Lord Hubareck, certain Brioche has illicit plans for Pastry, hopes Licorice being by Pastry’s side at the tea party will deter these plans. Pastry shows Licorice he is making honey flavoured sweets for the party; his excitement making her love him even more. A spying Agnes and Josephine are frustrated Pastry is focusing on sweets instead of Licorice. At the party, which is mostly young nobles seeking marriage partners, Pastry’s sweets are a success. Their popularity prompts Pastry to propose regular trade between Casserole and other nobles, but only if their trades are exempted from the extortionate sugar tax. Concerning such trade negotiations Brioche draws Pastry away for a private conversation, leaving Licorice with Caera and guard Nico. Pastry plans to produce sugar from Casserole’s farms within three years, a bold and highly profitable goal, so Brioche grants him use of her coastal ports for shipping his sweets but still cannot guess what his true goal is. In Pastry’s absence Licorice overhear gossiping nobles and fears Pastry might soon abandon her for a nobler bride, and tries to leave the party upset. Brioche asks Pastry if he loves Licorice, flustering him enough she easily traps him in a hug, just as Licorice enters and sees them.