Chapter 2

September 12, 2022

“I’m hungry! Mother, is breakfast , it’s not ready yet?”

A girl sitting on a chair shouts in dissatisfaction. The sun had already risen, and it was a little past early morning.

It is still a little early for breakfast, but in the Moltern household, it is rather late. The morning comes early in the house of a military family.

The girl who has been complaining about her hunger for some time is Josephine. She is the fifth daughter of the family and the elder sister of Pastry . She has silver hair similar to her younger brother’s, but it is slightly brown, making it look blonde at a first glance. She is a girl with a high nose and shy-looking eyes. She is 12 years old and in her prime of life , and her need for breakfast is quite understandable. In a world where two meals a day is the rule, skipping breakfast is unthinkable, as for the modern-day late risers.

Next to the girl. In the foot of the table sat the youngest child and the only son, Pastry, who also had to endure a hunger and pain in his body .Unlike his sister, Pastry is hungry because he has been trained by his father in swordsmanship even before the sun has risen.

As the eldest son, Pastry had been raised to fulfill the role of heir to a noble family, and he knew exactly why they were forced to endure their hunger. A seat in the top of the table was still empty since head of the household is at work. Pastry was born in this world with memories of his previous life, and as his young body merged with his ego, the first thing that puzzled him was the status system, which is similar to a feudal system. The head of the family had the authority to make all decisions regarding the household, and the family members had no choice but to follow it . Even meal times were decided by the head of the family. Although he has gotten used to it recently, he still has to wait while his stomach is growling, which can lead to a complaint or two.

” It”s late. Shall we have breakfast now?”

Father finally showed up. Naturally, he is seated at the top of the table . He thanks God and the spirits for the meal and then the breakfast begins. The sister, who was tired from waiting, devours her meal. Of course, pastry is eaten slowly, as if enjoying the taste of the food.

The meal is simple. Bean and leafy vegetable soup with bread. The head of the family, Casserole, and his son Pastry get dried figs, which Pastry always offers to his sister. From a modern day perspective, this seems like a meal that would cause a lot of discontent.

However, the food situation in the Moltaerun territory has recently improved, and the soup is now filled with beans. It is no longer a soup, but more like cooked beans. In the early years of the territory’s development, the soup was said to be almost the same as water.

The baron, who still remembers the old days vividly, is even deeply moved by the fact that he is now able to feed his children in the morning. Even if the bread is hard black bread.

For a moment, Casserole’s mouth almost curled up in a smile and proud smile, but then he decided to cut the conversation short before the meal was over.

“Son , do you enjoying your sword training?”

“Yes, I think I’m finally getting a grasp of things.”

“I see.”

Pastry responds to his father’s sudden question with a smile. It takes all his strength to swing a sword. The actuality that he is getting better at it day by day, aided by the vague memory of his previous life, makes it impossible for him not to enjoy the practice. It’s reminded him of a past life . When he was training to be a pastry chef, he was taught not to use only his arms to knead the dough. Perhaps because of this, his body had learned how to use not only his arms but also his body weight, which really helped.

“from my perspective, you are doing a reasonably good work . So, on a short notice, three days from now. you will take part in consecration ceremony.”

“consecration ceremony.?”

Hearing this Pastry twisted his head. This was not because he had never heard of the ceremony. It was because he wondered if it was too early for him.

The consecration ceremony is a ceremony to inform the gods and spirits of one’s coming of age. It is like the coming-of-age ceremony in modern Japan. In terms of religious significance, it also has the meaning of celebrating the growth of a child, akin to Shichi-Go-San (the Seven-Five-Three-Three Festival).

In this world, a person is considered to be an adult at the age of 13 to 15. The head of the family decides whether or not a child is fit for adulthood, and once a child has reached adulthood, he or she has responsibilities as a member of the family. Once a person has reached the age of adulthood, he or she is responsible for his or her own household, or can leave the house and start a new one.

“Isn’t he too young , dear?”

Casserole nodded at his wife’s question. Certainly, compared to the standards of this world, it was clearly too early for this . Hence, he nodded and showed her, but he did not change his conclusion.

‘You know how brilliant our son is,’ Casserole said. He is also skilled enough with the sword to defend himself against a blow at a moment’s notice. As far as his skills with the sword go, he’s as good as any of those kids who play around without learning how to use a sword. I judge him to be an adult in terms of education and combat skills. There are other circumstances that make it unavoidable, but this is my decision.

‘”‘I see. If you have made the decision, then I have no choice but accept .”

A sigh of disappointment or resignation comes from Mother. The woman’s face is beautiful with a hint of melancholy . woman in her mid-forties.

Pastry has a face similar to his mother’s, and from the time he was a small child, he had been a very reasonable and honest boy. He was a son who received the love of his parents and he loved them. Therefore, both parents felt the same regret over their son’s premature coming of age. He thought he would have a little more time as a child, and they would be able to love him more.

‘”‘We’ re going out in three days and I want you to be ready for that. Agnes and Josephine, will you do me a favor?”

It was Pastry ‘s mother and sister who responded to the head of the family. It was Pastry’s imagination that their eyes seemed to light up. It had to surely be

” I’ll take care of it. I’ll make sure you’re prepared so you won’t be embarrassed when time will came.

“I’ll help you, Mother.”

They were smiling suspiciously. Father was smiling ,as well and Pastry was taken aback by the situation.

The son looked at his father for help. The steeple-colored eyes, inherited from his parents, are slightly teary. Father is shaken because he does not usually see his beloved son in such state, but now that happened even he is, as head can’t stop his wife and daughter.

“Give up”

Pace’s face twisted as his father responded in a manner that was both offhand and unthinkable for him .

His mother and sister. There is a good reason why they are so excited about the situation.

For nobles, going out of their own territory means a diplomatic trip for their own territory . Whether the purpose is goodwill, outings, , negotiations, or inspection tours, the basic essence remains the same.

It is similar to the way that if the president of a company works outside the company, most of the time it is part of a sales operation. The person in charge of the territory, or someone close to it, goes to another person’s territory. Even a minor trouble could turned into a military conflict. Therefore, it is necessary to follow the rules of etiquette and to behave in a way that no one will be mocking

The most important is clothing. It is said that 70% of first impressions are based on one’s appearance, and the impression one gets from a quick glance cannot be ignored. If you wear military uniforms, your military intentions and position will be stressed, and if to wear formal wear, it will be an official negotiation visit. Expensive clothing shows the wealth of the territory, and people with wealth will be attracted to those with money. On the other hand, if a person is poorly dressed, he or she will be looked down upon, no matter how splendid person on the inside. If a person does not have even the minimum of clothing for a visit to someone else’s territory, he or she is seen as a person without common sense.

For example, if an office worker goes to another company wearing a shorts, a stomach band, and a pair of sandals, he or she will be considered to be lacking in common sense. At least a suit is the minimum level of good sense, and the brand of the suit and watch can be a convenient bluff. The same is true in aristocratic society, where there is a minimum level of good looks, and the power relationship is measured by the amount of extra value that can be placed on it.

In other words, it is also a mother’s “inside help” to judge her son’s clothes. The older sister, who would eventually marry into another family, must also learn the duties of a nobleman’s wife. As a woman of a noble family, it was only natural for her to be excited about her important job of dressing up the heir to the family.

So, why is Pastry’s eyes teary? Is it because he is not good at dressing up in the Japanese sense of the word? If you are a craftsman who can stand on the world stage, It goes without saying that the visual aspect of sweets is also very important. Since sweets are an art form that can be enjoyed with the eyes as well, he knows the importance of being concerned with the appearance, just like the clothes.

Pastry on the verge of tears because he is adored by the women in his life. Or, to put it more correctly, he is too adored.

“I think you should wear ribbons in your hair,” she said. I think it will make you look prettier”.

“Mother, if that’s the case, then Liliana’s dress would look good on him. That frilly pink dress that she gave me because it didn’t fit her anymore.”

“Oh, my goodness, I love it. It’s nice. But I think he should put some makeup on.”

Even in the countryside, where entertainment is scarce. To dress up a lovely child as a dress-up doll is the most excellent entertainment of all.

“Well, mother and sister, I’m a man, so please don’t …… dress me up as a girl.”

That is, if ignoring the sacrifices of the Pastry who is being toyed with.

“You’ve already finished eating. Let’s get you ready to go.”

” Help me, somebody!”

Casserole watches his son being taken away by his mother and sister. Casserole looks at him with pity in his eyes, but doesn’t seem bothered to stop them.

“Oh, shit.”

He suddenly mutters as if he had forgotten something important. In fact, he now remembered that he had been told something important by one of his servants.

“I forgot to tell you that you will receive your proper uniforms tomorrow.”

It seemed that the hardship of Pastry was going to continue until tomorrow.