Brand new day
Author's Note: Enjoy the story and R&R.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or of Sweet Reincarnation.
Pairing: Pas/Marc/Lico triangle.
Summary:
What's bittersweet is still sweet.
Like father like son.
Or was it the other way around? Like son like father?
With the embarrassing retreat of Lutoroute's forces from Hubarek's eastern territory, and Lord Squale overcoming his guilt at the losses suffered during his first battle, the seriousness of actual war faded into the background, granting the Moretelns the freedom to go on a warpath after slimy Baron Lunzbadge, who'd purchased the goats promised to their fief.
When war broke out, General Casserole had urged calm and denied his son the sweet taste of revenge. But now that the fighting had stopped, he was revealed to be every bit as petty as Pas, making an "evil face," same as the boy (according to Sheets).
The horses and goats sold to Lunzbadge, the Moretelns exerted their war- and marriage-begotten influence to acquire for themselves.
Of course, Pastry Mille Morteln and Licorice Mille Hubarek were only engaged. Official wedding arrangements hadn't yet been inked on paper, and Casserole and Pas were merely milking the familial connection for their lower estate's benefit.
In fairness, Pas was in love with Lady Licorice. A stunning conclusion, considering the betrothal was, at first, foisted upon him by Lord Hubarek.
Duke Kadlecek laughed at the heat being turned up on the "puppy with a bite."
Pas also lied. Although Lord Hubarek pressed him on his status finding someone good to settle down with, Pas replied there was no one. The truth was Pas did have someone in mind.
However, Pas recognized the sticky situation he was in. As had been the state of affairs in his world, same-sex unions weren't a universally endorsed norm. Frankly, they were nonexistent, which shouldn't have come as a surprise given this world's medieval sensibilities and technology.
You'd think Pas would be dealt a stronger hand. After all, God was a woman.
Pas was therefore a realist. He always advised Marc there was no bright future waiting for them from the get-go, and Marc accepted that.
What harsh-tasting candy. To live in a world where those who hadn't even undergone their coming-of-age ceremonies could proposition a woman as old as the Countess Brioche Salgrade Mille Retes ("I'll make you pay for calling me old, demon child!") – where arranged marriages were the norm – yet he and Marc couldn't celebrate their love, simply because they were both boys.
The longer your name and the more names you had, the more important you were, it seemed. Your willingness to show off and announce your name in full, particularly if it was long and unwieldy, demonstrated your class and your power.
Not like Pas, Marc, and Lumi, who all went by chopped-down versions of their names for the most part, though Pas, as the son of a suzerain lord, had greater opportunities to flex his tongue.
The Countess Brioche Salgrade Mille Retes didn't shy away from flaunting her superior place in the hierarchy, introducing herself with that mouthful.
It was even more unwieldy written down, all the "=" taken into account.
Brioche=Salgrade=Mille=Retes.
Pastry=Mille=Morteln.
See? She was more important.
No amount of delicious bonka pie would sweeten the gross tang of reality.
The facts were sourer than bonkas in honey.
To Marc's credit, the scion of House Dorova (who wasn't a blue-blooded scion and whose house was just a house) took inevitable heartbreak in stride, smiling at the sky. He savoured their meetings in secret as much as possible, away from Lumi's blunt comments.
Pas teasing Marc that Lumi would end up his future wife – and her casual "Sounds good" – hit different with Pas and Marc's relationship in the light. Did Pas treat Marc to such jests to remind him he was going to get burned? Or was he ensuring Marc would have somebody to love at least, after they called it quits?
Feeding him lines or preparing him a life with a wife. Either dish was tough to swallow.
The secret nature of their meetings lasted until he learned Pas had been promised to Lico. Knowing Pas would throw dishonesty into the mix to spare Lico the details, Marc resolved to do what no sane kid would do.
He feared Pas lying to Lico, so he approached her.
He told Lico he was there first.
Lady Licorice expressed silent shock. This was a reaction she and her mother-in-law had in common. The frozen features Agnes initially offered Casserole when she believed he was confessing to cheating on her, when he was actually breaking the news to her Lico was joining the family.
Regardless, Lico collected herself once Marc made it clear he wasn't trying to ruin her marriage to Pas. He was telling her their secret – for her and Pas' sake.
Using his magic, Pas could replicate anything he'd seen or touched. But he couldn't replicate Marc's concern for his feelings.
Be my soul.
Pas couldn't ask for a better man.
Tartly, Pas couldn't ask for that man's hand.
Lico was understanding and accommodating. His fiancée never let things get dour between the three of them, and was more curious about Pas' past than anything.
"You used to kiss Pas-san while he was making baked sweets?"
"Cheesy, right?"
Pas felt like his head was in the oven, hearing Marc discuss with Lico what had gone on inside his kitchen. While she was in his kitchen!
Tee-hee. Marc finally got his hands on some food he could fling. Just desserts for the jokes about him and Lumi! Cookies, these weren't!
Fate's compass pointed them here.
The journey doesn't end.
This is the tale of a genius pâtissier whose dream of making the world's greatest dessert was cut short. Now reincarnated into another realm as the son of a poor noble, he pursues a world full of desserts and smiles. A tale that's syrupy sweet, chock full of yummy treats and sprinkled with bitter darkness. A pastry chef who was reborn and dreams of creating this new world. His very own land of sweets.