「Thank you for waiting. This is a cake from another world—mille crêpes, a recipe I learned from Sui-san.」
With Tomoe-san’s introduction, Karen carried out the next set of plates.
Today, Karen had taken on the role of a behind-the-scenes supporter—or rather, a server. Given that this was Tomoe-san’s moment to shine, she seemed to be enjoying herself, moving back and forth between the kitchen and the private dining room with a lighthearted energy.
Being one of the Six Founding Clans, Karen was technically considered nobility in the Elf Kingdom of Alfheim. Because of that, the maids, butlers, and knights were all flustered and deferential around her.
—But for now, that didn’t matter.
「My… what a stunning cross-section. The colors are truly vivid.」
Upon seeing the mille crêpes placed before her, Princess Yunia let out a breath of admiration.
「It’s like the pages of a book.」
「Or the rings of a tree, layered upon one another.」
「It even resembles the strata of the earth. In any case, Her Highness is right—it’s strikingly beautiful.」
Eidel-san, Tinam-san, and Karsch-san each offered their own impressions.
「Still, this is quite an unusual cake. It has far more layers than a typical one, and the batter is much thinner. How exactly is it made?」
「The batter is made by mixing flour, eggs, and butter with milk, then cooking it into extremely thin crepes. Each layer is then carefully stacked with a thin spread of cream in between.」
「What! So this isn’t baked as a whole, but rather a collection of delicate layers? Fascinating… what an incredible idea!」
Realizing the cake’s structure, Princess Yunia lit up with childlike excitement. True enough, while mille crêpes looked like a cake, it was different from the usual sort in a subtle but distinct way.
「So these colorful layers—are they all cream?」
Eidel-san asked.
At that, Tinam-san furrowed his brows in deep thought.
「Red, blue, green, white, black, yellow… Ah, these are the colors of magical attributes.」
The first to notice was none other than the 『Witch of No Return』 himself.
Tomoe-san smirked. This was our little touch—our way of having fun with the recipe.
「You’re exactly right. The five-colored creams, combined with the yellow of the crêpe layers, create six colors in total. We wanted to capture the colors of magic—the colors of this world—within this cake.」
「The original recipe only uses white cream. That version is, of course, delicious, but we decided to add a creative twist for this occasion.」
Each layer of the mille crêpes had been tinted a different color. It was my idea, but Tomoe-san was the one who selected the flavors and fine-tuned the balance.
「However… just from its appearance, I can’t quite imagine how it will taste.」
「Please use your fork, just as you would with a regular cake. Cut through the layers from the side.」
「Understood. Well then, let’s begin.」
At Princess Yunia’s cue, everyone picked up their forks and took their first bites.
And almost immediately, smiles broke across their faces.
「Oh… what a delightful sensation desu wa.」
「Indeed, such an amusing texture.」
「Exhilarating! It makes me giddy!」
That unique feeling—of slicing through the delicately stacked layers of crêpes—brought a chuckle before they had even tasted it.
And when they did—
「Hmm… well… well, well, well!」
「If cutting it was this fun, chewing it is even better.」
「Fascinating. This is truly fascinating!」
Mille crêpes showed its true worth when eaten.
「Karsch-sama described it perfectly. The resistance felt through the fork and the texture against one’s teeth—both are immensely satisfying. It’s impossible not to smile. This is the first time I’ve had a dessert that makes me feel this happy desu wa!」
Princess Yunia beamed with pure delight.
「A cake that surprises the eyes, excites the hands, and brings a smile when eaten… truly wonderful. This dessert is filled with joy. I can sense a belief—an unwavering conviction—that this is what food should be.」
Tinam-san closed his eyes, as if savoring something beyond just the taste.
And he had pinpointed the very essence of it.
Eating is, at its core, a joyous and pleasurable act.
And that joy is not limited to taste alone.
The beauty of the dish, the feel of the fork or chopsticks breaking into it, the texture as it is chewed—when all the senses are engaged, a meal becomes even more enjoyable.
Mille crêpes excelled at that. It was a dessert that was simply… fun.
Of course, all of that hinged on one crucial factor—the taste.
And in that regard, there was no room for error.
「The red is red berry, the blue must be blueberry. The green… citrus peel, I presume? White is left uncolored, and the black is sesame. Despite the vibrant colors, the flavors are harmonized. The slight tartness of the berries and the cream’s sweetness are complemented by the faint bitterness of the citrus peel. And finally, the fragrance of sesame gently wraps it all together, letting the flavors meld slowly in the mouth. Ah… it’s striking, yet thanks to the sesame, it also feels familiar to those of us raised in the capital. Wonderful desu wa.」
It seems that Princess Yunia approves.
She gives precise and insightful critiques of the flavors. …I’ve been thinking this since yesterday, but when it comes to food reviews, this princess talks ridiculously fast…
「Dairy-based cream, of course, but also berries and citrus fruits—both are widely cultivated in Sidera. I imagine you must have gone through quite a bit of trial and error in selecting the right varieties and refining your preparation methods to ensure the flavors remained distinct. By incorporating techniques from another world with the specialties of Sidera and the royal capital, you’ve created a confection that embodies the magic of this world… I am truly impressed by this fusion of cultures.」
Prime Minister Eidel says this with a slight smile at the corner of his lips.
It seems to have struck a chord with him, which makes me happy. To be honest, this was exactly the point Tomoe-san and I had aimed for.
「…Sui. Sui is amazing, but Tomoe is amazing too.」
「Yeah. She’s the best pâtissier there is.」
Karen, standing beside me, whispers this in my ear, and I nod in agreement.
Tomoe-san stands near her highness and the others maintaining a composed smile. But we know. That expression—she’s barely holding herself back from throwing her fists in the air and shouting in triumph.
「I’m glad you’ve all enjoyed it. Next, we’ll have you try the cake designed as a preserved food—Stollen.」
I address the group, which is enveloped in an atmosphere of excitement.
This one should bring its own surprises. First, the fact that it has been aging for ten days. Then, the stark whiteness of its exterior when unwrapped. And finally, the rich aroma that fills the air when it’s sliced—
I wonder what kind of expressions Princess Yunia and the others will make.
With that thought in mind, I glance at Karen. She gives me a nod before turning on her heel to retrieve the Stollen from the kitchen.
—And at that exact moment.
※※※
「…Bark!」
Chocola, who had just finished his milk and looked quite satisfied, suddenly stands up and barks toward the door.
It’s a bark of warning. A bark as if he’s sensed something amiss.
「What is it, Chocola?」
「Bark!」
A second bark. That’s when I notice it too.
Hurried footsteps. A tense, urgent presence entering the shop.
Then, someone dashes up the stairs, heading straight for us—
「Aneue, sorry to interrupt. Is Sui here!?」
「Noah?」
The door swings open without a knock.
Standing there is Noah. Parker-san isn’t with him.
He’s alone, flustered, barely acknowledging Princess Yunia and the others as he calls my name.
「What’s going on?」
I ask, and Noah meets my gaze, his expression tense.
Then—his next words make our eyes go wide.
「I’m sorry, but you need to come immediately. The Research Bureau’s 『Teikou』 observation device has detected a reaction. The magical crucible has mutated.」
「What…!?」
The entire room stiffens.
—Of all times, why now?
This was the first anomaly in the forest since we launched the familiars at the end of the year.
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