MTDL 25

Chapter 25

“Then how about using a fruit other than Kraemul?”

I cleared my throat and spoke clearly.

At once, everyone’s eyes turned toward me.

The atmosphere instantly fell silent, as though cold water had been splashed over the room, at the sight of a young noble girl standing there.

Slowly, I removed my mask.

The servants and maids looked startled.

“The Marquis’s daughter?”

“She’s His Highness the Crown Prince’s fiancée. Gasp!”

The adults quickly bowed their heads to me.

Looks like my face has already become fairly well-known…

One of the middle-aged chefs looked at me.

“My apologies, my lady, but this is a dangerous kitchen. You really shouldn’t be—”

“A fruit other than Kraemul?”

Before he could finish, a younger chef eagerly interrupted.

“Jackson, quiet!”

“But my lady said she has something that can replace it…”

They were drowning men grasping at straws.

At this point, they wanted anything that might save the situation.

“Yes. I do have a substitute. Please trust me.”

I placed my hands on my hips and spoke confidently.

Still, the chefs, servants, and maids all looked doubtful.

If these were the people from Galnem Village, who knew my practical skills had reached the level of mastery, they’d believe me without hesitation…

But to them, I probably just look like an ignorant little girl.

“I promise everyone will love it!”

It wasn’t the same precious cherry-like fruit as Kraemul.

But I knew exactly how to win over noble palates.

“This… isn’t Kraemul sherbet.”

“What is it? It looks unusual.”

“I think I’ve seen this before…”

At the finale of the masquerade ball, the nobles tilted their heads as they examined the contents of the crystal cups in their hands.

Some even frowned slightly, thinking it inappropriate.

However, since everyone was wearing masks and no one knew where the Emperor might be, no one dared criticize a dessert served at the Imperial Masquerade.

“…”

Briton accepted the glass offered to him by a servant.

Unlike the usual Kraemul sherbet, this one had a soft pink hue, with delicate flakes resembling fresh snow piled inside the glass.

He lifted a spoonful and placed it into his mouth.

A moment later—

“…!”

Briton’s blue eyes trembled slightly.

He had tasted this before.

The ingredient that melted in his mouth the instant he ate it, sweet and lovely…

Arinel had always loved it.

“As expected…”

The boy whispered softly to himself, a faint smile spreading across his face.

Meanwhile, among the crowd of noblewomen…

“Mmm!”

Mrs. Allens, who was naturally the center of attention, took a spoonful of the snowflake sugar beet sherbet and expressed her delight without restraint.

It’s Arinel’s handiwork!

To enjoy such an exquisite sherbet at the masquerade… how satisfying.

So today’s the day you’ve chosen, Arinel?

Mrs. Allens’ cheeks flushed happily.

“Everyone, do try it! It’s absolutely marvelous! Hohoho!”

Encouraged by Mrs. Allens’ enthusiastic praise, the other noble ladies slowly picked up their spoons.

One by one, they tasted it.

“This was served at one of Mrs. Allens’ social gatherings, wasn’t it?”

“…It’s delicious! This is my first time trying it!”

“My goodness! Is this really the famous dessert Mrs. Allens has been eating?!”

The ladies excitedly shared their impressions while continuing to eat.

The flavor differed somewhat from Kraemul, yet somehow…

It was impossible to stop.

The refreshing sweetness, elegant and refined, kept drawing them back for another spoonful.

“Oh! What a magnificent taste!”

“My goodness! It truly is!”

The chefs and servants stood frozen in disbelief.

They had assumed she was merely a pampered young noble girl.

Accepting her proposal had been nothing more than a desperate gamble.

Yet the result was astonishing.

“What exactly is this sherbet?”

“Mrs. Allens! Please tell us!”

“What is this perfect ingredient?”

Mrs. Allens had spent all this time teasing everyone’s curiosity without ever revealing the dessert’s name.

Now that it had even appeared at the Imperial Masquerade, the ladies were nearly desperate to know.

Some even resolved that they would gladly sell all of their jewelry if it meant they could buy enough of this dessert.

“I wasn’t the one who made today’s dessert.”

“My student…”

Everyone’s eyes slowly shifted toward Arinel.

“Miss Arinel Myla.”

Receiving everyone’s attention, Arinel remained perfectly calm as she happily scooped another spoonful of red sugar beet sherbet into her mouth.

“?”

“Gasp!”

The unexpected answer left everyone wide-eyed.

This luxurious, heavenly dessert…

Had been created by a little girl who had only recently arrived from the countryside?

“Is that really true?”

“It is.”

Some nobles found it so unbelievable that they turned to the nearby chefs to ask again.

Watching their enthusiastic reactions, Arinel could already tell.

This is the sign of a huge business success.

Standing before everyone’s gaze, Arinel smiled brightly.

“The truth is…”

Silence spread throughout the ballroom as everyone waited for her next words.

Just how expensive and precious must this ingredient be to produce such sweetness?

Even Mrs. Allens, the Minister of the Imperial Household herself, had guarded the secret so closely…

A few seconds later, Arinel finally spoke.

“It’s red sugar beet.”

Her clear voice echoed through the ballroom.

Yet even after ten full seconds had passed…

No one reacted.

Only after a long pause did confused murmurs begin spreading among the nobles.

“What… beet?”

“Red sugar beet? Isn’t that what livestock eat?”

“The bitter, astringent crop that’s considered worthless to cultivate…”

“Impossible. She must be joking.”

Honestly, this reaction was completely within my expectations.

This was exactly how people viewed red sugar beet.

They considered it a worthless ingredient, so no one had ever even attempted to prepare it properly.

If Arinel herself had been born into a noble family overflowing with fine food, she probably would never have looked twice at sugar beet either.

Smiling softly, Arinel added,

“If you don’t believe me… why not ask the people who made the sherbet?”

The room instantly fell silent again.

Everyone turned toward the chefs.

The chefs exchanged glances with Arinel before slowly nodding with bewildered expressions.

“It’s really true?!”

“…!!”

“What did you say?”

The nobles’ eyes grew round with shock.

Mrs. Allens immediately seized the opportunity to cement the moment.

“As the saying goes, the finest cuisine depends upon the skill and talent of the one who prepares it. When I first tasted the dessert Arinel made for me, I was utterly astonished.”

She continued, praising Arinel without reservation.

“The elegance that wraps around one’s tongue… A dessert more noble and more perfect than this… throughout the history of Albreon… ah… would be difficult to find.”

Red sugar beet.

A common, lowly ingredient.

Yet, just as Mrs. Allens had described, Arinel’s sherbet tasted every bit as refined as one made with Kraemul.

The special processing technique and recipe for red sugar beet were entirely Arinel’s own creation.

No chef had ever attempted anything like it before.

“Isn’t this like discovering a pearl hidden in the mud?”

The nobles couldn’t deny it.

Nor did anyone dare contradict Mrs. Allens.

“Let us celebrate this great discovery.”

“Cheers.”

Mrs. Allens raised her glass in a toast before drinking the remaining sherbet as though it were juice.

The other nobles quickly followed suit.

It marked the beginning of a brand-new trend within Albreon’s high society.

“If you’re curious about Miss Arinel Myla’s special recipe…” Mrs. Allens said with a cheerful laugh, “Hohoho… then I suggest you keep a close eye on her future endeavors.”

A new star had appeared in high society like a comet.

The noblewomen and young ladies began looking at Arinel with admiration shining in their eyes.

Such soaring expectations would create the perfect customer base.

Oh yeah. Success!

Arinel and Mrs. Allens exchanged bright, satisfied smiles.