Chapter 38 – Reception of the Duke
As expected, to my luck, it took exactly three long days for the entourage to dock. The most curious part was that their appearance did not happen via the Royal Road with the usual trot of rustic carriages, but rather through a portal of purple, shimmering energy that tore out of nowhere near the entrance of the citadel's stone wall. Right after the mystic flash, a few escort soldiers with shining armor and three imposing carriages emerged. Since the guards on duty had already been alerted about the imminent arrival, they gave immediate priority to the passage of the Duke and his companions, sending a messenger running toward the castle.
My father soon had me notified, while my caretaker, Thys, came to help me with her usual firmness to adjust the folds of my noble garments. The same notice was brought to Yara's quarters, informing her that her father had arrived, accompanied by her mother, Duchess Catherine, her older brother, and her younger sister, Lexia.
My mother had already prepared the main hall for the formal reception, as well as the separate manor house that would serve as lodging for the Duke's family for the next three days, ensuring them due comfort since the castle lacked vacant rooms appropriate for a retinue of that size.
When we arrived at the castle's main entrance, the ruler of Oceana and his family began to disembark. However, we had a surprise: the initial messages spoke of three carriages, but seven vehicles ended up crossing the magical rift, which remained open for a few more moments until releasing the other four carriages that came right behind, catching the guard sentinels completely off guard. The number of people was truly impressive. "Good thing I thought of exaggerating the provisions sent to Master Baldo in the kitchen; otherwise, our hospitality would be in a delicate situation," I thought, watching the flow of nobles.
After the formal greetings and etiquette exchanges, my father indicated the way to the meeting room. Before proceeding to the grand table, Oceana's retinue was divided into three strategic groups: Duke Nerius and four trusted counselors accompanied me to a reserved room to discuss the terms with me; Duchess Catherine, the children, the other nobles, and the official rift wizard were directed to an adjacent hall to be served by the castle's servants; and the escort soldiers were lodged in the garrison's rest wing.
That was where my first true diplomatic battle began.
The atmosphere inside the office was one of high tension. Seated at the polished mahogany table were Duke Nerius—haughty, imposing, and with analytical eyes—Marquis Arl Vance with his firm and cutting posture, the Duke's accounting right-hand man Master Varis, the experienced head of Nereus's shipbuilding guild Master Calebe, Calebe's young and ambitious son Joran, and the influential head of commerce of the port region, Eldon.
I was not yet in the room when they entered, but over the center of the table already rested the heavy papyri containing the sketches and preliminary layouts of the new vessel model.
Duke Nerius ran his gloved fingers along the edges of the unrolled papyrus, raising an eyebrow with skepticism mixed with intrigued fascination.
— I have to admit, Marquis Arl... When your missive landed in Nereus mentioning revolutionary concepts of naval engineering coming directly from your heir, I expected any artifice, except this graphic boldness — Nerius let out a dry laugh, staring at the noble from Vance Fortress. — Hull lines that defy the traditional pattern of our galleys and a completely unusual deck layout.
Lord Arl crossed his broad arms, keeping his expression impassive, though a gleam of paternal pride was hidden beneath his habitual general seriousness.
— Now, Duke Nerius, Kaelen never leaves a loose thread. If he drew it this way, I guarantee there is an implicit logic behind every stroke of handwriting, even if the rustic details need minor woodworking adjustments — retorted Arl, with that ironic firmness of someone who knows his son's audacity well.
Master Calebe, the old head of the shipbuilding guild, approached the scrolls with magnifying glasses attached to a leather cord. He analyzed the keel proportions, furrowed his wrinkled brow, and shook his head in a sign of doubt mixed with reluctant respect.
— With all due respect to young Master Kaelen, Highness... — began Calebe, pointing with the handle of his writing quill to the bi-composite keel section. — He is not a builder trained in the royal shipyards. There are structural proportions here that violate traditional buoyancy calculation and weight distribution in wood. If we try to build the hull exactly like this, the vessel will suffer excessive torsion on turns in open sea.
Young Joran, leaning over his father's shoulder, broke into a smug smile and shrugged, quick to belittle someone else's work.
— That is exactly what I tried to say, father. These are outlandish ideas from a young noble who spends too much time inventing fads in the castle. The boy understands nothing of mast rigging resistance nor the tide pressures of our ocean. If we send this papyrus to the main shipyard, we will waste months of work and tons of noble wood on an unviable model.
Before Arl could retort to the youngster's petulance with one of his cutting sermons, Eldon, the head of commerce of Nereus, cleared his throat, adjusting his accounting notes beside Master Varis.
— Hasty boy, Joran. The question here is not whether the design is ready for the immediate cutting of oak — pondered Eldon, raising a merchandise balance sheet. — What is at stake is not the absolute technical perfection of the paper at this moment, but the concept. If this model by Kaelen can reduce water drag or optimize cargo space by more than thirty parts per hundred, as he suggests in his marginal calculations, we are talking about an unprecedented commercial revolution for the southern routes.
Master Varis, the Duke's chief accountant, adjusted his glasses on his nose and nodded coldly, agreeing with the economic perspective.
— Financially speaking, the risk of testing an innovative prototype is infinitely smaller than the cost of remaining stagnant with the same slow ships as always. Even with the calculation errors that Master Calebe pointed out — and which will obviously need to be corrected by professionals —, the importance of a new and fast model like this completely alters the kingdom's trading board.
Duke Nerius leaned back in the high-backed chair, lightly tapping his knuckles on the polished wood of the table, while staring at the blueprints with renewed interest.
— Well then... — concluded the Duke, looking directly at Lorde Arl. — The boy may not be a builder hardened by sea salt, but the vision behind this project has the potential to change Nereus's navy. Marquis Arl, bring your son here. I want to see if the lad can sustain in practice all this audacity he put on papyrus.
I approached the table with firm steps and extended the organized scrolls containing the detailed and digested synthesis of the technical project:
Technical Memorial of Naval Engineering: The Caravel-Ship Project — Structural Layouts, Special Inputs, and Transoceanic Flow Dynamics
Contrast and Volumetric Displacement Table
To ensure the high nobility of Oceana understands the technical chasm, the project establishes the following direct comparison between contemporary naus and the new engine:
Technical Parameter | Oceana's Current Vessel | New Heavy Caravel / Vance Ship
Payload Capacity | Maximum 300 tons | 1,200 metric tons (400% Gain)
Total Recalculated Mass | ~400 tons with hull | 1,600 to 2,000 tons fully loaded
Keel Length | ~20 to 25 meters | 45 to 55 meters in length
Freeboard (Hull Height) | Low (vulnerable to ether waves) | High, with elevated Bow and Stern Castles
Rigging Arrangement | 1 to 2 fixed masts | 3 to 4 masts with Mixed Sailcloth
Estimated Manufacturing Time | 8 to 12 months in a rustic shipyard | 18 to 30 months full cycle
II. Structural Modifications and Application of Exotic Inputs
To support a total mass of up to 2,000 tons under the massive gravity of the exomoon, the technical design breaks away from traditional woodworking through three support axes:
- The Bi-Composite Keel and Orichalcum Nails: The ship's skeleton will not use ordinary wood dowels alone. The backbone will be forged in Ironwood Patrol Hardwood, whose dense fibers support crushing pressures. All joints and fastening ribs will be locked with Orichalcum and High-Forge Steel nails and hinges, eliminating the mechanical stress that usually breaks large ships in half.
- Wide-Belly Hull and Round Bottom: Current vessels are narrow and capsize if overloaded. The new design introduces a slightly flat bottom with an expanded belly. This distributes weight evenly over water density, ensuring absolute stability and preventing the ship from heeling under strong winds.
- The Reinforced Sternpost Rudder: Replaces archaic side steering oars with a vertical central rudder coupled directly to the stern. Controlled by bronze pulleys, it allows a 1,600-ton nau to change course with the effort of a single helmsman.
Civilizational Construction Timeline (18 to 30-Month Cycle)
Unlike rustic barges assembled in a hurry, this supership requires strict industrial rigor divided into three strict stages:
1. Collection and Dry Curing (4 to 8 months): Meticulous selection of dense oak for the ribs and flexible pine for the masts. The wood must go through a controlled natural drying process at Viscount Brand de Silva's charcoal kilns to eliminate internal moisture and prevent boards from warping or cracking upon touching the sea.
2. Carpentry and Critical Caulking (8 to 12 months): Skeleton assembly and board-by-board hull fixing. The great secret against storms and leaks is sealing the gaps using linen tow soaked in pitch and conifer tar extracted by Baron Pine, creating an impassable waterproof barrier.
3. Rigging and Mixed Sailcloth (4 to 6 months): Installation of masts and sewing of sails. The introduction of the Mizzen Mast with a Lateen (triangular) sail at the stern allows the ship to "tack" — that is, sail in a zigzag against the wind —, preventing the heavy vessel from drifting in open sea.
— Does this serve as a dowry for your daughter's hand, Most Excellent Lord Duke? — I asked, bowing respectfully before him, while handing over the twelve supplementary schematic scrolls of the carvel project. — Our intention is for it to serve as a wedding gift; however, the actual construction of the ships will be conditioned on a formal commercial agreement to be signed and governed directly in conjunction with my father.
The length and audacity of the Technical Memorial filled the silence of the meeting room with an almost palpable weight. Duke Nerius raised his eyes from the scroll, visibly surprised by the precision and monumental scale of what was written.
Before the duke could articulate a response, Lord Arl, with a side smile mixing paternal pride and the astuteness of an experienced noble, leaned slightly in his chair.
— Now, Duke Nerius... I believe this is a rather memorable way to unite two houses, don't you think? — pointed out Arl, maintaining a firm posture. — But the contractual details of shipbuilding, schedules, and the definitive commercial agreement will be left to the discretion of our direct negotiations shortly.
Duke Nerius sketched a half-smile, weighing every word while looking at the schematic papyri accumulating before him.
— Most Excellent Lord Duke, what is your opinion? Do you believe it is to your liking? Do you have any technical questions? — I inquired, maintaining composure.
The silence in the meeting room lasted a few seconds, seeming to stretch as Duke Nerius's eyes scanned the smallest details of the technical memorial. The ruler leaned back slowly in his chair, crossing his gloved fingers over the table, while a smile of evident admiration and political calculation blossomed on his face.
— Sincerely, young Kaelen... — began the Duke, his grave voice echoing through the office. — When I heard about the innovations coming from your hands, I thought they were just the whims of a young noble with too much imagination. But seeing a four-hundred-part gain per hundred in payload capacity, a stabilized wide-belly hull, and the strategic use of orichalcum and hardwood... This is not just a naval project. It is an absolute game-changer for Nereus's trade routes.
Nerius leaned forward, staring directly at the blueprints of the bi-composite keel and sternpost rudder.
— As for your question of whether this serves as a dowry... I must admit it is, without a doubt, the most ambitious and valuable wedding gift I have ever seen offered to a noble house in generations. Yara's hand certainly carries an inestimable weight, but you knew how to equip it with pure engineering. However, as you well pointed out, the physical viability and commercial agreement to turn these twelve papyri into real fleets in the waters will require strict contractual terms that we will handle directly with your father.
I glanced sideways at my father, raising my chin slightly toward him in a clear indication. It was the perfect cue.
— As for coins, tariff rates, orichalcum import taxes, and cash flows, I am a complete zero on the left... And everyone in the room knows that very well. I will leave the financial and contractual part to those who truly understand vaults and taxes. —
Lord Arl cleared his throat, taking the lead of the table with the imposition of someone born negotiating treaties. He leaned back in his chair, staring at Duke Nerius and accountant Master Varis with an analytical smile.
— Now, Duke Nerius, if the boy has already delivered the engineering and raw concept, it is up to us to close the math of this endeavor — began the Marquis, his firm voice cutting through the room's air. — The Caravel-Ship project will not leave the paper by miracle. To mobilize Brand de Silva's charcoal kilns, extract Ironwood Hardwood in Thalia, and import orichalcum alloys from Viscount Vulcan, we will need to structure a mixed investment fund between our houses.
Master Varis, the Duke's accounting right-hand man, immediately adjusted his glasses and pulled a blank registry book forward, his quill already clicking with expectation.
Across the table, Eldon, the head of commerce of Nereus, raised a hand to weigh in.
— An endeavor of this magnitude requires a lot of wood and specialized labor. If we are to share the costs and profits of the southern trade routes, what will be the participation percentage of Nereus's shipyards in the initial assembly line, Marquis? —
Young Joran crossed his arms, huffing with restrained disdain, but kept silent under the cutting glare Lord Arl shot him.
My father did not miss a beat. He tapped his knuckles on the mahogany table, dictating terms with surgical precision.
— House Vance enters with the project's intellectual property, initial technical direction, and the guarantee of northern raw materials. In counterpart, the House of Nereus will enter with capital for the shipyard infrastructure and labor from Master Calebe's guild. — Lord Arl paused, crossing his arms and waiting for the reaction from the other side.
Master Varis, the Duke's accounting right-hand man, exchanged a knowing glance with Eldon, the head of commerce. Both adjusted their postures at the table, adopting the habitual tactic of protecting Oceana's vaults at all costs.
— We understand the value of young Kaelen's layout, Marquis — began Eldon, clearing his throat and adopting a falsely mild tone. — However, we must be pragmatic. The crown of Nereus will bear ten parts out of ten of the financial risk. We will finance the shipyards, guild salaries, and suffer the loss if the hull cracks. Therefore, our initial offer to seal the dowry is the payment of a single, fixed sum of fifteen hundred gold coins for the perpetual right of use of the design, free of other ties.
Master Varis nodded coldly, complementing:
— And, to demonstrate our goodwill, we will grant House Vance a fee of two parts per hundred on the net profit of goods transported exclusively in the first five voyages of each built nau. It is a fair sum for someone who will not spend a single span of wood on assembly.
— Two parts per hundred? — I let out a muffled laugh at the end of the table, shaking my head. — You want to buy the paradigm of a new naval era for the price of three rustic carriages? —
Young Joran smiled out of the corner of his mouth, thinking we had been cornered by the accountants' bureaucracy, but his smile died as soon as Lord Arl leaned forward. My father's gaze transformed into the edge of a sharpened sword.
— You are confusing the generosity of the dowry for Yara's hand with naivety, Master Varis — Arl's voice thundered, cutting, making Eldon swallow hard. — Accepting a single handout or an irrisory percentage on other people's sweat would be an insult to my heir's intelligence. If Oceana wants the twelve papyri, the terms will be different.
The Marquis tapped his knuckles on the mahogany table, dictating the rules with surgical precision:
— First: Fixed Equity Participation. House Vance will retain absolute ownership of one nau for every four fully built in your shipyards. That means twenty-five parts per hundred of the initial fleet will actually belong to the Vances, and we will operate or lease these vessels as we see fit.
— Second: Royalties per Voyage — I continued my father's reasoning, picking up the thread right away. — We will not accept fees on net earnings, as your accounting books can easily camouflage expenses. We demand a perpetual participation of seven parts per hundred on the gross earnings of all trade routes utilizing the Caravel-Ship model, as long as the design remains the exclusive industrial secret of our alliance.
Eldon opened his mouth, shocked, trying to calculate the disaster that would cause in his usual profits. Duke Nerius watched everything in silence, the glow of admiration growing in his eyes.
— What if the crown of Nereus wants total exclusivity of the patent so no other province can buy the manufacturing rights? — questioned the Duke, testing our limits.
— In that case, Most Excellent Lord Duke — I replied with total coldness, sustaining the sea ruler's gaze —, the list price for intellectual property and my initial technical advising will be two thousand gold coins free of any taxation for each unit initiated in the shipyards. This amount must be paid in installments precisely at the start of each assembly cycle, during the wood collection and curing phase. Otherwise, the layouts do not leave Vance Fortress.
Master Varis furrowed his brow, his fingers trembling slightly as he calculated the numbers mentally before starting to scribble the new contractual clauses onto the parchment. He looked at the Duke with an expression that openly said: "They have us pegged perfectly."
Duke Nerius, in turn, gave a broad smile, clearly satisfied and evaluating the immense advantage that alliance would bring to both houses, aware that the Vances knew full well the power they held in their hands.
— Lord Duke, do not worry — I stated firmly. — My father and I will be honorable and honest with you in this endeavor. Your daughter is well, and after the lunch we prepared for you, you will have plenty of time to talk.
Duke Nerius raised an eyebrow at my direct posture, but soon broke into a sincere smile, which softened the ruler's severe expression.
— A house's honor is measured by the words and actions of its heirs, young Kaelen — replied the Duke, with a tone of clear approval. — And from what I saw in these papyri and the formidable banquet you mentioned, I see House Vance does not play around. Knowing Yara is safe and protected here takes a huge weight off my shoulders.
The Duke rose slightly from his chair, signaling that the formal business meeting was concluding for now, making way for the promised hospitality.
— That being said... — concluded Nerius. — I gladly accept the invitation to lunch. Let us see if your culinary arts are as impressive as your naval engineering, Kaelen. After the meal, we will have all the time in the world to finalize matters with your father and see my daughter again.
I looked at my father, who promptly assumed the moment's direction.
— Dear Duke, then let us first have lunch and allow you to finally meet your daughter. We will still have plenty of time for the contractual settlements — invited Lord Arl.
— I am very pleased with this development. Let us go — assented Duke Nerius.
Heading to the waiting room, the technical retinue exchanged impressions in low voices in the corridor.
— Master Calebe, what is your opinion? — asked Duke Nerius, breaking the silence.
— The project is bold, Highness — replied Calebe, his voice loaded with genuine respect. — It has some rustic structural design flaws that will need to be adjusted by our guild, but overall, the model is real and perfectly viable to build. If we manage to get it off paper, my blood boils just thinking about the chance to raise a ship of this size. This will fundamentally change our navigation! The project highlights several points where crossing becomes much practical, even against unfavorable winds, not to mention stability... The strong points do not even need mentioning, it is magnificent work.
Duke Nerius nodded slowly, turning to his registrar.
— Varis, have you calculated the expenses? How much will we have to allocate for this? —
— Seeing the project's scale, Sire, I estimate the construction of each unit will cost around nine thousand to fifteen thousand gold coins in a twenty-six-month cycle. We will have to monitor how merchants react when we place bulk orders for special woods and alloys; costs will likely increase by ten to fifteen parts per hundred of the initial value due to temporary supply scarcity. However, the gain in cargo volume will compensate with rich interest once this fleet is operational.
Taking another step toward the group, the ruler directed his gaze to the head of commerce.
— And you, Eldon... What is your assessment? —
Eldon adjusted his posture, his eyes shining at the prospect of colossal profits.
— If we are to operate on this scale, we will need to expand the docks and warehouses immediately, Highness. We will have to hire and train much more labor, both to operate the naus and for the shipyards. But considering the volume of cargo transported per trip and thinking that our commerce can reach much more distant regions of the south, the financial return will simply be astronomical.
— We have an inflection point here. I think everyone agrees, correct? Now we just need to see what my daughter thinks and learn all the details after her kidnapping... — declared Duke Nerius, changing his tone before hardening his expression. — And let it be clear: absolutely nothing leaves this room about this project. This is a state order. Understood?
Everyone in the retinue nodded vehemently, understanding the weight of absolute secrecy.
Upon arriving at the waiting room and encountering the Duchess and children, the ruler's cold and political armor melted completely. Upon seeing her father, Yara dashed in his direction, running to embrace him as tears rolled down her fair-skinned face.
— Father! I missed you so much... How are you? Did they do any harm to you? — she asked, her voice choked.
— Do not worry, my child. Your father is strong; there are no hooded bandits capable of hurting me — reassured her the Duke, stroking the young woman's blue hair before sighing deeply. — But I will be honest with all of you: they demanded a fortune to deliver you alive. Twenty thousand gold coins upfront, and another twenty thousand upon delivery. The first installment was almost paid by our treasurers, were it not for the urgent warning by Marquis Arl...
Duchess Catherine, the twenty-two-year-old eldest son, and younger sister Lexia recoiled, horrified by the extortion revelation.
— Nerius! You did not tell me the amount was so high! Why were you not honest with me? — questioned the Duchess, her chest rising and falling with contained anguish.
— I knew you were already consumed by worry for our daughter, Catherine, and I was still evaluating the best way to crush those criminals — defended himself the Duke, before turning his attention to the young woman. — Yara... Can you tell me everything that happened until you were saved?
Yara wiped her tears, her expression rapidly changing from dread to sincere and brilliant admiration.
— Father, can you believe it? Who saved me was not once, but twice! It was Kaelen! Not only is he extremely intelligence, but he also commands very strange magics. Besides that, he was the one who helped prepare all the foods we will have today; he created entirely new recipes just to surprise us...
The Duke furrowed his brow, intrigued.
— How do you know all this, girl? —
— Because I participated in part of the kitchen process and ate some of the test sweets. They are divine! The delicacies look a little strange at first glance, but the flavor is indescribable... Make a point to taste them initially; you will understand on the first bite.
The Duchess looked at her daughter, skeptical.
— Is it really that good? Is it better than the dishes by our private chef from Oceana? —
— Mother, you really have no idea... He invented a crispy, wonderful pastry filled with freshly picked fruits... — insisted Yara, her eyes shining.
The Duke slowly turned to Eldon, the head of commerce, giving a direct order.
— Intercept the kitchen, taste everything that was prepared, and then give me a detailed report on the vigor of those recipes.
— Yes, Highness — volunteered Eldon, containing his own appetite.
The ruler turned his eyes back to his daughter, with a knowing smile on his lips.
— Tell me, my daughter... You know he formally asked for your hand in marriage through sent scrolls. Do you agree with this union? —
Yara blushed slightly, but sustained her father's gaze firmly.
— Yes, my father... We had already talked about the proposals before, but after living with Kaelen, I realized that, no matter how mysterious his temperament is, he possesses a huge heart. I ended up actually liking him. I just didn't want this to bring political damage to our house... —
The Duke let out a grave laugh, shaking his head pompously.
— My dear child, you have no idea what this mischievous young man set up at the negotiation table. The gift he offered as dowry will make both our houses richer than the imperial crown of Eldoria itself! We will likely have an explosive jump in wealth after signing the contract. So, if he hit the mark on the dowry with such valuation precision, I can state without fear of erring that he truly values you, especially given the gigantic size of the offer.
Duchess Catherine, who was about to stand up, froze in place.
— Is... Is it really that big? —
— By my most conservative market estimates... Two hundred thousand gold coins minimum, is the gross value of what he placed on the table in intellectual property — sentenced the Duke.
Both the Duchess and Yara felt their legs weaken and collapsed back into the cushioned chairs, completely stunned.
The Duke's eldest son, who had been listening to the conversation open-mouthed, jolted in his chair.
— Father... Are you serious? The scale of this proportion is simply absurd for a single wedding dowry... —
— Yes, it is real — confirmed the Duke, with a gleam of pure ambition in his eyes. — And I say more: I am talking only about the return value accumulated in two years of commerce maximum. Long-term, with new sea routes opened, I dare not even put that into numbers.
— Then now all that is left for us is to taste what this boy provided us — said Duke Nerius, with high expectations shining in his gaze, anticipating the banquet awaiting them in the adjacent room.
The castle's grand banquet hall had been prepared to receive the retinue with an opulence mixing the rustic vigor of the north with the refinement of great courts. On the long tables of polished oak, steaming and richly decorated platters brought a succession of unprecedented delicacies.
Duke Nerius sat at the head, still with his mind astounded by the naval project's colossal numbers, but curious to see if young Kaelen's cooking lived up to his inventive fame. Service began with savory main courses. The servants served Imperial Roasted Chicken, perfectly browned in animal fat and garnished with cooked pears and oregano, alongside Rolled Meat stuffed with sausage and bacon, plunged into a full-bodied reduction of wine and spices.
As soon as the first piece of meat touched the Duke's palate, his severe expression as a ruler yielded. Nerius's eyes widened slightly; the texture was so soft it required almost no effort to chew, and the concentrated flavor of smoked bacon combined perfectly with the acidity of the wine sauce.
To accompany the meats, the two special drinks Kaelen had perfected were served. For the younger ones and ladies, glass goblets brought Alchemical Carbonated Waters, mixed with natural strawberry and pear juices. The Duke and his counselors were fascinated by the clinking of effervescent bubbles rising up the glass, cleansing the palate with every sip with a invigorating freshness. As for Marquis Arl and the Duke himself, Hypocras was served—the full-bodied, warm wine spiced with ginger and brown sugar, which exhaled a robust aroma and warmed the chest instantly.
Right after came the dense accompaniments. The plates were filled with Root Puree whipped with fat and rosemary, velvety Wheat Porridge cooked in milk with selected pieces of dried meat and crispy bacon, and Rustic Toast toasted with artisanal butter and a touch of oregano.
Duchess Catherine, skeptical until the last second, brought a portion of the bacon wheat porridge to her lips. Skepticism gave way immediately to surprise and genuine delight before so much creaminess. But the evening's climax was yet to come: the moment of sweets.
The servants cleared the table to bring Plum Cake, Royal Stuffed Cake with egg yolk cream and fresh strawberries, and the Pear Puff Pastry Final Dessert. The Duke took the cutlery and cut a piece of that golden, crispy pastry Yara had praised so much. Duchess Catherine did the same with the fruit puff tart.
— By the gods... This is... a celestial gift. How is it possible for such an exotic combination to be so refined? — whispered the Duchess, turning to Yara, who smiled triumphantly beside her mother.
Young Lexia, Yara's sister, was already devouring her portion of stuffed cake with childish enthusiasm, while the Duke's eldest son shook his head in surrender before the pastry's lightness. And, to close the night in a relaxed way, as a rustic tavern final surprise, Kaelen had appetizers served: generous portions of potatoes and cassava sliced very thin and fried at extremely high temperatures in animal fat, sprinkled with crushed coarse salt. The crunchy snap of those fried roots broke court formality once and for all; even the Duke, unaccustomed to finger foods, picked up a golden potato slice and marveled at the addictive simplicity of the flavor.
Right behind the ducal family's table, the four counselors accompanying the Duke — Master Calebe, his son Joran, accountant Master Varis, and commerce chief Eldon — had their own reactions, caught in a delicious conflict between full satisfaction and the guilt of surrendering so easily to the rival house's charms.
Master Calebe chewed a toast with puree slowly, evaluating texture with the same rigor he evaluated a hull's wood. He fought internally to maintain the severe expression of a traditional master builder, but closed his eyes for a second, sighing satisfied and admitting in a low voice:
— Even in the kitchen, the boy demonstrates an implacable layout exactness... Impressive.
Joran tried to maintain a disdainful posture, but his stomach betrayed him. Upon taking a disguised bite of the imperial chicken and grabbing a handful of crispy fries, the young builder fell silent instantly, glancing away from his plate to disguise his own contentment.
Master Varis, the numbers man, wiped his mouth with a linen napkin with extreme formality, but was already signaling discreetly for a servant to bring another glass of sparkling strawberry water.
Finally, Eldon, who had received direct orders to intercept and report on the food quality, was already mentally scribbling notes for his report.
— Highness, if you allow me an aside before the formal report... — said Eldon, clearing his throat with reverence and a greedy gleam in his eyes. — If we commercialize these recipes of marinated meats, puff pastries, and effervescent drinks in the southern routes, the ports will go crazy in a few moons. The taste of this is worth as much as legitimate gold coins.
Yara, seated among her family members, observed everyone's reaction with a radiant smile, feeling her chest fill with pride for the fiancé who, in a few hours, had conquered not only her father's reason, but also the stomach of all Nereus's court and surpassed any expectation, proving he had prepared the perfect terrain to unite the two houses.
