Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: All I Can Give Is Carbonation, Carbonation, and Carbonation
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54―――――
Sion stood by Vanessa's side for a moment, then broached the subject casually.
“Princess.
This morning, I actually stopped by the Heinness Merchant Company regarding the Margrave Territory's caravan request.”
“The Heinness Merchant Company?”
“Yes.”
Vanessa nodded at that.
“You mean the place run by that elf woman as the head merchant.
The loyal retainer who prepared under Sefer's threats but risked everything on the day of the plot to report it.”
“So why bring it up?”
“When I visited today, she was blaming herself hard for not reporting that vicious scheme even a little earlier, which led to the incident at the palace.”
“Tch.
Father already said he wouldn't hold her accountable for anything.”
“Even so, for a merchant, losing once-built trust is more painful than anything.
She even apologized for the victory celebration turning into a mess.”
Vanessa let out a low hum at Sion's words but didn't reply specifically.
The Heinness Merchant Company's involvement in this affair was undoubtedly irritating from the royal family's perspective.
They'd entrusted wall repairs to them out of trust, and despite the threats and coercion, they'd still taken part in the plot.
Yet they couldn't publicly reprimand them either, since the head merchant had braved danger to come forward and report the incident.
She had sins, but matching merits, so punishing her felt off.
“Father already decided not to pursue anything regarding this.
If you meet her again, tell her not to worry, alright, Young Lord Sion?”
“I'll do that.
Ah, and by the way, for this royal party resuming today, the Heinness Merchant Company is offering as gifts the goods they planned to release gradually later.”
“Gifts?”
Vanessa's expression twisted slightly.
She seemed to think it was some ridiculous attempt, like bribes or tribute to curry favor.
*Heh, this princess is so innocent.
Who gives village sticks these days? Village sticks?*
Sion quickly spoke up before any harsh words could slip from Vanessa's mouth.
“They say it's a beverage for the party.
I suspected some ulterior motive too, but what the head merchant provided was clearly just a drink, nothing more or less.”
“...If you checked it yourself, I can believe it a bit.”
“His Majesty the King already gave permission and accepted it.”
Before entering the party hall, Sion had gone to Edgar IV.
They needed a way to liven up the limp atmosphere, but relying only on alcohol didn't paint a good picture, and above all, it couldn't divert everyone's attention elsewhere.
When Sion said they needed something any noble could easily access, Edgar IV had asked, *'Does such a thing exist?'*
*It does.
Of course it does.*
Even just pleasing the mouth changes how one views the world.
That's humanity.
No matter the harsh trials, if the tongue is happy and the belly full, one finds courage to live another day.
Sion knew well the greatness and magic that food brings.
Sion glanced upward and nodded to the chamberlain.
He nodded back as if understanding, then promptly ordered the royal attendants and maids.
Soon, a breeze of change blew through. Instead of the sharp alcoholic scent from the liquor glasses on trays, something else began to be set out.
*'And the one to cut the ribbon has to be the princess.'*
Prince Erader was under house arrest due to the Sefer Kashgar incident.
In such times, if the king didn't step up, Vanessa had to represent the royals.
Sion picked up a glass and offered it to Vanessa.
“You dislike alcohol, right, Princess?”
“...How did you know that?”
Ah.
Right.
The princess never told me that.
What an oblivious fool.
Sion racked his brain briefly before deciding to wing it.
“You never touched a glass once during this party.
It was a guess, but luckily it was right.
This isn't alcohol, so rest easy.”
“...”
She'd thought he paid her no mind, but he'd been watching after all.
The realization made Vanessa's heart flutter slightly.
But showing such fluster wouldn't do for a princess's pride.
“Y-Your observation isn't bad.”
She grabbed the glass, feigning composure.
Inside the ice-filled glass bubbled a clear liquid with rising fizz.
Seeing the unfamiliar drink, Vanessa stared at its contents before sniffing it.
She brought her nose close, inhaled, and opened her mouth with a *Hm?*
“The scent isn't bad.
This is...”
“They said lemon and apple.”
Both fruits Vanessa liked, naturally.
Vanessa eyed Sion, tilting her head.
“Did you recommend these two fruits?”
“Who knows.”
Sion gave an ambiguous reply.
Another noble might press for an answer, but the princess didn't.
Instead, she smiled and sipped the drink in the most noble manner imaginable.
“...?”
At that moment, Sion nearly burst out laughing inside.
Wine-like alcohols aren't that strong, so gulping them is fine.
But this drink's fizz wasn't alcohol.
Chug it properly, and your throat and nose would erupt in chaos.
“...Kuh!”
Vanessa shuddered finely, as if electrified.
Then, realizing surrounding gazes on her, she let out an *Ah* of dismay.
Thinking she'd shown an embarrassing side, she desperately chugged more.
*...Princess?
You might reflux and really fountain if you keep that up.*
One of the world's worst tortures is carbonation up the nose.
Sion knew the pain well from experience.
Luckily, no real fountain show erupted from nose-reflux.
Like before, she winced, trembled with a *Keeeh!*, then smiled and handed the glass to an attendant.
“Young Lord Sion.
What is this?
I was startled at first, but it's... so refreshing.”
“Wouldn't it be best to offer it to the other nobles too?”
“Ah, right.
You all try a glass too.
The Heinness head merchant provided something quite amusing to drink.
It suits my taste, but who knows about yours.”
Vanessa rarely created a cheerful vibe at parties.
So when she smiled and recommended it, the nobles, out of curiosity, took glasses from attendants, sniffed, and began sipping one by one.
*Royal parties are inevitably extravagant.
In the novel, Kim Yoo-hyun hated them, one reason being the foods—all stimulating, oily, greasy.*
Readers had commented, *'Best with greasy food is kimchi!'* But sadly, kimchi was impossible in this world.
This world preferred sweet, oily foods over spicy-salty ones.
So Sion thought differently.
*Liquor is good, but divisive, and Vanessa hates it.
Then the best is soda.
Carbonation!
After greasy *Ugh*, hit 'em with refreshing fizz!*
The nobles' reactions to the soda exceeded expectations.
Right beside, Marquis Hoakin and Estia, even Marquis Volco muttered, *'Oho, what's this?'*
Sharp like alcohol, yet with biting refreshment.
Addictively crave more, no hangover like booze.
“Ooo, Princess.
This is really good.”
“Kyah!
Ugh!
What is this?
Huuu!”
“Feels refreshing somehow.
Ooh...”
And Vanessa had endorsed it herself as *'good.'*
Who'd say *'Eh, not for me'* now?
With Prince Erader confined, she'd seized center stage—no time to pick new sides.
“...Not bad.
Did the Heinness Company prepare this too?”
Marquis Hoakin stroked his chin, deep in thought.
True to his merchant blood, he'd smelled profit.
*'Perfect timing—they've all nibbled the party's stimulating foods.
Carbonation's refreshment maximizes then.'*
Plus, these people rarely drank carbonated water—only as digestifs, if at all.
*'Not bad.
Once the first impression sticks, it'll shine.'*
Sion's mind sang *'Apple Fizz Fizz!'* involuntarily.
But it wasn't over.
The real game started now.
“Young Lord Sion.
Is there no more of this drink from Heinness?”
“It's good.
I can't drink alcohol, so I always stick to weak fruit wine or water.”
“Amazing.
It stung at first, but such refreshment!”
Ice-floated soda's magic is potent.
Sion recalled army boot camp: rolling in hot dirt during combat drills.
He craved not discharge, AC, or girls—just one cool soda sip. He'd sell his soul for it.
Layered with forgetting recent ominous events via new excitement, plus desire to impress the rising royal center, Vanessa—and this Heinness drink became magic water.
*'And top it with this for perfection.'*
No matter how cool, flashy, superior, new—time erodes rarity, turning it mundane.
Smart ones counter with two methods.
“Sadly, the Heinness Company said they just finished developing it.
Not on market yet, no stock piled.
What they gifted for the royal party is nearly all they have, everyone.”
“Aww...
Smack...”
“Ugh, that's disappointing.”
“One glass feels insufficient.
Hmm...”
They'd love one more, but couldn't—so nobles grumbled inwardly.
Sion smirked inside at their fidgeting.
Control supply to force scarcity—works sometimes, not others, but here it did.
“But no need to despair too much.
The head merchant said mass production soon.”
“Ooh, really?”
“Yes.
However...”
Sion trailed off, drawing gazes.
“Can't mass-produce yet, so they'll take custom orders from wanting customers.
Not for general market.”
Weren't there things like that?
OOO Premium, XX Limited, OO Special Edition.
Ignorant masses aside, they ignited desire in the wealthy.
*'They're nobles.
Lumps of desire to flaunt power via tiniest things.
To others, just a drink—but to them, a way to boast uniqueness.'*
Essence isn't soda.
It's nobles' vanity and ostentation.
Sion aimed to exploit that.
*'Even so, time passes, it'll be party swill like mutt barks or meows.
Other companies will jump in.
Then what?'*
Simple.
Flood the market.
But with a must-say line.
*'This drink started at the royal party—something nobles couldn't casually drink!
Now before you!
Chance to sip what nobles barely got!
Will you miss it!'*
Imprint not as mere drink, but *'what nobles couldn't casually have.'*
Then naturally, it'll be hailed not as digestif water, but top drink high ones craved.
*'Next, endless variants: grapes, fruits, milk, coffee, booze...
Infinite changes!'*
All I give you is carbonation, carbonation, carbonation.
But you'll project your desires onto it.
Sion just aimed for that.
―――――――Afterword―――――――
Sitting pounding the keyboard all day, my body's showing no sign of improving.
When will this reflux esophagitis heal?
Chest hurts, shoulders knotted, gut stuffy.
Hey!
Go get me a soda!
As a side, recommendations!
Recommendations would be great!