"A whole new world"

I was still astonished and continued on staring at this wonderful place. Then, a hand gently clasped mine, and I turned to see the Princess holding my hand.

"Follow me, Xyriel!" She exclaimed excitedly, leading the way while still holding my hand.

"We've arrived!" The Princess announced, opening the door to a bustling tavern. Despite the crowd, she managed to secure us a seat.

The owner greeted us with a smile, retrieving paper and a pen from her apron. "What can I do for ya?" she called out.

The owner turned to me, awaiting a response. In a state of panic, I averted my gaze, attempting to hide my face. Fortunately, the Princess noticed and grabbed the lady's attention instead, placing our order.

When Princess Zinnia was done giving our order, the lady left to prepare our meal.

I gave out a sigh of relief, and I took another look around the tavern.

There were many people around us enjoying their own food and drinks. Although the tavern was nothing luxurious, the content smiles on their faces indicated they were enjoying themselves to the fullest, It made me smile.

"It appears you're having a good time," the Princess remarked, a playful smirk on her lips. "I guess I didn't have to worry too much." She giggled.

I was a bit shy and hesitant to answer back, but I decided to give her my opinion. "I have only been to extravagant parties and the like. This is my first time in a place like this, even though the place is not that far, I never once considered visiting."

"But do you like it though?" She inquired.

"Truthfully, the atmosphere here is vibrant and enjoyable. It's quite a departure from what I'm accustomed to," I replied with a smile.

"Well, Grand Duke, the fun has just began! We have many more places to visit. But firstly, I hope you'd be able to eat the dish they'll serve to us," she said with a mischievous grin.

Not comprehending her words, I tilted my head in confusion.

"Here ya go!" The lady called out, placing the food items one by one on our table. "Here's a beer for two, on the house!" She added, winking at the Princess.

"Oh my! Thank you, as always, Aunt Pi!" The Princess exclaimed cheerfully.

"You're more than welcome, my dear! Now, I'll leave ya'll be." Aunt Pi said before walking away.

"Now, let's indulge!" The Princess exclaimed with excitement, picking up one of the foods with her bare hands, leaving me somewhat puzzled.

Staring at the table, there were many dishes that I'm unfamiliar with.

"This is a spicy chicken feet! You can eat this whole since the bone was taken out." she explained between bites of the chicken feet. "Since it's a bit spicy, you pair it up with beer afterward." she continued, taking a sip of her drink. "Ahh~ The combination is heavenly, I tell you! Try eat!"

The Princess looked at me with a determined gleam in her eyes.

The dish didn't appear particularly appetizing, but I couldn't turn down her offer. I picked up one spicy chicken foot, studying it and hesitating about whether it was really edible.

When I glanced at the Princess again, her hopeful expression encouraged me to take a bite.

I closed my eyes and finally took a bite, my eyes widening in disbelief. Despite its unappealing appearance, the food was surprisingly delicious. I took another piece and ate it without closing my eyes this time.

The Princess chuckled, "I knew you'd like it! Here," she said, passing me a beer. I took a sip, and Princess Zinnia was right; the flavorful taste of the chicken feet complemented the cold beer excellently.

After a while, the two plates of spicy chicken feet were completely empty, yet my appetite remained unsatisfied.

I exchanged a look with Princess Zinnia, conveying my desire for more, but she shook her head and grinned mischievously.

"No can do, Xyriel. As I mentioned earlier, this is only the beginning! If you eat a lot here, you wouldn't have enough space to eat more from elsewhere!" She explained.

I chuckled at her reasoning, "I'm excited to see what distinctive dishes are in store for us, Princess!"

"Leave it to me!" Her eyes sparkled with determination.

After settling our bill, we departed the tavern, and the Princess once again took my hand, guiding us to our next destination.