Frankfurt had its fair share of eccentrics. But even by these standards, Baroness Ludmilla Von Steudel stood out. Her reputation preceded her. The Baroness had never forgiven a single soul in her life. She held grudges, like some collected stamps. Her feuds were legendary, and once you were on her bad side, that’s where you stayed, permanently. Like a coffee stain on a white shirt that just won’t come out, no matter how much you scrub.

  So when Gunther, a prominent baker from Sachsenhausen, entered my office, wringing his hands with such force that his knuckles were whiter than his flour, I knew I had a formidable task ahead.

  “Frederik,” he began, voice quaking like a souffle on the brink of collapse, “I’ve made a terrible mistake. I accidentally delivered a cake with ‘Happy 40th Birthday’ to the Baroness.”

  “That doesn’t sound too bad,” I began, trying to see the brighter side.

  Gunther’s eyes widened in horror. “She’s 39!”

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  I took a moment to let that sink in. “Oh..”

  “I believe she’s sworn to destroy my business. Rumor has it she’s financing a competitor bakery right across from mine. She’s spiteful enough to do it!”

  I pondered the gravity of the situation. Apologizing to someone like Baroness Von Steudel was equivalent to trying to teach a fish to climb a tree. The sheer absurdity of the task ignited my imagination.

  “We need drama. We need flair. We need... a grand gesture!” I proclaimed.

  Gunther looked at me, perplexed. “What do you have in mind?”

  I leaned in, voice low, as if unveiling a secret blueprint. “Gunther, we’re going to orchestrate the most dramatic public apology the world has ever seen!”

  He blinked in confusion. “How dramatic are we talking?”

  I gestured expansively, my enthusiasm contagious. “Imagine ten thousand extras right outside the Baroness’s estate, a spectacle of sorrow, music, dance, and regret. Each participant echoing your remorse.”

  Gunther’s eyes widened. “Ten thousand? Outside her home? Is that even... allowed?”

  I smirked. “For Baroness Von Steudel, we must pull out all the stops. Trust me, she won’t be expecting this.”