Chapter 146 You Can Get as Much as You Want
Soon, a maid entered with two canned fish, carefully removing the mud from the ceramic jars before opening them.
The rich aroma of garlic and fish quickly filled the room. Henry knew the fish was well-prepared and gestured for the lord to try it. "Lord, please have a taste."
Rising from her spot, Mila picked up a ceramic plate, poured out the fish, and positioned it before Henry.
Similarly, the maid emulated her actions, decanting the fish delicacy into a porcelain dish and setting it before the Lord of Hyratos. Overwhelmed by the enticing aroma, the maid found herself on the brink of salivating.
The Lord of Hyratos, intoxicated by the enticing aroma, felt his throat constrict in anticipation. His eyes widened as they fastened on the fish in the dish, the potent fragrance seemingly imploring him to partake.
The lord couldn't resist and grabbed a piece of fish with his hands, savoring the flavor.
"Great. This is the most delicious dish among all I've experienced." The Lord of Hyratos began to clean fingers by sucking them.
The others, including the noblewomen, eagerly joined in, finishing the meal in no time. Even the residual broth was meticulously mopped up with a piece of barley bread by a noblewoman, leaving the ceramic plate so immaculate that it required no further washing.
"You..."
By the time the Lord of Hyratos regained his composure, none of the fish was left for him, causing a vein to throb audibly on his forehead. How had his household's etiquette crumbled so disgracefully? Wasn't spare him a morsel of soup?
Henry and Mila exchanged bemused glances, observing the indulgent spectacle that was the Hyratos family feasting, the conspicuously barren ceramic dish and then their own servings of fish that still remained largely undisturbed.
The Lord of Hyratos began, struggling awkwardly to find words.
The implications were clear as daylight to Henry, who discreetly touched Mila's feet to make a suggestion.
In an instant, Mila comprehended Henry's silent admonition. She bowed her head to savor the fish, oblivious to the desperate yearning in the Lord of Hyratos' gaze.
"Lord Henry." The Lord of Hyratos began with a sincerity that belied the comical scene moments before. "This dish you prepared is genuinely unparalleled in culinary excellence, surpassing the cuisine of Royal City."
This was decidedly the most exquisite dish he had tasted in his lifetime. The enticing chunks of meat before him now held no appeal as they paled in comparison to the culinary delight of Henry's dish. His own household's cuisine started to seem as unpalatable as chaff.
Casting a glance to see that Henry's plate was scarcely touched, a disheartening realization washed over the Lord of Hyratos. They must have found the meal distasteful.
Such a revelation was indeed a crushing blow to the pride of a nobleman hosting a banquet. His gourmet spread was spurned by his esteemed guests. A reflection of his woeful inadequacy as a host.
"Thank you for your compliment." Henry responded with polished decorum. "I must confess to having a refined palate and hence a keen interest in gastronomic research."
His gaze strayed towards Mila, enraptured in her gastronomic delight. She feasted with such unapologetic enthusiasm, especially that look of satisfaction, that one was enticed to pinch her rosy cheeks.
"I would certainly relish an opportunity to attend a banquet by Lord Henry. I long to savor such gastronomic excellence once more."
The Lord of Hyratos conveyed a flicker of yearning evident in his eyes. For a gourmand such as him, exemplary cuisine could instigate sheer obsession.
Henry chuckled heartily, waving off the formality. "Sir, you would always be warmly welcomed in Eldoria."
Resting his chin in his interlaced fingers, he then teased. "The dish you enjoyed earlier, you don't necessarily have to travel all the way to Eldoria to have it again."
"What?" The Lord of Hyratos sprang up abruptly, and his eyes widened in surprise and excitement. "Could it be that Lord Henry is considering imparting the recipe of that dish to me?"
Henry rolled his eyes, knowing the audacity prevalent of the nobles of this era. He responded deliberately. "This dish has gone through months of meticulous research. I am disinclined to share the recipe, Your Lordship."
"I see. I let my excitement get the better of me." The Lord of Hyratos offered an apology laced with a twinge of regret in his eyes.
The optimistic Lord had been banking on his thick-skinned audaciousness to manipulate the young noble, Henry, into a reluctant submission. However, his strategic approach foundered in meeting a candid refusal.
Henry was quite familiar with such a tactic, having encountered his fair share back on Earth. Some individuals would audaciously impose, hoping their boldness would prompt a reluctant capitulation.
While it wasn't always successful, the audacious didn't consider it much of a risk. Thick-skinned persistence often reaps benefits.
"However! I can offer the finalized dish to you, yet..." Henry began with a light chuckle.
The words had hardly left his mouth when the Lord of Hyratos interrupted. "How much?"
Long years as a noble had made the Lord of Hyratos rather astute; he clearly understood where Henry was headed. To obtain such a delicacy, he was willing to part with a reasonable sum of money.
"Three hundred copper coins per jar!" Henry responded, holding up three fingers. "This is a bargain."
At the mention of the price, the Lord of Hyratos flinched a bit. Is it expensive? Certainly, bearing in mind that the porcelain jar was rather modest in size and no larger than a bread, which cost three hundred copper coins.
Moreover, he had tasted fish. Being situated by the river, his town often obtained fish from the plebeians. They usually sell for seven or eight copper coins per pound.
The weight of the porcelain jar might be roughly two pounds at most, and by incorporating an exceptional guarded recipe, skyrocketed the price to three hundred copper coins. It was an egregious mark-up.
"This fish is conserved in a jar and uses many unique spices. Furthermore, it can be stored for roughly a hundred days. My Lord, do you find three hundred coins excessive?" Henry queried with a nonchalant demeanor.
"Truly? It can indeed be preserved for a hundred days?" The Lord of Hyratos voiced his disbelief. "But how? This isn't smoked or dried meat."
"That's the magic of a proprietary method. And it's not solely fish, but also incorporated are beef, and the others."
Henry sat upright, the corners of his mouth curling upwards. "My Lord, do you find the price steep? I am confident that if sold in Royal City, even a silver coin each would find takers among the nobility."
Indeed, they would be willing. The Lord of Hyratos was well acquainted with the proclivities of the cohort in Royal City. Flush with funds and always seeking novel culinary experiences, they would readily spend three to four silver coins for such a delicacy.
"Lord Henry, I am interested in buying all the canned goods you have."
Planting both hands on the table, he leaned forward eagerly, declaring in a profound tone. "However many you have, I will take."
