Chapter 28

"To me?"

Seeing the Duke’s eyes widen in surprise, Beatty jumped down from the sofa that was just the right height for adults.

Rustle.

She pulled out the item she had specifically asked Johanna to prepare and, standing tall, placed it confidently in front of the Duke.

"A flowerpot?"

The Duke’s voice sounded uncertain as he faced the object on the table.

A flowerpot with fresh green leaves and white flowers blooming prettily.

‘I really didn’t need to plant it in a pot.’

It was the root that was important, and Beatty had asked to bring the root along, but somehow Johanna had misunderstood.

‘She got all emotional, thinking I’d be upset if the flower got crushed! And then she packed the whole thing, roots and flowers, into the pot without a single blemish.’

The Duke blinked at the flowerpot in front of him before turning his gaze to Beatty, who was now confidently looking him in the eye.

‘She brought me flowers?’

Leonhardt Elde Aslan, the only Duke in the kingdom, had received countless gifts from all over. Yet this flower gift—though it was a misunderstanding—was something he had never received before.

He looked at his daughter, who had brought him such a small and delicate gift, and for a moment, though his face remained neutral, there was a touch of emotional depth in his eyes.

"This is—"

What does this mean?

Before the Duke could finish his question, Beatty eagerly answered.

"It’s Tuberosum."

Beatty couldn’t wait to answer. This was the first gift she had ever received from her father!

Even if it was just a common weed from the roadside, it couldn’t lose its significance.

The Duke’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

But Beatty, not noticing the change in his expression, remained focused on her mission. Her eyes were dry with determination.@@novelbin@@

‘I’ve already taught him how to use it.’

Her gaze was full of resolve to succeed in this negotiation.

‘But Tuberosum isn’t just about that.’

The role Tuberosum played in solving the food shortage still had more to offer.

In the year 718 of the Continental Calendar, winter should have been the most despairing season ever.

A massive drought had swept across the continent, and harvests had plummeted.

That wasn’t the end of it.

The crops, already suffering from the drought, had also started to rot. Even the few decent ones that were harvested turned to rot when the storerooms were opened again.

‘It was the wheat blight, right?’

People had thought they were storing good crops, but everything that had been harvested soon decayed due to a disease that had infected the grain.

Tuberosum, known for its toxicity, had been the last hope for starving people.

‘By the time it was known that Tuberosum could be used as food... many people had already starved to death.’

The worst effects had been felt in the North, where people couldn’t produce their own food.

‘But now it will be different.’

Clutching the Tuberosum berries like a precious treasure, Beatty was interrupted by a hesitant voice from the lieutenant.

"Miss... are you planning to use Tuberosum as food for the people of the territory?"

"Yes, as I mentioned in my letter, the poison in Tuberosum can be neutralized, so it’s safe to eat."

"Ah, yes. The poison... but..."

The lieutenant, whose face had been calm, suddenly stiffened.

‘It’s edible. It can be eaten, but...!’

He shuddered as memories of the tasteless Tuberosum rations from the battlefield came to mind.

‘That stuff tasted awful!’

Though he couldn’t bring himself to speak out against the young lady’s idea, he couldn’t forget the horrible taste.

"Ugh! Is today’s meal again 'that' stuff?"

The soldiers who had once cheered at the miraculous rations that had filled their stomachs quickly became disillusioned with the flavor.

"It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just... there’s no taste."

"Exactly... it’s not ‘bad,’ it’s just... tasteless."

"Right. No taste. Completely flavorless! I don’t even know what it’s supposed to taste like!"

Recalling these thoughts, the lieutenant nodded seriously, acknowledging the truth.

‘It’s a precious food source that came at just the right time, but...’

There was no doubt that Tuberosum had saved lives. However...

‘...it tastes terribly awful!’

After eating nothing but tasteless Tuberosum, anyone who had tasted it would later find themselves disgusted whenever they heard the name.

‘Heh heh.’

Beatty, noting the serious expressions on the lieutenant’s face, wore a confident smile.

‘They probably thought I was just bringing the same old complaints again.’

By bringing Tuberosum as it was, without any processing, she had intentionally created that misconception.

‘Tuberosum can be eaten.’

That was already known from the letter.

But repeating this fact was meant to highlight her next offer.

‘They probably thought it was just about eating Tuberosum again. But actually...’

She glanced at the Duke’s face. Though his expression remained unchanged, his brow was slightly furrowed.

‘Alright.’

The atmosphere had shifted enough.

"You’re worried it might taste bad, right?"

"Yes, huh?!"

Startled, the lieutenant jumped back, surprised that his thoughts had been so easily read.

"Miss, I... I didn’t mean—"

"Don’t worry."

Beatty shook her head reassuringly, signaling to the lieutenant that he didn’t need to explain himself.

‘I already anticipated this issue.’

It was a problem that had arisen before, even before her regression.

Naturally, Beatty knew how to solve it.

With confidence in her voice, she spoke up.

"I’m not suggesting we eat Tuberosum as is."

"Eh?"

Click.

Beatty placed something she had been hiding on the desk.

‘They might not be interested in the obvious information.’

To this point, the Duke had never shown any interest in the transaction Beatty was proposing.

The useless, toxic plant could be used as food.

That was already a discarded card.

But now, Beatty had prepared an even more enticing offer.

Click.

Opening the cover of the dish she had prepared, Beatty proudly declared,

"It’s Tuberosum potage."

"Huh?"

"..."

Instantly, the delicious scent filled the room, causing everyone’s eyes to widen.

"By neutralizing the Tuberosum leaves, they make a wonderful seasoning. Especially when combined with the mild-flavored Tuberosum fruit."

The stems were added first to neutralize the poison, followed by small amounts of leaves and carefully chopped fruit. It was then simmered gently.

‘The taste is already guaranteed.’

After tasting it herself, Beatty knew it was good.

"Wow. Did you come up with this recipe yourself?"

Sniff, sniff.

The lieutenant, sniffing the aroma, praised Beatty enthusiastically.

"Impressive, Miss. Just the smell is enough to make my mouth water!"

"Would you like to try some?"

Beatty felt proud as the lieutenant reacted so positively. Her dish was clearly well-received.

When she had first sent the information about Tuberosum, she had only mentioned how to neutralize the poison.

Back then, the situation had been urgent, and she hadn’t remembered the recipe clearly.

‘Just making it edible was weak.’

But with the help of the kitchen staff, who had been kind and diligent, Beatty had successfully recreated some of the Tuberosum dishes she remembered.

‘The umami from just the Tuberosum leaves alone!’

That flavor that, once tasted, made you want to keep eating.

Successfully bringing back the taste she remembered, Beatty confidently offered the potage.

"Try it. I guarantee, as someone who tasted it first, it’s delicious!"

The response to her previous offer had been lukewarm.

Now, with this new approach, a reversal was imminent...!

"You ate it...?"

For the first time, a flicker of emotion appeared on the Duke’s face, as his usual stoic expression faltered.

‘Success!’

Beatty’s face lit up as she thought that her father was finally showing interest.

"Yes! I tasted it fresh earlier today."

She had even made sure to mention the freshness of the ingredients, just to add another subtle appeal.

‘Huh?’

Beatty had expected her father to either try a bite or at least ask another question.

"...."

But the Duke remained silent.

‘Wait... is this... not working?’

No, rather...

"....Doctor."

His face twisted into an expression of concern, and he suddenly gave an order.

"Bring the doctor immediately."

‘Huh?’

Beatty, surprised by the Duke’s sudden command, watched as the lieutenant hurried to leave.

"Wait! The poison has been neutralized, it’s safe—"

"Lieutenant."

The Duke’s icy glare made the lieutenant flinch and turn back, clearly under strict orders.

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