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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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In the Medici family’s banquet hall, there was one dish that captivated everyone’s attention.
A cake adorned with pure white whipped cream and colorful fruits that shimmered like jewels.
The nobles’ attention naturally focused on this special dish.
“Has there ever been such a dessert in the Toscana Empire?”
Since it was new, some chattered, assuming it was an oriental item.
“The Bakers’ Guild doesn’t make anything like this. Isn’t it from the Orient?”
“But it goes so well with the other dishes at the banquet.”
They marveled but remained cautious.
“To introduce something this new, they must have hired a genius chef. The new Medici Baron is no ordinary person.”
As curiosity heated up the atmosphere, Albert, the new Medici Baron, entered.
Thanks to the newly made dessert, the atmosphere was quite bright.
It wasn’t exactly jovial, but curiosity filled the air, raising expectations for him.
‘The dessert Fabio made is already receiving such acclaim.’
“This is a new dessert made by our family, called ‘cake.’ It will be served as dessert at the end of the banquet meal.”
Nobles from families friendly with the Medici family congratulated Albert on his succession or engaged in small talk.
Yet, they subtly expressed their interest in the cake.
“I’m curious about how the new dessert introduced by the Medici Baron will taste.”
As a result, the banquet meal was served a little faster.
Sirloin steak drenched in spices like pepper, cloves, and nutmeg, pasta filled with cheese, and so on.
Dishes meant to show off wealth rather than taste.
The dishes themselves, while befitting a noble banquet, were often more expensive than delicious.
“Here is today’s dessert, the cake.”
Could a dish so visually appealing also be delicious?
The nobles unconsciously gulped.
“I’m looking forward to the taste of the new dessert from the Medici family.”
“I was getting tired of the same old dishes.”
Nobles are sensitive to trends.
If they don’t keep up with changing trends, they fall behind politically.
Falling behind can lead to decline and death.
So, they could die if they fail to embrace the new. Should they embrace this unfamiliar dish or not?
“Please, try it.”
Everyone swallowed at the sight of the individually plated cakes.
The red strawberries atop the pure white whipped cream shimmered like jewels.
Its appearance was as beautiful as a work of art.
The true value of the cake was revealed the moment it entered their mouths.
“The white whipped cream melts like sweet snow.”
“Such a delicious dessert. Truly worthy of the Medici Baron family.”
“This will undoubtedly lead the trend.”
The other banquet dishes were meant to “flaunt wealth,” so they were honestly reluctant to even touch…
But the cake had a slightly strong, yet not overwhelming sweetness, perfectly balanced with the refreshing tartness of the strawberries.
It was so delicious that they’d want to eat it again tomorrow.
Some nobles even set aside their dignity before the Medici Baron.
“Baron Medici, could I have another plate? It’s truly delicious.”
“Even the Imperial Palace probably doesn’t have desserts this good.”
As the praises continued, Albert, the new Medici Baron, smiled and granted their requests.
And the next morning, the Medici family was flooded with letters from those who enjoyed the cake, asking for the recipe.
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“I thought every noble would be interested in this cake, but the reaction is much better than I imagined, young master.”
The head butler calmly walked towards me.
As soon as he saw me, he gave an incredulous smile.
“We’ve been flooded with requests from the families who tasted the cake at the banquet a few days ago, asking us to share the recipe.”
Actually, making this type of cake isn’t that difficult.
Even a novice cook like me could whip one up beautifully in a few days with a little help from the chef.
‘If it were a truly amazing dish, it would’ve taken much more trial and error.’
No matter how skilled the chef is, if the dish were difficult to make, they would have encountered countless failures during their new attempts.
“So, what did you do?”
“Young Master Albert, no, Baron Medici said since it’s a dish created by Young Master Fabio, we should do as you wish.”
Now that my brother Albert has become the Baron, he should stop being so suspicious.
Did his paranoia worsen after becoming the Baron?
I understand that his position is insecure since he just inherited the title, but he’s testing my loyalty this way.
‘If I don’t hand over the recipe, he’ll suspect me.’
Well, I never intended to make a fortune with just this recipe in a world without patent rights anyway.
“Tell them that we can freely share the recipe with noble families close to the Medici family.”
Ideally, I’d like to sell the recipe to friendly families at a reasonable price and to hostile families at a high price.
Since there are no patents, I can’t expect royalties, so I need to secure some initial capital this way.
However, if I offer the recipe to hostile families as well, my brother Albert will be suspicious of me.
He’d easily misunderstand me as a coward trying to survive by wagging my tail at the enemy.
“Yes, young master. Also, the retired Baron wishes to commend you for your recent achievement. Please come to his room now.”
Honestly, my contribution isn’t small.
I created a dessert that enhanced the banquet, a matter of life and death for nobles’ reputations, slightly boosting the Medici family’s influence.
I also shared the recipe for a dish that will be at the center of future imperial banquet trends with friendly families for free, creating considerable obligation.
It might seem like just a recipe, but…
Even in Korea, before smartphones became widespread, a secret recipe as simple as adding three drops of glacial acetic acid to cold noodle broth was traded for millions of won.
So, the recipe for a dish that influences nobles’ reputations is priceless.
My steps lightened at the thought of finally revealing my hidden abilities and receiving a reward.
I felt like humming a tune.
I refrained from it, thinking it might seem strange to be too elated alone… but.
“Has Young Master Fabio been hiding his abilities?”
“You seem much more dependable these past few days.”
They say that even if a bad person does one good deed, they appear as a saint.
Although I wasn’t exactly a bad son causing trouble for my father…
Having ended my act of being ordinary and shown results, my reputation among the servants inevitably rose.
My father must have also raised his evaluation of me.
Basking in the joy of a smooth start in this world was short-lived.
“Father, I’m coming in.”
Just a few days ago, I entered my father’s room to discuss my future.
But the me then and the me now are different.
I have clear justification and achievements to persuade my father.
“Your gait has become confident.”
My father smiled as soon as he saw me.
He must be pleased that his son achieved something to boast about at a young age.
With a smile, my father pushed a basket from his desk towards me.
The basket was filled with letters from nobles.
“Sebastian must have told you, so I won’t be long-winded. Well done. Thanks to you, Albert could save face.”
For nobles, banquets are like wars where lives are at stake.
But among them, weddings, funerals, and the first banquet after inheriting a title as a lord are particularly important.
‘The political debut banquet is a place to gauge a noble’s abilities.’
My father sighed in the middle of his praise.
“Seeing you excel even in lowly commerce makes me think you could achieve great things as an officer or official. But since you kept your promise to me, Fabio, I won’t force you anymore.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ll need capital to start your business in earnest. How much do you need?”
The more initial capital, the better.
However, speaking vaguely to a noble who has spent his life surviving political struggles won’t get me anywhere.
“A shop of reasonable size on Vecchio Street, a skilled patissier, and 50 gold coins.”
It’s impossible to accurately convert the value of one gold coin into Korean won.
Because there’s an incomparable difference between the nominal currency value of this era and that of 21st-century Korea.
However, based on the Toscana Empire’s prices…
50 gold coins can buy a house for a middle-class family in the capital.
“That’s a lot to ask for.”
“I believe my work is worth that much. And I will return it with even greater political gains.”
It’s like demanding an apartment for creating a cake, but…
My work is worth that much.
I demonstrated the absence of future uncertainty regarding the Medici family’s management succession and even slightly increased the family’s value.
“What are you planning to use it for?”
“I plan to create a space where people can casually converse while enjoying the cakes, pastries, and tea I make.”
Just by introducing new pastries and cakes every few months, it will quickly become a trendy spot.
Nobles are always thirsty for novelty.
If it becomes the center of trends, the cafe will become the center of politics and economy.
“Even though the name Fabio de’ Medici has become known thanks to your cake, that alone won’t be enough to attract people.”
Currently, I’m just the second son of a Baron family who devised a new dessert.
I can’t say I’m unknown…
But people won’t flock to the cafe just because of my name.
So, I’ll use a different approach.
“I’ll attract courtesans using the cake’s reputation.”
Courtesans, the equivalent of Korean gisaeng and idols.
As I mentioned idols, they influence many of the empire’s trends.
Why? Because they’re incredibly beautiful.
And a cafe frequented by beautiful women, or rather, idols, can’t possibly fail, right?
“They’ll line up if I just give them free cakes and pastries.”
My father immediately used his pen to write an order and a check.
“You have proven your worth, so do as you please. I won’t blame you even if you fail.”
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