Chapter 73 A successful banquet

"A Black Tulip, truly exquisite."

Lee William caressed the solitary black tulip with tenderness in his eyes. The rise of his family had relied on these flowers, so naturally, he held a special affection for them.

Lady Penelope was likewise stroking the purple-black bloom. "A new variety of magical potion plant, and it's a tulip. This is a sign that our family's prosperity will continue. I once thought that Liszt was not a fortunate one, but now it seems he's the luckiest of the Tulip family."

"Black tulips should be promoted vigorously, for the sake of the family," Lady Mary said, as if offhandedly.

Lytton followed behind Lady Mary, his voice innocent. "It's so beautiful, Father. Can I have a black tulip too? I'd like to plant it on my bedroom windowsill, so I can see it every day."

"There will be a chance, Lytton," Levi interrupted, looking at the harvested seed pods. He then turned to Liszt and asked, "You've already harvested a batch of seeds?"

"There were thirty-five mature seed pods in total, each containing roughly thirty seeds. I believe if we entrust them to Xiang Xiang for cultivation, we should be able to cultivate them on a large scale within half a year."

"Certainly, Xiang Xiang's speed in cultivating tulips is top-notch even among the Great Elves."

"I'll hand over the seeds to you later."

"Very well."

After a brief conversation, they settled the matter of cultivating the black tulips without giving anyone else a chance to intervene - the brothers agreed that Li Weiwei could come along, but not Lytton. Not being from the same mother, they naturally didn't share the same concerns.

The Earl glanced at Lady Mary and Lytton, then looked at List, who had already grown much taller than him. In the end, he said nothing.

Lady Penelope whispered in Li Weiwei's ear, "Those two boys have their own minds now. Just look at Lee William's face; it's quite pleasing."

Though she spoke softly, everyone was gathered closely together, leaving no room for secrecy.

Lee William pretended not to hear and said to List, "The Flower Farm has fallen into disrepair. After I discovered the tulips here, I planted a vast sea of them, hoping that you could recreate that scene."

"The revival of the Flower Farm has always been part of my plan."

"I can see that you truly understand how to be a competent lord. The prosperous atmosphere in Flower Town is evident, and I hope it continues."

Having admired the black tulips, they returned to the castle due to the heat. Outside the castle's riding grounds, Lee William noticed the Black Dragon Horse. As an Aerial Knight, his eye for horses was impeccable, and with just a quick glance, he could tell that the Black Dragon Horse was more magnificent than his own Tianbao Steed.

"What lineage does it belong to?"

"I'm not sure." Liszt didn't mention the dragon bloodline. Once he did, the Earl would surely snatch the Black Dragon Mare—dragon horses were of immense value to nobles.

"Perhaps it's the bloodline of an intermediate magical beast. If you can breed a herd as magnificent, I'll purchase a batch from you to replace the knights' steeds."

"That might take quite some time."

Lee William looked at Liszt with a hint of profundity in his eyes. "Don't be hasty. Time is on your side."

In the castle,

The servants had prepared the banquet. After a quick freshening up, they proceeded to the formal feast. The male servants carried dishes one by one and placed them before each noble guest. Carter pulled out all the stops to keep the servants organized.

The food brought by the Earl didn't elicit much response—it was what they usually ate.

However, as the seafood was served, the otherwise mundane banquet reached a climax. Many of the delectable dishes were new to them.

"What's this?" Mrs. Penelope, guided by a maid, picked a clam out of its shell.

With one bite, it was smooth and slippery, carrying an aroma distinct from any terrestrial dishes that burst on the taste buds. "Mmm, very delicious. It's so soft that I almost don't need my teeth." "Clams, a type of seafood abundant by the seashore, with incredibly delectable flesh. Not only are they tasty, but they can also help prevent certain illnesses."

Li Weiwei mimicked the maid, peeling a shrimp: "What's this?"

As the host, Liszt continued to explain: "Squat lobsters, or perhaps more interestingly, 'Peppermint Shrimp.' Their flavor is sweet, tender, and mild, comparable to the Rock Lobster of Longtaro Castle. Unfortunately, we're now in summer. If it were spring, during their breeding season, they would be even more succulent."

"So, they're all... seafood from the sea?"

"Yes, Flower Town doesn't have any specialties. To diversify our cuisine, we must look to the emerald waters of the East Coast. Fortunately, there's an abundance of untapped seafood delicacies here."

Seafood was a crucial food source.

Few nobles had noticed its importance yet. After today's banquet, Coral Island might witness a seafood rush – though, perhaps not. To the nobles, the ocean was far less significant than the land.

Sometimes, what hindered progress wasn't lack of vision.

But inertia.

Amidst the guests' praise for the seafood, Liszt realized this. The Earl and the others did indeed hold seafood in high regard, but they wished to purchase it from Flower Town rather than catch it themselves. Perhaps in their view, it would be a waste to make farming slaves into fishermen.

"Certainly, I can supply seafood to Tulip Castle. As you've seen, the path through Thorns Ridge is being cleared. Once it's open, I'll establish a trading convoy from Flower Town, regularly traveling to Coral City to sell the goods produced in our town."

The count sipped his red wine and nodded, "Once the constraint of Thorns Ridge is lifted, Flower Town might develop into a prosperous village... Just like your sister, train a group of knights. A noble's glory is always won on horseback."

After the seafood course.

Another delectable dish was served – it was dried windrobin meat. This was the final main course, ending with the taste of magical beast meat, making for a grand finale.

Seeing that the guests were enjoying themselves without complaint, Carter, standing straight as the butler beside the banquet, felt a deep sense of pride. Everyone had thought Flower Town was a barren and humble village, with its lord eating poor food and living a simple life. But this feast was enough to showcase the abundance of Flower Town.

A wealthy noble was a noble with dignity.

His hard work leading the servants well reflected the noble aura of the castle. Surely no one would think of Liszt as a "rustic baron" anymore.

Here, in Flower Town, was where the glory of knighthood shone.

"Sir, may we serve the dessert now? Mrs. Abby has prepared enough ice cream."

"Then, let us proceed."