After her second mouthful, then her third, Lady Sakura giggled. “This is amazing. Since it’s all fruit, there aren’t too many strong, clashing flavors, but it feels like a dance inside my mouth.”
Her smile said it was almost too much for her, but she didn’t stop. She continued until she had elegantly devoured the entire thing.
Other reactions were more mixed. Lady Kagura ate it without saying a word, a strange look on her face. Lady Asuka looked more assured of her own victory than ever. Lady Rosalie ate it in confusion, occasionally letting out a thoughtful hum.
Once she was finished, Lady Sakura said, “I see. Ha ha.” She was laughing almost to herself, as if she’d remembered something.
“It sounds like everyone has their own thoughts on the Sky Salon’s most unexpected dish,” Lady Angelica said, addressing the crowd. “I have plenty of questions, but those can wait until later. Let’s move on to the Paradise Palace. Mei, it’s your turn.”
“Thank you.”
Mei stood gracefully and served her creation with the help of Erisu’s three Exousias. I was eager to see what she’d made.
The four girls pushed in a cart full of plates. Even before I could see it, the rich, sweet scent wafted across the entire room. It smelled so decadent that I could already tell it would be absolutely delicious.
“Here it is, everyone,” Mei said as she started serving it.
“It looks beautiful!” Lady Sakura immediately exclaimed.
Lady Kagura’s eyes gleamed, like she was gazing upon fine jewels. A feverish expression rose on Lady Rosalie’s face as well; she looked absolutely enchanted.
Even Lady Saeko sounded delighted. “So this is what Mei’s famous homemade sweets are like!”
I found myself letting out a joyous little yelp. Mei had made a fruit tart, but naturally, it was no ordinary tart. Peaches and apples had been cut into semicircular segments and layered on the top, arranged to look like the petals of a large rose. A plump strawberry was enshrined in the center, and the fruits had been coated with an apricot glaze to make them all shine like gemstones.
Cutting into it with a knife almost felt like a waste, but the sheer joy of eating it was enough to overcome that. The moment I bit into it, my whole mouth was filled with a luscious flavor that exceeded my wildest expectations.
Underneath the fruit wasn’t just whipped cream. The mixture had an exquisite balance of cream cheese and strawberry sauce, making for a truly deep and complex flavor that set our hearts on fire.
No one said a word. Silence reigned until we finished eating, as if we were all afraid that if we spoke, this deliciousness would run away, never to be seen again.
Lady Angelica’s comment afterward made it clear that she, too, was in the thrall of Mei’s homemade fruit tart. “That was extremely good. Your skills are remarkable.”
Everyone present was no doubt thinking the same. In light of this, Lady Asuka’s pride and confidence made perfect sense.
Thanks to Mei, the Paradise Palace had just gone way up in everyone’s estimation.
“I fear the Gloriana Guesthouse may have a tough act to follow,” Lady Angelica continued, “but are you ready to serve your dish?”
“Absolutely,” Marie replied jovially. “Mei’s sweets are certainly nothing to sneeze at, but we won’t be going down without a fight.”
Her ability to stay positive really was a strength. I wondered what she, and her salon, would be dishing up.
Marie brought her dish to the main table, then to everyone else. “Here you are,” she said at our table. “I hope you enjoy it.”
When I saw what Marie presented, I let out a hysterical “Huh?!”
But...this is...
“Goodness,” Lady Sakura said, surprised.
Even Lady Kagura wore an unusually stark look of shock. “Oh my.”
Lady Rosalie remained composed, of course. She’d already known what was coming.
Meanwhile, Lady Asuka frowned deeply. “What is going on here?!”
I couldn’t blame her. After all, what Marie had presented, what the Gloriana Guesthouse had prepared, was the very same thing we had—a fruitcake.
Not only that, but the quantity and variety of fruit was the same as well. The only difference was that the Gloriana Guesthouse hadn’t just mixed fruit in with the batter and baked it. They’d also heaped all kinds of different fruits on top, making for a spectacular presentation.
“Oh, and allow me to add this decoration to Lady Sakura’s table as well.”
Marie produced a pink vase with cherry tree branches inside, each one adorned with cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Lady Sakura looked at the blossoms, spellbound. “My goodness. I thought the cherry blossom season was already over. Was I wrong?”
“In this area, they all fall around the start of May, but deep in the mountains in cold regions, there are places where they’re still in bloom at this time of year. I was lucky enough to find some in Hokkaido, so I took a few branches back with me.”
I couldn’t believe it. Using cherries was easy enough, but finding actual cherry blossoms, Lady Sakura’s name incarnate, was on another level entirely. I could tell how serious Lady Rosalie was about winning her over.
“What elegance. Well, I’ll tuck in.” With a smile, she started eating the cake.
I whimpered. “Me too.”
My mind in disarray, I lifted it up to my mouth. It was really well made. The fruits mixed into the cake had been cut into different sizes to carefully control the strength of the flavors and achieve a perfect balance. It looked like they’d taken great care with the hues as well. When I cut into it, it looked like vividly colored jewels were scattered around inside the cake.
This was a model example of how careful planning and execution could turn an ordinary fruitcake into something truly special. The taste and presentation were both a clear step above mine.
Ours would undoubtedly pale in comparison. Was it like Lady Asuka had said at the beginning? Was it truly impossible for the team who went first to win?
This isn’t a battle of flavor alone. I know that, but I’m still full of doubts.
Which one was Lady Sakura going to choose?
Lady Angelica wiped her mouth, beaming with satisfaction.
“Now all three salons have presented their dishes, each more unexpected than the last. Of course, my opinion isn’t the important one. It’s all up to Sakura.” Turning to the lady of the hour, she asked, “What did you think? Have you decided which salon you’d like to join?”
“Hmm. Would you mind waiting a moment? This has been such an amazing experience that I’m struggling to choose.” She really did look lost; she put a hand on her cheek and sat there deliberating.
“That’s absolutely fine. In that case, let’s focus on clearing up for now and then hear your verdict after that.”
“If you don’t mind, that would be perfect.”
So much for Lady Saeko’s seventy or eighty percent certainty of our team coming out on top. Lady Sakura’s current indecision was totally at odds with that.
As I helped with the tidying, belated doubts began to creep in. I started wondering if we’d really made the right choice of dessert, or if there might have been a better way to win her over. I still think it was the best option, though. Probably.
Once the restaurant was looking spotless, Lady Sakura sat up straight with a look of resolve.
“Have you made your decision?” Lady Angelica asked. “If you’re still not sure, I’m sure we can postpone this for another day.”
“Thank you for being so considerate, but that won’t be necessary. I’ve made up my mind, and I’d like to inform everyone here and now. I wouldn’t leave you without an answer when you’ve all come here just for me.”
Lady Sakura stood up.
“First, I’d like to express my gratitude for this incredible opportunity. It’s truly an honor for such esteemed salons to have extended their hands to me. Even though I’ve had to choose one, I must say that you were all extremely close. I’ll thank each salon properly afterward, but first allow me to tell you my decision.”
She paused for a moment, then gazed out, her head held high.
“The salon I wish to join is...”
Tension filled the air as we waited.
“The Sky Salon!”
Gasps of surprise and disappointment filled the air across the restaurant.