Chapter 70 – The Bonus Test Product
translations are incorrect if you read this anywhere other than mylittlehippokun.wordpress.com
「How was it, Princess Abelia? I thought each and every one of them were very good.」
「Well… Although they were all things I have never eaten before, was it called chestnut mousse? I think that one was the best. Of course, the others were also wonderful and delicious but… Because, only being able to have those sorts of sweets this one time, is regretful1. Aah, but when Sakura-sama (mumbles), my opportunities to eat them will increase, right? If I don’t get His Highness Sedrim to do his best, then that wouldn’t be good ne.」
「That’s right. Please also do it for Princess Abelia.」
Eh? What was that? Why are those two people looking at me? Huh? Even the others, how come they are looking at me with such lukewarm eyes? Heey?
「It seems it’s still impossible ne…」
「Umu…」
「That’s because Sedrim onii-sama has a weak offense…」
「The person herself is completely unaware of it na…」
「I would like to quickly have a piece of mind wa…」
Eeh? Why am I being gazed at with that sort of pitiful eyes this time?
「Ahー, Sakura, it seems there are still boxes remaining, what is that one?」
Eh? Ooh, that’s right. The umeshu jelly still remained. I intended for it as a bonus, but let’s use it for the sake of escaping this atmosphere. (note: umeshu is a liqueur made with plums and alcohol)
「Umm, although it’s different from the commission contents, I made this as a test product. If it’s okay with all of you, would you like to try it?」
Before hearing the response, I quickly took out a box and opened it.
The waiter-san immediately distributed them in front of everyone.
「It’s made for the summer, plums are pickled in alcohol then made into a jelly2. Although it isn’t a seasonal fruit, please try it. Ah, please be careful since there are seeds in the plums.」
A faint colour shows through as the jelly inside the gla.s.s catches the light. Within it are two beads of plums. Everyone’s eyes are focused on the gla.s.ses.
Phew, I suppose I’ve deceived them with that? The stuff I made as a test product was surprisingly useful.
However, why had I been looked at with such eyes, I wonder?3
While thinking that, I ate my own portion.
……Mmm, it has a pickled-like fragrance. It seems if it was a little earlier, it wouldn’t have been delicious ne. But the flavour came out, so with that…4!
「Ara, this jelly has a strong taste of alcohol huh? In addition, it has a slight acidity, it feels refreshing.」
「Fumu, I would be able to eat this even if it was given to me as an individual item na.」
「It might be better if the alcohol was a little bit stronger na.」
Fumu, it appears it has a high evaluation ne.
Mmm, if that’s the case, maybe I should have tried making jelly with pickled grapes in white wine ne. There wasn’t enough time though.
「……Sakura, it seems these contain alcohol, but will that be alright? You’re, umm, weak to alcohol, right?」
「Eh? Aah, this much is fine, you see. Although I say it’s alcohol, it’s still jelly, the majority of it has been released during its creation.」
The Prince seems to be a worrywart ne. No matter how weak to alcohol I am, there’s no
way I would get drunk off jelly, isn’t that right? Even I’m careful in that situation.5
「Leaving that aside, how is it? Although it’s umeshu this time, but I wonder how it would be if pears or grapes were used with white wine to make a similar jelly.」
Rather, perhaps it would be good to try using the pear compote as it is and turn it into a jelly ne. Since I can easily make it if it’s that.
「Nn? Aah, that’s right na. Since Sakura thinks it’s a good idea, isn’t it fine to try and make it?」
「Mu, that’s a very ‘whatever you do is fine’ type of response ne. Since I purposely wanted to hear your opinion, please say what you think, Prince.」6
「No, even if you say that, because I don’t understand how to make it good, my answer… Sakura? Your face is red, are you alright?」7
「I’m fine you know. If you don’t understand, then please say it properly. Otherwise, it will sound like nothing but ‘whatever is okay’, wouldn’t it? ……Nn, as expected, it’s actually a little sour ne. If I had left it to ferment a little longer, would that have been better?」
「Say, are you really alright? Wouldn’t it be better to take a rest?」
「Geez, I already said I’m fine~. The Prince is a worrywart nee~. Rather, are you alright, Prince? You look wobbly, you know?」
Exactly as I said, the Prince was swaying in front of my eyes. Saying things like I’m weak to alcohol, unexpectedly, isn’t it the Prince who’s drunk?
Huh? Could the King and Queen also be drunk? Princess Aria, Prince Sedrim, as well as Princess Abelia are wobbling too, you know? Huh, huh? Could everyone be weak to alcohol?
「Aah, don’t eat anymore.」
「Ah-! How cruel!」
The Prince s.n.a.t.c.hed away the plum from my spoon! Furthermore, he picked it with his fingers!
「Even though I purposely set it aside to eat it at the end! Please return it! ……Nom.」
I caught his arm, which was carrying off the plum away from me, and s.n.a.t.c.hed it with my mouth.
「Ara…」
「Fumu…?」
「Oh my…」
「Hou…」
「Ara ara.」
「Nn…… chu…, gulp…」
As expected, there’s a little sourness, but it’s delicious in its own way. The juice(?) gradually spreading inside my mouth is nice too ne.
「Sa-Sakura…?」
「Nnm, mm… chupu.」
I carefully sucked off the plum’s flavour from the Prince’s fingers with my mouth.
With a cling sound, I spat out the seed into a gla.s.s.
「Huh? What’s the matter? Your face is red…… you know…?」
Just when I thought my sight was swaying, my consciousness was suddenly cut off.