Chapter 202 - Infringing The Rights
A scroll sealed with the crest of the Rosenhyde Royal family was in his hands which could not stop trembling.
The last time, all he had received was the King's orders through the mouth of the Steward.
However, this time Baron MacIntyre was being summoned to the Palace to have a parlez with the King himself.
'King Ophire must have already decided to employ my cafe for the celebrations.' He had figured what the summon was for.
No King had the time to invite someone over to the Palace only to reject them.
This justification was what had given the Baron confidence that the future of his cafe would soon become golden.
Rolling the scroll to open it, he read the time that he was supposed to meet the King.
"Make sure you bring the new dessert along with you. The Royal Princess wishes to have it after her lunch." Steward reminded him just as he had completed reading.
The information written in the scroll was related to what this man had just said.
The meeting time was half an hour before lunch and the meeting place was the Royal Throne room.
However, hearing this excess information from the Steward made the Baron look upon confusion.
"New dessert?" He questioned as he was still a little dazed after receiving a Royal summon for the first time in his life.
The steward shook his head and decided to enlighten him about the news that the Royal Princess had received from her friends.
"Princess has heard all about the Young Miss of St. Claire's efforts to help your cafe and wishes to have a taste of this new dessert." He filled the man in on the details.
The scroll almost dropped from the Baron's hands after hearing these words but he was quick to steady his feet and clench the precious scroll to save it.
"Royal Princess wants… The dessert…?" He stuttered after a long silence that had taken over the room.
The conversation he had with the child who had invited him over for lunch to discuss the profit distribution replayed in his aching head.
He had tossed that incident out of his head and was never going to attend the meeting she had set up but it appeared that luck was not on his side today.
The first thing he was informed this morning was that he would have to take that dessert and go to the Royal Palace to meet the King.
How was he going to face the King and also serve him a dessert that he did not have the right to make?
"Does Princess want to serve this dessert as well for the celebration?" He inquired and hoped that the answer was a big fat no.
Since he did not have the legal rights to make that dessert and sell it to make a profit from it, he needed the answer to that question urgently.
If the Princess only wished to eat it for her dessert then he would not have any problem in bringing it for her.
The problem to his and his cafe's reputation would only arise if the King had plans of adding this to his menu.
'If Steward knows about the child helping me then so does the King.' He speculated and fear bubbled up in his heart.
If his assumption was right then there was no way that he could accept that offer from the King.
'Selling the cupcake without Miss St. Claire's permission is a crime and I can never bring them out before the King!' He lamented that he was already at a loss here.
"The Princess has already mentioned that this dessert will be added to the menu. So make sure you bring it on time, unlike what happened yesterday." Royal Steward chided the man for his tardy behavior in delivering the desserts the previous day.
With this statement, he had completed the task assigned by King Ophire which meant that he had no more reason to stick around.
"I shall take my leave, Baron. I hope to see you ahead of time today." He reminded the plump man before leaving the room.
Butler was quick to open the door and even escorted the Steward to the front door.
Once he had seen the carriage from the Palace off, he went back to the room where his master was and found the man plopped on the couch.
The scroll was in his right hand while his left hand covered his eyes to block the light out.
"What should I do?" Baron Quinn MacIntyre kept muttering to himself.
Last night, he had been celebrating the grand success of the delivery and was waiting for good news from the Palace.
Today, he had received that good news but he was not delighted as worry had taken root in his heart.
"What is the matter, Master?" The timid butler inquired upon seeing the anxious state of his master.
Baron did not think twice before confiding in his aide, the events that had taken place at the cafe.
"So this is why Master was called to the cafe?" Butler thought out loud and was given a nod from the man on the couch.
A few minutes of pondering brought a similar expression of worry on his face.
"How will Master serve the cupcake to the Princess if he does not have the right to sell it?" He repeated the dilemma in Baron MacIntyre's mind.
If Princess and the King already knew about the origin of the cupcake then the Baron should never serve those cupcakes to anyone.
If he did, then the chances of Baron MacIntyre being punished for infringing on the rights of the little girl from the Earl's family was enormous and frightening.
Being his trusted Butler, he had found only one way to get out of this mess as the time to meet the King would be here sooner than they could think.
"Master, please sign the profit distribution agreement with the Young Miss from the St. Claire family!" He implored for the sake of their MacIntyre family's future.
It was clear to everyone that a demand made by the Princess was given high priority by His Majesty, King Ophire.
Thus, how could the ruler accept the fact that the Baron had disobeyed his orders by not preparing the cupcakes when he was asked to bring them along upon his arrival at the Palace.
This could even make them lose the favor of the King along with the chance to cater for the event which would be a suicidal move for them.
Baron MacIntyre was already aware of the next step he should take and the Butler's pleading words were like the push he needed to take that leap forward.
"Prepare the carriage, I shall hasten to the St. Claire Estate!" He announced as he sat up straight.
His words did not bring relief to the servant but brought panic on his face after hearing the reckless decision that his master had made.
"My Lord, please reconsider!" He urged the Baron to hold his horses as that was not the right thing to do.
He knew that he had to explain further when he saw the confused yet agitated face of the other man.
"The St. Claire's are a higher noble family and for Master to barge in unannounced would be seen as disregarding their status." He reminded him about the rules that their Kingdom followed.
One would either have to send a letter in advance or be invited in order to enter a certain private property of any noble.
"Since Master was invited for lunch by the Young Miss, why don't you prepare yourself and leave for their Mansion ahead of time?" He suggested which seemed like a feasible idea to his Lord as he nodded in acceptance.
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