Chapter 694

Knew it!
Since we also needed to test the shaved-ice machine’s durability, we decided to keep it for now and brought it back to our mansion in the royal capital.

We happened to run into Otousama, who had just finished work for the morning and was on his way to the territory, so we asked Okaasama to join as well and decided to have a little tasting while we talked things over.

“Ohh, so this is shaved-ice, is it?”
“My, how cool and beautiful… Is this a dessert, perhaps?”

Before the two of them, I demonstrated how the shaved-ice machine worked. When the ice piled up into a little mountain, Okaasama tilted her head curiously.

“Yes, it’s a kind of dessert. But it’s still in the prototype stage,” I explained, and then laid out all the syrups, sauces, and toppings I’d brought.

“Please pour whichever you like on top and enjoy. This one here is…”

After I finished my explanations, Okaasama chose mango sauce—and apparently loved it so much that she piled on diced mango and topped it all off with condensed milk.
… Isn’t that a bit too sweet?

Otousama’s was nearly identical to mine—matcha syrup with red beans, shiratama dumplings, and a drizzle of condensed milk.
The only difference was that he dusted matcha powder over the top at the end.
Ah—so that’s another option, huh!?

Since the two of them are adults, I figured they wouldn’t wolf it down and get a headache… but it seems even they weren’t used to it, because both went “Ack!” with that familiar ice-cream headache expression.

Maybe because of this morning, Miria had already prepared hot tea and green tea for us.
Our maid’s too good at her job!

“… Phew. That was quite good. I can see this becoming popular in this season.”

Otousama said at last
After finishing his bowl, he apparently got jealous of Okaasama’s mango one, because he ordered another serving—mango flavor this time, without condensed milk.

Okaasama seemed curious about other flavors too, but when I told her that eating too much ice might upset her stomach, she reluctantly held herself back.

“So, I was thinking… if we sold this in the city, it might help people cool down in the summer heat.”

“In the city? Not just for nobles? Would commoners even be able to afford it?”

“… Yeah, that’s the problem.”

Sugar and honey might be available on the market, but they’re still luxury goods.

I’d once asked Mariel-chan about selling amber candy, but she said unless the pieces were really tiny, it’d be too expensive for children to buy casually. That was disappointing.

Plus, since you can’t make every piece exactly the same size by weight, they’d have to make it in sheets, break it up, and sell it by weight anyway. Even though it’s just sugar and water, the fuel cost adds up—so it’s actually less cost-efficient than selling sugar directly.

Makes me realize just how lucky I was in my previous life.

That said, if I added a bit of medicinal herb extract that’s good for the throat, I could sell them as throat lozenges before cold season hits… I’ve actually been secretly planning that.

Anyway, back to the shaved ice.
Looks like this might end up as a noble-only dessert after all—it’s just too costly.

“If you were to sell it in town, do you have a place in mind?”

Otousama asked.

“I was thinking maybe a limited-time stall.”

“And where would you store the ice? The fruit toppings would spoil too.”

“Ah—right…”

We do have people like Mashiro who can use ice magic, but not everyone who uses it can make ice pure enough to eat as sui (plain ice).

“Ugh… Maybe I could have it as a limited-time special at the academy café? No, if word got out, the crowds would overwhelm the place…”

I glanced over at Mariel-chan, and she flailed her hands. “N-no way our shop could handle that! My father would pass out from overwork!”

Yeah, that tracks.

“Well then, I guess I’ll just keep it for the Special Dorm to enjoy…”

At least I could serve it to Alicia-sama, Adry-sama, and Prince Raymond.

I was just about to store the shaved-ice machine back into my inventory when—
“Wait just a moment,” Okaasama said, stopping me.

“Okaasama? What is it?”

“I’d like you to leave that shaved-ice machine and the sauces here. I want to serve them at my next tea party.”

“Eh?”

Shaved ice… at a noble ladies’ tea party??

“The iced tea you taught me made summer tea parties much more pleasant, but in this heat…”

“Well, yes… that’s true.”

“And besides, trends ought to start with the nobility, don’t you think?”

“Well, that is the saying.”

She’s right—nobles rarely pick up on trends from commoners. Proper fashions are supposed to originate among the upper ranks.

“I’m sure Her Majesty the Queen would love it too.”

“Ah…”

I see now.
So she doesn’t just want to start a trend—she wants to serve it to her dear friend, the Queen.
Well, as her daughter, I can’t refuse that.

“Understood. The sauces might not be enough, so I’ll give the recipe to the head chef. Also, could you ask Galvano Ojisama to make another identical machine? Please send him some fine liquor as a thank-you gift.”

Okaasama’s face lit up happily.

“Of course. Dear, could you give him one of your special bottles?”

“What!? You want me to part with my treasured liquor!? Th-that’s…”

Otousama faltered.

“If you don’t, summer will end before we know it. Then Cristea won’t get to enjoy herself, will she?”

“Ugh… grr. Fine! One bottle only!”

“Fufu, thank you, dear.”

Ah yes.
Please stop flirting right in front of your daughter, you two.

What do you think about this chapter?