Chapter 12 (1/2)
“Tsk! Selina, that fox…”
Eliza’s face was boiling with frustration as she bit her lip. The stalemate between Selina and her had turned completely to Selina’s favour because of the perfume she obtained from who-knows-where. She was heartbroken by the fact that Philip was so easily tempted by a mere perfume, but the most difficult part was watching Selina seduce Philip like a fox wrapping her tail around its master.
Plus, all of the girls have begun flattering Selina in an attempt to find out the source of the perfume, so Eliza had to continue the battle alone. Sadly she couldn’t think of a method to turn the tides once more.
“Huhuhu. You seem to be in a dilemma.”
“Hm?”
Eliza was surprised by the sudden voice behind her. She turned, only to see Isaac’s face. A hint of disgust could be seen in Eliza’s eyes.
“What is it?”
“You don’t have to be so tense.”
“Hm. I’m not being tense. I’m just irritated by the fact that I have to talk to you.”
Isaac felt his temper flare at Eliza’s blunt insult but he reminded himself of the saying ‘the customers are always right.’
“I had a proposal to help you in your fight for your love, but if you refuse then…”
Eliza called out to Isaac, who began to turn around as he stopped finis.h.i.+ng his sentence. He may not have been trustworthy, but she was in no position to refuse help.
“Wait! What do you mean by that?”
‘She took the bait!’
Isaac continued speaking nonchalantly, trying his best to hide his grin.
“It’s nothing. I just got the urge to help you when I saw you in such distress. Of course, I will ask for some payment in return.”
Eliza began weighing her options. It was clear that she was conflicted on whether to trust Isaac or not.
“Fine! Let’s hear you out first.”
“Huhu, you are well aware that Selina has come one step closer to victory thanks to the perfume, don’t you?”
The moment Isaac mentioned that accursed name, Eliza’s eyes lit up and she grit her teeth. An act so ferocious that even Isaac flinched and backed off.
“Ahem, you will need an item of your own to compete against Selina’s perfume.”
Eliza’s expression changed, and soon, she nodded as if she understood everything.
“To think I couldn’t think of such a simple thing. You must be the man who gave that Selina her perfume. I don’t care how much it costs. Bring me a perfume that will put the Spring’s Whisper to shame.”
‘It’s a problem that everyone’s so smart here.’
Isaac felt threatened when Eliza managed to deduce he was the main culprit in such a short moment. Isaac might be able to run the business with this new idea, but these smarty-pants could attempt to steal his business at a moment’s notice. Isaac waved his finger left to right as he thought to be more careful next time.
“That’s no good. What’s important is being first. Since Lady Selina used the perfume already, using a similar method will make you seem like you’re just following the trend. You must approach this from a new direction.”
“What would that be?”
Isaac smiled at Eliza’s question.
“Do you like cooking, by any chance?”
The chefs who run the student cafeteria were cooking instructors hired to teach the students. Due to the restriction in the Campus where only students and instructors are allowed in the Campus, they created a subject for cooking and filled the instructor spots with the most famous chefs within the Empire. Although they were instructors in name, all they did was prepare the meals for the students. It was bending the rules, but if they didn’t do this, everyone in the Campus would have to eat the disgusting and awkward meals made by the students themselves.
A sweet and delicious aroma filled the student cafeteria’s kitchen, which had been reserved thanks to the efforts from Mazelan.
“Huh, I must say it’s unexpected.”
Isaac stated his surprise as Eliza brought the final products to him. When would a n.o.ble lady ever need to get their hands dirty? Isaac ate one of the cookies to find out what it tastes like.
It was crispy on the outside, but the inside had the perfect softness to it. The small nuts sprinkled within the well-baked cookie enriched the flavour to a new level.
“Mmm, delicious.”
“Of course! Baking cookies with my mother has been my hobby ever since I was a child.”
Eliza proudly smiled as she watched the cookies on the table, but Isaac shook his head and spoke the cold truth.
“But it’s a failure.”
“What! What could possibly be wrong with my cookies?”
“There is nothing wrong with them.”
“Obviously! Even the famous bakeries in Gabelin begged me for the recipe.”
“That’s the problem. It’s too delicious.”
“Huh?”
“A n.o.ble lady baked some cookies, but the cookies taste like they were made from a famous bakery. Would the people truly believe that you baked it yourself?”
It was infuriating, but she had to admit it. Many of the n.o.bles thought food was something that simply comes out when you order the chefs. Even Eliza would have known nothing about cooking if it weren’t for her mother.
“The most important thing is the person who will eat your cookies!”
“…?”
“Think about it. A woman asking a man to eat some cookies she baked herself. This alone is akin to confessing ‘I have feelings for you!’ But those cookies taste like they have been made by a professional! Then it’s a total failure. He will never believe that you made it yourself.”
Eliza nodded her head in agreement. She asked Isaac to continue, so Isaac began his speech with a pa.s.sion.
“Now, think of this! You approach the man with a hint of embarra.s.sment. You pause for a moment, then give him some cookies that had been lovingly wrapped, and ask him to eat the handmade cookies. The man will seem hesitant in appearance, but his heart will be taken over with happiness.”
“Oh!”
“But there’s a key! The key is clumsiness and pa.s.sion.”
“Clumsiness and pa.s.sion?”
“That’s right! Which do you think leaves a stronger impression? Giving the cookies with perfectly fine hands or with hands that has cuts and wrapped in bandages?”
“Obviously the…”
“Yes! The cookies that had been made despite the injuries are sure to garner more interest. The man will clearly notice the injured hands and will ask you why. You then hide the hands in shame and try to avoid the question. But even the slowest of the idiots will figure out that the injuries happened while making the cookies. Then the man will fall into a pit of emotions knowing that you had gone such lengths to give him those cookies!”
“Ohoh!”
“The taste is not important. No, as long as it’s not disgusting and is edible, it will be fine. This plan shouldn’t be done in a single day! Twice, thrice you will cook and the taste will get better each time! Then, the man will have no choice but to feel the love in the cookies. That this girl is putting her heart in her cooking to improve the taste just for him.”
“Ohohoh!”
Feeling emboldened by Eliza’s positive reactions, Isaac preached to Eliza like a cult master brainwas.h.i.+ng his followers.
“Now! Are you ready to win over the love of your life!”
“Yes!”
“Are you prepared to injure your hand no matter what to win your love!”
“Yes!”
“Love does not come to those who wait! It is something you fight for! Are you ready to give Selina your revenge?”
“Yes!”
“Then make it again.”
“Yes chef!”
Eliza was so captivated by the speech that she forgot that she started to call him as chef. And those feelings soon turned into her motivation for her cooking.
Isaac contemplated on his life choices, wondering how he ended up in a situation of giving dating advice for a high school romance. But it was fun nonetheless.
At the end of the day, Isaac’s plan was a success. Philip fell for Eliza’s cookies of love, and all Selina could do was watch in anger as her love was taken away, for she had nothing to retaliate with.
And unlike Selina, Eliza boasted to everyone who both provided the perfume for Selina and advices for Eliza. Thanks to Eliza’s advertis.e.m.e.nt, Isaac’s business started to take off.
“You want me for your business?”
Gonzales couldn’t hide his confusion. These were the first things Isaac said to him when he took Gonzales to a corner to talk about something.
“Sigh, sorry to disappoint you, but the Campus is strict with its commissions.”
“I am aware.”
“No, I’m telling you this because you don’t seem like you know it. I did bring that perfume for you because it was hard to reject you, but it was very dangerous. Do you think n.o.body tried to bring goods from the outside to sell to the students at a high price? If you’re caught, you are punished on the spot without a court hearing.”
“I didn’t know the punishment was that severe.”
“That’s why I’m telling you to stop with the pointless schemes.”
“But do those rules apply when an outsider, a man who is not a part of the Campus, tries to make a profit off the students right?”
“Hm? Y, yes.”
“Will the Campus have rules banning trade between students?”
“Do they?”
“They do. Trading goods for money is banned for the students.”
Gonzales cringed. He couldn’t help but think Isaac was making a fool of him.
“I am both a student and not at the same time. Since I am not enrolled in any of the schools, they can’t apply any rules on me either. That’s why I couldn’t say anything about the bullying as well.
Gonzales was well aware of the beatings Isaac’s regular beatings. He was feeling quite sorry for him since there was nothing he could do for him.
When Isaac saw Gonzales nod, Isaac smiled as if he was holding the trump card.
“You know about all the goods I asked for you to bring?”
“Hm?”
“I sold them all already.”
“In just two days?”
Gonzales’ eyes opened wide from Isaac’s words. They were all small goods, but the amount he brought wasn’t something that could sell out in a mere two days.
“It just means they are that popular. Of course, I have made a decent profit while including the fees for getting the goods, transportation, and other miscellaneous costs.”
“H, how much?”