Everyone showed up at a later time than usual.
“Good morning.”
Emily, who was in the shop, stopped cleaning and greeted them.
“Good morning, Emily. I’m looking forward to working with you today.”
Today was training to make food and drinks for the dining space. Since there were no customers, the food they made would be eaten by themselves as a tasting. Somehow, the women seemed happy when they heard this.
“Good morning.”
Josette arrived at the shop a little late.
“It seems everyone is here, so let’s begin. Well then, everyone gather in the kitchen.”
Kent led everyone to the kitchen. Naturally, it felt a bit cramped with seven people inside, but it couldn’t be helped. They all gathered around the cooking table placed in the center.
The main focus was on drinks. A wide variety of drinks were prepared, from coffee and tea to various juices. However, the preparation method was very simple. For coffee, they used a coffee maker that made delicious instant coffee. For tea, they used tea bags, and for the various juices, they simply poured them from 1.5L PET bottles into cups.
“Older brother, standard commercial products have a good taste and are likely to sell. This could be a good business.”
Rachel, who had a complete understanding of the cost and taste, said. Since a refrigerator was also installed, they could use the ingredients over several days without finishing them in one day, which reduced waste and the risk of spoilage.
“Pouring the various juices is easy, but there’s one point to be careful about. You absolutely must not shake the ones labeled ‘carbonated beverages.’ For the others, shake them a few times before pouring if there’s any sediment at the bottom.”
They took ice from the freezer’s ice compartment, put a few cubes into cups, poured the juice, inserted straws, and finished them. Each person drank their creation to memorize the taste. This was so they could answer customers’ questions. It was pointless for the employees not to know the taste.
“Older brother, I need to pee.”
Catherine, who had been drinking a lot of beverages, interrupted and went to the restroom.
There was one restroom for customers inside the store and another one on the bread workshop side. Employees were mainly supposed to use the one on the bread workshop side, but since the store was closed today, Catherine used the restroom on the store side.
“Well then, I’ll use it as well.”
Josette, looking embarrassed, also headed for the restroom.
The restroom on the store side was divided into men’s and women’s facilities to accommodate multiple customers. The men’s side had two urinals and one private room, while the women’s side had three private rooms. This was more than enough for the size of the store. Of course, it was equipped with a flush toilet and a warm-water washlet. Kent had considered putting up clear instructions on the wall to make it easy for first-time users.
“I’m back.”
Shortly after, Catherine returned. Caro and Rachel followed.
“I’d heard about it, but I never imagined it would be this comfortable…”
Josette returned with a refreshed expression.
“Kent, can this be installed in my house too?”
“I can’t say for sure without looking at the building, but I think it’s probably possible.”
“I like it very much. Please install it for me next time.”
She avoided saying “restroom” as if it were embarrassing, but Kent understood. Since they had always been helpful, there was no reason to refuse, so he agreed. However, his casual acceptance would lead to trouble later, but that’s a story for another time.
“Excuse me… May I go as well?”
Emily asked apologetically.
“Please do.”
It seemed even fairies needed to use the restroom. Since no one had managed this house for a long time, Kent was curious about how they had managed during that period.
Eventually, Marie and Kent also went to the restroom, and after everyone returned, they resumed the training.
Next, they decided to cover the light meal menu. Since this was a bakery, the main food item was bread. However, customers were allowed to eat their purchases inside the store, so the menu items had to be something other than bread. Also, procuring vegetables was difficult, so the variety of salads they could offer was limited. For the time being, standard menus like pasta, omurice, Hayashi rice, curry rice, and gratin seemed appropriate. For rice dishes, they would cook rice in a rice cooker and heat up pre-made retort pouches with hot water to finish. For gratin, they would simply heat frozen items in a microwave. For pasta, they would only boil it and then add retort sauce to finish. The only tasks that required some effort were cooking rice in the rice cooker and boiling the pasta.
“I don’t think it will be able to compare to the taste of high-end restaurants, but it doesn’t take much effort to make, so let’s go with this.”
Kent explained as he faced the various light meals laid out before them. If one person made everything, a large quantity would be produced, so they each made pasta, rice dishes, and gratin, using different seasonings for each.
“When you hold the gratin, it will be hot, so please use these gloves.”
He had each person make their dish and explained the precautions at various points. Then, they all tasted what they had made.
“Indeed, it doesn’t quite reach the taste of high-end restaurants, but at this price point, it’s not a bad taste.”
Josette commented. Kent found her words reassuring, coming from a Duke’s daughter. By this point, Kent felt so full that he thought he couldn’t eat any more.
“The last thing is the dessert menu, but I think everyone is full, right?”
Kent said this to seek agreement, but the women disagreed.
“I want dessert.”
“Aren’t you going to stop us when we’ve been looking forward to this so much?”
“I can still eat more.”
“I think I’m okay too.”
“I don’t care about gaining weight today.”
“I want to try it too.”
They all said it, but they all meant the same thing.
“Well then, it can’t be helped… Let’s continue.”
Kent, despite his full stomach, began the dessert-making lesson.
“You can make jelly and pudding if you have the equipment, but to gauge customer reactions, we’ll transfer them from the cups to plates.”
Kent arranged various jellies, puddings, and yogurts.
“It’ll be something like this. This isn’t a very difficult task either, so I think it’ll be easy.”
Desserts of various colors were arranged on the plates. Naturally, Kent was too full to eat anymore, so he left the tasting to the others. The women happily tasted them, and they were gone in a flash.
“Well then, the last thing is ice cream.”
“Woohoo!”
The women’s eyes lit up.
“We have a few types prepared, so you’ll serve them like this using an ice cream scoop… like this.”
Kent demonstrated. At first, it was difficult to scoop it into a perfect ball, and he failed several times, but everyone eventually managed to achieve a presentable level of plating for the store. Up until now, they had tasted after they were finished, but since ice cream melts, they tasted it each time.
“There are also menus that combine drinks and ice cream, but we decided not to include them in the menu for now while you’re getting used to things. This is what they look like.”
Saying that, Kent made several float-type desserts and had them taste them.
“Older brother, wouldn’t this be nice with some classical music playing?”
Rachel said after finishing her tasting.
“Music, huh… That might be good.”
Kent decided to go along with Rachel’s suggestion.
“I might know someone who can provide an orchestra! But there’s no space to put the instruments, is there?”
Josette spoke with a noble’s perspective. Kent could easily imagine that at aristocratic balls, they would actually call an orchestra to perform.
“If we call an orchestra at this selling price, the store will go bankrupt!”
Caro said, concerned.
“It’s okay. There’s a way to play music without spending too much money.”
With that, Kent ordered a cassette CD player and several CDs of classical music.
“I guess we can put it around here for now.”
Kent placed the cassette CD player, plugged it in, set a CD, and pressed the play button. Then, gentle music began to flow from the speakers.
“Music coming from such a small box… The sound quality lacks a bit of power, but it certainly adds to the atmosphere.”
“Eating while listening to music… It feels nostalgic.”
Josette looked satisfied, while Caro, perhaps recalling her past life, was visibly moved, with tears in her eyes.
“Thank you for the meal today. We’ll be officially opening tomorrow. My family will also send flowers to celebrate.”
With that, Josette signaled, and florists carrying flowers entered the store and placed them in strategic locations. Large flower arrangements were also placed outside.
“It looks like the kind of flowers you see at a renovation opening.”
Rachel whispered to Kent.
“Indeed. We’ll have to work hard starting tomorrow.”
“I’ll do my best too.”
Gazing at the flowers, the siblings thought about the days ahead.
“Well then, I’ll be taking my leave. Goodbye, everyone.”
With that, Josette got into the carriage waiting outside and returned to her mansion.
“Then I’ll be going home too. I’m looking forward to working with you all starting tomorrow.”
Rachel also said her goodbyes and returned to the dormitory.
Kent and his companions also said goodbye to Emily and returned to Kent’s house.
