The Villainous Princess Wants to Live in a Gingerbread House - Chapter 82

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Villainess Princess Wants to Live in a Pastry Shop
Chapter 82

As the lantern danced with a riotous glow, the room brightened and dimmed by turns, and the little spirit thrashed about in agitation. Asha drew a short breath and then whispered into Alexei’s ear, who was smiling.
“Paphnir says he likes me very much and wants me to be happier.”
“……Paphnir?”
“Yes. Paphnir, do you really like me that much?”
At Asha’s mischievous question, Alexei nodded in agreement but then coughed awkwardly several times, as if a little embarrassed. Seeing this, Pibi burst into loud laughter.

But Alexei, unable to hear Paphnir’s trembling voice, simply changed the subject.
“Still, I’m not sure whether that gathering will go smoothly at the Manor.”
Asha laughed at Alexei’s sudden deflection but then tilted her head.
“Yes? Why? What happened there?”
“I heard that one of Uncle Valery’s business ventures is on the brink of collapse.”
As Alexei spoke, he gestured to an attendant to order new shoes for Asha and then continued in a measured tone.
“Uncle Valery has been steadily investing in food processing, and there’s been a major incident with that venture.”
“Did insects get in?”
“What? How did you know?”
“Really?”
They stared at each other in surprise before Alexei laughed and explained. A large insect had been found in breadcrumb mix that Valery manufactured and distributed under the name of the Imperial Head Chef.
“Good heavens.”
“Since it wasn’t selling well, the problem was that he’d accumulated quite a bit of inventory……”
The cause hardly mattered. Because a vicious gossip magazine had run the story prominently, word had spread across all of Jedo, forcing the factory to the brink of closure.
‘Oh? What if this gathering doesn’t happen? I need to see Uncle Valery soon……’
Alexei watched Asha’s troubled expression with a gentle face, then rose from his seat.
“I have matters to attend to, so I must go.”
Alexei bowed and kissed Asha’s forehead, then left the room. As the door closed, Alexei caught one last glimpse of Asha’s fluttering collar and turned away, gesturing to his aide.
“Send word to Kalno to come see me.”

* * *

“General Ekaterina is well, I trust?”
Kalno gazed at the small, dainty cream-colored shoe resting atop the tea table. Its round, lovely shape was so charming that the shoe seemed more like a decorative ornament than footwear. Alexei sipped his tea and regarded Kalno with a relaxed expression.
“She said she would pay her respects to His Majesty soon. She’ll see him after she’s rested from her journey.”
“To be honest, I thought she would never return to Jedo. I never imagined the day would come when I could see her.”
Kalno himself had harbored that same thought when he returned to Jedo after the war ended—that he would have no occasion to see his grandmother unless war erupted again and he went north. He had sent her a letter after hearing Asha’s words, but he’d never dreamed of such an outcome.
“So what are you trying to say? This shoe looks like it belongs to Asha.”
“You received an invitation to the Kerum Game, didn’t you? From the Imperial Heir Ilya.”
Kalno’s brow furrowed briefly before he nodded. Since he paid no attention to such things, the memory had come to him late.
“Why?”
“Asha received one too, and she seems to have taken an interest in it.”
If it had been last winter, Kalno would have lectured him at this point, saying that was precisely the problem—she was already trying to ally herself with other Imperial Heirs.
“But isn’t that household tied up with the breadcrumb factory situation? They wouldn’t have the resources to hold a Kerum Game gathering like that. And besides, you could play ball with her yourself here at the palace. Why let her go out?”
“It’s not the same as what happens in the palace. And it seems she’s concerned about the Imperial Heir Ilya as well.”
“The Imperial Heir Ilya?”
Kalno folded his arms and asked with a slightly displeased expression, to which Alexei smiled faintly.
“Besides, didn’t you tell me? That girl had a problem at the shop she runs with Baron Sarato. It seems she wants to resolve it.”
“But that situation is being resolved right now.”
It had actually been quite some time since the insect was found in that factory, but it had remained quiet until now. It had suddenly ballooned because someone had decided to harvest that fruit—the well-ripened fruit of Marquis Shapirokhin’s disgrace, kept until the perfect moment.
“As for Ilya or Dmitri, I’m not particularly concerned about them.”
Kalno found himself inwardly agreeing with Alexei’s words. It was easy to be deceived by Anastasia’s small and youthful appearance, but what lay within was not so soft. She was gentle but resolute, and though she seemed oblivious, in truth she understood everything.
“It’s just that with Uncle Valery, I wasn’t sure what might happen.”
Kalno gave Alexei a long, reproachful look as if to say he always saddled him with troublesome matters. Meanwhile, Alexei smiled knowingly, as if he already understood Kalno’s true intentions.

* * *

Whether or not the social gathering that Ilya was hosting would actually take place remained uncertain, but Asha couldn’t afford to abandon her preparations just yet. She rolled up her sleeves and set a pot of butter over the flame.
“The Patisserie is proving to be a tremendous success. Of course, it only became possible because it made such a splash the moment we opened, but still.”
“Really? Business is good?”
“Quite good indeed. I’ve been thinking I should express my gratitude separately to the Marquess Tataricha.”
While the butter melted, Baron Sarato, standing at her side, dutifully reported on their progress. Asha studied the pot with a thoughtful expression as the butter liquefied, then glanced up.
“What about Sophia? Is she managing all right? It’s not too exhausting for her?”
“Remarkably ambitious. Good stamina, too. Though she’s so thin, I wouldn’t have expected it…… lean muscle, perhaps?”
Baron Sarato trailed off uncertainly, tilting his head, then resumed his formal reporting tone.
“Still, I expect sales will gradually decline from here on. Once something is new and novel, the novelty typically wears off within a month or two.”
Asha stirred the butter as it began to crackle softly, nodding slowly.
“Right, yes. How’s the chocolate selling? Moving at all?”
At this question, Baron Sarato hesitated before opening his mouth.
“Since people don’t know how to make the cake themselves, sales haven’t reached the levels I’d hoped for. There are bulk purchasers, but most transactions are one-time only.”
“Hmm. What if we released the recipe?”
“……Wouldn’t that be a pity, my lady?”
“A pity?”
“Such a wonderful recipe becoming known to everyone.”
Asha gave a small shrug and removed the butter from the heat. From the transparent, gently caramelized butter rose a rich, nutty hazelnut aroma.
“If more people know about it, more people can make it and enjoy it themselves. Besides, that cake tastes best when you’ve just baked it fresh at home.”
“……I was thinking perhaps we might keep the recipe exclusive to the Patisserie for another two months before releasing it publicly.”
Baron Sarato seemed to have gathered courage to voice this only after hearing Asha’s sentiment. However much she’d purchased the recipe, one couldn’t simply disregard its original author’s wishes.
“Good, good. Ah!”
Asha had been whisking honey and sugar into egg whites when a sudden thought struck her, and she tilted her head.
“When you do release the recipe, how are you planning to do it?”
“I was thinking of publishing it in Weekly Vicegda. Since it’s read by virtually the entire empire.”
In a certain sense, it truly was read by nearly everyone in the empire.
“That sounds perfect. But listen—what if we also sold the chocolate? Just enough for one serving of the cake, in small portions. Pretty packaging, with a card inside that includes the recipe.”
“……!”
“You know, that painter who designed our Patisserie’s sign? Have them create the packaging design and make it in small batches. So people can try making it at home on a whim. Hmm, do you think there’d be demand?”
“……!”
When Asha looked up, about to fold almond flour and wheat flour into the egg whites, Baron Sarato was frantically jotting down notes.
“Oh, Olga?”
“A brilliant idea, truly. Especially since it wouldn’t require significant investment to attempt.”
Baron Sarato continued speaking while scribbling urgently, not even looking at her. Asha watched his fervent note-taking while folding butter into the egg white mixture.
“I’ll start on a small scale to test the response and expand gradually. Lady, did you perhaps contract with a merchant-guardian spirit?”

“Ha ha…… of course not.”
Asha laughed awkwardly and quickly stroked the button at her right sleeve as if soothing someone. Pibi, who’d been ranting about how he couldn’t possibly be compared to some merchant-guardian spirit, finally calmed down once Asha agreed to make him five Financiers.
“This matter alone is worth consulting you for—I’d gladly pay a consultation fee.”
“Hmm? Really? That much?”
The moment Baron Sarato said “consultation fee,” Asha cut him off and interjected. Baron Sarato’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at her, his pen still poised over his notes.
“Oh, yes, yes! That’s right!”
“Then forget the consultation fee. Actually, I had a matter I wanted your advice on.”
“Yes? What might that be?”
“A business venture. It’s a powder for leavening sweets.”
“A powder for…… leavening sweets?”
“Yes. Pibi Powder, as I call it—I’ve developed it myself.”
Asha winked and smiled broadly. Baron Sarato listened to her words as if enchanted.

* * *

Fortunately, Ilya’s—or rather, practically Valery’s—social gathering took place without incident. Valery had decorated the Manor’s exterior more lavishly than usual, apparently determined not to let on that the business had fallen into disarray.
“Oh, Anastasia.”
Valery was nowhere to be found; only Ilya came to greet Asha at the entrance. Ilya looked terribly anxious, her complexion pale, yet she smiled shyly with evident relief upon seeing her.
“Ilya, this is the first time since the Spirit Ceremony, isn’t it? You didn’t come to the Victory Banquet either, so I haven’t seen you.”
“Ah! That time, I was…… ill.”
“Dmitri got food poisoning around then too, he said. Did you two eat the same thing?”
“Dmitri too?”
“No, I wasn’t!”
Dmitri, who had been hiding behind the pillar, poked his head out and called back sharply. Asha, who had already known he was there, smiled warmly.
“So Dmitri is delicate after all.”
“I’m not!”
Dmitri’s face twisted with wounded indignation, but he could offer no explanation for why he had missed the Victory Banquet.
“Everyone’s waiting, so let’s hurry.”
Instead, he turned and led the way into the Garden. Asha caught Ilya’s eye from where she lingered, exchanged a knowing smile with her, and followed after Dmitri.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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