Book 1: Chapter 41 - Role Model [Part 1]

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“Yoga takes you into the present moment. The only place where life exists.”

- Unknown.

The morning sun danced through the curtains, casting playful patterns of light across the room as Seraphina’s voice rang out, each word dripping with exasperation. She leveled a fierce glare at Ibn, her young tester, who hunched over a small plate of newly invented confections.

“There are stories of simple beasts repaying even the tiniest kindness,” she cried, exhaling a dramatic sigh. “Why must you be so ungrateful after everything I have done for you, Ibn?”

“B-But, Sera… Lady Seraphina,” the boy whimpered, pressing both hands to his aching stomach, “my tummy hurts…”

Seraphina crossed her arms and tossed her hair, giving him a look as though his protest were beneath her notice. “What does it matter? It’s not as if you have to train with Kellan today. Besides, boys your age should adore sweets!”

The previous day, after concluding her business with Lehman’s Bank, Seraphina had practically strong-armed Eloise into experimenting with new confections meant for a more refined palate. Lacking cacao, Seraphina had relied on memories of treats from her former world—gummy bears, jelly beans, and all manner of colorful, syrupy delicacies—to guide Eloise’s kitchen adventures.

Though initially uncertain, Eloise soon caught her mistress’s infectious enthusiasm. Ingredients were sourced through Seraphina’s command, with her father’s Knights and the inn's servants and staff dispatched to the market at her beck and call. They grumbled but could not say no her sweet, commanding voice and aristocratic smile.

Miriam, the Palisa Slug, might have been an ideal tester with her high Constitution—if only the creature weren’t busy on other errands with the Lehman’s bank setting up Seraphina’s business ventures in the capital. Also, Seraphina doubted if she could trust a monster’s palate in the first place. After all, Miriam thought human corpses were yummy.

So Ibn, poor Ibn, became the unwilling test subject. Early batches were questionable at best: Eloise had attempted using slime essence for texture to recreate the blonde girl’s descriptions, a venture that resulted in more vomit than praise from Ibn. The boy really had to work on his Constitution. It was a good thing that Seraphina herself was helping him with that.

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When Eloise inquired about Seraphina’s divine inspiration for these sweets, Seraphina dodged with an airy laugh, claiming to have read about them in an obscure volume, or perhaps heard of them from Rashana. Eloise eyed her mistress skeptically, but curiosity soon won out over doubt. Eloise’s passion for invention conquered any niggling suspicions.

Then Seraphina remembered boiled candies—simple, sparkling, jewel-like sweets that, back in her world, were as common as sunlight. Though she had no idea how to craft them precisely, her enthusiastic description was all Eloise needed. After hours of tinkering with sugar and heat, Eloise had success: basic hard candy, glossy and bright.

Now Ibn stared at the plate before him, wringing his hands as though he were approaching a hungry dragon’s lair. At last, he took a tentative bite. To his surprise, his eyes widened with delight, and he began devouring them with abandon, forgetting his aches and complaints as he munched on them with an audible crunch. His sudden transformation from wincing critic to eager glutton made Seraphina chuckle beneath her breath.

A triumphant warmth spread through Seraphina’s chest as she watched the boy enjoy the new confections. She had cracked the code of candy-making—an innovation for this backward medieval society. The only catch now was ensuring their teeth didn’t rot out of their heads.

Such sugary confectionery would eventually lead to many people to rot their teeth. This, instead of being a problem, she viewed as a potential opportunity. She would need to introduce dental care, of course. Perhaps a form of toothpaste? Another innovation, another improvement. Two birds with one stone, as the saying went.

Seraphina smiled to herself, basking in her own cleverness. A noble heart, a guiding hand—she was uplifting their world one indulgence at a time. At times she really did outdid herself. Why did she always have to be so charitable? It was a character flaw that she had to work on, she thought to herself.

She would have to get Eloise to prepare a batch to reward the her father’s Knights and the inn’s staff. They would also serve as word of mouth for yet another business venture she was thinking of setting up.

*****

The trick to growing an empire, Seraphina knew, lay in the subtle art of delegation. No matter her brilliance or ambition, she could not be everywhere at once nor could she oversee everything at once. Thus, she had persuaded the young Eloise to venture into town, scouting a prime location for a sweets factory. Additionally, Eloise would need to secure a steady supply of waxed paper for wrappers—either by striking a deal with a reliable papermaker or outright purchasing a suitable mill. So much needed doing, and so little time was her own. Better, she decided, to let others spend theirs in her service. It was a good thing that Eloise was suitably motivated, her love of sweets would be the fuel that would driver her to do her best.

Then there was the matter of securing large amounts of sugar… she would have to leave Eloise or Miriam to sort something out.

Seated at her desk, Seraphina composed a brief note to Sergeant Frest, authorizing him to support Eloise in sorting out the finer details. Funds would be needed, of course. She would have to wrest another infusion of capital from Lehman’s Bank, though the very thought made her jaw tighten. Sajan, the local branch manager here in Aran, had been insufferably rude—uncooperative to a shocking degree—and his manner had done more than irritate her. It had stirred her desire for vengeance.