Olivia's debut in the society of Ogygios yielded a large amount of profit and a curious dilemma.
Weeks before that happened, Olivia had secured a business deal with the Duke and Duchess Cecil.
And thank god for that; Olivia didn't want another family to be tied to when she has her own family waiting for her. Duke Cecil just wanted someone to inherit the Dukedom--bring glory to the family name. Meanwhile, Duchess Cecil wanted a girl to spoil and mother.
In this deal, they all get what they want. Olivia gets to do what she needs with the support of a family group, and she brings them a good reputation and a sort-of friendly acquaintance.
The test run to see if this deal will work involves selling the sugar crystals to gauge their popularity.
No pressure or anything.
At the very least, the two of them are very generous in lending their staff to aid in her endeavor. Really makes this whole thing better, really.
Half of the cooks were deployed to help. Included in this group is the blonde one who was very judgemental to Olivia from that sugar crystal debacle. Which is a good thing!
She's the measure Olivia will use if this kidnapped girl has reached peak insanity or not.
As for how she's going to do this...
Well. Her options are either to sell the crystals as they are or to turn them into powdered form again--except more uniform.
It wasn't a guarantee, but she knows how the modern manufacturing process for sugar works. She went to a sugarcane factory during her first year at university, and learned more about the process during the summer classes she took before she was summoned so far away from home.
Even being in a pre-Industrial Revolution Era world, she knows that there is an effective way to produce powdered sugar without much effort. Unfortunately, she could never be sure of the calculations and measurements required for the device to make that possible.
After all, she barely passed Physics in her previous year. She wouldn't be sure of how much the cost is for each material that will be used to make it, too.
...hmm. Maybe she should jot it down first.
After this matter. She really should stop getting ahead of herself!
Anyway.
A technique used by her family back home is the strategy of free samples. This lets word spread about how delicious the creations of their family bakery are, while ensuring that the customers who can pay will get to buy as many as they want without worrying that it won't be to their liking.
Still, when she brought up the idea to the people working with her, she just earned strange looks for it. Especially the blonde cook.
"Isn't the whole point to sell them?", she asked.
"Of course", Olivia answers smoothly. "But we're not just doing this for the money, you know."
"Eh?"
"What's the point of making things for other people if those people wouldn't enjoy it? At least in this way, we'd get feedback and how to improve, and everyone's happy!"
The blonde cook seemed unable to say anything about that. Hm.
Olivia looked over at the shelves of spices and raw ingredients in this very fancy kitchen. Then, very suddenly, she realized something important.
Oh, she was a terrible person. "What's your name?"
==
It wasn't just sugar crystals on sale.
She was the eldest daughter of her family, who sustained herself from a part-time job, okay? And that part-time job was being a baker in a bakery.
You tend to learn a few skills from the experience.
...unfortunately, no one prepared her for the oven. "Why is it. Why's it just. Why is it open."
One of the other cooks, a beautifully aged woman with her hair tied back in a bun, gave her a patient smile. "Because we need to see the progress of our cooking, dear."
"You don't use glass?"
"Glass shatters from the heat."
Olivia opened her mouth. Closed it. Decided not to go insane for today. "Do you have any metal containers? Just--something made of iron?"
They made cupcakes. It surprisingly went well.
Unfortunately, none of it rose and made that typical dome-like top usually common for cupcakes in the modern world. Baking powder, unfortunately, hasn't been invented yet, and Olivia's never been taught how to use yeast. Better safe than sorry, you know?
She did have fun introducing icing to them. She went with buttercream, because there was an alarming amount of butter in this mansion. Like, there was a single room that was filled to the brim with butter.
And?? Olivia is not going to ask. Nope. She's just going to assume a fairy delivers it all here out of the kindness of her heart, thanks.
They have a surplus of sugar, too! Thanks to the pillar! That is...self-sustaining for some reason...
So! It's perfect!!
==
The blonde cook, who Olivia learned is named Caliste, took the first bite of the cupcakes with the buttercream.
She narrowly managed to stop the other girl from taking another cupcake.
"How are you so good at this!?", was Caliste's seething remark, her mouth still full of pastry.
Olivia beamed with all her teeth and chest. "I'll tell you when this whole thing is a success."
"Ehh..."
==
That's what she was selling for the debut of her business. And of herself, kind of.
Cupcakes with buttercream and sugar crystals.
Word got around even before they got finished making the first batch. That was worrying, a little bit. Why is everyone suddenly in the know?
Gossip probably runs faster than a racing car around here. Best to be careful.
Implications of her own situation aside, there was already a line outside of the mansion before they even got to display everything. Huh.
No pressure or anything.
At the very least, Olivia got to control how quickly they will set things up around here. The mansion's estate was wide, so a garden business launch wouldn't be a problem, right? Everyone gets to avail the treats while enjoying the scenery...
When everything was ready, the guards opened the gates. People flooded in. Thankfully, there wasn't a stampede, but.
Everyone was looking around. Taking free crystals and cupcakes, reading the signs that said payment is needed for the second treat...
Olivia just hoped she didn't overestimate herself here.
"Miss! Miss!"
Green eyes turned.
Blue eyes were bright in delight, as a kid not more than ten years old smiled up at her. He was holding up one of the crystals. "It's true, right? You can eat these?"
Olivia smiles. The kid's eyes were practically sparkling in wonder at the colorful sugar crystal, and the other crystals she laid out nearby. It was insanely lucky that sugar crystals made of dragon scales can make rainbow aesthetic colors against the light, huh?
"Of course", she says, spreading a hand over the tray. "Feel free to try! But remember, the second one you take isn't for free."
The kid took five and pressed something in her hand. "What's your name, pretty lady?"
"Olivia Cecil", because that's her full name now, apparently. "What's yours?"
"Deri!"
"Mhm. It's nice to meet you!"
The kid's smile widens. Then he runs off, just as Olivia looked at her palm to see what the kid gave.
A gold insignia of a fearsome dragon with a mane. Looks expensive.
...is it really okay for a kid to give her this? This looks like it's too much for some crystals...
Olivia tried to think it through. How do you give back change around here?
Hmm.
"Well done!", the madwoman returns like a phantom before Olivia even gets to breathe. "You got the third prince's attention!"
Seriously? The business launch hadn't even ended yet--
Olivia blinked. And blinked again.
"Wait, what?"