New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World
Chapter 107: THE VANILLA COURTYARD

Chapter 107: THE VANILLA COURTYARD

"Master, Madam, we have arrived." Lucas informed.

The family alighted the carriage. As soon as they stepped down, they glanced up at the large four storey building with a large plaque that had wood carved into letters to form the words; "The Vanilla Courtyard".

The plaque shone a golden light. Aristia had purchased some rare glowing jewels from Osric Caravans.

Lights had been connected to the walls of the restaurant. She had also purchased spherical transparent glass containers and used them as light bulbs, and cylindrical containers for the covering. A glowing jewel was placed inside each spherical glass container and then into the cylindrical container, and then connected to the wall of the building, serving as a source of illumination for the people outside the restaurant.

There were also long steel poles with light bulbs that served as streetlights in the restaurant’s vicinity.

Catherine gasped. "Oh my, it’s so beautiful." She looked at the building with awe in her eyes, then turned to stare at Aristia in amazement.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t seen grand establishments, it was just that the brain behind this masterpiece was a five year old girl.

Moreover, she hadn’t seen such a brilliant idea of using the light jewels in such a way.

"Let us go in." Wilson beckoned his family. He too was marvelled but they needed to head in.

Other noble and aristocrat families had also parked their carriages and gotten down from the carriage. There were also commoners approaching the building.

The Kendall sisters had been instructed by Aristia to spread the news of the restaurant’s opening and that all were invited. They all headed towards the entrance of the building where many people were already gathered, each trying to gat a glimpse through the gathering crowd.

They were amazed at both the building’s design and the lights. The night added to the restaurant’s beauty and splendour as it shone brightly with a golden light.

"My, I have never seen such peculiar structure."

"It is indeed unique, none like I have ever seen."

Aristia hid her smile. Of course, they had never seen such a structure. It was a mixture of the medieval and modern design, after all.

Aristia couldn’t move any further because of the crowd. However, someone managed to turn at that moment.

"Ah, Your Imperial Highnesses!" The man yelled.

His words drew attention immediately and the people nearby turned, surprised to see members of the royal family there.

"Make way for their Imperial Highnesses!!" Someone yelled.

The crowd parted, forming a path for Wilson and his family to walk through to the front.

[Ahhh, perks of being part of the respected royal family.] Aristia thought, feeling satisfied.

Now that they were part of those in front, they could see clearly the front of the building.

The door was closed shut. Instead, they saw a young man standing in front of the door. He was wearing a dark cloak and a mask that made only his mouth visible.

People talked to each other, whispering and murmuring.

"That must be the owner of this place."

"He looks quite young."

"He has his face covered. Why is he so mysterious?"

"I do not think he belongs to our kingdom."

A few ladies discussed within themselves. They said so because of the structure of the building, coupled with the young man’s dressing.

The young man being discussed, addressed the gathered crowd. "Welcome, one and all, to the grand opening of The Vanilla Courtyard. I am deeply honored to have every one of you gathered here. Today, marks a special day..." The young man began his lenghty speech.

After his speech, he said to the crowd. "Now, the moment has arrived, ladies and gentlemen, to open the building. I shall now humbly invite a person from all gathered here to cut open this ribbon, signifying the opening of this restaurant."

He pretended to look carefully at the crowd, then he called. "Please do me this honour, Princess Aristia Amberale."

Aristia smiled and walked forward as whispers increased. Wilson and Catherine kept their expressions neutral, but Alaric had a wide smile on his face.

Aristia cut open the ribbon with a bright smile, happy that the restaurant had finally been completed and soon, money would flow constantly into her pockets... or bank.

After she had done that, she returned to her parents. The young man pushed open the door to the restaurant and gestured to the crowd. "Please, follow me. Welcome to this humble establishment."

He invited the crowd to step into the restaurant. A few of the restaurant’s staff acting as security controlled the crowd and directed them, preventing anyone from running in, shoving or pushing.

Most of the staff were nervous; the valets directing the carriages on where to park outside and the security controlling the crowd heading inside.

For most of them, it could be said to be their first time of coming in close contact with aristocracy and now they were given the work of directing that same aristocracy. Their palms were sweaty even in the slight chill of the evening but it was well hidden beneath the gloves they wore that came with their uniform.

The crowd followed the young man into the restaurant, but Aristia caught wind of some people complaining.

"Are the peasants coming in too?" A Lady asked.

"Why are they being allowed to come in? These door workers should stop them!" Her friend said, displeased, referring to the security men as ’door workers’.

And just like that, there were lots of disapproving voices speaking up.

They young man stopped, uncertainty and hesitation creeping in, but just for a split second, his eyes caught Aristia’s unaffect and unafraid gaze.

Something about that gaze gave him confidence.

He turned to the crowd and spoke in a voice loud enough for all to hear.

"Whoever wants to leave can leave, and whoever disapproves of anything can also leave."

His gaze swept through the crowd, not landing on a particular group and not seeming to be addressed to anyone specifically.

The aristocrats kept silent after that and quietly entered the restaurant.

Soon, another round of gasps were heard.

If they were surprised on seeing the outside of the restaurant, they could be said to be astounded on seeing the aesthetics inside.

"I assure you that you will be beyond marvelled upon tasting the food." The young man said boastfully.

The aristocrats— the nobles especially— took it as a challenge. The nobles had a strong spirit of competition and Aristia was planning to use that to her advantage.

"We will see about that. I highly doubt that the cook here can surpass the skills of my family’s cook." One noblewoman boasted arrogantly to another.

[I would like to see you eat those words when you become a regular.] Aristia scoffed inaudibly.

At that moment, someone objected.

"I cannot believe that we will be dining with the peasants."

Even if the food was really as good as they said, did they expect people of their status to dine with commoners?

Aristia turned in the direction the voice came from. It was a noblewoman who had a fan in front of her mouth.

Other nobles and aristocrats voiced their agreement.

Most of these people had kept silent when the common folk had been allowed to enter the building, but they would not remain silent if the common folk was allowed to dine with them.

Allowing the peasants to have a glimpse of what they as aristocrats would enjoy was fine, but dining in the same space? That much was unacceptable!

Thinking of this, the aristocrats objected even more firmly.

"Surely, that is not so."

"Why are the peasants also gathered, then? Shouldn’t they be asked to leave now that they have seen the inside?"

"Why are the workers here incompetent? Why aren’t they moving to do anything?"

The commoners were unsure of what to do. They hadn’t been asked to leave so they just stood there, enduring the disapproving and disgust filled gazes of the aristocrats on them.

They had heard that they were also invited, but what was this now?

The aristocrats obviously did not welcome the idea of them together in the same room for anything else, and they didn’t need a prophet to know whom the hosts would choose. They would obviously agree to the Aristocrats’ word seeing as they had more money and title.

Thinking of this, most of the commoners turned to leave, decisively choosing to avoid receiving further embarrassment from those of higher class.

The young man playing host looked at a particular direction in the crowd and readied himself to placate the aristocrats when he received a nod.

"Please, you may have your seats." He said, addressing the commoners. Those who had turned to leave stopped at his words, looking at the young man in shock.

There was a shocked silence in the place.

Did they hear correctly? Had they chosen them over the aristocracy? Was this building’s owner in his right senses?

It wasn’t only the commoners who thought that way. The aristocrats too were dumbfounded.

However, before they could go into offended rage, the young man again spoke up, this time addressing the aristocracy.

"May I ask the people of the aristocracy to follow me?"