#56. Active Role (6)
Curiosity didn’t have long to wait.
A servant arrived to announce that the meal was ready, and guided the guests to the dining hall.
Under the glow of the splendid chandelier, the long table was covered with dishes.
Banquets usually had predictable menus, so no one expected to be surprised—
“What is this?”
The nobles, wide-eyed, couldn’t hide their amazement as they inspected the dishes.
At that moment, Sasha entered with Pavel. The murmuring guests immediately rose from their seats.
Only after Pavel and Sasha took their places at the head of the table did the invited nobles sit back down.
“I’m glad to see you all. Thank you for accepting the invitation despite your busy schedules.”
Sasha, as host, broke the ice.
“How did you find your accommodations?”
The nobles nodded, giving polite, positive answers.
None of them wished to risk antagonizing someone in power. And since they were still gauging what kind of person Sasha was, they had to tread carefully.
The favorable atmosphere, formed from their calculations, was just what Sasha wanted.
‘The groundwork always begins with the mood.’
In that warm atmosphere, the chef arrived to briefly introduce the dishes.
Most were familiar recipes, and the nobles showed little interest—
“This dish is made from a crop called Karto.”
But the moment the unfamiliar name was mentioned, heads tilted in confusion.
“Karto? What’s that? I’ve never heard of it…”
The nobles didn’t recognize it. How could they, when Karto was known only as livestock feed?
But someone present seemed to know.
“Could that be… the devil’s food?”
The noble, unwilling to say the crude nickname aloud at the table, phrased it delicately.
“My understanding is that it’s toxic to humans, so only some poor farmers feed it to pigs as a substitute.”
The table froze over. Faces turned cold.
How dare she try to serve us such a lowly thing—something that isn’t even food?
As the nobles’ displeased stares bore into Sasha, Pavel frowned and began to speak.
“That’s—”
“No.”
Sasha stopped him, calmly explaining.
“That’s a misconception. In The Compendium of Medicine by Hirote, Karto is recorded as a crop used as a remedy for health.”
Hirote—renowned a thousand years ago, whose name was still revered—had been one of Sasha’s past lives.
“Truly?”
“If it was said by Hirote himself…”
The tension eased. If the genius among geniuses had praised Karto, calling it beneficial, then perhaps it wasn’t so vile.
Even now, Hirote’s works were used because her medical practices had been revolutionary, their efficacy enduring for centuries.
Her words carried such weight that people would have believed her even if she had claimed to brew soy paste with red beans.
Sasha thought it ironic yet fortunate that her past-life reputation was helping her now, and she continued:
“That’s why our chef often prepares dishes with Karto these days. They’re both delicious and nutritious, and everyone’s enjoyed them.”
Ivan and Yelena chimed in.
“Indeed.”
“I feel like it isn’t a proper meal anymore unless Karto is served.”
Even Duke Sergei joined in.
“If I’d known about this before, I’d have been eating it long ago.”
Hearing not only respected nobles like Ivan and Yelena, but also the revered hero Duke Sergei, praise Karto, the nobles’ expressions grew uncertain.
They gazed doubtfully at the dishes made with Karto.
It does look appetizing…
The beautifully decorated food resembled art pieces.
And the enticing aroma told them this was not only for the eyes, but meant for the palate as well.
In short: these dishes would satisfy the eyes, the nose, and—likely—the tongue.
“If you still feel hesitant about Karto, you may eat from the blue plates. They contain dishes made without a single bit of it.”
Sasha pointed to pheasant roast, cod soup, lobster salad, and biscuits topped with raspberry cream.
Relieved that they wouldn’t be forced to eat the supposedly dreadful crop, the nobles sighed in relief.
Sasha, however, watched them calmly.
The chef’s disclosure about Karto wasn’t a mistake—it was a calculated move Sasha had ordered.
Here, Karto was a reviled food. Sasha knew many might refuse to even touch it if they knew.
Ivan had suggested concealing the truth at first—let them eat, enjoy it, then reveal later that it had been Karto all along.
But Sasha refused.
“We need to win them over. If we lose their trust from the start, it’s over.”
Even if the food was tasty and safe, learning afterward that they had been tricked would leave them angry and resentful.
Better to be upfront, giving them the choice, than risk betraying their trust.
“That said, please enjoy the meal however you wish.”
The feast began.
The atmosphere was quieter than usual for nobles, who typically filled meals with chatter.
This is… delicious.
The nobles’ eyes widened as they tasted the Karto dishes. They had expected something barely tolerable—
It’s even better than those so-called luxury ingredients.
The Karto recipes outshone dishes laden with expensive spices.
The flavor satisfied even the most discerning palates, and the nobles’ hands and mouths hardly paused.
At last, one hesitant noble spoke.
“Er… what was this dish made from, again?”
“Karto,” Sasha replied.
The moment had come.
Not missing the chance, she began her pitch.
“It grows well even in barren soil, requires no special skills to cultivate, and stores easily.”
The smooth explanation perked ears that had seemed indifferent before.
“If kept in a cool, shaded place away from sunlight, it lasts for months.”
“Oh-ho.”
“And even if disaster strikes—a drought, a ruined harvest—having this means survival is still possible.”
At those words, the nobles’ eyes lit up.
Food shortages were every lord’s eternal headache. And now, a solution lay right before them.
It’s safe, tastes good…
And cheap.
If it’s for the commoners, not for us, then…
Some nobles’ expressions shifted. They now looked at the Karto dishes as though they were gold.
Feed this to the peasants, reserve our fields for more valuable crops, raise more tax, and grow the estate’s wealth…
Their minds were whirring visibly.
Sasha, satisfied with the completely changed atmosphere, quietly observed.
Then—
Swish.
Onto Sasha’s empty plate, a serving of her favorite Karto salad appeared.
“…?”
Of course, it was Pavel.
“You’ve hardly eaten.”
His voice was casual, but the thoughtfulness behind it was clear: he had been watching her the whole time.
Sasha laughed softly behind her hand and whispered, “Thank you, Pavel.”
She lifted the salad with her fork and tasted it.
The tender mix of boiled Karto, eggs, cucumbers, and a special sauce melted sweetly in her mouth.
She then picked up a slice of roasted turkey and placed it on Pavel’s plate.
“You should eat plenty too.”
“…Mm.”
The nobles, wide-eyed, sneaked glances at the couple whispering so closely.
I’d never heard they were so affectionate…
But anyone could see they were a devoted pair, busy caring for each other.
To think the man once called a demon lives like this now… So it really was his wife who changed him. But how?
Their gazes toward Sasha deepened.
Whatever they thought of her before, the new duchess clearly exceeded all expectations.
After the feast ended, Sasha’s reception room door opened nonstop.
The faces differed, but the requests were the same.
“Could I… obtain some Karto seeds?”
“Of course. I’ll even provide the cultivation method.”
Sasha answered brightly, sharing freely like a tree that gives without limit.
She hoped what she gave would spread across the north, sowing the seeds of change.
The next day, the nobles departed. Their expressions carried unmistakable satisfaction. There was no need to worry now.
Sasha reentered the Velikorodo estate, still in disarray from post-feast cleanup.
The busy servants bowed deeply to her as she passed, and she returned their greetings with a smile before hurrying on.
Back in her office, she drew out a thick stack of papers from a drawer.
Some she had written herself, others were from the castle chefs.
Flipping through them page by page, she divided the stack into two categories. Then she summoned Ivan.
“You called, my lady?”
“Ah, Ivan.”
Sasha greeted him with a tired smile.
“Thank you so much for yesterday.”
“Not at all. It was my duty.”
After his polite reply, he asked why she had summoned him.
“Please have these made into a book. Print as many copies as possible.”
Ivan accepted the bundle and cautiously asked, “May I read it?”
“Of course.”
Curious, Ivan examined the pages.
They were filled with drawings in sequence, with short explanatory sentences beneath each.
“What is this?”
