Chapter 120. Restaurant and Nouvelle Cuisine (2)

Was it because it was an official visit following formal procedures, essentially like an engagement ceremony?

The Visconti Duke's mansion was decorated so lavishly it was like holding a festival, with slight exaggeration.

There were trees trimmed in the shape of the Rothschild baron family and Visconti ducal family crests, and knights in formal attire lined up inside the mansion.

It was bewildering, like they were holding a military review for a division commander's visit.

The Duke beside me, in contrast, seemed to be in a very good mood.

"I thought it would take 3-4 years for you to become our family's son-in-law, but you've already risen to baron. I sincerely congratulate you."

"It's an honor, Your Grace."

"Isn't it purely due to the merits you achieved yourself that you became a baron? What do you have to thank me for? If you think about it, I should be more grateful since you've given me so much."

Thanks to the promotion of the Deus Knights' naturalization, Duke Visconti's political prestige now slightly surpassed Duke Sforza's.

To put it more tangibly, the Visconti ducal faction that was close to the opposition party has now become as powerful as the ruling party.

How could he not like me when I achieved a feat that all his other retainers couldn't achieve even combining their strength?

"Didn't you give up one chance to become baron out of loyalty to me? What's difficult about giving my granddaughter to someone like you? So don't be discouraged no matter what others say."

As the Duke said, when I go to balls and such, they don't act that way in front of me, but behind my back there are quite a few friends who badmouth me saying the guy who rose suddenly is unbearably arrogant.

It's natural for capable people to be cursed at, so I just let it be.

Anyway, if I just keep doing as I am now, my position won't be shaken by what others say.

Only those desperate to maintain their position care about trivial 'rumors'.

Of course, I'll pay attention because if those rumors gather and become slander, they could grab my ankle and drag me down to hell like Admiral Yi Sun-sin was dragged away.

'That's why I created an intelligence agency that no one knows about.'

"Thank you. By the way, what kind of woman is Erica?"

The Duke made an interesting expression hearing my words.

"In political marriages, only the woman's appearance, status, and family background matter most. You're quite unusual."

Status and family background are important, and if appearance is good too, that's the icing on the cake.

But marriage life doesn't end like a fairy tale with 'And so they married and lived happily ever after'.

Even if it's not a marriage I'm doing because I want to, we should try to be happy together in the story afterwards.

To not make marriage the grave of life.

"Erica is a child who's always looking for new things. Like other noble young ladies, she's very interested in love, and she likes the desserts you made too. Everything else is the same as other girls."

"If that is so, then I should think of something new too. Something Erica would like."

The Duke's smile deepened.

Until now, when calling me his granddaughter's husband-to-be, it seemed more like looking at a capable subordinate doing good work than looking at family.

Now it's just a warm smile like looking at a grandson.

"Since we're getting married anyway, a man should naturally make his wife happy. Isn't it written in the scriptures too, that the two become one flesh?"

"I don't need to worry about Erica. Then I'll leave her in your care."

The Duke patted my shoulder and guided me to the room where his granddaughter was.

Up to here was an event anyone could attend so it was overflowing with people, but inside the room there were only Erica and me.

Since I'm in the lower status position, I immediately bowed my head like meeting other high-ranking people.

"I am Baron Rothschild, it's an honor to have the opportunity to meet you like this today, My Lady."

It's funny for already engaged people to say things like nice to meet you, but in reality, Erica and I are meeting for the first time both officially and actually.

And since we're meeting for the first time, it's naturally right to be polite.

'Who would have thought I'd get engaged to someone I've never even seen.'

I had thought this would happen since I learned I was a noble, but actually experiencing it, the feeling is really strange.

Still, Erica must be several times more anxious than me, having to leave the life she's lived so far and go to someone else's house when we get married.

"Please raise your head, Baron Rothschild. I'm to be your wife, what husband in this world speaks formally to his wife?"

When meeting people outside, even if someone older than me says I can speak informally, I shouldn't immediately do so.

Moreover, if someone of higher social status says let's be friends, you should ask at least three times if it's really okay.

But now I just have to speak informally and unconditionally.

'Because this conversation itself is a set procedure and ceremony.'

If I violate this, it would be like insulting the Duke.

"I'm sorry."

Saying that, I immediately sat down and looked at the girl in front of me.

Like Duke Visconti, her red eyes and hair were striking.

And the Duke and Viscount said not to worry because Erica is pretty.

I honestly thought those words were just a father and grandfather favoring their daughter (granddaughter), so she's actually just decent looking, but in their eyes she looks like an incredible beauty.

'You can't believe stories of nobles saying their young lady born from their official wife is a beauty...'

Because the truth gets distorted due to thoughts of selling their daughter expensively in political marriages and parents' biased views.

I honestly put into words the impression I felt.

"You're pretty and cute."

It was a very short statement, but Erica's face turned slightly red, enough to have a light pink tinge.

Someone of Erica's status, education, and appearance receives appearance compliments full of flowery words at balls.

Saying things like they'd blush with embarrassment in front of you, or they feel like they'll go blind from the dazzling sight, or they want to be your captive.

They fire off cringeworthy words that would make space-time twist to the point where toasting to your eyes would look silly.

Someone who's never heard such words might think wow that's cool...

'Erica must have heard such words thousands, tens of thousands of times.'

So I thought this kind of honesty would be better, and it seems my prediction was right.

"Thank you. What do you like, Baron? Do you like things like horseback riding or swordsmanship?"

It's strange that only the duke's young lady uses formal speech and I alone use informal speech...

At the point where marriage with me is confirmed, Erica's status falls to 'baroness'.

So that's correct according to etiquette, but.

'It's a bit uncomfortable. Let's talk about speech style later.'

"I like chatting with close friends or cooking."

"That's a bit of an unusual hobby? A noble cooking."

Since possessing Fabio, I've lived as the second son of a baron family since childhood.

So I didn't need to swing a sword to death trying to acquire the qualities needed as a knight like Albert the eldest son, and I did the minimum of swordsmanship and horseback riding because it wasn't my aptitude.

Also, cooking or chatting with people isn't surprisingly a hobby that 'men' shouldn't do.

Rather, being good at cooking can greatly raise your social reputation when going hunting, a noble hobby.

"There's no law saying nobles can't cook. Being good at cooking is surprisingly helpful even when hunting."

"Grandfather also roasts whole animals he hunted himself, but only when hunting."

In ancient times, roasting and distributing meat symbolized the chief's authority.

Well, most traditions from that era have long disappeared now...

But it's still considered desirable for 'nobles' to personally roast and distribute whole animals at the hunting grounds, but only when hunting.

'These days young guys even make their knights do it.'

"Then what kind of cooking do you mainly do?"

"I make things like sandwiches or soup to eat on picnics outside. I've tried making bread a few times too, but it was harder than I thought."

Once I challenged myself to make baguettes starting from the dough, taking a whole day off, and nearly died.

The dough was so hard my shoulders nearly gave out.

"You seem to enjoy it more seriously than I thought."

"Personally, I find this hobby better than swinging swords or collecting weapons."

"Honestly, I don't know much about things men enjoy like horseback riding, hunting, or swordsmanship. If you said you enjoyed those, I think it would have been hard to talk."

Sometimes when I'm called to balls and such, I have nothing to say when nobles gather and brag about swords.

The nobles go crazy with their eyes shining like otaku.

'Ooh, this steel is made in Visconti ducal territory! It won't break even if you strike it on a rock!'

It really only sounds like this to my ears.

"That's why I have no friends."

Even nobles don't make friends if they don't share hobbies.

Hearing those words, Erica smiled slightly.

"Then I'll be able to spend more time with you. Ah, and if you have a chance later, could you make your own dish just for me?"

...... Erica herself would probably be satisfied if I just made a proper sandwich.

But as soon as I heard those words, a new idea came to my mind.

A cooking method that doesn't exist in this world but could captivate the nobles of this world.

And I returned home after having a conversation with Erica for the set time.

I wanted to prepare for a new business right away.