Chapter 74

Today, the comic adaptation has started its distribution!

For more details, see the activity report.

Sweet Competition Participation Guidelines

- There are no restrictions based on identity or age for participation.

However, if there are more than thirty teams, a preliminary round will be held.

- Participation is limited to individuals or teams of three or fewer members.

- Participants can declare the materials they will use in advance and receive them.

- The judges will be the public, who will vote for the sweets they like.

Additionally, there are special judges who will only judge the special awards.

This simple overview was posted throughout Marin Forest. At the same time, the country quickly entered a festive mood.

Considering the tight schedule, it was thought that having a few dozen teams would be good, but the number of applications exceeded Tiara Rose's expectations, leading to the holding of a preliminary round.

The preliminaries were held in each town and village, and the final number of teams was thirty-two. Most of them were commoners who ran food businesses, and Tiara Rose was looking forward to the lively atmosphere they would create.

And, of course, Tiara Rose will also participate.

The members of the Tiara Rose team are Tiara Rose, Akari, and Olivia.

◇ ◇ ◇

In the calm reception room, Akari's excited voice and Tiara Rose's nodding were being listened to by Sirius with a smile.

Next to them, Aquasteed and Hartnights were drinking tea, looking tired. Aquasteed was tired from preparing for the sweet competition, and Hartnights from the journey.

Akari and Sirius were the only ones who seemed energetic.

"I didn't expect you to come to Marin Forest under the guise of a honeymoon."

Aquasteed looked at Hartnights with a slightly exasperated expression. Hartnights shrugged, saying, "I didn't expect it either."

"It was because Akari insisted on coming to Marin Forest. Besides, Sirius needs to learn diplomacy, so I brought him along."

"I see."

"If a grand festival is to be held in Marin Forest, sponsored by the royal family, it's the perfect opportunity."

As the next king of Lapis Lazuli, Aquasteed nodded in agreement. If there were guests, the festival would be even more lively.

After the festival, Sirius would return alone, while Akari and Hartnights would stay to tour Marin Forest.

"The main event of the sweet competition is tomorrow. Lady Tiara, have you decided what you will make?"

"Yes, I have a recipe prepared."

"Then, we need to have a strategy meeting later!"

With Tiara Rose's special recipe, Akari's voice was full of excitement. It was hard to believe that they had just arrived at the royal castle of Marin Forest and that Akari had volunteered to join Tiara Rose's team.

Watching this, Sirius said, "I wanted to be part of the team too," with a dejected look. However, the limit was three members, so it couldn't be helped.

"By the way, how did the preliminaries go?"

"Of course, we participated and won."

"At that time, Levi was on our team."

In response to Akari's question, Tiara Rose and Olivia answered.

Levi, being a butler who can handle Olivia's unreasonable demands, was a perfect cook. Tiara Rose wished she could have seen his high-speed whisking technique for making meringue.

Seeing the energetic women, Aquasteed and Hartnights thought, "They're really energetic."

◇ ◇ ◇

The next day, the sweet competition was successfully held.

Tiara Rose and her team had prepared pastry chef outfits for the occasion, and they were brimming with enthusiasm both in appearance and spirit.

Team 1: Tiara Rose, Akari, Olivia.

Team 2: Feres, Keith, Clayre.

Team 3: Hartnights and Sirius, who joined as special guests.

There were also many participants from the general public. Additionally, there were young ladies who brought their chefs and masked chefs who didn't want to show their faces.

"Wow, it's so lively! I'm looking forward to it!"

Akari, who was excited, immediately headed to the cooking area set up in the square. Tiara Rose and the others followed, and all the participants took their positions.

After confirming this, the male host declared loudly,

"Then, the first sweet competition—begin!"

With a "Paan," a magical fireworks-like display announced the start. There were many spectators around the square, eagerly waiting to see what sweets would be created.

"Alright, let's do our best! Lady Akari, Lady Olivia!"

"How about forming a circle?"

"Good idea, it will feel like a team!"

To boost their morale, Tiara Rose suggested forming a circle, which Akari and Olivia agreed to. They formed a circle, exchanged glances, and nodded.

Before Tiara Rose could think of what to say, Akari took a deep breath.

"We won't lose to anyone!"

"O-oh...!"

"Wow, the heroine of Lapis Lazuli and the villainess working together... I'm excited!"

Akari's enthusiastic shout made Tiara Rose's shoulders tremble. Olivia, who joined the circle, was thrilled by the combination of the two. Although she was part of the team, she didn't mind.

"Let's get started! We're making a whole cake and decorative candy sculptures!"

"Lady Akari and I will handle the cake, and Lady Tiara Rose will handle the candy sculptures."

Since the judges were the public, they needed to prepare several cakes. They divided the tasks and worked smoothly.

Akari used magic to melt the candy and freely shaped it, performing a show for the audience. The audience applauded loudly, and Akari, encouraged by the response, made a large number of candy sculptures.

Seeing this, Tiara Rose smiled, thinking that a very luxurious decorated cake would be created.

"Each team is making sweets one after another. Now, let's introduce the special judges! His Majesty Sotiris and Queen Lavina. It is a great honor to have both of them taste the sweets! Also, the head chef and deputy head chef of our royal castle. And, Lady Tiara Rose's friend, Lady Liliage!"

Hearing the host's words, Tiara Rose couldn't help but laugh.

"Why is Lady Liliage a special judge!? And she's introduced as my friend...!"

The host, unaware of Tiara Rose's surprise, continued to introduce Liliage. Feres, seeing this, smiled and said, "It's okay."

"I decided to tour Marin Forest with Liliage. If Liliage is introduced as Tiara Rose's friend, people will accept her unusual appearance more easily."

Feres explained that this was the perfect opportunity to introduce Liliage. Indeed, considering the future, this decision was correct.

"That may be so, but... I feel honored to be called Lady Liliage's friend. Of course, I do think of her that way."

"If you can be friends, I would be happy too. I've made Liliage feel lonely for a long time."

"Prince Feres..."

Feres personally asked for her help.

"I'm honored to hear that. I want to be friends with Lady Liliage too."

"Prince Feres, I'm here too, don't forget me!"

"Ah, the maiden with the sacred prayer. Liliage told me you cleansed the bracelet. Thank you."

When Akari raised her hand to identify herself, Feres smiled and thanked her. He then looked at Olivia and said hello to the three of them.

"Hey, Feres, how long are you going to chat with the enemy team? Get back to your sweets."

"---Keith. I was just talking about Liliage... But you're right, we need to finish before the three-hour time limit."

Feres and Tiara Rose returned to their respective cooking areas. Tiara Rose's hands moved as if they were made for making sweets, and Feres marveled at her.

"The women's team is amazing... We can't lose either."

"Then, get moving. Liliage said she wants to eat cupcakes, right? By the way, Feres, can you really make sweets?"

"Sure, I think I can manage."

"..."

Feres smiled and said he would manage, but Keith and Clayre sighed.

"Hey, brother... You're so clumsy."

"Damn, this isn't supposed to happen..."

Hartnights and Sirius's team was making the audience nervous due to their poor skills. If they were commoners, the audience might have cheered them on, but they were the royal family of Lapis Lazuli and guests. Something could go wrong.

As a result, the audience quietly watched them.

"Oh, it's crushed again..."

Due to poor handling, the item in Hartnights' hand was crushed. It was a failed attempt at a macaron, a pale pink mess.

The meringue base for the macaron was done quite well, not too burnt and relatively neat. The ganache was smooth and tasted delicious when Sirius tried it.

So, Hartnights and Sirius thought they could make macarons without any problems. However, at the final step of sandwiching the ganache between the meringues, Hartnights' clumsiness showed.

His fingers were too strong, and many macarons were crushed.

"Since this is my first time making sweets, it can't be helped. But, Sirius, you're quite skilled."

"Compared to you, brother, anyone would be considered skilled."

While Hartnights held the crushed macarons, Sirius made beautiful macarons.

"Since this is my first time in Marin Forest, I can't show a poor performance. ...Besides, these macarons are for Lady Tiara Rose to taste."

Sirius wrapped the three best macarons he made separately.

"Hey, Lady Tiara, Lady Olivia."

"Is something wrong, Lady Akari?"

Akari, who had finished making the candy sculptures, pointed to a specific spot. Olivia, who was decorating the cake, responded.

Akari pointed to a solo participant who was quietly working. His skills were impressive, decorating a Danish pastry with whipped cream and fruits, including the national flower, Tiara Rose.

Olivia, impressed, said, "It looks delicious," but then lost her words.

The man was wearing a mask, possibly to hide his face. The black mask was very noticeable.

"Who is he? Despite the mask, the Danish pastry cake looks incredibly delicious."

"I completely agree. ...But, I don't remember such a mask appearing in the game, and he doesn't seem to be an important character."

Olivia concluded that he was not a main or named character. If he were a minor character, she wouldn't mind.

If he were a character she needed to interact with, her excitement would skyrocket.

"Well, he doesn't seem to be an important character. But, it looks delicious. I could be happy all day if it were served for breakfast."

"I agree. If he has a shop, I'm sure his products will eventually be available in the market."

As Akari and Olivia talked, Tiara Rose's voice called out, "Both of you~"

"If you have free hands, please help! We'll make as many cakes as possible for everyone to enjoy. Lady Akari, please spread the cream on the sponge. I'll decorate with cream. Lady Olivia, please decorate with the candy sculptures you made and finish with chocolate ribbons."

"Okay!"

"Understood."

Tiara Rose, who was usually calm, was now very lively as she made sweets. She instructed them that now was not the time to pay attention to other participants.

After the three of them made five whole cakes, the bell signaling the end of the time limit rang.