New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World
Chapter 116: CENTERED EVERYTHING AROUND FOOD

Chapter 116: CENTERED EVERYTHING AROUND FOOD

Aristia spread out a blanket on the rooftop, making sure it was flat enough for them to sit comfortably.

Owen and Fiona joined her, carrying the picnic basket and the small box. The city lights glimmered below them, casting a soft glow over the scene.

"I had an inkling you’d bring food," Owen said in a mocking, knowing tone, setting down the food basket. He could tell it contained food from the restaurant seeing as Dorothy delivered it. "What’s in it?"

Aristia grinned, lifting the lid to reveal a bowl of popcorn and a stack of chicken drumsticks. "Of course, you’d know it’s food, obviously! Who’d come to a festival without snacks?"

In her world, Aristia and her family usually prepared snacks during festivals like the New Year. They would find a good spot to watch the fireworks while eating the snacks.

She had no idea when she told Dorothy to prepare the snacks, that there would be fireworks. She had just wanted to relive that, which was why it came as a pleasant surprise when she found out.

She was starting to think her earth family had a thing for food— she had probably just inherited it. They almost always centered everything around food. There would be food for every event or celebration; birthdays, festivals, outings, weddings, graduations, when she got good grades which was all the time, when Susan got pregnant, when they had new additions to the family when her Susan gave birth to the children. The only thing left out was funerals.

[Oh wait, we ate comfort food during funerals.]

Her brows furrowed when she thought about it. It was no wonder she was like this... Her mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Fiona laughed as she opened the box and unfolded the cloth covering the glasses of orange juice. "You know, Princess, you have a way of making a rooftop feel like a dining room. I’m beginning to think you plan everything around food." She said joking.

Sometimes, she forgot that Aristia was the princess and no longer regular ’Aris’. It was all thanks to Aristia who didn’t change the was she treated them.

"What’s wrong with that?" Aristia asked speechlessly, handing her a drumstick. Fiona just hit the point. She stated defensively. "Food makes everything better. Besides, you work hard. You deserve to eat well."

Owen grabbed a drumstick and took a bite. "I can’t argue with that," he said between chews. "You really do know how to pick your snacks, Princess." It was obvious he had long been influenced by her.

Aristia tossed a piece of popcorn into her mouth. "I know, right? I take great pride in my food choices." She said in an exaggerated tone before offering some popcorn to Fiona, who took a handful.

"Thanks, princess," Fiona said. "This is actually a great spot for watching the fireworks. How did you find it?"

"It was Owen’s idea," Aristia replied. "He has a talent for finding the best views. It’s one of the reasons I keep him around." She winked at Owen, who rolled his eyes in response. As if she had known before now.

He silently took a sip of his drink, rolling his eyes so much it threatened to get stuck at the back of his head.

Aristia ignored him and enjoyed the breeze as it swept across the rooftop. "Yeah, it’s a good escape. But don’t forget, we have a lot of work ahead of us since the restaurant’s popularity will only increase from here. This isn’t just a picnic; it’s a strategic meeting," she said, pretending to be serious.

They really had a lot of work ahead of them because the restaurant would soon experience a shoot in popularity.

"Strategic meeting?" Fiona asked, raising an eyebrow. "What kind of strategy involves chicken drumsticks and popcorn?"

"The best kind," Aristia replied with a smirk. "The kind where you get to eat while you plan." She took another bite of chicken.

Owen shook his head, saying with a look that was a mix of deadpan and disbelief. "Princess, you know you’re supposed to be relaxing, right? Not plotting world domination."

"Who said anything about world domination?" Aristia teased. "I’m just thinking of ways to handle the onslaught of people the restaurant is going to have."

She had said that in Fiona’s presence. She had chosen a handful of people who worked for her in the restaurant to reveal her identify to. They had all taken an oath of silence.

Among them were the Kendall sisters, the Lambert couple, and her latest addition, the Decker twins. This was so that it would be easier for her to organise the restaurant, and monitor and receive information on what was going on without needing to be there personally.

That didn’t mean she discussed all her plans about the restaurant with them, especially the very important ones.

"How about we just enjoy the night and forget about the restaurant for a while?" Owen suggested hopefully.

Aristia had promised the Grand Duke that she would just enjoy the festival for her to be allowed to go and now she wanted to go back on her word?

Aristia sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. I’ll take a break. But only because you insist." She gave them both a playful, mischievous smile. "To more rooftop picnics!" She raised her glass.

"To more rooftop picnics?" Owen and Fiona asked. That was a ridiculous thing to say. Fiona shook her head in amusement.

They sat together, enjoying the view and the food.

"The festival is almost over. It is time for the firecrackers." Owen announced.

"Oh?" Aristia quickly looked up at the sky, putting down her class of orange juice.

Soon after, the sound erupted. Sparkles of light exploded in the sky in different colors.

"Wow... There really are fireworks." She muttered.

Her hand which was filled with popcorn slowly opened and the popcorn almost spilled. With her eyes still on the firecrackers, she slowly brought the popcorn to her mouth and took a mouthful.

After the firecrackers show ended, they packed up the things they had brought.

"I wonder how Linny is doing." Aristia muttered, but Owen and Fiona heard it.

***

"You’ve never seen firecrackers before, Miss Adeline?" Finn asked.

"No." Adeline shook her head. "At least not before today."

The firecrackers show had ended, and with that, the festival. They were still on the roof of the broken down house.

"How come?" He asked, referring to the firecrackers.

"We don’t have firecrackers where I come from, but I’ve heard about it." Adeline explained.

"I see." Finn nodded in understanding. "In Belonmusk, the firecrackers show are done every year during the festival of the new year. Nobody ever gets tired of seeing it."

"I really appreciate you showing me this spot to watch the festival, sir Finn, but I have to get back." Adeline made to stand up. "I have to find the Princess. It is already quite late." She had already done her best leaving Aristia alone for so long.

Finn stopped her. "Miss Adeline. Since we both do not dislike spending time together, would you, perhaps, like for us to do so sometime?" He asked apprehensively, waiting nervously for her answer.

Adeline stared at him for a moment. When had she said anything about not disliking him or not? If she was being truthful, she would say he annoyed her a little bit— drawing her attention away from her princess by trying to engage her in conversations when all her attention should be on her princess.

"I can’t leave my princess alone again." She said.

Finn’s hopeful look dimmed a little, but he didn’t lose hope. He would keep trying until she became comfortable around him.

They climbed down the roof and returned to the stall together.

They found that Aristia and the rest had just arrived too.

"We will be returning now." Aristia said.

"We will too." Fiona replied, glancing at her brother whose gaze was stuck on Adeline.

"Then goodbye, Fiona and Finn." Aristia waved.

"Goodbye, Miss Aris and Sir Owen." Fiona and Finn smiled at them.

Finn approached Adeline. "Goodbye, Miss Adeline. I look forward to the next time we meet." He then took her hand, leaned forward and placed a kiss on the back of her hand.

Adeline took her hand back when he released it, only passing him a nod.

Fiona laughed. "See you soon, Miss Adeline."

"Then goodbye, Miss Fiona." Adeline replied.

As they walked back to where their carriage was parked, Aristia stayed alert to her surroundings, she knew that Owen and Adeline were also doing the same.

"Did you enjoy the festival?" Aristia asked Adeline.

"Yes." Adeline replied. Then, she asked Aristia. "Did you see firecrackers, Miss? They were so captivating. I have never seen anything like it." Adeline spoke excitedly.

She returned to her usual bubbly self around Aristia and talked endlessly about the festival. Aristia wondered why Adeline wasn’t the way she was around her with everyone else, her own brother included.

It wasn’t a surprise that Adeline was so surprised because this was the first time she would be attending this festival in the capital. She was the princess’ personal maid and didn’t usually leave her since the princess was also very young.

From what Aristia knew, she wasn’t from the Kingdom’s capital, Belonmusk.

The nobles did not attend such festivals. It didn’t hold much importance to them. They usually would hold banquets to celebrate entrance into the new year.

Aristia had gotten permission from her parents to attend the festival after a lot of requests. They were worried about her safety, but she managed to persuade them that she would be safe and would stay close to Owen and Adeline. Alaric, however, was not allowed to go as he was too young.

[However, I have to attend the banquet being held in the palace in celebration of the new year tomorrow.]

They arrived at the place the carriage was parked in a dim corner of the street. There were no lit lanterns in this area hence the lack of light. The horses and the carriage were still there, but Lucas was not.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.