Archmage's Restaurant - Chapter 46: Hidden Faces and the Dessert (2)
Count Grayke’s second wife, Berna, is the second daughter of Count Dedran, whose estate is adjacent to the city of Grayke. As the steward mentioned, she has a particular fondness for tea and desserts.
However, in this world, desserts are typically dried fruits or bread with an excessive amount of sugar. The bread is usually made with bird eggs and dairy from local farms.
But even when baked, bird eggs tend to retain a distinct smell. The people of this world are accustomed to it, but when compared to bread made with real eggs—like Pallenque eggs—there’s no contest.
El made a blackberry tart and brought it to the lord’s castle. The tart is known locally as a “Berere Tart.”
When Berna saw the Berere Tart brought by the steward after her meal, her eyes widened in delight.
“Oh my, how lovely!”
“It’s a new dessert that we’ve recently discovered,” the steward explained with a respectful bow. The steward had firmly sided with the young lord ever since he began taking on his responsibilities as a ruler.
“Is that so? How intriguing. Let me see.”
Berna, who had married into the Count’s household at twenty, was now in her early thirties. Her only real hobbies were tea and the desserts that accompanied it—a lifestyle that had gradually taken over her life.
Though she had never seen a tart like this before, the sight of it ignited her appetite. Without hesitation, Berna began cutting into the tart with a knife.
The base was a round bread, its firmness unfamiliar to her. On top of it was an unknown white cream and the familiar Berere berries.
Berna knew what Berere was, of course.
She quickly brought a quarter of the tart to her mouth.
And she was shocked. The tart’s flavor was a perfect harmony of the Berere’s tartness, the sweetness of the cream, and the delightful texture of the bread. It was an astonishing combination.
“Oh my, oh my!”
Berna couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, her fork naturally moving to the next piece. She continued eating, her appetite, which had been lacking lately, now fully restored by this incredible tart.
The sweetness of the white cream meeting the tartness of the Berere created a balance so irresistible that she couldn’t stop herself from devouring it.
Without a doubt, it was the best dessert she had ever tasted.
“What is this dessert called? It’s absolutely delicious!”
“My lady, the chef who made it calls it a Berere Tart. He mentioned that he has many other desserts that are even more delicious than this one….”
“Is that true?”
Berna, who had devoured the entire tart in mere moments, forgot her noble decorum and jumped up from the sofa.
“Yes, my lady.”
“I must meet him. I can’t believe there’s a chef in Grayke capable of creating such dishes.”
“In fact, he is currently waiting in the castle. Would you like to meet him?”
“Is that so? Bring him to me immediately. I must know what other delights he can create….”
Berna, regaining her composure, sat back down and picked up her teacup. The tart’s lingering taste paired wonderfully with her tea.
“As you wish.”
***
The steward nodded and soon brought El to her. Berna looked at El with great curiosity.
“Are you the one who made this dish?”
“Yes, I am.”
El suspected that Berna might already know of his frequent meetings with the young lord. However, Berna’s gaze suggested she was seeing him for the first time.
“Haha, it was truly delicious! I hear you have other desserts as well?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
At El’s prompt response, Berna nodded, her face brightening like a child’s.
El felt a tinge of doubt. Could this woman, who appeared so delighted and innocent, really be the same person who was embezzling taxes and trying to turn the young lord into a mere figurehead? It was hard to believe.
But of course, appearances are rarely the whole story.
How shameless and two-faced could she be?
***
“The Count of Dedran is visiting?”
“Yes, Master. If the embezzlement of taxes involves my stepmother, then the Count of Dedran is certainly connected. His visit must have some ulterior motive!”
That was likely true. Given that the plan to turn the young lord into a puppet had fallen through and he had started fulfilling his duties as a ruler, it was only natural to suspect that they were plotting something now, after such a long period of silence.
“There are still retainers loyal to my stepmother. And those nobles seem to be linked to the Count of Dedran….”
“Well, it’s obvious they’ve been bribed with wealth and power. Those who aren’t involved have likely started to gather under your leadership as acting lord.”
“I think so too. But I never thought… my stepmother would…!”
The young lord’s voice choked up as he struggled to finish his sentence. It seemed he was still holding on to memories of how kind she had been to him when he was younger.
“This might actually be a good thing. Now we can find out exactly what they’re planning.”
“Huh?”
The young lord tilted his head in confusion at my words.
“I’ve never had a proper conversation with the Count of Dedran. He always meets with my stepmother alone….”
The young lord, who now viewed the Count as an enemy, had apparently dropped the honorifics without realizing it. It was only natural, though.
“That makes things even better. There’s magic that allows us to hear conversations from a distance.”
“R-really?”
The young lord blinked in disbelief. I shrugged my shoulders and explained.
“Find out the exact date of the Count of Dedran’s visit. Understood?”
“Yes, Master!”
Even if he didn’t fully trust the magic, the young lord’s belief in me was unwavering. He nodded firmly, his expression determined.
The Count of Dedran’s visit took place just a few days later, early in the morning.
Since the young lord sent for me urgently, I carried a groggy dragon on my back and headed to the lord’s castle. It wasn’t so much that Rurin was weak in the morning; it’s just that it was incredibly rare for her to be awake at this hour.
I could have woken her up, but I decided to let her sleep a little longer. Of course, this lazy dragon wouldn’t appreciate my considerate gesture.
“Master, oh? Did you bring your wife along?”
“What did you just say?”
“Y-your wife…?”
“Who’s my wife?”
“The woman you’re carrying on your back.”
The young lord looked flustered as he glanced at me. Despite my earlier denials, it seemed he had clung to that misunderstanding.
Did we really look that close?
“She’s not my wife.”
“Really? Then who… is she?”
“Hm, well, she’s not my wife, but we are bound by life and death, so don’t worry about it. Besides, she’s the one who’s going to use the magic.”
“Huh? This lady? And what do you mean by ‘bound by life and death’?”
The young lord’s face reflected his confusion over the nature of our relationship. Of course, I couldn’t give him an answer since I didn’t know it myself.
“Isn’t there something more important to focus on right now? Lead the way.”
“O-oh, yes, right away!”
The young lord, looking as if he’d been hit on the head, started leading the way. We arrived at a secluded room on the third floor of the castle.
“This is my stepmother’s private room. It’s quite large… Are you sure it will work? If she’s in the back of the room, I doubt you’ll be able to hear anything from here….”
While I hadn’t learned it myself, there was definitely magic that allowed eavesdropping. So it wasn’t a complete lie. Besides, there would be no reason for suspicion later on.
Of course, the accuracy of dragon hearing is about a thousand times better than that of magic.
“It’ll be fine. You’re certain this is the room?”
“Yes. Whenever Count Dedran visits the castle, he always talks with my stepmother alone in this room.”
“Good.”
“I’ll go greet the Count, and after finding my stepmother, I’ll rush back here!”
When I nodded, the young lord left the room with a determined expression. I gently laid Rurin down on the sofa. She was still fast asleep, her black hair swaying with each soft breath.
Despite all the noise, she didn’t wake up.
I poked her cheek.
“Mnya!”
She only turned her head in response, still half-asleep.
Even after dressing her and carrying her all the way here, she still wouldn’t wake up. She really is hopeless.
One peculiar thing is that if anyone other than me touches her while she’s sleeping, disaster ensues. She becomes so sensitive that she’ll wake up immediately and unleash her breath attack.
I know this from a previous experience.
After leaving the dragon sanctuary to follow me, Rurin had to live with my companions. Since we were all headed to the capital, and I wanted to help her get used to humans, I didn’t send my companions ahead.
Sometimes I regret not doing so, especially considering the bad habits she picked up during that time that still cause me trouble.
To this day, Rurin’s occasional claims that “that woman said so!” all stem from this period.
Anyway, she ended up traveling with us humans, and on one particular day, one of my companions tried to wake her up for our departure by touching her arm.
The result was chaos.
“Don’t touch me, human!”
Rurin, who had been asleep, jumped up and unleashed her breath, yelling something ridiculous.
Despite this, she has no intention of waking up when I touch her. It’s one of life’s great mysteries.
Curious about this, I once asked Rurin directly.
“How do you distinguish between me and others while you’re asleep?”
Her answer was chillingly straightforward.
“Your cellular composition is engraved in this body’s brain!”
A frightening response indeed.
So here she lies, with no intention of waking up. Normally, she purrs softly, but sometimes, when she’s having a pleasant dream, she smiles and giggles in her sleep.
As I watched her, a knock came from outside.
“Yes.”
When I answered, the young lord entered.
“Master, I just had a brief conversation with the Count. He’s headed to my stepmother now.”
“Then let’s get started. Let’s find out what they’re plotting.”
I nodded and began waking Rurin.
“Wake up, Rurin!”
Given that she didn’t wake up even when I carried her here, there’s little chance she’ll react to being called at this time of day. So it’s time for my trump card.
“Your food’s gone, Rurin!”
“My food! My food? Food?”
Her eyes opened immediately. What kind of brain structure does she have?
“What’s going on? Where am I?”
Rurin glanced around with half-closed eyes before spotting me. Once she saw me, she relaxed and mumbled.
“As long as you’re here, it doesn’t matter.”
She opened her arms and hugged me as I approached. Then she closed her eyes again.
“Purr.”
And fell back asleep.
“Come on, wake up.”
I gently touched Rurin’s temple.