Chapter 332
Chapter: 332
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 332
>Chapter Title: Salon (2)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>That day, Seongjin finished his monster suppression squad duties early and stopped by the salmon specialty shop during the early lunch hour. He planned to pick up food to take back to the main palace himself.
-Bertrand & Lee Salmon Specialty Shop
This restaurant, located in the busiest spot on Deste Street, was already quite famous despite its modest size.
The second floor, which served high-end dishes to reservation-only guests, was already fully booked since lunchtime.
“My goodness! The folks from Skarscapino are here! Quick, tell the manager so we can at least give them a proper greeting!”
“We’re swamped right now! There are two cardinals seated at that table over there!”
It was a premium section designed to turn a hefty profit, but the prices were still remarkably affordable compared to before. Naturally, dignitaries from the capital flocked there in droves.
The situation on the first floor was even worse.
“How long are we supposed to stand in this line?”
They sold cost-effective dishes made from slightly lower-quality cuts, which drew such a crowd that the line spilled out onto the street, filling an entire block.
And it didn’t stop there.
-His Holiness the Holy Emperor-approved taste!
Despite Sir Valery’s objections, the bold banner hung proudly, drawing crowds of capital citizens buzzing with excitement.
-Salmon? Sounds like just fancy fish, but one serving costs that much?
“You fool, what are you talking about? Without this place, do you think folks like us could ever even glimpse salmon in our lifetime? It’s a delicacy that nobles only taste on special occasions!”
“Ah, so that’s why everyone’s lining up like that.”
“Exactly! His Highness Prince Moreth is selling salmon—more precious than silver—at bargain prices for the capital’s subjects!”
He thought he’d imported a generous stock, but at this rate, they might run out soon.
‘I figured we’d just break even, but this might turn into a real cash cow.’
Seongjin thought with satisfaction.
‘I should give Branch Chief Schmidt a heads-up. Tell him to pack the refrigerated carriages full of salmon for a while.’
He didn’t know how long the hype would last, but while the momentum was there, it was time to row hard.
He needed to recoup the investment quickly and move on to other ventures soon.
“Does Your Highness really need to come pick it up yourself? If you wish, I can send a server to deliver meals to the palace every day.”
The head chef said while personally preparing the lunchbox. This time, it was steamed salmon moistened with various vegetables and spices.
“Or I could give you the recipe, and it might be better for the palace staff to cook it fresh. It inevitably cools during transport and won’t taste as good as when freshly made.”
It was a valid point.
Seongjin had thought the same at first. He’d stocked the palace refrigerators with the best salmon imports first.
But when he’d instructed them to serve it, he heard his father surprisingly barely touched it.
‘But if I bring it packaged myself, he eats it just fine?’
Yesterday’s lunch salmon gravlax salad had been polished off clean.
Maybe it wasn’t picky eating. Could his father just dislike food made in the main palace?
‘Next time, maybe package up other dishes besides salmon?’
It seemed like a solid idea. No one could live on fish alone every day.
Having made up his mind, Seongjin said to the head chef,
“For now, keep packaging it like this for a while. It seems like Father enjoys it more when I bring it myself.”
The Cypriot head chef looked deeply moved.
“How could one not be moved by Your Highness’s beautiful filial heart toward His Holiness? Surely His Holiness knows this well, which is why he takes such delight in your lunchboxes?”
“I, with my humble skills, will continue to pour my heart into preparing the meals!”
The head chef shouted as he packed the lunchbox with renewed vigor.
‘Come to think of it, when is Mother coming back to the capital?’
While waiting for the packaging, Seongjin suddenly thought of Empress Consort Elizabeth, who had left for the Asein Principality and showed no sign of returning.
On reflection, the day Seongjin first tasted salmon was at a palace banquet where she had been present.
‘I thought she’d at least return by the time the restaurant opened...’
The Asein Principality was completely landlocked, so salmon must be even rarer there than in the capital. He couldn’t very well deliver lunchboxes all the way there.
‘Even if I brought it myself, I doubt Mother would be pleased.’
For some reason Seongjin couldn’t fathom, their relationship seemed utterly broken.
He wanted to mend it, but without past memories, he had no idea where to even start.
-Moreth! My baby! Do you recognize Mommy?
Even so, Seongjin couldn’t help recalling the moment he first opened his eyes here, her face brimming with tears.
-Just seeing you wake up healthy fills Mommy with joy beyond words.
The warmth of her hand gripping his was still vivid in his memory.
And so, whenever something came up to share with the palace family, he’d sometimes feel a pang of regret: ‘How nice it would be if Empress Consort Elizabeth were here too.’
* * *
Clatter clatter clatter!
Rushing to the office with the lunchbox, he found Captain Katrina and Francis there with his father.
“We greet Prince Moreth.”
Katrina performed a crisp, disciplined salute.
As captain of the Saint Aurelion Knights, she handled various duties as the Holy Emperor’s right hand, keeping her perpetually busy with official matters.
Despite her title ‘Shield of the Holy Emperor,’ she was surprisingly rarely seen steadfastly at his side.
“We greet Your Highness.”
Francis, standing behind her, bowed with his usual half-hearted reluctance. That appropriately irreverent demeanor was par for the course with this insubordinate adjutant.
“Ah, so that’s the famous salmon dish everyone’s talking about.”
When Seongjin placed the lunchbox on the Holy Emperor’s desk, Katrina brightened and asked.
“Yes, Captain. You’ve heard the rumors too?”
“Indeed, Your Highness. It’s embarrassing to admit, but most of my holy knights have forgotten their training and are buzzing about that new restaurant.”
I see.
He’d expected some resistance to the novel concept of refrigerated carriages from these rigid theocrats. But apparently, delicious food melted those reservations.
“Too bad. If I’d known you’d be here, I would’ve brought more lunchboxes.”
Katrina hurriedly waved her hands.
“Such improper words! How could we impose on Your Highness like that?”
“Impose? Oh, right—while we’re on the topic, you and Sir Francis should stop by the restaurant. I’ll tell the manager to treat you well.”
“Heh heh. No need. Your words alone honor us.”
With that, Katrina gathered the documents on the desk, handed them to her adjutant, and bowed to the Holy Emperor.
“Then, regarding the savings deposits, we’ll proceed as commanded.”
“Do so. Good work, Katrina.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
But instead of leaving as expected, Katrina took her place beside the Holy Emperor and gazed at him with eager anticipation.
“……?”
Francis adjusted his glasses and shot sharp glances at the Holy Emperor.
And that wasn’t all. Chief Chamberlain Louis brought in tea for Seongjin, then quietly took his position behind the Holy Emperor!
‘Huh? These folks seem...’
He had a pretty good idea what they wanted.
After glancing at the Holy Emperor for a moment, Seongjin quietly unpacked the salmon lunchbox amid the heavy, expectant silence and laid it out on the desk.
“…….”
Thus, in this intensely awkward atmosphere with all four of them watching intently.
The Holy Emperor paused briefly but thankfully just let out a small sigh without much fuss. He ate alone with dignified poise, soon polishing off the slightly cooled steamed dish.
“The chef’s skill is impressive.”
As his evaluation of the taste finally emerged, those surrounding him exhaled held breaths.
“Ah, Lord God...”
Captain Katrina placed a hand on her chest, visibly moved.
“To think I’d live to see this day. Since His Holiness was even younger than Prince Moreth—after I snuck walnuts from the storeroom—it’s the first time I’ve seen him properly eat anything in the palace.”
Seongjin blinked.
“...Walnuts?”
“Yes. Back then, His Holiness distrusted all food. I don’t know how much I sweated to get him to eat anything.”
Her eyes softened with fond reminiscence.
“Now that I think about it, she said she’d been at his side since childhood.”
“I scoured the capital for every edible thing available. Finally, I brought walnuts and assured him they’d be safe if I cracked them myself. That’s when he finally reached out. From then on, stocking the palace with walnuts became my little joy.”
“Uh...”
Wait a minute. He’d heard his father had a bizarre habit in his youth of cracking walnuts with his prized sword, but it turned out that was all this woman’s doing!
“...Katrina.”
At the Holy Emperor’s reluctant rebuke, the captain snapped to attention.
“My apologies! In my joy, I prattled on about nonsense. I’ll take my leave then. Your Holiness. Prince Moreth.”
Crisp crisp.
Captain Katrina retreated with precise steps. But sensing her unusually buoyant mood from her back, Seongjin couldn’t suppress a chuckle.
“Then, please carry on, you two.”
With Louis bowing deeply—barely hiding his grinning mouth—Seongjin gave the Holy Emperor a meaningful look.
No, Father. Just how picky were you at the table as a kid for everyone to react like this?
“...It’s all a misunderstanding, Moreth.”
“Hm? I didn’t say anything?”
“…….”
* * *
The bounty from the salmon extended to lunch in the Pearl Palace too. The chefs had finally gotten to showcase their skills with premium ingredients after so long.
“To think salmon could be this bland...”
“No need for heavy salting, Sisle. It’s all thanks to the refrigerated carriages Moreth introduced.”
“Really? Those refrigerated carriages are amazing!”
Thanks to that, their recently waning lunch gatherings resumed with vigor.
Not only Sister Amelia and Sisle, but even Logan—who’d been busy with various duties—joined them. Even the twins Herne and Gades, who rarely visited the palace!
“How about you two? Does the salmon suit your taste?”
Feeling proud, he asked, but the twins shot him sullen looks. They seemed deeply displeased.
“Why? Is the food no good?”
They were usually hyperactively cheerful. Yet today, they were quiet and listless.
As Seongjin puzzled over it, the twins stared at him with odd expressions, then sighed deeply.
“You think the food’s the problem right now?”
“Yeah. Who cares about that.”
Then what was it?
“We’ve always known Moreth has a nasty temper...”
“And that you go berserk without seeing straight when angry...”
...Huh?
“Please fix that reckless streak of charging in heedless of consequences.”
“Do you know how hard it is for everyone around you trying to hold you back?”
“You’re so thorough about cause and effect usually.”
“But when you snap, none of that matters, right?”
Seongjin was utterly flustered.
“What? Charging in recklessly—when have I ever...”
But the twins ignored his protest, shaking their heads at each other and grumbling.
“We almost botched everything because of Moreth.”
“Thinking about the effort to rein you in still gives me a headache.”
“We’re never going near that girl again. Ever!”
“Right. What if it happens again?”
“…….”
Seongjin was speechless.
He felt deeply wronged without knowing why, but the twins didn’t seem to be complaining without basis.
‘What the heck?’
Was it his imagination?
It felt just like waking up after a drunken binge, alone with foggy memories of the rampage.