kscans

Chapter 260 - Episode 5: Part One, In Search of the Perfect Black

Central Garden was a city situated halfway between the Kingdom and the Empire. Being newly built, it had no tradition or history to speak of. It did, however, possess a number of rare and delicious foods that could be eaten nowhere else. Its reputation had even reached the Royal Capital and the Imperial Capital.

The Central Garden branch of the Plural Company was especially renowned.

It boasted a prime location between the central plaza and the convention center. Merchants visiting for business would almost invariably stop by. The new products, not yet sold even at the main branch in the Royal Capital, held value as information in their own right. And now that word of the calamity’s end had begun to spread, nobles could even be seen visiting from the capital to escape the summer heat.

The main attraction was a black confection called chocolate, made using a nut called cacao, imported from the Empire. Because it kept for a long time, it was also popular as a souvenir. It was now even said to be a secret weapon for nobles in their negotiations.

Naturally, the company had a private room for such special guests. In that room, which was normally used only by aristocratic clientele, sat a man and a woman who looked like they had just gotten off work from their own family business.

The man sat with his arms crossed, leaning back as if puffing out his chest. In contrast, the woman next to him nervously eyed the lavish furnishings.

"You can’t seem to sit still. Before we came here, weren’t you the one demanding I treat you to ice cream every day?"

"That was because I didn’t know the price. If I ate that stuff every day, the shop would go under."

Sheila retorted to Dalgan’s teasing words. As the future mistress of the shop, she had started learning how to read the ledgers and knew the extent of their profits, but she couldn’t shake the mindset of a rancher’s daughter. Just today, she had been covered in blood alongside the shop staff, learning how to handle innards.

The immense task of creating the coronation menu, along with all the new things she had to learn. She had been so busy she hadn’t even had a moment to enjoy the new city. In fact, she had barely stepped outside for the past week.

That was why her heart had fluttered when Dalgan said he was taking her to the Plural Company. It was their first time going out together. And that first time was at a famous establishment whose name was known even in the Royal Capital.

But now, having been led to this special private room in the back of the shop, she felt tense, aware of how out of place they were.

"Sorry for the wait."

The door opened, and a slender man with glasses, dressed like a butler, came in.

"Is ‘sorry for the wait’ any way to greet a customer?"

"Strictly speaking, you aren’t customers. Using this room is a sign of respect for the lady with you. On a related note, we just closed for the day, and this isn’t an official product yet."

In his hands were two glass bowls, each holding black ice cream.

"What, no fancy fruit like usual?" Dalgan said, despite having ignored Plural’s advice to add fruit to the ice cream he brought as a souvenir. But Plural shook his head.

"I might cut corners with you, but I would never do so with a lady. This doesn’t need such things."

Plural set the two dishes on the table. The ice cream, which had been scooped with a special spoon to create a wavy pattern, was arranged like flower petals. Its color was a deep, dark brown.

Sheila was a little taken aback by the color. But having already learned how delicious ice cream was, she couldn’t resist and picked up her spoon.

"…"

She cautiously put it in her mouth, and as it melted on her tongue, her spoon began to tremble.

"How is it?"

Plural asked his friend’s fiancée politely. But Sheila could only nod repeatedly.

"No joke, this is the most, um, delicious thing I’ve ever eaten."

That was her impression when she finally managed to speak.

"Well, it’s not half bad," Dalgan said. Part of him wanted to appear worldly for his girlfriend, but he was also familiar with chocolate’s ever-increasing sophistication. He didn’t voice his admiration, however.

"I’ve poured three years into this. Even so, the cacao nut is a fruit whose depths I have yet to see. And this is an ice cream infused with it. I would say that chocolate ice cream is our finest product at present."

"I see. So this is your menu for the coronation."

Sheila’s shoulders jumped at Dalgan’s words. Her surprise at eating such a dish was mixed with an understanding that it was certainly worthy. She had heard rumors of a black confection being brought in from the Empire.

It was sweeter than the chestnut-infused ice cream he had brought to the ranch as a souvenir. But that sweetness was countered by what could only be called the bitterness of the cacao. This bitterness was likely what allowed it to be so sweet.

An intense richness and sweetness. A meltingly smooth texture. A type of flavor she had never experienced before. It was, frankly, abnormally delicious. She would have believed it if she were told it was a confection served only at the royal palace.

She was in the same position of having to plan a coronation menu, but this was on another level entirely.

"True, no one could complain about this. But the Crown Prince is the host, and most of the guests will be men, right?"

Dalgan looked at his friend searchingly. Plural’s cheeks twisted into a wry smile.

"That’s right. It’s too sweet to serve to men. Though it has a powerful flavor, it’s still geared towards women. Dessert determines the final impression, so it’s a difficult point."

"If you ask me, I prefer plain chocolate, and with less sugar. That would go well enough with a strong liquor."

"Well, you have a point. Besides, this time, it’s not enough to just serve something rare or delicious."

Sheila’s eyes widened at the exchange between her boyfriend and his friend. She couldn’t understand the senses of two people who would find fault with this confection that was the best she’d ever had, no, that was beyond the best.

"I know. We’re struggling with that too. Though thanks to her, we’re starting to see the way forward."

"Hoh hoh. Is this a case where I should be the one to say, ‘my, what a treat to see’?"

◇◇

Their talk came to an end, and the two began to make their way home. Sheila, still basking in the afterglow of the chocolate ice cream, felt as if she were in a dream.

The companies in Central Garden were all clustered together, so the walk home was a short one. In front of their sign, a woman who was passing by stopped.

"Ah, Dalgan-senpai, good even… Huh? Who, who’s that next to you!?"

Sherry stopped in surprise. Her eyes were glued to Sheila, who had her arm linked with Dalgan’s, leaning against him.