Chapter 83

It was the day when Lady Kate visited my palace.

"Hmm, it's delicious!! It's so crispy, I could eat it all day!!"

Shaking the tip of her fox tail to express her delight, Lady Kate held a slice of apricot pie in her hand. The apricots, soaked in syrup, were encased in a crispy pie crust.

I also took a piece of the pie, with its lustrous apricots, and brought it to my mouth. The light pie crust and the juicy apricots spread throughout my mouth. The pie crust crumbled, absorbing the juice of the apricots, providing a soft and satisfying texture on my tongue.

"To think we can bake such delicious pies in the courtyard's stone oven."

Lady Kate, half-seriously, considered building a stone oven in the courtyard of her palace. It seemed she enjoyed the apricot pie, which I made because apricots are her favorite.

"Lady Kate, there are a couple more pies that I baked along with this one. Would you like to take them as a souvenir?"

"!! Is that okay!?"

"I think the cook would be happy if you enjoy them."

"Thank you!!"

Lady Kate's face lit up. Seeing her express her joy so openly made me happy too. Despite her emotional nature, which could be a drawback for a noble, it might be her genuine personality that has allowed her to become a candidate for the position of consort, despite her noble lineage.

"Can I share the apricot pie I received with the craftsmen gathered at my palace to thank them?"

"Yes, that's fine. I have also been helped by them."

Lady Kate, instead of keeping the delicious food to herself, wanted to share it with her subordinates. This might be one of the reasons why she is beloved by her subordinates. I looked in the direction of Lady Kate's palace.

The craftsmen gathered at Lady Kate's palace are those who work with salt. The chandelier I made through alchemy had become brittle and could break with a slight impact. Therefore, craftsmen were urgently gathered to rebuild the chandelier without using magic.

The craftsmen are making the chandelier out of salt while honing new salt processing techniques. When I made the salt chandelier, I listened to their detailed opinions about salt. Although these craftsmen cannot use magic, their long-cultivated skills in handling salt are reliable. It might not take long for them to create a product that rivals the salt chandelier I made.

What I did was merely provide a starting point. The same goes for cooking; I remember how Gilbert absorbed the recipes based on Earth's knowledge at an incredible speed. It seems clear that the key to success in this world is to collaborate with experts in their respective fields.

"Lady Letitia, thank you for your hospitality today. When would be a good time for my next visit, perhaps in about ten days?"

Lady Kate asked me after finishing the last piece of apricot pie. Today, Lady Kate came to this palace not just to enjoy the sweets. She came to discuss the salt chandelier and the various details left unresolved after the Manila event. She managed to get most of the information she wanted, but there were still some ongoing developments, such as the reconstruction of the salt chandelier, that she was concerned about.

"Yes, I would also like to meet you in about ten days. Do you have any specific date in mind?"

"Would the afternoon of the 11th be okay?"

"......I'm sorry, but could we change that day?"

"Eh? Do you have plans that day?"

Lady Kate blinked, seemingly surprised. It appears she thought I was someone with no plans, and this was unexpected. I don't deny that I live a laid-back life, but her overly honest reaction made me chuckle a little.

"I have a tea party with Lady Natalie that afternoon."

"Oh, I see. I apologize."

Lady Kate seemed to be deep in thought as she apologized.

"Lady Letitia, if it's okay with you, may I join the tea party as well?"

"With Lady Natalie?"

"...Yes."

Lady Kate nodded, still showing some hesitation.

"Since the Manila event, I have been exchanging thank-you letters with Lady Natalie. But, you know, it's frustrating, and there are things that can't be conveyed through letters alone..."

Lady Natalie's letters, huh. I've exchanged a few with her as well, but they are flawlessly written, like textbook examples, and do not convey Lady Natalie's personal thoughts. It's understandable that Lady Kate, who wants to get to know the other consort candidates, feels frustrated.

"Actually, it would be faster if I visited Lady Natalie directly or if she came here... But considering what we each carry, that's not easy..."

Lady Kate and Lady Natalie, being from the two most opposing factions among the four consort candidates, would likely face complex reactions from their subordinates if they tried to meet directly, except for special occasions like the Manila event.

"I understand. I will write to Lady Natalie to see if it's okay to invite you as well."

"......Thank you. But is that okay?"

Lady Kate seemed surprised that I agreed so readily.

It's understandable, perhaps. I have basically been sequestered in this palace, both physically and politically. For me to take the initiative to mediate between Lady Kate and Lady Natalie was unexpected for her.

"Yes, it's fine. I also have some things to consider."

I smiled to reassure her.