Chapter 142
I returned to the estate, and after resting for a little while, it was soon time for dinner. I had finished eating, and we were now enjoying a leisurely period after the meal.
I then broached the subject of what I had thought about today.
"Richard-sama. I was thinking about something today. I'd like to establish my own trading company and open a shop. Would it be all right for me to open one?"
"A shop? What brought this up all of a sudden?"
"Yes. I employ my friend Ronny at my stall, and I learned that he wants to continue this work. That made me think I'd like to open a shop. There are also a lot of dishes I'd like to make..."
When I said that, Richard-sama nodded once with an expression of understanding.
"I see. In that case, I have no objections whatsoever. I've been thinking that Leon-kun's cooking should be spread more widely, after all. The ducal family will support Leon-kun's shop. I'm looking forward to seeing it completed."
"You'll support it?"
He said that so casually. Was it really all right for him to support me so easily? I hadn't even told him what kind of shop it would be.
Lately, I often think that everyone's trust in me is so strong that it worries me instead.
"Of course. Your stall seems to be doing well, so I don't foresee any problems. What kind of shop will it be? A crepe shop, I assume?"
"Thank you. As for the shop, I do intend to sell crepes, of course, but I plan to make the first one a specialty sweets shop."
"A specialty sweets shop? Something like a café?"
"No. Cafés sell meals such as sandwiches, but I plan for my shop to sell only sweet things. Basically, it will be a place where customers can take sweets home, with a café attached next door where they can eat them as well."
When I said that, Catherine-sama reacted immediately, rather than Richard-sama.
"Leon, that shop sounds wonderful. You absolutely must open it. A shop that sells nothing but sweets... It would be paradise."
After saying that, Catherine-sama became absorbed in her own world, a dreamy expression on her face. She was probably imagining herself surrounded by sweets...
If Catherine-sama was this enthusiastic, the shop's future might be bright. Perhaps it really would be better to make it a shop for nobles rather than one for commoners.
Even if I made this first shop entirely for nobles, I wanted to open shops for commoners in the future as well. My ideal was for everyone to be able to enjoy sweets without hesitation.
"Leon-kun, judging by Catherine's reaction, your shop seems likely to become popular. But wouldn't you lose customers if you sold only sweet things? Besides, I don't think there's much point in simply selling things people can eat at a café..."
"Yes. If I only sell the sweets currently available, I doubt customers will come. That's why I'm thinking of creating new sweets."
"New sweets!? Leon, is that true!?"
At the mention of new sweets, Catherine-sama seemed to return from her own world. When it comes to sweets, Catherine-sama really loses sight of everything around her. Normally, she's the model of a noblewoman, combining kindness with a calculating side, too.
Well, I quite like Catherine-sama when her eyes light up over sweets.
"I don't know for certain that I'll be able to make them yet, but I do have ideas about what I'd like to create. So I wanted to ask: would you be able to introduce me to a cook who specializes in sweets?"
"Wonderful! You must make sure to introduce us to someone suitable."
"Catherine, calm down a little. Of course I'll do everything I can to find a cook, but as far as I know, there aren't any cooks who specialize in sweets."
"That's true. I don't think I've heard of one either."
I see... It's true that this world doesn't have many sweets. But French toast was commonplace, so I thought there might be at least a few...
Wait... Come to think of it, I taught someone here how to make cookies, didn't I? Has the person making cookies at this estate not been developing other sweets? Cookies have been served after meals several times since then.
"Richard-sama, I taught one of the cooks how to make cookies before, but hasn't the person making cookies at this estate tried developing any other sweets?"
"Ah, apparently the head chef has been making cookies here. But they still haven't managed to make cookies to everyone's satisfaction and seem to be experimenting through trial and error. So they probably haven't had time to try other sweets. They do it between their regular duties, after all."
I see... We can't exactly poach the head chef. Besides, if all they've done is make cookies, the other cooks would probably reach the same level soon enough.
Maybe I should have him introduce me to an ordinary cook and teach that person various things? Hmm, but I want someone enthusiastic about developing sweets, since I'd be asking them to make recipes I don't even remember very well myself.
As I agonized over it, Richard-sama suddenly exclaimed as if he'd thought of something.
"That's right. I seem to recall hearing that the former Baron Daligard and his wife are fond of sweets and have been researching them..."
There are people like that? I'd love to meet former Baron Daligard-sama.
Wait... Daligard? Where have I heard that name before...? That's right! It's Stacey-sama's family home.
"I'm classmates with Stacey Daligard-sama. Are you referring to her family?"
"Come to think of it, she said she had a grandchild the same age as Lucien. There's only one Daligard family, so it must be them. Are you friends?"
"Acquaintances, perhaps. We take Recovery-attribute classes together. Circumstances led to me promising to visit their estate, and I was just about to ask you whether it would be all right for me to go."
"I see. In that case, that's perfect. I'll contact the former Baron Daligard and tell him that you'll be visiting regarding the sweets. They probably have a cook who researches sweets as well."
Richard-sama offered to do that right away. So that means the Daligard household is aligned with the ducal family.
The fact that it's Stacey-sama's family makes me a little uneasy, but a cook researching sweets is exactly the kind of person I'm looking for. I definitely want to work with them.
"Thank you very much!"
"The former Baron Daligard and his wife are very mild-mannered people. I'm sure they'll be able to help you, Leon-kun. If anything else comes up, tell me right away. I'll do everything I can to help."
"Thank you so much, as always. I appreciate your continued help."
When I said that with heartfelt gratitude, Richard-sama smiled kindly at me. I was truly grateful; he was always helping me, and I could never repay him.
This time, I'll work hard to make the shop a success so I can bring him some good news.
I wonder how far along the cooks at the Daligard household are in their research into sweets. I hope I can find someone cooperative who'll be willing to work with me to make cakes.