[The Red Flavor (1)]
However, there was one problem.
The workers at the Lord's Castle had never seen such precious spices in their lives.
They might have been able to memorize the specific types of herbs that were commonly used in the North, or perhaps pepper, which, despite being expensive, was widely known as the synonym for spices.
But these were spices from the East—precious, rare, and exotic.
Since even the head chef, Brikal, was using them for the first time, it was hardly easy for the laborers doing the menial tasks to accurately describe their names, tastes, or scents.
Under the butler's indifferent gaze, the descriptions of the exotic spices that the Lord had recently become obsessed with were all over the place.
There was another reason why everyone said different things. Because the ingredients were so rare, they were kept deep within the kitchen where no one could touch them, and since Aiden’s meals were prepared directly by the chef without anyone else's help, everyone only remembered fragmented parts of the cooking process.
Because of this, merchants who smelled money raced to the North, each imagining something different, all with the ambition of dominating the Northern spice market.
“You want to sell spices?”
A short time later, all sorts of spices that had never been seen before began to enter the Northern trading post.
Admittedly, given the scale of the merchants traveling to the North, the quantity was something central merchants would scoff at. However, it was certainly enough to make the eyes of the Northern trading post officials widen in surprise.
“It’s not a top-grade product, but mustard of this quality is something you could only find in the old Lontes territory.”
“I’d say it’s mid-grade. How about this price?”
As the trading post official clicked the abacus, the merchant frowned for a moment before continuing the negotiation.
“Don’t be like that, let’s go a little higher. It’s hard to find mustard like this in the winter!”
“Hmm, if that’s the case, I can add 10 percent... I can give you this much. Even if you ask for more, it’s difficult. You could always try selling it at the market yourself, though...”
“Then I’ll sell half to the trading post.”
“A wise decision.”
In truth, it would be difficult for the North alone to consume all these spices. But now, wasn't there a new market called Lontes?
This was something Aiden had particularly emphasized. Kalisa, who was in charge of the Department of Commercial Development, also gathered the officials and gave them strict instructions.
If Aiden set the direction, Kalisa focused on the details. Having been a seasoned merchant, she would narrow her eyes and teach them what a merchant must never give up. Her subordinates would whine, "We're administrators now, not merchants...", but they knew the Department of Commercial Development was half-merchant and half-administrator, so they just worked overtime again today.
'Still, our department definitely pays the most.'
While there wasn't a single department among the five in the Administrative Welfare Office that didn't work overtime, the one that left the latest was the Department of Commercial Development under Kalisa. Nevertheless, it remained the number one choice for prospective administrators. There were several reasons, but the biggest was, of course, the generous salary.
Aiden was the type to push work to the limit, but the compensation for the work done was certain.
Aiden’s philosophy was that if you tried to save a few pennies and lost talent to outside merchant guilds, the North would ultimately bear the loss. Thanks to that, the administrative positions under the Northern Administrative Welfare Office and the Lord's Castle were emerging as the dream jobs for the brightest minds beyond the North and into the Northern territories.
Aiden, however, hadn't yet realized this.
“Um, by the way...”
“Ah, yes.”
The trading post employee, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to reality at the call of the merchant who had come to sell mustard.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“It’s not that, I was just wondering if this mustard is going to the Lord's Castle now. Hahaha!”
“...The Lord's Castle? Uh... I suppose? Not everything goes to the Lord's Castle, but some of it...”
“That’s what I thought! Hahaha!”
“?”
Recently, after tasting Eastern spices, Aiden’s appetite had begun to increase. The rumor that the butler and the head maid had hugged each other in joy had even traveled over the castle walls to the trading post. The butler, not wanting to miss this opportunity, had generously increased the kitchen budget, and Brikal, the chef who was passionate about developing dishes using spices, seemed determined to become a spice master, so he was busy shopping for spices.
'Naturally, they’ll take quite a bit of mustard, too.'
The trading post official had meant it in that sense, but the merchant seemed to be imagining something else.
Of course, there was no need for him to correct it.
'He’ll figure it out on his own.'
Similar things had already happened several times. Some merchants brought Szechuan pepper, others brought ginger, and some brought turmeric or wasabi. There were even those who brought spicy-tasting greens like chives, mustard greens, and myung-i leaves. Literally, every spicy and stimulating Eastern spice and aromatic vegetable was pouring in.
“Can I see the list of spices that came in today?”
During a lull in the merchant traffic, Kalisa came out herself, looking for something.
“Here, I’ve organized the names, quantities, grades, and prices.”
“Hmm.”
Kalisa’s face crumpled as she scanned the list.
'It’s not here. Damn it.'
It wasn't there. Despite so many spices coming in, why did they leave out the exact one the Lord enjoyed so much?
'Knowing the Lord, he wouldn't intentionally place an order to find it just because the kitchen ran out.'
There was a way for someone else to place an order, but if they got caught, they’d be in for a world of pain. If they were caught buying such expensive spices just because of a complaint about food when there was so much work to do, they might end up in an overtime hell until they collapsed.
Wasn't that exactly why she had poked the side of the Lord's Castle workers to provide information to the merchants and bring in the spices?
'If I knew it would be this troublesome, I should have just thrown Jamie as a sacrifice for overtime and placed the order.'
Tsk.
As Kalisa bit her lower lip, trying to deal with the stress of her plan going awry, a stranger with slightly broken Imperial language appeared.
“Um, the trading post isn't closed yet, is it? I’d like to sell some spices.”
“...Didn't you say the chili and garlic were running low?”
The next evening, Aiden tilted his head as he looked at the table full of dishes with familiar scents. The dishes seemed to be showing off with all their might that they were packed with garlic and chili.
'The chef isn't the type to be wasteful.'
In that case, did they go out of their way to find these expensive spices because they knew he was obsessed with the spicy taste he had been missing lately?
'That’s a bit...'
It wasn't that Aiden didn't know. He knew how diligently and deliciously he had been eating lately. But that was one thing, and waste was another. The memory of a world where criticizing the luxury of politicians was a natural virtue was still strong, so even though he was in the position of Lord (acting), he had no desire to squander gold on what went into his mouth.
In this world, there were no media, competitors, or public to criticize a noble or lord for spending money on food and indulging in a bit of luxury, but Aiden still wanted to maintain the line he had drawn for himself. Some might find him frustrating, but Aiden was that kind of person. Someone who tried to keep to the boundaries he had set.
“Quite a bit of mid-grade and low-grade spices came into the trading post yesterday. They said they bought them because the prices weren't bad compared to those in other large cities.”
“...Is that so?”
When Kalisa quickly added that, seeing Aiden’s expression crumple, his face softened.
It was unacceptable to import luxury goods that he desired when there was no demand, but it was a welcome thing for merchants to judge that there was demand and find them on their own. Even if the conclusion was the same, if the cause was different, there was no reason to blame them.
“In principle, the trading post doesn't buy low-grade goods, but I allowed an exception this time because the demand was overflowing. I should have told you in advance, I apologize.”
“Kalisa would have handled it well, so there’s no need to apologize. But you say the demand for chili and garlic is overflowing?”
When did the Northern people ever see chili and garlic for the demand to be overflowing?
Aiden looked completely bewildered. The answer came from Jamie.
“The Administrative Officer’s complexion has improved lately.”
“My complexion?”
“You were already thin, but you lost even more weight recently, to the point where your cheeks were sunken. You have no idea how upset the village maidens were.”
“......”
As Aiden looked away, feeling embarrassed for no reason, Jamie continued with a chuckle.
“Everyone in and out of the castle was in an uproar wondering what on earth you were eating, since you were never interested in food before. Even if they don't know what it is, everyone is dying to at least see what the Lord likes. So, we’re planning to buy half of the chili and garlic the trading post purchased, and supply the rest to each village. It’ll definitely sell out in an instant.”
“...So it’s because of me?”
“It’s thanks to the Administrative Officer.”
“That’s not good.”
Aiden was grateful for the interest, but he was worried that this would lead to a trend of unnecessary luxury.
“It’s not a staple food like flour or potatoes, is it? You can buy a handful and it’ll last you for days, so it won't be that much of a burden. We earn enough for that now!”
“......”
“Jamie is right, Administrative Officer. For the economy to grow, it’s good to earn money, but you also need to know how to spend it.”
With Kalisa adding her voice, the situation became even more awkward to argue against.
“Tsk.”
Slurp.
With no other choice, he shrugged his shoulders and downed the red beef broth.
'Haa.'
As expected, the taste you know is terrifying.
'But setting me aside, can this really become a trend?'
Spicy food is, how should I put it...
It’s not exactly something that becomes a trend so easily.