Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Tart That Doesn't Cool in the Noonday Sunlight
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Solomon, I hadn't expected much.
I figured that since three beginners had thrown it together haphazardly, it might look decent on the outside but taste like a disaster.
'What if it tastes awful? I wouldn't even feel right giving it to Alina.'
Harboring that anxiety, I took the first bite of the sweet version.
Crunch.
The soft tart crust blended with the sweet grapefruit filling in my mouth.
"......Huh?"
My pupils dilated.
It was delicious.
'The sweet version is a bit soggy from the fruit's moisture... but it's not off-putting. If anything, it makes it even softer.'
The texture melted smoothly in my mouth.
The honey's sweetness gently wrapped around the grapefruit's tartness.
Next, I tried the bitter version.
'Whoa, this is it.'
My mouth felt refreshed.
The grapefruit's distinctive bitterness stimulated my tongue, while the buttery richness in the dough cleared away like a burst.
This was a dessert for adults.
And this bitterness was exactly my taste.
"Patish, what kind of magic did you work? To get this kind of quality out of novices like us."
As I marveled and asked, Kara beside me widened her eyes too.
"It's really good... Even though I made it, it's too delicious. The bitterness isn't overpowering at all—it's refreshing."
Kara kept shoveling tart into her mouth without even thinking of setting down her fork.
The artisan Patish stroked his mustache proudly.
"It's because the ingredients were top-notch, and above all, it was made with heart. The recipe is just a guide."
That was when it happened.
"Whoa! Amazing!"
Elysia, having devoured her share in seconds, jumped up with a fuss.
"Is this really something I made? I must be a genius! It pops in your mouth!"
With powder smeared around her mouth, she grabbed Patish's arm and shook it wildly.
"Master artisan! Can't you just let me quit the academy and take me as your apprentice? I know I can do great!"
"Y-Yes? The academy? More than that, milady, calling a mere pastry maker like me 'master'..."
"Nah, I'd learn way more from you! Screw the academy—baking bread feels so much more my style! Raise me as your apprentice!"
Patish shook his head in dismay at the immature princess's outburst.
Even without knowing she was the princess, he reacted like this—what if he found out...
It would just create more unnecessary noise.
"Heh heh, milady. You jest well. This work is far more grueling than it looks. It's no job for someone of your station to do every day."
Patish rolled up his sleeve to show her.
His forearms and the backs of his hands were covered in old burn scars and calluses like medals of honor.
"Hot ovens are basic, but boiling sugar syrup is scarier than oil. One splash, and it burns to the bone. Ruins delicate hands."
The artisan spoke out of genuine concern.
But.
"Pfft, burns? I've had plenty. Look at this."
Elysia, fired up competitively, chuckled and removed her gloves.
Then she spread both palms wide.
"......!"
Silence fell around the table in an instant.
Artisan Patish's mouth dropped open.
Elysia's hands.
Unlike her delicately beautiful hands, the insides of her palms were horrifically covered in wrinkled burn scars.
These weren't fresh wounds from yesterday or today.
Traces of endless agony from skin melting and reforming over and over.
The authority of the Sun God, Searing Blaze.
A curse-like brand from failing to control that power and burning herself.
"Th-This is..."
Patish couldn't continue.
He lost where to look at the hideous scars unbelievable on a noble lady's hands.
Elysia slipped her gloves back on casually and smiled.
"No big deal, right? I can handle the heat pretty well. So, you'll take me as your apprentice?"
"......"
My head spun.
Dizziness hit me.
'Why the hell did she show that?!'
I inwardly screamed at the uncontrollable variable.
Those burn marks were proof she wielded the imperial secret art Searing Blaze—a fatal weakness tied directly to her identity.
Lucky for her, the man in front was just an honest dessert artisan. If he were a noble who knew imperial affairs or a spy, he'd suspect her immediately.
'Does this girl have no sense of caution, or does she live like there's no tomorrow?'
It was precarious.
Like holding a timed bomb with the pin pulled.
As the mood chilled, Elysia noticed and pretended nonchalance.
I turned to smooth over the awkward air.
That's when my gaze caught Kara at the edge of my vision.
"......"
Kara sat with her fork in hand, head bowed low.
Her shoulders trembled faintly.
"Kara?"
Startled, I wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Why are you crying? Does it taste bad? Stomach upset?"
Kara shook her head.
"...No. Because it's so delicious."
"Delicious?"
"Yeah...."
Kara mumbled in a tear-choked voice.
"Alina... went out with those tiny hands to buy me something this delicious... and then that happened...."
Tears dropped from her sapphire eyes onto the plate, spreading out.
"How scared she must have been. She left all excited to give it to Yeppi...."
The sweeter the tart tasted, the more guilt stabbed her.
The child who went out to share this sweetness, only to be kidnapped and tremble in bitter terror.
Thinking of her tore at my heart, but relief washed over me like waves knowing she was safe now, sleeping soundly.
Complex emotions flowed as tears.
"......"
Elysia sobered up, dropping her playfulness.
Patish reddened his eyes and bowed his head.
I silently hugged Kara and patted her back.
'Still... glad we made it.'
Seeing her cry hurt, but these tears weren't just sorrow.
It was healing.
Even adults frown at grapefruit's mere scent.
You have to wash away guilt with the sweetness of gratitude and relief to finally smile.
Only then can you taste the lingering bitterness as refreshing.
As flavor.
"Plip. Stop crying now. We have to give some to Alina when she wakes."
"Yeah... sniff... Okay...."
Kara wiped her tears on my hem.
Only when we delivered this tart to Alina upon waking would the wounds from this incident start to heal.
For child and adult alike.
For daughter and father alike.
Everyone needs sweetness.
Warm comfort seeped into the cozy aroma of the fresh tart.
"Master artisan! I'm not going to the academy!"
Amid it all, Elysia's shrill cry shook the kitchen.
Even as Kara and I embraced tenderly, she clung to Patish's pant leg.
"Take me as your apprentice! I'm killer at kneading dough! Right? Right?"
"Aigoo, milady... Please stop!"
Patish backed away with a woeful face.
"If your parents at home find out, I won't even have bones left... Please keep some dignity!"
"Does dignity feed me? I like delicious things more!"
"Please, just stop."
I was sweating bullets prying Elysia off, apron caked in flour.
"If you do this here, the baron will be in trouble."
"I don't care! I'm not leaving! I'll bake bread and live here!"
Elysia was stubborn as ever.
'Ugh, seriously... Should I just chime in and make her his apprentice? Let the heroine stay as a dessert artisan in the barony? Hell yeah for me...'
I was tempted to actually encourage Patish.
If my selfish vow solidified, I'd speak up.
Unfortunately, before that, the kitchen racket flung open the second-floor bedroom door.
"Mm... What's all the noise...."
"Ah... My head...."
Eisen Baron and Ronas staggered into the hallway.
Gone was their usual polish.
Bedhead like a bird's nest.
Sleep crust in eyes.
Half-undone clothes.
The picture of deadbeat father and son.
Yawning, they approached the railing and peered down at the kitchen.
And.
"......"
They froze solid.
The shocking sight hit the Eisen duo.
The empire's princess in a flour-dusted apron, sprawled grabbing pant legs.
The woeful dessert artisan fleeing her.
And beside them, the Wintersword couple locked in a honeyed gaze embrace.
They'd napped and woken to total chaos in their own mansion.
"......"
"......"
Eisen and Ronas backed away in sync, as if on cue.
Whoosh.
Father and son retreated into the hall.
The minimal gesture denying reality.
"...Ronas."
Eisen whispered shakily.
"Am I seeing things? Her Highness... in an apron."
"...It's no dream, Father."
Eisen and Ronas took deep breaths, desperately smoothing wild hair.
"First... calm down and go back out. We must uphold House Eisen's dignity. Even if it's too late..."
The duo rubbed their eyes and fixed expressions.
Three minutes later.
Clack, clack.
The father and son descended the stairs as primly as possible.
"This... what in the world is going on?"
Eisen and Ronas asked in grave tones simultaneously.
"Ah... "
They glanced at each other at the same time.
Kara and I had barely pried Elysia off and offered sheepish smiles.
"Ah, you're awake. There were some circumstances."
I briefly explained the daytime tart-making frenzy and the surprise gift plan for Alina.
Eisen Baron's gaze shifted to a corner of the table upon hearing.
Elysia's golden eyes sparkled like stars following his gaze.
Expecting awe at the tart full of her touch.
'What do you think? I made it! Praise me!'
The princess sent wordless pressure with her golden eyes.
But Eisen's gaze passed the steaming tart to the dented old tart box beside it, stained with blood and dirt.
The box Alina hadn't let go during her kidnapping.
"Ah... that is..."
Eisen's face darkened.
Recalling his daughter's fear and pain made his heart sink.
Only then did Elysia notice where Eisen stared, and her smile vanished.
Her sparkling eyes dimmed with guilt and pity, head bowing stealthily.
That was when.
Chin.
Ronas gripped his father's shoulder firmly.
"Father."
Ronas nodded toward the table's center.
"Look at this now."
There sat the freshly baked grapefruit tart, steam rising ethereally.
Instead of the dented box, our warm present reality.
Ronas speared a piece with his fork.
He plated a sweet version slice and handed it to Eisen.
"Father, have this. Your blood sugar must be low."
"...Thanks."
He himself bit into the bitter version rich with nuance.
Chew chew.
Ronas closed his eyes, savoring.
"Mm... Delicious."
He smiled faintly.
"Fatigue-melting flavor. Patish's tarts are fit for the Northguard Duchess herself to learn—Alina will surely love it."
"Y-Young master... You know of me!"
Patish teared up in emotion.
As the mood warmed, we hurried final prep.
Time to take the tart to Alina's room.
The Eisen men had woken despite all-nighters; same-blood Alina was surely up too.
Kara, Elysia, and I scrambled to wipe flour from our faces.
"Wait, stop."
Ronas halted us.
"Don't wipe it off."
"Huh? But our faces are a mess..."
As Kara puzzled, Ronas smiled softly.
"She'll like it better that way."
"......"
"More than neat appearances, the sight of big sister and brother covered in flour for her, baking bread—that 'trace' itself will be Alina's greatest comfort and gift."
Eisen nodded too.
"Indeed. The world's most beautiful makeup. Let's go to Alina."
We exchanged bright smiles.
Flour-caked faces.
Mussed hair.
Wrinkled clothes.
But expressions shining brighter than ever.
"Let's go! Wake up Yeppi sis!"
I led, everyone following.
Eisengard's noon.
The moment sunlight poured warmest through windows.
The procession wafting sweet tart aroma hopped toward Alina.
Thanks to the noonday sun, the tart stayed warm, steam rising still.