Pillar of Yita

Princess Rupert finished speaking, her delicate hand lifted a golden bell, and she turned back to ask the middle-aged craftsman behind her: ”Achilles, I’ve arranged a seat for you, would you like to take a break?”

This was the first time Fang Hong learned the name of the middle-aged craftsman. It seemed he had never introduced himself, perhaps out of humility. Achilles smiled slightly and replied in a rich, deep voice:

”There’s no need, please allow me to stand by your side, Your Highness.”

Princess Rupert gave a gentle smile, casting a tender, affectionate glance at him.

She turned back and gently shook the golden bell in her hand. The servants once again filed in, carrying silver trays overhead, presenting seven or eight dishes.

There were various roasted meats, lamb and beef, a few rare fowls, along with three fish from different regions of Colin Ishurian, including a Silver Trout, a sturgeon, and a small tail bass. Roasted to a golden hue, their surfaces were cross-cut with silver knives, releasing a layer of glistening oil under the heat, with fluffy tender meat bursting forth. Different nuts, grains, and spices were piled on top, crowned with a sprig of emerald green pine, colors vivid and mouthwatering.

There was also a stew, where the black porcelain pot held uniform chunks of meat resembling amber, in a thick broth seasoned with pepper, frankincense, cinnamon, ginger, carrot, and onion. It was further enriched with hawk-beak beans and saffron, drizzled with bitter orange and lemon juice, sprinkled with chopped almonds, and a small cluster of mint leaves placed atop.

There were a few desserts, milk-based concoctions soaked in honey, be it camel milk, sheep milk, or fermented products, resting on a thick layer of crushed ice, with mist swirling around. A few thin crackers, crispy bread, and golden-fried grains.

There was also a type of flatbread, a local staple called ’Shawala,’ with rolled wheat dough filled with turkey, beef, and Istania flatfish meat, various nuts, vegetables, sauces, and hummus.

Half a mushroom was cut and roasted to a crispy golden, placed on one side of the plate as garnish, in keeping with local custom. Mushrooms didn’t grow naturally in Istania, all fungi were airshipped from Colin, appearing only on the Royal Household’s banquets.

There was wine as well, Istania was famed for its beverages, with golden ones resplendent as the morning sun known as local gin, and blue ones reminiscent of the Cloud Sea’s sky a type of Moonlight Wine.

The crimson, hazy as a flower’s wine, was synonymous with Istania, with a distinct freshness separate from Earth’s eponymous counterpart.

It’s said that many connoisseur wine lovers from Earth make a special trip here, just to taste this legendary wine.

Yet, among the rows of silver platters and crystal cups, all centered around a massive gem-encrusted Golden Cup, with shifting sunlight through the lattice windows casting dazzling light upon the luxurious cup.

The water within shimmered like flowing golden liquid, emitting a bright glow, swirling gently.

Fang Hong’s first glance was drawn to that gem-encrusted Golden Cup, but Princess Rupert did not introduce it, seemingly forgetting her previous words.

She merely instructed the servants to set up the plates one by one and introduced the origins of these Istania delicacies to them with a soft and gentle voice.

Even the simplest dishes had extraordinary origins—

The lamb was specially raised within Penelope’s royal garden, brought by her servants from Kashem.

The beef originated from Alhanle, known for its ruby-like blood beef, said to have a rich and sweet taste—not only is it a ’guest of honor’ in Istania, but also in Colin Ishurian.

The price was even more astonishing—

Fish and rare fowls were all airshipped from various places via Floating Ships—Silver Trout from Elpaxin, nearly a thousand miles away; small tail bass and sturgeon from Yiban and Scepter Coast respectively.

Princess Rupert casually mentioned to them.

The ingredients had to be kept alive before slaughter, or else discarded. Perhaps saying one in ten survived might be an exaggeration, but with Eteliria’s preservation conditions, having one out of every two or three survive the long journey was a blessing.

The small tail bass and sturgeon aside, Silver Trout was sky-high priced in Istania.

Fang Hong was secretly startled, thinking this was quite extravagant.

”Please enjoy.”

There was no food before Princess Rupert; she simply lifted her hands and calmly spoke to everyone.

The low tone, rustling voice, seemed able to seep into one’s heart.

The others felt a bit restrained to varying degrees, especially knowing that this meal might cost thousands of Istania dual-anchor Badge Coins—nearly equivalent to a six-figure Lycel.

Only the noble lady, Ai Xiaoxiao, and Tianlan remained calm.

Additionally, there was a Papalarian and Xiangzi.

The former was drooling with delight, eyes gleaming as he picked up his cutlery—no matter the meat, he stuffed it into his mouth, and soon his cheeks puffed out like a hamster.

This Little Fatty munched while grabbing a piece of fruit with a lavish ’wow,’ taking a bite, his eating manners truly a spectacle.

Even Atira frowned slightly.

And Xiangzi was another extreme, this individual held a knife, poking at the nuts on the plate, rolling them from one end to the other, repeating the process.