a man before.”

She must have only held the hands of nobles. Their hands are soft, unfamiliar with labor. My hands are tough and stiff, characteristic of a laborer.

“I apologize if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“Not at all. Hands of a hard worker. Rather wonderful, actually. But it’s surprising. That delicate sweets come from these hands.”

Duke Lenaril’s grip tightened. As if confirming the feel of my hand.

It’s a little ticklish.

“All pastry chefs are wizards, you know.”

Yes, magic. With unexpected ingredients and techniques, they create sweets that bring smiles to people’s faces.

“Haha, it’s amusing coming from a true wizard like yourself. Let me say it again. Thank you. My influence has also increased at today’s banquet.”

“I’m glad I could be of help. I don’t desire war either.”

“It’s surprising that someone like you was born into the Arnoldt family of spears.”

The Arnoldt family has historically prospered by achieving military exploits in wars.

Normally, they would have been delighted at the prospect of war as an opportunity for military exploits.

“The future Arnoldt will develop not through battle, but through sweets and specialty products. So, war is nothing but a hindrance.”

That’s what I’ve decided. To make everyone smile and become prosperous.

“Hey, do you have any intention of abandoning your current territory? I can arrange for a larger and more prosperous territory near mine. I’ll even prepare a marquis title for you. You had a brother, didn’t you? You could leave your current territory to him.”

That proposal was incredibly tempting. It was a significant advancement, to say the least.

But…

“I apologize deeply, but I must decline that proposal. There are many things that only in Arnoldt can be accomplished. Besides, I love my current territory. It’s the land that shaped me into who I am today.”

When I said that, Duke Lenaril looked surprised.

“I never expected to be turned down. …But, it’s very like you. Fine, do as you please. But, will you lend me your strength again if I need it?”

The answer to that question was already decided.

I had anticipated it from the start. By showing my strength this time, it was inevitable that my strength would be relied upon in the future.

“I will lend you my strength if your ambitions remain unchanged.”

“Yes, I’ll be counting on you.”

With that, our conversation ended, and we continued dancing until the end of the song.

◇

The music stopped, and the dance came to an end.

Having danced two unfamiliar dances in a row, I wanted to take a break.

Fortunately, there was time before the next song started, so I decided to leave this place during the break.

If I stayed, I would end up being asked to dance by other noble daughters.

Servants were replenishing drinks and dishes.

The dishes this time were prepared by the Lenaril family’s chefs who had supported me, and there were many techniques and ingredients that I was unfamiliar with, which was quite stimulating.

“Duke Lenaril, have you seen those servants before?”

I suddenly became curious. Over the past few days, I had interacted with many of the servants who served us, and I remembered the faces of most of them, but these ones seemed unfamiliar.

“I don’t know. I don’t remember every servant’s face.”

I see… It wasn’t just that I was strangely curious about unfamiliar faces. It was their footsteps.

Not those of amateurs. They moved with a certain trained efficiency, their footsteps quiet and purposeful.

Ordinary servants wouldn’t possess such skills. And it wasn’t just one of them. All three did.

And subtly, they made a gesture to confirm Duke Lenaril’s position.

The servants were approaching us.

“Duke Lenaril, would you like to feel the night breeze for a moment?”

Taking her hand, I led her towards the terrace. It was a natural way to leave this place.

Perhaps it was too sudden; her face flushed red.

“What’s your intention?”

“If it’s just my imagination, then it’s fine, but they…”

I was about to say more when it happened.

The servants started running silently.

With graceful agility, they skillfully maneuvered through the crowd.

And they were heading towards us, or rather, towards Duke Lenaril.

“Stand behind me.”

I moved to position myself to protect her.

I took out the cake knife. There had been a body check, but with Duke Lenaril’s influence, I was able to bring it in as a pastry chef’s tool.

I wielded the cake knife. Normally, a cake knife wouldn’t be considered a weapon. But I possessed sword skills.

Just by holding a sword, my physical abilities increased, and every movement became sharper and stronger.

Furthermore, I enhanced my body with magic.

I could handle both physical skills and magic. That’s the proof of me being the strongest Arnoldt.

“You there, stop!”

Ignoring my shout, the servants charged forward.

As expected. I didn’t hope for them to stop. I wanted the fact that they disregarded my warning.

Two of the servants would try to restrain me while the other intended to harm Duke Lenaril.

They drew out large knives they had hidden. Different from my cake knife, these were real weapons.

I needed to be cautious.

And in that moment when I focused on the knives…

“…They’re coming.”

One of the men shot out a sharp needle from his mouth.

It aimed for Duke Lenaril’s neck. I knocked it away with my cake knife.

It was an unexpected attack while my attention was on the knives. Without the enhanced reaction speed from magic, I wouldn’t have been able to block it.

As I staggered from that movement, the other two attacked.

Normally, it would be an unavoidable situation.

“But too slow!”

But I’m not normal.

With two types of enhancements, my movements easily surpassed human norms.

Our timelines of existence are different.

I lowered my posture and closed the distance with the first servant, pinpoint kicking his chin. With the same motion, I swung my foot up and slammed a heel drop onto the other servant’s occiput.

The servant who directly targeted Duke Lenaril slipped past me.

They’re fast. I could smell the magic.

I couldn’t catch up like this.

With a click of my tongue, I threw the cake knife while turning around. I hesitated to directly use cooking utensils as weapons. There was no time for such thoughts.

At least the knife wasn’t a gift from Farne; it was borrowed from the Lenaril family.

The cake knife, released with arrow-like speed, pierced the assailant’s right chest, causing them to collapse.

With this, the immediate threat was over.

But the problem starts from here.

“Scream!”

“An attacker!”

“What’s going on with the security here?”

Given the presence of the Four Dukes, security was supposed to be tight.

Yet, they allowed assassins to infiltrate.

This would undoubtedly tarnish Duke Lenaril’s reputation.

“Stay calm!”

Amidst the chaos, a resonant and commanding voice echoed.

It was Duke Heltring, the leader of the aristocratic faction.

With his words, silence returned.

“As honorable nobles of the Empire, what use is it for us to be shaken by such a trivial matter? Each of you, gather with those you trust.”

Indeed, as one of the Four Dukes, he quickly calmed the situation.

He walked towards us.

“Are you unharmed, Duke Lenaril?”

“Yes, I’m fine. The next Viscount, Arnoldt protected me.”

Duke Lenaril, who had been in a state of confusion, finally regained her composure.

“I’m relieved to hear that. You are a treasure of this country. We cannot afford to lose you. While it’s a suggestion, continuing the party in this situation would be difficult. Let’s conclude the party.”

There was no other choice. Especially the nobles of the royal faction must be feeling the danger.

“Yes, indeed.”

Duke Lenaril nodded, then raised her voice.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for this, but today’s party will come to an end. …I promise to reinforce security as much as possible. I will call the security personnel immediately, so please return to your rooms with them.”

With that, the nobles left. They would likely spend the rest of the day in their rooms.

Duke Lenaril was acting bravely, but she seemed to be struggling.

It’s understandable. Her life was threatened, and the party, which had been going so well, was ruined at the last moment by brute force.

Now that security had been breached, there were undoubtedly traitors as well. Her mind must be in turmoil.

I quietly held her hand.

If I, who had saved her life, was by her side, she might feel a little more at ease.

She blinked for a moment…

“Thank you.”

She murmured softly.

Watching us, Duke Heltring smiled thinly and spoke up.

“The one who attacked Duke Lenaril was likely from the neighboring Hartbaffa Principality. The facial features and the distinctive scent of perfume are unmistakable.”

Duke Heltring raised his voice as if deliberately letting those around him hear.

The nobles nearby began to curse Hartbaffa Principality one by one, expressing their anger and humiliation at being endangered.

At a moment when the atmosphere was heated, he turned to me and spoke.

“Arnoldt, the next Viscount, you were impressive not only as a pastry chef but also in martial prowess. To think that you could dispatch a top-class assassin with just a toy-like knife. I understand one of them was a magic user. Yet you didn’t falter!! Truly, you are the strongest of the Arnoldts!!”

His smile was unsettling despite his words of praise.

Whether he knew or not that I was wary, he continued speaking loquaciously.

“With a strong individual like you, we could win wars. It’s a waste to use your talent for cooking. Yes, if you teamed up with the hero of the previous war, the Ebony Volg, you could even defeat the renowned magic knights of Hartbaffa Principality!”

His words stirred up the crowd.

The focus shifted towards thoughts of war.

At this point, I was halfway convinced.

He had lured those assassins here.

The goal was to disrupt Duke Lenaril’s party.

If the assassination had succeeded, Duke Lenaril, the leader of the royal faction, would have been eliminated, allowing the noble faction to gain control. And even in failure, by showcasing my strength like this, it could create the impression that we could win a war with a two-pronged strategy.

He’s cunning.

That’s why I needed to assert my will here and now.

“Duke Heltring, I am a pastry chef, not a soldier.”

“Despite having such power? Nobles have an obligation to contribute to this country. Your refusal to fight is a betrayal of the nation.”

His words seemed righteous at first glance.

But I couldn’t accept them.

“Yes, I am indeed strong. If I were to enter the battlefield, I could slaughter countless enemy soldiers. But what would that achieve?”

“The more enemies you kill, the fewer casualties our side suffers.”

“If you want to minimize casualties, then we shouldn’t wage war in the first place.”

“If we win the war, we’ll gain land and wealth from neighboring countries. It’s necessary to enrich our nation.”

I had been waiting for those words.

“Even if we win, the lives lost in battle won’t return. There are ways to enrich the country without shedding blood. As long as such options exist, we shouldn’t choose the path of war. I will support Duke Lenaril, who shares this belief.”

I declared my allegiance to the royal faction, which seeks to enrich the country from within.

For a brief moment, Duke Heltring wore a displeased expression.

“As part of that, I will spread my confections throughout the country using my own abilities. The delight you experienced from my sweets today, I will spread it far and wide. I choose that path because I believe it’s the one that brings happiness to more people.”

“That’s sophistry.”

“No, it’s determination. And Duke Lenaril has the power to fulfill my beliefs. Even without new lands, people’s lives can become richer.”

Yes, there is still much waste.

People can become much richer without resorting to such inefficient means as war.

“That’s a naive notion. If we don’t attack, we’ll just be attacked from the other side.”

“Preventing that is what diplomacy and the duty of nobles are for, isn’t it?”

“Heh, you say interesting things. But when it happens, it happens.”

“…I don’t deny that possibility. If it comes to that, we’ll wield our spears for the sake of peace. But not now.”

Duke Heltring’s gaze pierced through me.

Then, he raised both hands and turned his back.

“I see I won’t convince you… ‘with words’, that is. Well then, I’ll take my leave. Your cooking was truly delicious. I look forward to tasting it again somewhere.”

As he departed, people began to disperse.

His parting words lingered in my mind.

He oddly emphasized “with words.”

I couldn’t discern his intentions.

“Arnoldt, the next Viscount, thank you for saving me.”

“It’s my duty to protect you, so don’t worry about it.”

“You really don’t have any ulterior motives, do you? This is where you’re supposed to gain favors and seize rewards, isn’t it?”

“I thought you’d feel more indebted to me this way.”

“Heh, you’re no match for me at all. I’ll be tied up with cleanup today… Can I have a bit of your time tomorrow? I’d like to thank you properly and have a little chat.”

“Yes, of course.”

And so, amidst the turmoil, the party came to an end.

Everything seemed to have concluded with this incident… though it hardly felt that way.

But from here on out, it’s the world of politics.

There’s not much I can do. For now, I’ll focus on serving a meal to Tina and Chloe, who must be hungry.

Just a modest little dinner party for us.