At Belze’s order, we bake a cake.
She calls it harassment. In my hometown, people also call it food terrorism.
“We are going to make a Weekend Citron.”
“W-weekend… what?”
Taking Belze, who stumbled a bit while trying to repeat the name, we went into the kitchen of the warship.
As expected of an elite knight order directly under the Imperial family.
It was a large kitchen meant to feed hungry knights.
In this world where magical tools for lighting fires and lowering temperatures are common, such luxuries on an expedition are allowed.
Well, of course, that is limited to nobles who can pay the appropriate cost.
“A Weekend Citron is a citrus-flavored butter cake.”
“Citrus. The scent is a bit strong, but I do not hate it.”
To be more precise, citron is the original variety of lemon.
In this empire, the classification of citrus fruits is vague.
Depending on the climate, soil, and above all, the magical environment, the level of acidity and aroma changes greatly depending on the region.
Amidst all that, I finally found it in this port town.
A yellow spindle-shaped citrus fruit with a strong acidity and aroma—very similar to a so-called “lemon.”
By the way, the origin of the name “Weekend” comes from the idea that it is “a cake to be eaten together with someone special on the weekend.” There are various theories, though.
“This time, we will use a little more butter to soften the sharp citrus flavor and aim for a moist texture like a financier.”
“I do not understand well, but I leave it to you.”
“What are you saying? You are going to make it with me, Belze.”
“What did you say?”
Do not push the job of harassing the knight order entirely onto me.
If we do it, we are accomplices.
When I said that, Belze nodded, saying, “It cannot be helped.”
The base cake is simple.
A baked good made by mixing butter, eggs, flour, and sugar in equal amounts—what is commonly called a pound cake.
“…Can I make this?”
“The pound cake part is easy. The measurements are also easy to understand. You can make it by yourself, Belze.”
“Really?”
Really.
The arrangement is lemon juice and zest.
Furthermore, this time, we will slightly increase only the butter and use browned butter to increase the aroma and richness.
“Mix the sugar and butter together. Next, add the beaten eggs little by little and mix, and then add the flour after that.”
“Mh. It is certainly easy when I try it, but…”
I showed her the example just as I taught her, and made her follow it step by step.
At first, even the way she held the bowl and spatula was clumsy, but gradually she got the hang of the movements.
“When mixing different things, add one part in small amounts at a time and mix.”
“Why?”
“If you mix it all at once, it will not mix completely, and the oil and flour will separate.”
I see, Belze nods in understanding.
“When mixing the flour, cut it with the spatula. Most sweets become delicious by not ‘kneading the wheat flour too much’.”
“What happens if you knead it too much?”
“A stickiness called gluten will be generated, and it will become so heavy that you will be full in one bite.”
She nods in understanding to that as well.
She was a very obedient young lady.
“Then, let’s pour the batter into the mold and bake it in the oven.”
“…Is this it?”
“Yes, mostly. You did well.”
When we closed the oven door together, Belze patted her chest in relief.
She looked much more nervous than when she was fighting.
As soon as the oven fire was turned on, the scent of baked sweets expanded and filled the kitchen.
The sweet and savory smell of the butter batter baking.
Belze sat in her chair and stared at the oven door without getting tired of it in front of the sweet steam, but Belze was not the only one tempted by this aroma.
It was the knights of this ship.
“Oh, what is what? It is still before noon, yet some wonderful smell is—”
“Wait, Princess Belze!? W-why are you in the kitchen!”
“T-this is, excuse me!”
Opening the door forcefully, the knights bowed deeply the next moment with an intensity as if they were going to dogeza.
Looking like rough sailors, they are undoubtedly elite members directly under the Imperial family, despite appearances.
Such elites were swallowing their saliva in front of the sweet smell of the baked goods.
Belze’s expression was like iron, but inwardly she must be smirking that the food terrorism is going well.
“Never mind, it is just baking sweets.”
“S-sweets? By Your Highness yourself?”
“Yes. What else does it look like I am doing?”
“No…”
Belze is currently in the middle of mixing the second batch of butter batter in front of the oven.
Lured by the smell, knights began to gather in front of the kitchen one after another.
Everyone peers inside, asking what is going on, and when they recognize the Princess, they hurriedly bow their heads. It is a delightful sight.
Belze made a bad face and asked,
“Do you want to eat, too?”
“I-is that alright?”
“Such an honor…”
“It is fine. My cook says it is okay. Instead, go spread it to the other knights.”
It seemed she intended to make it my achievement.
And she was also trying to expand the terrorism. How evil.
“It will be tough if it is a cake for all the knights, Belze.”
“It is a time to do your best. You want to soften Kirul and the others with kindness, right? If you are going to do it, win over as many as you can. Halfway measures are not allowed.”
“Understood.”
If it is your command, gladly.
I started a new batch of batter from scratch, which I had previously left to Belze.
Pouring it into molds and throwing them one after another into the available ovens.
“You are more efficient than me…”
“That is experience, of course. More than that, once the baked cake cools, we will apply the glace au citron.”
“What is that?”
“It is a crunchy syrup made by combining powdered sugar and citrus juice.”
By coating and hardening the cake, it plays a role in maintaining the fun texture, the acid accent, and the moistness on the inside.
The Weekend Citron is complete with that.
“…Will this harden?”
Belze was skeptical while mixing the syrup in a bowl.
“This syrup looks difficult.”
“Yes. Adjusting the amount of water might be tough at first. Just the base pound cake is delicious, though.”
“Since you are going to make it for me anyway, I am fine.”
I see.
Well, I suppose so.
We cut a slice of the cake, still a little warm and freshly made, and enjoyed it with hot tea.
The browned butter batter melts softly in your mouth.
The crumbly, moist cake is so easy to eat that you can swallow it without water.
However, the faint citrus passing through your nose makes you feel no heaviness specific to butter at all.
The crunchy glace au citron is also the best accent.
“Delicious. The sweetness is gentle, yet the butter is fragrant, and the citrus is not overpowering.”
“I am glad.”
“I will have two more slices. Give the rest to the knights.”
“Understood.”
Well, true.
It is not a snack you eat so many pieces of at once.
I sliced the cake as soon as it was ready, portioned it out, and handed it to the knights.
“Please take some for everyone, too.”
“W-wait, cook. Is this really okay? I heard that Princess Belze is a witch like iron…”
The knights whispered to confirm so Belze wouldn’t hear, but I think she probably hears them. You shouldn’t underestimate her extraordinary five senses.
Even so, I nodded and answered.
“She is a kind person. Much more than you think.”
“Is that so…”
“I am sorry for forcing our way onto the ship today. Take this as an apology, and please share it with everyone. This is the tea leaves.”
“O-oh. Then, thank you very much.”
On the first day of boarding, we do our best to share food.
Before I knew it, the scent of butter and citrus had spread throughout the ship.
Knight Commander Kirul is concerned.
It is about the duo, Belze and Pino, who were suddenly put on this ship this morning.
Wondering what on earth they were up to, as soon as the ship set sail, those guys occupied the kitchen and started making baked sweets.
And those baked sweets are now starting to become popular among the members.
If you visit the kitchen, you can get top-notch sweets from the Princess’s cook… and so on.
“Man, it is delicious, delicious!”
“As expected of the cook chosen by Princess Belze… solid skills and new ideas. I have never eaten such baked sweets.”
“Even these tea leaves are top-class, are they an Imperial-designated variety? Can we order them at home, too?”
“Commander, won’t you eat some, too? Every time you bite into this cake, the aroma of citrus and butter spreads, it is ridiculously delici—whoa!?”
Kirul throws a chair at the members who are having a friendly chat with a plate of baked sweets in hand.
The thrown chair grazed the side of the member who dodged it reflexively, hit the wall, and shattered.
“You guys, what are you getting won over for! I told you to keep an eye on them, right!?”
“S-sorry!”
“Don’t leisurely drink tea!”
Good grief, what on earth are they thinking?
Winning over the knights will not change his values and evaluation as an auditor.
It will not change—supposedly.
“Good grief, what an unfathomable stray dog.”
“That cook?”
“Yes. There aren’t many kids who can remain that calm in a place where they were told their head might physically fly off.”
It was as if he had finished preparing to die a long time ago—
Well, whatever.
Anyway, I must prioritize my mission here.
Calling over the subordinates cleaning up the chair fragments, I switch my mindset.
“You have the reports gathered, right? Report on the said plesiosaur once more.”
“Yes!”
Carrying two intentions, the large ship goes to sea.