Chapter 145

Chapter 145
Chapter 145: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Candied fruit.

This was a treat I had longed to taste back in my early years.

Perhaps even more so than French toast.

‘Ah. Why did I ever let that slip my mind?’

Lion soon figured out the answer.

Actually, the explanation was so basic that it hardly counted as an answer.

During the period when I indulged in every luxury I desired, a strange realization hit me out of nowhere.

It is all pointless.

No matter how many superior delicacies I purchased and consumed, I could never fully bury the bitterness of that long-ago envy.

It resembled a scar that might fade with time yet never vanish entirely.

Comprehending this truth brought a profound wave of exhaustion and emptiness.

Though my stomach was filled, an aching void remained, whispering that I was still starved.

I believed I was soothing my own spirit, but my instincts quietly informed me I was headed down the wrong path.

That feeling disgusted me.

‘…Which is why I simply chose to look away from it entirely.’

Luckily, as I buried myself deeper into corporate burdens, that sentiment drifted naturally into the past and slipped from my memory.

Even after crossing over into this world, the thought had not once crossed my mind.

Yet seeing those sugary floral petals resting on my palm instantly resurrected that prickling thought, sharp as a needle.

It was a curious phenomenon.

Particularly since the only similarity between them was that both were preserved in sugar.

‘I was quite a child back then, too.’

Because I recognized my own misstep but lacked the courage to admit it, I had spent a lifetime dodging the memory.

I suppose I simply didn’t understand back then that some things only require acceptance.

“You don’t need to purchase it; just sample a single piece.”

Noticing Lion staring blankly at the candied blossom without taking a bite, the vendor offered gently once more.

Only then did Lion lift the petal that had settled lightly against his hand and place it between his lips.

As the crimson rose petal touched his tongue, a rich, sweet floral fragrance softly bloomed within his nasal passages.

With his eyes shut, he felt as though he were wandering through a vast and radiant garden of roses.

‘Exquisite.’

It felt akin to plucking the most vibrant rose in full bloom and sipping its fresh nectar.

Simultaneously, my lingering thoughts regarding candied fruit crystallized.

I understood why I had coveted that treat long ago, and why I had yearned to taste it.

Even though it carried a bittersweet ache, looking back on it no longer felt unpleasant to Lion.

“You are truly enjoying it. Would you care to sample these as well?”

Pleased with Lion’s response, the vendor presented skewered strips of candied lemon and orange peel soaked in sugary syrup.

Lion bit into a piece of the candied orange peel and chewed.

“……!”

This is remarkably savory as well.

Though originally tough, the rind had softened wonderfully through boiling and syrup preservation, yielding a chewy texture.

One might almost compare the mouthfeel to jelly.

‘The outer shell of a proper candied fruit would share this exact texture, wouldn’t it?’

Naturally, because true candied fruit involves a dehydration phase, it wouldn’t be an exact match, but the general sensation was remarkably close.

“It is delicious.”

“Isn’t it? To tell the truth, these were my children’s absolute favorite sweets growing up. I considered bringing them to market… but they rarely attracted buyers…”

The elderly merchant chuckled with a shrug, joking that he was half-tempted to abandon the recipe altogether.

“Once word spreads, people will be scrambling to buy them faster than you can make them.”

This was spoken with complete sincerity. The craftsmanship here was exceptional.

At the very least, this was not the sort of stall destined to languish in some obscure alley due to poor taste or a lack of appeal.

Still… everyone walks their own path through life.

Lion chose not to probe further.

‘Even so, the concept alone is brilliant.’

Perhaps missing the drift of Lion’s internal monologue, the vendor bustled about packing his containers with a warm smile.

“Ho ho ho, I would be content simply earning enough today to cover the cost of the honey and sugar.”

“Is that so? Then your expenses for the day are more than covered.”

“Pardon?”

Lion immediately drew a heavy handful of gold coins from his pouch and transferred them into the merchant’s hands.

The vendor’s eyes rounded in shock as the flood of gold spilled past his palms.

“Even if I liquidated every single jar on this cart, it wouldn’t equal half this sum…!”

Realizing he was addressing a person of high nobility, the old merchant instantly adopted an even more deferential tone.

‘He likely assumes I gave this as an act of charity…’

Though if the situation were reversed, my reaction would have differed very little.

Offering no further explanation, Lion reached out and lifted a small flask filled with the very same rose petal preserve he had just tasted.

“Regardless of the actual market value, this is what I believe it is worth, so do not reject it. You have helped me recover a long-lost memory.”

“I—it must have been a cherished memory indeed.”

“Mm.”

In truth, it had not been a pleasant one.

However…

“It feels as though it is about to become a fond memory very soon.”

With those words, Lion straightened his posture.

“At any rate, these petal preserves are magnificent; you would do well to market them actively during daylight hours. Farewell.”

Without waiting for a reply, Lion turned and strode away.

As the residual sweetness lingered on his palate, his eagerness to craft actual candied fruit surged.

“……”

Gazing after Lion’s retreating figure, the merchant slowly put the pieces together.

A young man with flowing hair, dressed in garments of extraordinary quality.

Not to mention those distinct eyes…

“Mercy me!”

I believe the customer I just served was none other than the eccentric young master of the Asteri household.

Clutching the heap of gold coins tightly to his chest, the merchant bowed deeply toward the empty street where the nobleman had vanished.

—

Upon re-entering the estate, Lion made a beeline for the kitchens.

Though the hour was late and the room was empty, the space was immaculate…

“Hm?”

Furthermore, all of his preferred culinary utensils had been neatly laid out in advance.

It appeared Head Chef Alex routinely prepped the kitchen every night in anticipation of Lion’s late-night visits.

“He is a thoughtful soul indeed.”

Lion chuckled softly, stepping forward to select an assortment of choice fruits from the wicker basket.

Apples, lemons, oranges, grapefruits, and more.

He gathered anything that offered a crisp, refreshing note.

Since he was already at work, he figured it would be wise to prepare several variations and later settle on the superior recipe.

Finally, he arranged the sugar and honey on the counter, concluding his preliminary setup in moments.

Now came the most crucial step prior to actual cooking.

“Nature.”

“Peep?”

“Will you lend me a hand with a snack?”

“Peep-ee?”

“Ahem.”

Nature let out a chirp that sounded remarkably like an inquiry as to why he bothered asking when they always cooked side by side.

Fair point.

Lion cleared his throat, hiding a smile behind a closed fist.

“Naturally, I know I can always count on you. However, for the ‘ultimate treat’ I intend to create today, your presence is completely indispensable.”

It felt a trifle embarrassing to admit aloud, but it was the truth.

On his journey back to the estate, he had deeply pondered what sweet he had truly craved as a child.

The answer, in truth, had arrived quite swiftly.

He had craved a treat created alongside someone else.

The joy derived from collaborating on a dish and sharing the entire process was an essential ingredient.

That formed the core of Lion’s hidden quest strategy.

“This time, rather than merely assisting, let us make it together. What do you say?”

“Peep!”

Nature fluttered eagerly over to Lion, gently rubbing its feathered head against the back of his hand.

That was an enthusiastic yes.

The simple gesture brought a wave of quiet contentment to Lion’s chest.

And—for reasons he couldn’t quite name—a bubbling sense of excitement!

“Then let us proceed step by step. First, shall we wash the produce properly? If you would handle the water, please.”

With a flap of its wings, Nature filled a ceramic basin to the brim with pristine, cool water.

As the crystal-clear liquid filled the bowl, Lion gently submerged the fruits.

Curiously, the moment the produce touched the water summoned by Nature, their surfaces gleamed with exceptional clarity.

And that was not all!

The inherent quality of the fruits themselves seemed to elevate.

Could this be described as the absolute peak of fruit perfection?

“Not bad at all.”

Praising Nature with a smile, Lion took up a knife to slice the grapefruit.

The thick, ruby segments, cut cleanly along the grain, released a tart yet captivating fragrance.

He could certainly slice them thin and proceed directly with candying, but…

Wouldn’t the snack be more universally appealing if the sharp bitterness of the grapefruit was slightly mellowed?

Dropping the prepared grapefruit slices back into a bowl of lightly salted water, he paused.

“Let these sit for a moment.”

If left to soak for just the duration of the fruit-prep phase, the harsher edges of the bitterness would largely vanish.

Lion next turned his attention to the lemons and oranges, slicing them neatly along the grain.

As the vibrant, zesty aroma of the citrus pieces filled the air, his mouth began to water uncontrollably.

In honesty, resisting the temptation had become nearly impossible the moment he cut into the first grapefruit.

‘…Wait, is there any rule saying I cannot sample them now?’

It wasn’t as if supplies were running low.

Besides, tasting along the way was part of the genuine joy of cooking, wasn’t it?

Peeling one of the prepped oranges, Lion split a segment in half and offered a portion to Nature.

Naturally, Nature had no intention of waiting either, immediately pecking eagerly at the fruit.

Within seconds, the creature’s beak and feathers were glistening with bright orange juice.

‘Eating with great enthusiasm, I see.’

As expected, birds appear to hold a deep fondness for fruit.

Lion popped his own orange half into his mouth and chewed.

“Mmm!”

A flood of sweet and tart juices washed over his palate.

Even though it was only a morsel, the flavor concentration was rich enough to rival a full glass of fresh juice!

Moreover, it felt as though the lingering grease and heavy oils from the night market stalls were being scrubbed clean from his mouth.

To achieve this level of impact using raw fruit alone, without any complex preparation…

While the Asteri estate always stocked high-grade produce, this extraordinary freshness was undoubtedly a blessing from Nature’s enchanted water.

Resisting the urge to consume another piece, Lion finished slicing the apples. Finally, he retrieved the grapefruit soaking in the saline solution, arranged them in layers, and sprinkled generous amounts of sugar between each tier to initiate the curing process.

Normally, this stage required a full two-hour wait for the natural juices and sugar to meld, but…

‘I want to taste the results immediately.’

Reaching toward the preservation jar, Lion invoked ‘Accelerated Maturation’.

Instantly, as though the fruit were caught in a fast-forward loop, moisture drew outward and the sugar coat dissolved into a rich syrup.

“This should be sufficient.”

Releasing the spell, Lion inspected the ingredients.

The smaller items like apples and lemons showed advanced preservation, while the oranges and larger grapefruits still required a bit more time.

He could simply boil them in stages.

Transferring the apples and lemons into separate pots, Lion added water and set them over a medium flame.

As the granulated sugar slowly dissolved into a shimmering, fragrant syrup, Lion lifted a small honey vial.

[ Evening Primrose Honey (★★) ]

* A rich, sweet liquid possessing a deep amber hue.
* Its luscious fragrance carries the illusion of spreading across a thousand leagues.
* Ensure this item is kept strictly concealed from any Bear Beastmen!

“Is that warning included simply because it’s honey?”

Evening primrose honey seemed perpetually burdened with cautions regarding Bear Beastmen.

“Well, that is hardly relevant at the moment.”

Bear Beastmen were hardly creatures one encountered strolling down a casual street.

At any rate, this particular batch had been gathered drop by drop following the production of the Evening Primrose Honey Potion.

Given how well the labyrinth environment suited evening primrose, the plants continued to thrive long after that initial harvest.

Regardless, its superior aroma and flavor made honey a far better choice than commercial corn syrup for regulating the viscosity.

Pouring a generous stream of the thick honey into the simmering pot, Lion watched as an aroma far richer than before billowed upward, escaping the kitchen and drifting out into the corridors of the mansion.