Chapter 17: Soft bread(5).

I arranged the Danish pastries on a large platter, setting out small plates and teacups.

“Shall we have some tea?”

I boiled water, poured it into a teapot with tea leaves, and let it steep for three minutes before pouring it into three teacups.

“Pastries are rich in butter, so maybe we need wet towels.”

With that thought, I prepared some.

The egg-washed Danish surfaces gleamed under the room’s light.

“I hope they like it.”

Picturing the Cait Siths’ faces, I called out loudly.

“Cain, Abel! Lunch is ready!”

My voice carried through the mansion and the Farm Utopia.

Before long, the two scampered in, having heard me.

“More new bread today, nya!”

“What kind of bread this time, nya?”

Their whiskers leaned forward with excitement.

Seeing the Danish pastries on the table, their eager expressions deepened.

“It smells so toasty, nya!”

“Full of buttery aroma, nya!”

Their tails swayed. I gave my usual reminder.

“Wash your hands before eating.”

““Okay!””

They replied cheerfully, dashing to the sink to wash their paws in turn. Then they pattered back and took their seats. I sat down too.

“““Let’s eat!”””

In unison, we said the pre-meal words and reached for the Danish pastries.

The Cait Siths bit into them with a crisp sound.

“Nya! So flaky, nya!”

“Bursting with butter flavor, nya!”

They shared their reactions.

“This is bread, nya!?”

“My cheeks are melting, nya!”

After that, they devoured their first pastries with gusto. Watching them with a warm smile, I finished my first Danish too.

“This is super delicious, nya!”

“A food revolution, nya!”

They exclaimed, eating all three types each, sticking to their share. Satisfied by their joy and feeling accomplished, I sipped my tea and finished my Danish pastries.

The Cait Siths, done with their pastries, gulped down their tea.

“Phew, so good, nya!”

“The best time ever, nya!”

They looked thoroughly satisfied. Then, Cain spoke up as if struck by an idea.

“Nya, Christina-nya.”

“What is it, Cain?”

“This is a food revolution, nya. Why not sell it instead of keeping it just for our mansion, nya?”

“Sell it?”

—Sell it. Like a business?

I repeated it in my mind.

I had ample savings from a year of Middle and High Heal Potion payments. But what about living off that for a lifetime?

“…You’re right. Making a living from it might be a good idea.”

I could sell potions too, since I’m an alchemical mage.

“Then why not serve Christina-nya’s delicious food to everyone, nya?”

Abel made another suggestion.

—Serve food? Like a café?

As a cooking enthusiast, that idea appealed to me.

The mansion was at the end of a winding alley on the capital’s outskirts, so foot traffic would be low. I could offer a limited daily menu with rotating specials to keep customers from getting bored.

Bread, potions, and a café. It might be ambitious.

But I wanted to try.

“Cain, Abel! I’m going to do it!”

I made up my mind.