Chapter 32

Chapter 31

The Tearful Tasting - 1

Being dragged around by Margareta under the pretext of being an Academy Inspector is tiring, but unfortunately, I also hold the title of advisor to the baking club. In the morning, I have to review the budget for the fair at the student council, and in the afternoon, I have to supervise what the baking club will do at the fair.

'Having multiple jobs is really not for humans.'

Even the imperial administration, which treats civil servants like dogs, tries to avoid having people take on multiple roles, yet I never expected to face this at the Academy. I wish the fair would start and end quickly.

In the midst of a healthy body and a tired mind, I sat dazed, and in my field of vision, the always noisy club members appeared. You guys are full of energy. It would be great if there was a magic spell to transfer energy to others. I think I overworked myself in my teens, and now that I'm in my twenties, my energy seems to be weakening.

However, whether I'm exhausted or not, the six who contribute to my mental fatigue are fully focused on preparing for the fair.

"Variety is good. Just cookies would be a bit boring."

Tanian speaks gently, but I can roughly guess what he's thinking. If we only serve cookies, it might turn into a Louise's homemade cookie festival, so he wants to make other snacks too. I feel a bit sorry for Tanian, who is trying to put it delicately.

"I can make cakes and bread too."

"Louise, focus on cookies. Leave the rest to us."

Louise's ambition to get involved in making other snacks was quickly blocked by Ryutis. It seems they would rather learn how to make them themselves than let Louise handle it. These guys, from the start, they were planning to use cookies as a side dish and focus on other things.

'They don't consider their own tastes.'

They only think about their own tastes, which they consider to be extremely refined. But if we assume that some of the Academy students and external nobles who will visit are also refined, it's an understandable choice.

At first, I thought it was just the royal family being picky, but then it wouldn't make sense why Erih can't eat Louise's cookies. Is the average noble's taste that refined? I'm not an average noble, so I'm not sure.

Anyway, Louise seemed to understand and nodded at the desperate blocking by Ryutis and the others. It looks better for the club members to make different snacks rather than for the president to do everything. On the surface, it's a beautiful collaboration, regardless of their true intentions.

Thus, the baking session, filled with the rich scent of flour, began.

But, the scent is so strong that it might get up my nose. It would look strange if I end up snorting white powder. Don't blow flour this way.

It's a new feeling to see other things in the club room, which was once filled only with cookies. Are these the same club members who couldn't bake a few weeks ago? Their growth is so remarkable that it's touching. I wish their perceptiveness had grown to this level too.

"Better than expected. We can sell these at the fair without losing face."

Erih's reaction after tearing a piece of bread and putting it in his mouth. It seems to match his taste, more or less. Maybe he's being lenient because he made it himself, but it doesn't really matter. Who would complain about the taste of snacks made and sold by a royal, a prince, or a candidate for sainthood?

In that sense, there would be no problem selling only the cookies Louise made at the fair. No one would know if they were made by Louise or a royal before we say so. Thinking about it this way, it seems like they're doing unnecessary work.

I also took a small bite of the cake with a fork. It's not much different from Louise's cookies, is it? Let's just appreciate the variety of the menu.

"Brother, how is it?"

Louise, who had been tasting the new items one by one, turned her gaze to me. As the advisor, I need to approve these before they can be presented at the fair. I nodded in response to Louise's question. They're not bad.

"Good. Selling these shouldn't be a problem."

"But you only tried the cake. You should try the others too."

Ryutis placed a piece of bread in front of me. It's not a very considerate gesture. Actually, if you're selling, you could just sell flour and butter, and people would buy it.

But it would look strange to evaluate without tasting, so I took a small bite. It's a decent taste, on par with the cake. I nodded again, and another snack was placed in front of me.

'Oh dear.'

"...There's quite a lot."

I didn't realize it at first, but thinking about it, I have to taste everything, and it's quite a lot. Guys, the advisor is not a guinea pig. Is the advisor I'm in charge of a torture advisor, not a club advisor?

"Since we made them, it's hard for us to give an objective evaluation. The advisor's evaluation would be the most accurate, wouldn't it?"

"That's true."

Lather's straightforward statement left me with no room to argue. But isn't it a bit much to ask me to eat everything made by six people? At a tasting corner, this amount would fill your stomach.

But with the six pairs of eyes silently watching me, I quietly moved my hand. I don't think I need to eat dinner today.

"Thinking about it, wouldn't one time be insufficient?"

While I was quietly eating, Ryutis, the devil's mouth, started talking again. What are you going to say this time, you brat?

"Insufficient? What do you mean?"

"Cookies are one thing, but we're making other things for the first time. Even if they turn out well now, we don't know how they'll turn out at the fair."

"That's true."

"So, let's keep making them. Once we get used to it, we can make them well anytime."

Ryutis and Lather's gazes were fixed on me. Ainter, standing behind them, smiled and continued.

"We'll have to rely on the advisor a lot."

And the club members started making pastries with the momentum of a factory. Stop, please stop...

"How is it?"

"Good."

"What about this?"

"Edible."

"Is this one good too?"

"Yes."

The supply comes from six, but the demand is from one. My stomach was screaming in agony at the insane logistics. Drinking water like this would also be fatal.

The club members, watching me force the food down, whispered among themselves.

"Since he said they're all good, I wonder if they really are."

"Thinking about it, brother, you eat anything well."

"Hmm, did we choose the wrong person to evaluate?"

'You bastards.'

Now you're saying this after making me eat all this. I glared at the club members in burning anger, but I couldn't stop them by force, so I just calmed my burning heart. Well, I could probably stop Erih by force.

I finally swallowed the bread in my mouth and knocked on the table to get their attention. That's enough, damn it.

"Enough for today. We don't have to make everything today, so let's do it again tomorrow."

If you understood, get out.

As I waved my hand to dismiss them, the club members, who had been huddled together, gradually left. Except for Louise.

"Louise?"

What is it? Louise has never stayed in the club room until the end before. If she leaves a bit late, the five guys wait for her to walk back to the dorm together. Come to think of it, I heard her whisper something to the others earlier. Did she tell them to go ahead?

In response to my puzzled gaze, Louise took a small container from her bag and handed it to me. She twirled her hair with her fingers and smiled awkwardly.

"I... noticed that Brother has been looking tired lately. I brought some tea that's good for fatigue."

"Oh."

I was a bit moved. In this club of no-good members, such a beautiful conscience has blossomed.

'If the members were even half as considerate as the president.'

Academy life is exhausting enough, and being dragged around by Margareta has accelerated my fatigue. I didn't show it, but you managed to notice. Louise is indeed a flawless child, innocent of any sin. If there is a sin, it's only the sin of the five.

"Thank you. I'll drink it well."

I smiled and replied, and Louise smiled back.

"Um, Brother."

"Yes?"

While I was putting the tea leaves in my special cookie container on the shelf, I heard Louise calling from behind.

"If anything happens, please let me know. I'll help with anything for Brother!"

She bowed and then quickly left the club room. I couldn't help but laugh bitterly at her sudden words.

'Did I look that exhausted?'

Did I look so exhausted that a newly adult kid would offer such comfort? I feel a bit ashamed. Was I really that exhausted? No, that can't be true.

I stared at the door Louise had left for a while and then turned my gaze. It's unbelievable, but what can I do? I did reveal my true feelings to Louise. More importantly, I need to prepare for the guest who will arrive soon. A precious guest who will help me finish the mountain of snacks.

And just as I thought that, I heard a knock on the door.

-Knock

"Come in."

A man opened the door and bowed.

"Are you well, Inspector?"

"Of course. How are you, Sir Villar?"

Here you are, my daily tormentor.

I greeted Villar with the warmest smile I could manage. Since there are things made by the prince, you should eat them too. Isn't that the right thing to do?

Author's Note

Today's chapter was posted in the morning, but tomorrow's chapter will likely be posted very late at night. I know my credibility is at rock bottom because I often say this in the afterword, but I still feel I should mention it...

Thank you for reading this chapter!

Thank you for the support, Gyeongseong and Yulyeon!