The conversation between Stephen and his mother was somewhat stressful. Stephen sighed, gazing at his mother. "Are you planning to stay?"
"Why can't I?" Veronica questioned, letting out a hearty laugh at her son's tense expression. "Just kidding. Well, I cannot stay here; the town needs my aid."
Stephen heaved a sigh of relief. "It is already eight, Mother; a servant will escort you to your chamber."
As he stood, he gazed at his mother's back, sighed, and added, "I am not saying that I do not wish for you to stay here; I merely think that at present, the territory is not in a good state. I would truly love for you to be here, Mother, but not until the estate is thriving."
Veronica hummed and smiled. "I know, my boy; it is fine." She was escorted by the servant and departed.
Gazing at her retreating figure, Stephen felt a twinge of guilt. He sighed and entered his chamber to rest.
The following morning, during the usual breakfast, Stephen ate quietly with his mother. After a moment of silence, he sighed. "Mother?" he called out.
"Yes?" Veronica replied. "Is this about yesterday? Truly, I am fine; I shall not burden you with my presence any longer," she added.
"No, I have thought about it thoroughly. You may stay here, Mother; I shall instruct the servants to ensure you have the best accommodations." Stephen said, and Veronica beamed in response.
At first he thought it would be the best for his mother to return to the town, but guilt swayed inside his head. His mother had travelled just to see him, and just after a night stay he was going to kick her out?
The main reason he didn't want his mother to reside in the mansion, was due to his embarrassment. The whole county was still in jeopardy, thus he didn't want to trouble his mother, living in the broken territory.
But he felt guilty, especially since his mother of this world took an ample care of him when he was young. Thus he decided to let her stay.
Afterwards, Stephen prepared for his daily duties, which involved overseeing the city's measures. Since everything was proceeding well, he now needed to commence the soap production.
---
Tristan was busy as always, tending to both the new managers, Lydia and Layla. Initially, even Tristan was confused as to why the lord had assigned such tasks to both women.
However, after one week, he noted how both women possessed excellent leadership skills. Both were industrious and organized in their work. The pouches, handkerchiefs, scented candles, and now they were currently experimenting with soap production.
Both were in short, incredible.
The workers were doing their fair share of labor, and both managers were diligent in their duties, allowing Tristan to take it easy.
The subdivisions were only separated by walls, thus Tristan could easily traverse between his work and his family.
---
Three days passed. Stephen sat in his office as the servants scurried about. His mother, having begun living in the estate, had started renovating the mansion's interior and exterior.
Though for now, Stephen believed there was no need to renovate the estate, considering they would not be hosting any balls and instead would focus on the territory.
His mother was adamant about changing at least some aspects of the estate. The female servants were dutifully following her commands, thus the mansion was blooming with life.
Meanwhile, Stephen had pressing matters to address.
Stephen had received a letter regarding the deli; its official opening was today, and he worried that there would not be any customers.
---
Meanwhile, Arthur and Marcel had opened the shop early in the morning. They had prepared some appetizers to display for any interested customers but found that no one had entered.
Arthur slumped his head on the table despondently. 'I fear this shall end in failure,' he thought, feeling depressed.
"We haven't had a single customer..." Brenda, Marcel's wife, said worriedly.
"Don't worry Mother; perhaps everyone is merely preoccupied?" Carlos, their firstborn, suggested.
It was evident that everyone was anxious.
Ding. Ding.
"Good afternoon! It seems that this shop has recently opened," Vanessa said with a smile. She seated herself, her eyes surveying the interior. The décor was somewhat cozy, yet strange altogether.
It was due to Stephen's incorporation of contemporary decor that the establishment had a certain vibrancy. He believed this would, at the very least, add a touch of flair.
"Wow, I have never heard of this place before. Did it just open?" Patricia inquired, her eyes curiously examining the surroundings as she took her seat.
"I believe this is the establishment opened by the Count of Genest, correct?" Yvonne asked.
Vanessa smiled. "You seem well-informed, Yvonne. The answer to your question is yes," she replied, though her smile concealed a hint of contempt. "Now shall we order?" Vanessa changed the topic, glancing at the servants.
She could already tell that they were commoners, but Vanessa did not mind. "Waiter, what do you serve here?" Vanessa asked.
"Umm, my lady, it may be rude, but we do not hand out menus. Instead, the offerings are placed on the board," Carlos pointed to the menu displayed on the board.
"What? What kind of establishment does that?" Patricia asked, raising an eyebrow.
Vanessa darted her eyes, quickly silencing Patricia. "Very well then." She stood up, glanced at the menu, and chose the sandwich, soup, and dessert. After placing her order, she resumed her seat.
"What kind of place that caters to nobles makes a lady stand? What use are servants if they cannot take the order?" Patricia complained, but quickly fell silent as her gaze met Vanessa's displeased expression.
It did not take long for the food to arrive; Carlos and his sister Sally placed the dishes before them, quickly captivating the women.
"We present to you a Caprese Sandwich, Carrot and Leek Soup with Herb-Infused Oil Drizzle, and for dessert, a Spiced Honey Custard with Berries." Carlos and Sally also set down three beverages in front of them.
"I did not order this," Vanessa said, pointing at the three beverages.
"It is our custom to provide a complimentary drink; everyone who places an order will receive Sparkling Lemonade," Carlos replied, bowing his head before leaving.
"Lemonade?" Vanessa raised her eyebrows.
She quickly dismissed her initial thoughts and began to eat. Vanessa held the sandwich and bit into it, only to find the sticky cheese oozing out. She could not help but continue biting to prevent it from falling.
"Pfft," Patricia let out a chuckle, staring at Vanessa's face. As if she was currently battling a powerful foe.
There was an abundance of cheese within the bread. The cheese had softened slightly from steaming, creating a unique melt-in-your-mouth texture, while the garlic oil added depth to each bite.
Vanessa placed the sandwich on the side, she gulped and picked up her spoon; she covered her mouth as the soup awakened her taste buds.
The carrots had been caramelized before being added to the soup, lending it an extra depth of sweetness, while the infused oil provided a flavor boost unusual in medieval cuisine.
Vanessa moved her fork toward the Spiced Honey Custard with Berries, her anticipation building.
The custard had been crafted with care, cooked low and slow to achieve an indulgent, velvety smoothness that melted on the tongue.
The honey, lightly caramelized beforehand, infused every bite with a deep, toasty sweetness, while warm spices enhanced its complexity. A scattering of fresh, juicy berries added a burst of tartness, balancing the custard's richness perfectly.
The overall presentation and taste amazed her.
Vanessa glanced at Patricia and Yvonne, who were both observing her with strange expressions. "It seems I was uncouth," Vanessa cleared her throat, glancing at the lemonade and drinks.
She took a sip of the sparkling lemonade. "This is...sweet," she marveled. She then glanced at Patricia and Yvonne, who had begun to eat, their expressions mirroring her own astonishment. Vanessa could not suppress a chuckle.
"Would you care for a refill, my lady?" Carlos approached, holding the pitcher filled with lemonade.
"Yes, please," Vanessa replied.
"If you require further refills, do not hesitate to ask," Carlos said before quietly slipping away.
---
As Vanessa and her two friends departed the deli café, Arthur broke into a sweat as he heaved a sigh of relief. "We did it! We have officially catered to three nobles!"
The five of them erupted into cheers; it was fair to say they had been overly anxious especially since they were serving three noble ladies.
As the group celebrated, the bell rang, and a child holding his mother's hand entered.
As the woman and her child stepped inside, she quickly bowed her head. "I am so sorry." She bowed her head and began to withdraw. Just as she turned to leave, the child's stomach grumbled.
The woman, embarrassed, looked away. It was evident from their attire that they were commoners.
"Seems the child is hungry, my lady. Would you care for lunch?" Arthur offered.
The woman seemed confused. "Umm, is this not meant to be an establishment for nobles?" she asked uncertainly.
"Not at all! We cater to both nobles and common folk alike. So please, take a seat; our prices are not steep," Arthur stated.
The woman and the child exchanged glances and took their seats.
The shop followed Stephen's directives; he had not designed the shop solely for nobles but intended it to serve commoners as well. Thus, the prices were adjusted accordingly.
Instead of charging one gold coin for the food, Stephen opted for silver coins. It was a measure to ensure fairness and avoid any biases.
Stephen was unaware that even with this small act, would lead to something much more remarkable in the future.