Chapter 29

The imperial capital's restaurant accepted four hundred bottles of canned fruits from the southern regions.

After Bertine left, ten boxes, which were half of the twenty boxes, were transported to the hotel where Luca was staying by the restaurant manager, Cefirino.

"Chef, can you use these?"

"Manager Cefirino, are these canned fruits? Ah, there's jam too. They can be used for desserts and breakfast, so they will be very helpful. However, I've never seen these fruits before. I'll taste them first and then decide how to use them."

"Please take good care of them; they are from Miss Bertine."

"From Miss Bertine? Understood. I'll do my best to make good use of them."

The hotel's chef and his apprentices tasted the canned fruits during lunch.

"They're all delicious, even though I've never tasted them before. They look good too."

"Chef, the red fruits look very appealing."

"They would make great dessert sauces when cooked down."

They decided that all the fruits were novel and could be used creatively, even just placed on a plate. The next morning, one of the fruits, labeled "Longan," was served at breakfast and was well-received by a guest.

"Chef, the guest wants more Longan."

"Longan... Ah, the white, round ones. Serve them with tea and buttered crackers. It was recommended as a good way to eat them, and I tried it myself; it was delicious."

The guest was Baron Balbe, who had come to the imperial capital on business from the northern part of the empire. When he stayed at his favorite hotel, he found a dish of canned fruits he had never seen or tasted before. They were called Longan.

"Delicious. The aroma is great, and the texture is crunchy. I'll ask for them again with my afternoon tea."

The Longan was served with crackers during the afternoon tea, but the six small Longans were quickly consumed by the baron.

"Does this hotel sell these? I'd like to buy some to take home. My wife and daughters would be delighted. Can you call the manager?"

Luca was summoned to the baron's room by the baron's servant.

"Baron Balbe, you wanted Longan. We have various types of canned fruits. Would you like to see the others as well?"

"Oh, that's right. Show me all of them."

Luca smiled and left, returning with a silver tray carrying ten types of canned fruits and jams.

"They all look delicious. I want to buy three of each type. No, make that five of the Longan."

"Understood. Each bottle costs one small silver coin. Is that acceptable?"

"Yes, no problem. I'll take them."

Luca bowed respectfully and left the room, smiling contentedly in the hallway. The price Bertine had told the restaurant manager was five large copper coins per bottle. She probably sold them without including shipping and labor costs, aiming to get people to try them first. However, at five large copper coins, there would be little profit after covering shipping and other expenses.

"I'll try to earn a bit more for her."

Luca recalled his days in business in Sanlouan. He and his father had crossed the sea to the empire countless times, immersing themselves in construction work in various parts of the empire. It was a proud moment to see the buildings they worked on loved and used by people, becoming a part of the city. But that work was lost due to a greedy woman, and his father died in despair.

What does Bertine plan to do? Will she rebel against the royal family?

No, she is the daughter of an alchemist. She will likely do something through business, not force.

I want to help her when the time comes. I've been living in the empire, having fled from the queen, but it's too frustrating to just be on the receiving end. I can't face my father. Although my family limits what I can do, I'm waiting for that day.

For now, I'll support Bertine's business by selling to the wealthy nobles of the empire. It's a small step, but I want to be one of those who stand up to the queen by helping her.

Baron Balbe, who had a fief in the northern part of the empire, took thirty-two bottles of canned fruits home as souvenirs. His wife and children greeted him with smiles.

"Father, welcome back!"

"Thank you. Did you behave well?"

"Yes! What did you bring back, Father?"

"I bought something good."

The baron took out the canned fruits and jams from the box.

"Wow! What are these? I've never seen such pictures of fruits."

"They were delicious at the hotel where I stayed. I bought all the types. Shall we try them now?"

"Yes, please!"

His children were delighted, and the choice of souvenirs was a success. His wife watched with a smile. The baron was about to eat them, but his wife, after tasting them, asked the servant to prepare bread.

The bread was thinly sliced, toasted, and buttered, and his wife arranged the sweet canned fruits on top before handing it to him.

"Mmm!"

"They're even better with the saltiness of the butter."

"Father, I want to try the others."

"Sure, go ahead."

"But they'll be gone quickly if we all eat them, Father."

"Don't worry, I'll write to the hotel to get more if they run out."

"Yay!"

His wife chewed slowly, looking satisfied.

"Should I serve these with scones at the next tea party? They're not sold around here, so everyone will be delighted."

"Yes, go ahead. I bought plenty, so use as much as you like."

In the northern part of the empire, it was already cold enough to light the fireplace. Fruits were rare in this area. Apples, strawberries, haskap, and gooseberries grew, but the melting flesh and large fruits of these canned fruits could only grow in the southern climate.

"The Southern Union is selling such products now."

"Perhaps they had excellent leaders in the last war? The imperial army suffered."

"Yes. We can't underestimate the south as we did in the past; the empire might fall behind."

At the tea party hosted by the baroness later, the canned fruits from the Southern Union were very popular.

"Where did you buy these canned fruits?"

"My husband bought them at a hotel in the imperial capital. We plan to order more before we run out."

One of the guests asked,

"Can you order some for us as well?"

Other ladies joined in,

"Please, I'd like some too."

"Then I'll order some for my family too."

All five noblewomen placed substantial orders.

The baroness immediately wrote to the hotel in the imperial capital, enclosing an order form for the canned fruits. There were two delivery options: a cheaper shared carriage service with other goods or a direct delivery service.

"Two hundred bottles for five families. It's more expensive, but let's go with the direct delivery."

As a noble, being stingy would be looked down upon. The baroness decided to use the direct delivery service and paid two small gold coins and the delivery fee to the shipping company.

Some time later, the order form and prepayment arrived at the hotel in the imperial capital. Luca judged that more orders would come in the future. The hotel's stock and the remaining stock at the restaurant could just meet this order, but it was wise to place an order in advance. If the hotel acted as an intermediary, it would be faster than Bertine handling it directly.

"Let's order six hundred bottles for now. No, they keep well, and a thousand bottles would be cheaper to ship."

Luca knew that Bertine was working under the Southern Union representative, Cecil, so he immediately sent an order for a thousand bottles and the prepayment to the Southern Union representative.

When Ignacio received the order form, he was surprised by the large quantity and amount and rushed to Cecil's office, but that was a bit later.