The amount of coffee was not enough, it was obvious that people found it truly delicious and with Rexford recommending the use of sugar, even more people became hooked as some tried it and found the taste to have gotten an additional depth of flavor.
Rexford then talked about how letting the beans rest would likely give them a change in flavor. He added that it would continue to change for a week or two and this made some people curious.
In fact, some of the villagers immediately asked Rexford if they could borrow the equipment he had used.
They all saw how Rexford worked with the equipment and most of the magic he used were simple.
Initially Rexford wanted to control the amount used as they still needed to use seeds for fields but the dwarf who he got the seeds from arrived with a cart filled with buckets of peeled seeds.
Apparently, the dwarf had been part of the crowd who got attracted by the scent and was lucky enough to get a taste of the drink.
In the end, Rexford could only give them a few tips, the biggest one involved the roasting where he made them focus on the "ensuring the coffee doesn't burn.
Rexford was able to estimate the roast using the aroma and experience but the place was likely to be filled with a coffee aroma and it would be hard to use that as a marker.
But to his surprise, despite lacking in culinary techniques and recipe's, the people were all familiar with roasting.
If there was anything they could cook perfectly it was a roasted meal!
After all, compared to cooking methods that took lots of time and effort, all one needed to roast something was fire and the ingredients.
Now, Rexford had provided them with a sample, the already roasted beans were enough to help those that volunteered to do the roasting get a "perfect" roast.
But what Rexford didn't expect was for the villagers to start planning experiments on "roasting level", "drying methods"...
Hell, some even gave out the idea of drying the beans in the fruits, since "sugar made it taste better, why not get the sugar from the fruit?"
Of course, Rexford didn't tell them that the sugar would be burned off during roasting but he let them do what they wanted.
Rexford didn't want to control development, heck, the sight of his people moving to improve on what he made gave Rexford even more hope for the future!
'If this is what happens when I introduce rudimentary knowledge of coffee, what would happen if I start to show them tv shows, movies… fuck, I'll have a modern day entertainment culture in a few years with little effort if things continue like this!'
After dealing with the people who suddenly got interested in coffee production, Rexford took some of the already roasted coffee beans and headed for a resting area set up by Anne's people.
The a new "rexpress" was already made and it was used to brew another cup of coffee as Ortrun and Rexford faced each other for their "earlier than expected" meeting.
"So, I heard you were in dire need to manpower and land"
"Yeah"
"What for?"
Ortrun went straight to the point, she did not try to "beat around the bush", Rexford was expecting her to be a sneaky snake but who would have thought that she was just a smarter than average princess with authority?
Seeing how she acted and recalling the reason why he had been previously fearful of her. Rexford understood that she was not a threat.
Maybe before his recollection of memories but now?
With the experience of a man who had gone through a world where manipulation is the key to gaining power- the forceful control that is employed by Ortrun and many in this world was child's play!
Of course, he can't just take over suddenly, that would incur suspicion and so-
"Well, I've long been planning this for a long time now…"
Rexford did not drop his act, he still acted on the same wavelength as he did before his memories returned but that was just "manipulation 101".
He made his opponents believe that he was facing them on the same board, but what they failed to realize was that they were only playing against a puppet! While they're busy taking advantage of and playing with the puppet, the strings attached to Rexford's hands are already slowly wrapping around them!
It was the classic method used in modern day Earth.
Who controls the world? The presidents? The people? The billionaires?
No!
People blame the famous people, the richest people, the most "influential" people. Yet all of them were named, they were high profile and modern day movies made it appear as if they truly were the ones making the 4D chess moves.
But underneath the glitz and glamour were the shadows that walked alongside the light.
Being known, having a big name doesn't make one powerful, it only makes one a target.
From the lowest levels of an organization to the very top of the country.
The real world changing acts are done behind the scenes and it all happens because of "influence".
A small whisper that targets one's deepest fears, an idea that challenges one's beliefs.
It takes years to build trust but only a second to implant the seed of doubt.
Ortrun was not only a duchess, she was also a merchant- no, before she was a duchess, she IS a merchant.
Before the death of the male line of the Martel Ducal House, Ortrun had already built her own power through the mercantile she had built from the ground up. A genius in business, Ortrun controlled nearly a half of the Empire's economy long before she became duchess.
Then, when the Martel House lost all its male heirs, despite having no stake in the seat of power, Ortrun was unilaterally chosen to become the matriarch of her clan.
It was a decision that ignored the standard of "Blood Rule" within the empire.
Ortrun got power through her countless merits and a matriarch who controlled nearly half of the empire's economy was surely going to lead the nobles who lost their heads.
But that in itself is her biggest weakness.
While nobles would think about their honor, their authority and their people, Ortrun cared more for profits and as Rexford explained his plans to her, he made sure to focus on the "business aspects" of it.
In other words, if Anne were the type to ignore the formal stuff and jump right into the story that he was planning to make. Ortrun was the one who ignored the story and simply focused on the outline of its potential rewards and benefits, weighing out the costs while doing so.
"I see, truly a wondrous idea, the communication network used by the military has indeed lost its purpose but if we can use it for something that would lead to the benefit of the empire…"
"Good entertainment would lead to connections, if you fell in love with a character in a story, would you not want to wear the same dress as them? To smell the way they did? Or follow in their footsteps?"
"Indeed, anyone could insert themselves within a fairy tale read in a book but if there exists a "true" image of the main character then people would chase after it, desire it…"
Rexford smiled as he listened to Ortrun but he didn't stop there-
"Yes, inserting oneself into a character is hard once an "image" is already made. But doesn't that allow us to play with such things? "What true beauty looks like" or "The most desirable appearance". While there is a clear cultural idea on what such things are, if a story gains influence, wouldn't we be able to make and sell things that- "Reduce your body fat" or "Improve muscles"... so long as it could bring about that "desire Image" we could sell anything!"
"So you have such inventions as well?"
"Nope, just a few things that could help but none that would give ensured results"
"People will notice"
"Not if the individual who bore their "ideal image" says so~"
Ortrun was stunned, the words Rexford said were the same things many merchants would use. But Rexford was not trying to scam one rich man. No, he was planning to scam the entire nation- no, the whole world!
"Hahahahaha! What a criminal idea! But… indeed, we won't sell products with 100% efficacy but it could work. So long as it doesn't have any adverse effects, we could sell anything!"
"Indeed, whether it be products or ideas, entertainment would allow us to control the empire!"
Rexford's exclamation would have made him a target but unfortunately, Ortrun knew that his words would cause less of a problem for the empire and more of a problem for Rexford himself.
"You already have control of it, not completely but still a strong one"
She added after taking a small sip of coffee, the taste of the beverage was enhanced once a bit of sugar was added. It was not too thick like milk but not too watery like tea. It had a smooth feel as the beverage somehow gave her a sudden burst of energy.
"I don't want that, being in control and carrying the expectations of others is something only my brothers could do. I only want to sneak in a bit of influence, not to much but just a little to make my own life more tolerable"
The words uttered by the Third Prince, no matter how casual, would always be examined deeply by others.
It was one of the reasons why Rexford disliked having such a title but that was something he could not truly escape from.
"... then I shall make this world not need to be tolerated, like this coffee gave me amusement, I will give you the enjoyment that the world could not offer you"
Ortrun responded to Rexford after a brief silence, unlike others, she did not speak in a flirtatious tone nor did she shoot any flirtatious looks towards Rexford.
Instead, she maintained her calm dignity and this very image had caught Rexford's attention.
Things that he would usually ignore like the small peak of her breasts from her clothes or the skin of her legs had suddenly become more… appealing to him.
'No no no! This is a trap! Idiot! This is an obvious honey trap!'
He told himself that and yet-
'But… she's not half bad…'
Many men would chase after and look for women who would desperately want them. They desire a woman who would give them the love and care, the warmth which they lacked.
But Rexford… whether it be in this life or in the past, what he desired was not a warm home to return to by the end of the day. No, what he desired was excitement, the excitement that he could never afford!
'Nein! No way… not now… let's… let it play out for a bit more…'
Although he tried his best to stop himself, the sneak peaks he took off Ortrun's legs did not go unnoticed.
'You've gotten weaker Rexford, it appears that Delilah was not lying about you…'
She didn't return him a gaze and instead turned her head away eliciting a certain stronger reaction from the Third Prince all while giving the loyal maid, Anne, a smirk.
'It seems the Third Prince has grown tired of his gilded cage'
'You wish'
No words were exchanged, only stared but the two women seem to have been able to exchange such words.
Though, to others, the two were simply giving each other pleasant smiles.
'So they were friends…'
Rexford thought as he raised his head after realizing that his "sneak glances" had become rather obvious. He was expecting to see Ortrun giving him a "dark smile" but instead, he saw Anne and Ortrun having a rather pleasant exchange of smiles.
'Good, she didn't notice'
He said as he turned his gaze towards the crowd who were all busy working on the coffee, some were doing the labor, others were doing quality inspections and some were debating on what to try out next.
While all this was going on, a few were already busy brewing and a line had already formed.
Some dwarves have also taken their breaks because of the aroma and were calmly drinking coffee while munching on sandwiches that they prepared as a snack during breaks.
"What a peaceful sight"
Rexford can't help but mutter while he observed as the people under him were having such a fun time.