Let’s Take It Easy
“I really am so grateful to you, Reinhardt. Not only for Young Master Hubert, but also for freeing me from my family, and even saving the count’s house. I haven’t repaid you at all.”
“That’s not true. I’ve kept you busy with the tea business, haven’t I? And you brought the new blend you developed, right? I was looking forward to it.”
“Oh my, a new blend you developed? I can’t wait,” said Grandmother.
“I’ll feel bad if it’s disappointing. The craftsmen’s opinions are divided, so I wanted Reinhardt’s opinion. Sorry for dropping in suddenly.”
“Divided opinions?”
“Yes. Some say it’s too bitter. Others say the green color is unusual and striking, and that tea drinkers who like a stronger brew will go for it.”
Green tea, huh. That’s wonderful.
I want to drink it right away.
“Brother Hubert, may I have some leaves? I’ll prepare sweets to pair with it.”
“If Hardt says so, then let’s look forward to tomorrow,” Grandmother said happily.
“Reinhardt, didn’t you get a letter from Father? Sorry about that.”
“I did, but it wasn’t unreasonable. He just wrote that he wanted to show me the Royal Library.”
“That’s not all, is it?”
“I’ll give it to you as a souvenir when you go back. Everyone else will get theirs to eat here.”
“I’m sorry Father’s always being selfish.”
“No, no. We’re in his debt too, with the curry powder…”
Just then, the main dish was brought out.
A hamburger steak with curry sauce, topped with a soft-boiled egg.
The chef must’ve used the curry powder we gave as a gift right away.
After watching how Grandfather and I ate, Raphael and the others copied us and took a bite.
Heh, heh, delicious, isn’t it?
Their astonished faces were priceless.
“The meat is so tender… Is this some kind of meat I’ve never had before?” Brigitte asked curiously.
“Reinhardt, this too…”
“Raphael, I understand. I’ll add it to the souvenirs. His Grace will be pleased.”
Dessert was two kinds of ice cream: a berry that tasted like blueberry, and cookies and cream.
The cookies and cream was Grandmother’s favorite.
“It’s cold, yet it melts right away in the mouth. What a delicious chilled sweet,” Diane said, taking another bite with a dreamy look.
“Coming to Westland was absolutely the right choice. I’m glad I invited everyone along.”
So it was Brigitte’s idea after all.
Since the letters had come back so quickly, I had suspected as much.
Her information network is as sharp as ever. Did she bring everyone just to confirm it?
“This ice cream comes in so many flavors, doesn’t it? The one I ate at Westland in the capital was different. Uncle Davit is negotiating to sell it in Northtrade too, isn’t he?”
“Yes, Brother Hubert. But right now we’re struggling just to secure enough ingredients. Once production increases and we can make it affordable, we’ll spread it more widely. It depends on Northtrade’s efforts.”
“Dairy cows, then. That will take time. But I heard the number of dairy cows in Westland hasn’t increased dramatically yet—why is that?”
“Uncle Davit has secured monsters similar to dairy cows. But since the number is limited, that flavor will be sold only in the new town. In the capital, we’ll use regular dairy milk.”
“So not only selling milk, but also the cows themselves for each territory to raise?”
That’s why I said, good luck with that.
“I understand. I’ll speak to Young Master Isaac and push to expand dairy cow breeding. There’s no way this won’t sell. I want to try all the flavors myself.”
Brigitte, already flexing her influence in her fiancé’s house, huh.
“Don’t eat too much, though. It uses quite a bit of sugar.”
“Say, could we make a tea-flavored one?” Diane asked.
She’s starting to sound like a true lord herself.
“I think so. It’d probably taste like milk tea. I’ll ask the chef to give it a try.”
Still… aren’t they all rushing too much?
They’re only nine years old. Let’s take it easy, huh.
I received all the tea leaves Brother Hubert had brought and brewed some right away in my room.
Green tea! Real green tea.
Tomorrow, dorayaki is a must. Japanese sweets go best with green tea.
But since Grandmother was looking forward to it, I should make other things too.
… Matcha flavor, maybe?
If I dry the leaves and grind them into powder, it should work.
The taste might not live up to my previous world, but I can make something similar.
I’ll ask Maria—“Don’t you want to try a new recipe?”—and have her help. It’s after dinner, but I should still be able to catch her.
Sure enough, I found Maria in the workshop and asked.
She smiled brightly and said, “It’s simple, leave it to me.”
I’ll tell the chef to give her extra portions of new dishes as thanks.
When I came out of the workshop and into the kitchen, the chef rushed over.
“Was tonight’s dinner not to your liking?”
“No, no. I just want you to make dorayaki tomorrow. And please soak plenty of white beans too.”
“A new dish?”
“Not exactly new… more like, the way ice cream has different flavors, this too will get more variety.”
“Understood. Leave the preparations to me. I’ll look forward to tomorrow.”
What do you think about this chapter?
