Carolyn's POV:
Spreading out from this shop as the center, at least seven out of ten shops had signs that read 'Foreign Cuisine' or 'Exotic Flavors', among these foreign dishes, more than half were human delicacies.
"What's wrong, Aunt Carolyn?" Yarin tugged at my sleeve and asked, "Is sothing bothering you? You look so serious."
Only then did I realize that I was frowning, and the reflection on the glass window made look like a bitter woman.
Clearing my thoughts, I smiled at the kids and said, "Nothing, just didn't expect that old shop to close. It's a bit surprising. So, what do you want to eat? This place has changed so much since I last ca here. My previous experiences might not be useful, so let's casually explore and see if anything catches our eyes and taste buds."
The children ran off happily, heading toward the snack stalls they had already set their sights on. At this mont, they didn't need to worry about their image; so magical props altered their appearance, and no one could recognize them.
All the food had to be tasted by the butler, Spil, and the children had to wait for at least three minutes before they could eat.
During these few minutes, the kids brought back even more food, and I had to stop them, saying, "All right, this is enough for our lunch. Rember, there's a party in the afternoon. The royal chef must have prepared many delicious dishes for us."
Yarin pouted and said, "A party? You know about it. A bunch of people gather together to dance, chat, and network. No one really cares about the food's taste. The royal chef makes the food look exquisite, but its taste is inversely proportional to its appearance. By the ti it's brought to the banquet table, it's already cold, just like eating ice."
"It's not that exaggerated. If the royal chef hears you say that, he'll shed tears!" I chuckled. "Let's eat quickly; we must prepare for the banquet later."
We had lunch at an open-air communal bar. After lunch, the butler Spil disappeared without a sound. As we left the food court, a discreet black car awaited us at the entrance, with Spil as the driver.
When he opened the car door for us, I overheard Yarin asking in a low voice, "Are you sure you can drive?"
Spil replied nonchalantly, "Of course, I didn't get my driver's license through the back door." "Oh, I see..." Yarin mumbled as he got into the car.
Back at the palace, I saw the servants were already decorating the reception areas in an organized manner. Bertha was leading a team of servants, arranging flowers throughout the hall. Beside her, a handso but sowhat short young man was giving instructions.
Upon seeing us, Bertha greeted us, "Good afternoon, Your Highnesses, Ms. Asistina." "Good afternoon, Ms. Bertha, and please call Carolyn."
I quite liked Bertha, the head servant. As an Oga who had suffered from scorn and bullying in traditional settings, her transformation through self-effort was truly admirable.
In this era of conflict between the old and the new, her story would undoubtedly inspire more oppressed Ogas hiding in the shadows to rise, change their unfair destiny, and challenge the oppressive world.
Cynthia was interested in flower decorations and went to learn how to make flower bouquets from the servants. On the other hand, Yarin chatted comfortably with the young man beside Bertha, "Long ti no see, Angus. Is everything going well?"
"Thanks to you, Your Highness, everything is going exceptionally well."
Bertha introduced him to , "This is my brother, Angus. He graduated from school last year and is now an interior designer. Occasionally, he takes on decorating jobs for the palace." She seed a bit embarrassed as she ntioned that.
Using available resources to help her brother find work wasn't a violation of the rules. So, I casually moved past that topic and said, "He's a talented young man. Nice to et you, Angus."
"My pleasure, ma'am," Angus replied politely.
We chatted briefly, but it was mostly Bertha doing the talking, and Angus seed more inclined to listen and remain silent. It appeared that he was a reserved young man.
"Well, I won't keep you any longer," I said. "Go back to work. Don't mind ."
Bertha and Angus resud their work.
Cynthia had disappeared sowhere, perhaps practicing her newly learned handicraft with fresh flowers in the snowy garden.
I accompanied Yarin back to his room, and Spil, the butler, quietly disappeared again after we entered the palace. Then I returned to my guest room and started to groom and dress up.
Just like how Yarin disliked parties filled with routines and insincerity, I also didn't particularly enjoy pretending to be familiar with a bunch of strangers at such events. But what could I do? It was annoying, but it was my responsibility. Socialising was an indispensable skill whether you were a noble or an Alpha.
After changing into a long gown, a servant suddenly invited to the Queen's study.
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