This place was actually the capital city of Furstenberg. Earlier, before we could enter the city, we passed through a gate with two guards checking everyone's identity tag. They stopped the four of us and asked, "May we see your identity tags?"
Prince Egon mightily brushed away the lower right side of his cloak to show his identity tag hanging from his waist. One of the guards moved towards the prince and immediately turned to ice after he discovered who was the holder of the tag. Seriously speaking, the guard was frozen in place, then, regained his composure and bowed, "Greetings, Your Highness!" The other guard bowed immediately after, as they let us passed through.
The inside of the city looked similar to the nearest town of Alexandrovanov, in terms of houses made from natural materials and traditional clothings everywhere. The only difference was these houses surrounded the royal palace. After the interaction with the crown prince, we continued to ride away from the palace and to wherever Prince Egon led us.
We arrived at a public and simple house which served cheap liquor and foods. Upon seeing us, a man welcomed us and asked someone to take our horses. While, the sober people slipped away leaving their payments in their wooden tables. We took a seat in a corner to avoid someone seeing my face when I removed my veil, and sat on the stone seats. Uncle and Big Brother sat on a parallel table from us; after we're all settled, an old woman approached us, "2nd Prince, it's been a while since you last ate here. Do you want the usual?"
Egon nodded, "The usual, four orders."
"Eh-ehem!" I showed him my palm, all fingers raised and waved at him.
He understood what I meant and changed his order, "Make it five."
The old woman smiled at the two of us and left. While Egon raised his eyebrow when he looked at me, "Are you that hungry?"
"Stupid," I whispered to myself. "You forgot about ordering for Han-ryu."
After a little while, the man from earlier gave us something to drink in a white container with a slim neck and some white small bowls. I reached for the drink but Egon took it away, "You're not allowed to drink."
"Just one drink? I want to know what it taste like," I removed my veil and showed him a goofy smile.
He poured me a drink in one of the small bowls and poured one for him, also. It's probably rice wine which I never had before. Then, he pushed it towards me. Uncle drank first to make sure nothing's wrong with the drink. Afterwards, I drank it immediately and swallowed.. which I regretted right after.
*coughs loudly and continuously* "My apolo--" *coughs again*
Uncle asked me with a concern voice, "Lau, are you fine?"
"Ha.. It's sour and bitter.. still there's a little swertness to it. I wasn't able to prepare myself, that's all," I reached for the bowl again but Egon put it down.
"Don't drink."
After I hit his hand a little, I took my bowl from him and drank from it. I felt like coughing a little but I endured it, "See, I can drink." *coughs*
"Yes, you can," Egon looked at me with squinted eyes and talked sarcastically.
Right on time, I saw someone leaving the house who was carrying a tray with big bowls of food. So, I wore my veil again to cover half of my face. My eyes literally widen when they put the big bowls in front of us. We each have our own big bowl and inside of it was a whole chicken drowned in soup with a delicious aroma. I could eat a lot, but a whole chicken.. We have a lot of time so maybe I could finish this.
Han-ryu, my personal guard, arrived on time and sat with Uncle. These men didn't look surprised upon seeing the whole chicken and started eating after I gestured to them that they could. Uncle drank the rice wine like its only water, he must had a high-tolerance for alcohol. While the other three men drank a little. Me, on the other hand, thought that I wouldn't get drunk easily so I just drank when I needed to-- which was most of the time.