Among the aristocrats

 Aurora's "World of Sweets" shop was gaining fame day by day in the kingdom. Her chocolate and coffee captivated not only common folk but also the aristocrats. This success was also an honor for Lord Fenriel — he supported the young entrepreneur and earned prestige among the aristocracy. One day Aurora's chocolate and coffee even reached the royal palace and were placed on the king's table. In those days the usual bustle in the royal court continued. At that time Lord Fenriel was on his way to the palace to deliver the city’s taxes. But this time he did not want to limit himself to just reporting — he brought a special gift for the king. A specially decorated carriage stopped at the palace gate. A knight opened the door of the carriage, and Lord Fenriel stepped out, pausing for a moment to admire the beauty of the palace garden. Paths lined with red roses, a white marble fountain in the center — everything displayed the splendor of the royal palace. The guards at the gate greeted the Lord and informed the king of his arrival. — "Lord Fenriel has arrived," said the servant. 

 "Bring him in," said King Julius in a calm voice. Shortly afterward Lord Fenriel came before the king. The two greeted each other and sat down in the guest room. — "Fenriel, you have been much talked about among the aristocrats lately. Half the city is speaking of you. What happened?" asked King Julius with curiosity. Lord Fenriel smiled calmly and replied: — "Your Majesty, I recently met an extraordinary girl. She invented a sweet that has never existed before. I supported her in developing her business. Today she has become the darling of the whole city." — "Mmm, interesting. What kind of sweet is it?" the king asked, raising an eyebrow. Fenriel took out several chocolates from a golden box and offered them: — "Please, have a taste." The king took a bite, and his eyes lit up: — "My goodness! I have never tasted anything like this before. Chocolate, you say? This is a true work of art! You did very well, Fenriel. Supporting such a talented person is the true duty of a nobleman." The lord bowed slightly: — "It is our duty to protect talent," he said. The king nodded: — "You have truly done well. I think it is time to assign you a new position. Tomorrow there will be a celebration in the palace to honor the achievements of the aristocrats. You must come. And… bring that girl with you. I would like to meet her personally." Fenriel nodded and left with a slight smile. There was only one thought in his mind — how Aurora would appear before the king. Then the Lord went to his manor and immediately summoned Aurora to him. Soon Aurora came to him. Fenriel looked at her. Her long blond hair flowed over her shoulders, and her emerald-green eyes were full of trust. She was no longer just a simple candy seller but had turned into a refined young lady. Her dress was adorned with delicate golden decorations, making her look no different from the aristocrats standing beside her. — "Tomorrow there will be a celebration to honor the aristocrats," Fenriel said in a calm voice. — "You will come with me to that event. The king wishes to see you personally." Aurora could not hide her surprise. — "Me?.. To stand before the king — that is something a commoner could only dream of!" Fenriel smiled and took her hand. — "You are no longer a commoner, Aurora. You are someone loved by the people. The king wishes to see this too." The next day Fenriel and Aurora set out for the royal palace in a luxurious carriage. Aurora’s heart was pounding. Fenriel, however, was calm — after this evening his status could very well rise. When they arrived at the palace, a breathtaking view unfolded before them: marble steps, golden lanterns on either side, the fountain in the courtyard sparkling in the sunlight. The knights at the gate opened the doors and greeted the guests. When they entered the hall where the celebration would take place, Aurora’s eyes sparkled. Thick red carpets, a huge golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling, long tables full of fine wines and various dishes — it was like something out of a fairy tale. The aristocrats noticed the newcomers. — "Look, that’s Lord Fenriel!" whispered someone. — "And who is the beautiful young lady beside him?" — "That must be the girl who makes the sweets…" — "She really is very young…" Fenriel and Aurora went to their table and sat down. A few minutes later the music stopped and the doors opened wide. Into the hall walked King Julius II, wearing a golden crown, a ceremonial white robe, and a red cape over his shoulders. Behind him were the two princes — Lucian and Espen — as well as Princess Ariella. All the aristocrats stood and bowed in respect. — "My dear friends," said the king, his voice echoing solemnly. — "This year has been an important one for our kingdom. You have all worked hard to strengthen our common home. Today we celebrate those efforts." Silence filled the hall. — "Count Henry!" called the king. — "Step forward!" Count Henry came forward, his face full of pride. — "This year you took charge of the agriculture of Ostania and increased productivity. The harvest has been more bountiful than ever before. This has brought great profit to the kingdom." The hall applauded, but several people whispered and frowned. Aurora whispered to Fenriel: — "This achievement… but wasn’t it at the cost of many starving to death?" Fenriel nodded. — "Yes. Everyone in this hall knows it, but no one says it aloud. This is the bitter truth." The light of the golden chandeliers danced in the hall, the expensive red carpets gleamed. At each table the aristocrats whispered among themselves, raising glasses of wine. Under the huge golden chandelier everyone was in a festive mood, though some were impatiently waiting for their own achievements to be announced. First Count Henry was called. He shook his expensive black velvet cloak and stepped forward pompously. King Julius said in a grave voice: — "Count Henry, this year you took charge of Ostania’s agriculture and brought productivity to an unprecedented level. For this service, the entire kingdom’s agriculture will now be under your supervision." The hall applauded, but some whispered: — "That harvest came at the cost of countless slaves’ lives…" they said. Yet no one dared say such things aloud here. Count Henry merely bowed: — "Your Majesty, I will spare no effort," he said with false politeness. Next it was Baron Gustav’s turn.

 When he stepped forward, the hall fell silent. The king said: — "Baron Gustav, you stopped the spread of a deadly epidemic and saved the kingdom from a great disaster. For this bravery, your rank will be elevated — from this day forth you shall be a Viscount." The hall applauded again, but a young aristocrat in the back whispered: — "They say he wiped out the entire village where the epidemic broke out," and laughed. Some frowned, others remained silent. Such methods were common in the kingdom, and no one was particularly shocked. Finally, Fenriel and Aurora’s names were called. — "Lord Fenriel and Miss Aurora, step forward," said the king. Fenriel rose calmly, but with pride, while Aurora’s heart was pounding and for a moment she grasped Fenriel’s hand. Her emerald eyes shone with nervousness. When they stepped forward, the entire hall fixed its gaze on them. Some whispered: — "So this is the girl who made those sweets?" — "She’s very young…" The king spoke warmly: — "The most remarkable news of this year is the sweet created by Lord Fenriel and Miss Aurora. This sweet has brought great profit to the kingdom’s trade and marked the beginning of a new era. Lord Fenriel, you are hereby deemed worthy of the title of Duke." Sounds of surprise rose from the hall. — "And Miss Aurora," said the king, "you are granted the title of Baroness. From today onward you shall be known as the ‘Princess of Sweets’ and be officially counted among the aristocracy." At that moment a fat Count could not contain himself: — "Your Majesty, how can you make a commoner equal to us? This is against tradition!" he shouted. The hall fell silent. King Julius merely cast a glance at him — after that look, the count lowered his head and fell silent. Aurora knelt slightly: — "Your Majesty, I am just a simple girl, I am unworthy of such an honor," she said nervously. 

 Then Princess Ariella stood up: — "No, Lady Aurora! I have tasted your sweet. It is unlike anything else in the kingdom. You are fully worthy of this honor. Accept it. And anyone who disagrees should speak with me first," she said firmly. These words stirred the hall, and Aurora’s heart calmed. The king pinned a golden order on her, officially declaring her an aristocrat. Joy was visible on Fenriel’s face — he was now a Duke. And Aurora — with her new status — had become a figure known throughout the kingdom.