Bizzare Restaurant

When Alessandra Moretti loses the prestigious restaurant she helped build from the ground up, her carefully curated world collapses overnight. Accolades, ambition, and endless hours in a five-star kitchen meant everything-until they didn't. Wandering into a quiet café with nothing but a want ad and her mother's voice in her head, Alessandra meets August: a man with calm eyes, a catering business, and a very inconvenient habit of making sense. Between burnt-out dreams and the promise of something simpler-but maybe more fulfilling-Alessandra must decide if starting over means starting small... or simply starting real. A slow-burn contemporary romance about food, fresh starts, and finding joy in the unexpected.

Zhao Feng travaille dur pour se prouver meilleur que ses pairs sur le Terrain d'Entraînement des Arts Martiaux, mais juste au moment où il est sur le point d'abandonner, un mystérieux objet noir, semblable à une marbre, fusionne avec son œil gauche, lui octroyant les pouvoirs des dieux anciens. Avec ses nouveaux pouvoirs, Zhao Feng se lance dans le périple pour devenir le plus grand artiste martial de tous les temps.

Recently, a special correspondent conducted an exclusive interview with Pei Qian, President of Tengda Group. Tengda Group, now valued at hundreds of billions, operates across various sectors such as gaming, internet services, digital hardware, cultural media, and restaurants, significantly impacting numerous aspects of daily life. Pei Qian himself is widely regarded as the "World’s Best Boss," an unparalleled investment genius, and a brilliant game developer. He is known for his effortless leadership style and keen ability to precisely forecast industry trends. However, during the interview, Pei Qian expressed deep frustration: “I’m truly not some kind of business genius!” “My success is entirely due to luck!” “My initial goal was merely to lose fifty thousand yuan…” See? This is exactly how a genuine business genius maintains humility and modesty.

Zhao Feng trabalha arduamente para se provar melhor que seus pares no Campo de Treinamento de Artes Marciais, mas justo quando está prestes a desistir, um misterioso objeto preto e semelhante a um mármore se funde ao seu olho esquerdo, concedendo-lhe os poderes dos deuses antigos. Com seus novos poderes, Zhao Feng embarca na jornada para se tornar o maior artista marcial de todos os tempos.

Mia thought her birthday date with Ben would end with surprises, gifts and toast. Rather, it ends with her boyfriend telling her he's leaving her for someone else. Mia was left humiliated and heartbroken in a fancy restaurant, she realized she has been strung along by a man who saw her as temporary, not worthy of him. As she struggled to hold it together, her best friend’s older brother, Samuel Carter, steps in unexpectedly, protective and dangerously close, calling her his girl in front of her ex. What starts as a rescue becomes something more. Mia decides to return home and get engaged to her betrothed whom she haven't met before. Life takes a turn as her betrothed turns out to be her best friend’s older brother. Samuel, a quiet and secret book lover has always kept his distance, watching her from afar, collecting the books she recommended online, and dreaming about the day Mia would be his. When fate hands him a chance, he takes it. Mia learns what true love is supposed to feel like, not what she felt with Ben, and Samuel proves that sometimes the best kind of love is the one that’s been quietly waiting for you all along.

Steven Blake was just an ordinary high school student with no outstanding talents—until one day, he awakened the Super Growth System, an all-powerful system embedded in his consciousness. With the system’s limitless potential, Steven rapidly masters academics, combat, business, and technology, rising from a struggling student to a multi-industry prodigy. From revolutionizing his family’s restaurant to dominating the world, Steven’s journey takes him to uncharted heights. Facing rival geniuses, corporate sabotage, and hidden enemies, he uses the system-enhanced ability, and his strong willpower and ambition to carve his own destiny. Steven is no longer just a student—he is a rising legend. The world may not be ready for him, but he is more than ready for the world. Disclaimer: This work is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The novel also draws inspiration from few of my favourite novel stories, so please don't mind and just enjoy.

He was the final boss. The monster at the end of the world. The unbeatable nightmare humanity couldn’t kill. Then one day… he quit. Why? Because he saw two hunters having sex in his dungeon and realized Earth might have something way better than world domination. Now, disguised as a “totally normal guy” working at a sketchy restaurant, the most overpowered being in existence is on a personal mission: Sleep with every type of human woman. Catgirls? Yes. Elves? Hopefully. Tsundere sword babes? Absolutely. But hiding his god-level powers isn’t easy—especially when: His cooking accidentally gives people magic orgasms An E-rank hero gets famous for “defeating” him (total accident) Women keep throwing themselves at him... and monsters do too And a suspicious ex-goddess shows up asking why he’s working night shifts at a ramen shop He wanted pleasure. He got a restaurant job, a harem of disasters, and a world that keeps trying to make him a hero. This is not how conquering Earth was supposed to go. .__________________________________ No NTR, No Yuri

Merged into the body of External Disciple Chen Yu was the heart of a demonic god. The heart is the core of life, the most fragile vital organ. To Chen Yu, however, the heart was his greatest strength, granting him power and potential beyond demonic and divine beasts. Here on out, we follow him as he embarks on a mysterious and wonderful journey.

Welcome to Hell’s Game. [Entering instance: Bloody Restaurant] [The position you applied for: Delivery Person] [Your customers include: a fat otaku emitting a corpse stench, a maid who bursts at the slightest disagreement...] [Your colleagues include: A boss who's too pretty to be human, A cow or a horse in the literal sense, a man-eating tree that swears in French...] Facing these incredible characters, Liu Zheng, who wanted to be a decent person, had no choice but to give up on humanity.

She makes me feel hate, anger, desire, lust and something even more dangerous – love. ***** Amelia (Amy) Shawls, the legitimate and perfect princess of real estate mogul, and serving senator, Gregory Shawls, had it all –wealth, beauty, brain and a fiance who doted on her. But amidst her plenty admirers and few haters, were her vile stepmother and her envious stepsister, who sought to destroy her and take away her inheritance. Amelia's seemingly perfect life took a dark and scary turn on the eve before her celebrity marriage, when she gets a text message from her fiance, Jerry, asking her to meet him up at their favourite restaurant. On her way, Amelia is kidnapped and taken to an unknown location where she narrowly escapes her abductors only to end up crashing into a river. When Amelia finally regained consciousness a week later, she discovered that her life and everything she ever loved and worked for had been stolen from her by those who claimed to love her. Vengeful, she strikes a deal with the handsome but vicious devil, who rescued her from the jaws of death. ----- Meet Blaze Anderson, the charming but ruthless CEO of the Andex group. His heart is as cold as ice and his mere name caves terror in the heart of people. Blaze harboured a deep resentment against Amelia's entire family and would stop at nothing to see all of them, including Amelia destroyed. What would happen when the line between deep hatred and passion slowly thins out? Would Amelia ever consent to love after learning the bitter truth behind Blaze's assistance?

เขามีความมุ่งมั่นที่แน่วแน่ ไม่ยอมจำนนต่อความธรรมดา แต่มีความสามารถพื้นฐานธรรมดา และมาจากตระกูลสาขาที่ต่ำต้อย จากอุบัติเหตุครั้งหนึ่ง เขาได้ผสานรวมกับดวงตาของไท่โกวเซินหลิง นับจากนั้นเขาก็เหมือนปลาคาร์พที่กระโดดข้ามประตูมังกร ผงาดขึ้นดั่งดาวหาง ก้าวเข้าสู่เส้นทางการฝึกฝนอันน่าพิศวง จากก้นบึ้งของโลกที่เป็นเพียงมดตัวน้อย ค่อยๆ ก้าวเดินบนดอกบัว เข้าสู่ยุคอันยิ่งใหญ่ที่เต็มไปด้วยประตูตระกูลมากมาย อัจฉริยะมากมายดั่งเมฆ ประชาชนหลายพันจากยุคโบราณ การต่อสู้แย่งชิงในตำนาน และความยิ่งใหญ่อลังการ

At Houston University's elite campus in Mayfair City, two worlds collide through the lives of Gerald Martinez and Danny Blackwood. Gerald, a scholarship student from the wrong side of town, navigates the marble halls in his thrift store clothes while his dark curls frame a face hardened by necessity. His worn sneakers echo differently against the polished floors than the Italian leather of his classmates. Danny Blackwood represents everything Gerald isn't—trust fund privilege wrapped in designer suits, a Patek Philippe gleaming on his wrist as he slides into his Lamborghini. The heir to a financial empire, Danny moves through university life with the casual arrogance of someone who's never known want. The catalyst for their collision is Xavier Chen, Gerald's former girlfriend who traded love for luxury when she realized Gerald's potential couldn't match her appetite for Hermès bags and Christian Louboutin heels. Now draped on Danny's arm, she's everything Gerald lost and everything Danny effortlessly possesses. Caught between them stands Naomi Ashworth, the conglomerate heiress whose friendship with Gerald puzzles their social circle. While Alice Montgomery, the school's untouchable beauty goddess, watches from her pedestal alongside Danny's inner circle—Yuri and class president Blondie—Gerald finds support in his dormitory under Rick's guidance and his loyal friend Clinton. As tensions escalate between the dormitories—Rick's working-class fortress and Ivar's white-haired kingdom of privilege—the university becomes a battleground where relationships fracture along lines of wealth, loyalty, and ambition. In Mayfair City's first-class restaurants and boutiques, every interaction carries the weight of class warfare disguised as college drama.

After waking up in a world of magic, knighthood, and alchemy, Carlotta finds herself with an unexpected gift: an intelligence system that feeds her daily updates, secrets, rumors, and even hidden dangers unfolding around her. Yesterday’s intel was especially eventful. Mrs. Thea Ashfield, an eccentric alchemist, tossed away an old tool called the Rose Thorn late last night, left forgotten in a trash bin just south of the academy. Meanwhile, a new restaurant at No. 56 Fame Street is quickly becoming the talk of the town, fresh ingredients, great prices, and a steak that people are already calling legendary. Not all food fared as well though: most of the caramel bread in the academy cafeteria turned out to be leftovers from days ago. (Still edible, just… don’t expect miracles.) Teacher Estelle Marlowe pulled an all-nighter preparing the upcoming magic exam. Rumor has it the questions are no joke this time. Then came the serious alerts. One warned of a wanted criminal hiding in the Fame District, with a bounty of thirty thousand Orrae on their head. The other was more personal, Headmistress Viviana Richards’s lost dog was about to be shipped off by dog traders through the port. Thanks to Carlotta’s timely tip-off, the headmistress was able to rescue her beloved pet just in time. ###### Some Tags: Female Protagonist, Card Magic, System, Daily Intelligence, Genius Main Character, Focused Main Character, Academy, Intelligent Main Character #### There's no plans for romance for now. In my outline I don't plan to add romance for main character but will see how it will develop

All she wanted was to convince Qin Zhan, a well-known patisserie, to join her in her new restaurant. But, everyone who she had sent returned with bad news: Rejected! Rumor has it that Qin Zhan quit life as a reputable chef to stay in the small town and run a small noodle stand. No matter how much anyone offered to hire him, Qin Zhan had rejected every one. No! That man would not even hear a word before he showed everyone to the door. Since everyone she sent returned with no good result, Gu Xin Ye had no other choice but to do everything herself! Just as Gu Xin Ye thought that she will be able to convince Qin Zhan with her persuasion skill and charm, a misunderstanding led her to work for Qin Zhan instead, as his helper! ----- Illustration: kirinlukis ----- Shared universe with: 1. Loving You Too Much 2. A Lifetime with You 3. You're My Only Star 4. The Dragon Beside Me 5. Love So Sweet 6. Commander Qi's Runaway Wife 7. The Wedding Planner's Romance

After the death of his father, eighteen-year-old Ryunosuke Hayashi Omeo lives a quiet life above his family's small restaurant in the heart of Los Angeles’ Fashion District. Quiet, reserved, and burdened by the weight of grief, he spends his days sketching the world as it passes him by—never expecting that the world might begin to look back. But when a chance encounter at Santa Monica Pier introduces him to a mysterious woman with violet eyes, Ryunosuke’s life begins to shift in subtle, unexplainable ways. Time seems to slow around her. Emotions dull. Reality warps. And though she vanishes just as quickly as she appears, Ryunosuke finds himself haunted—by dreams, by memories, by her. As he searches for the truth behind her identity, he uncovers something even more disturbing: a name connected to his father's past, a company shrouded in secrecy, and a man—Victor Navarro—whose influence stretches deep into the city's veins. With the help of his childhood friends and a cousin-turned-roommate who’s sharper than she lets on, Ryunosuke begins to unravel a web of secrets linking his father's death, a luxury car hidden beneath the city, and the strange woman who seems to be guiding—and manipulating—him from the shadows. But as feelings deepen and reality frays, Ryunosuke must ask himself: Can you trust someone who’s not of this world? Or worse— What if you already do?

They stole his future. Beat him down. Left him with nothing. But when Reyan Hart wakes up to a voice only he can hear, everything changes. > [System Activated: Welcome to the Fortune Ascension System.] Every choice counts. Every action pays. Rise... or stay ruined. With no riches, no backup, and a mother to protect, Reyan begins a ruthless climb from rock bottom—armed with a system that rewards ambition, confidence, and bold moves. From buying rundown restaurants to rescuing a stranger in the dark, every mission rewrites his fate. But this system doesn't just give money. It gives loyalty that can't be broken, power that can't be stolen, and women whose hearts can't be bought—only earned. Now, the world that laughed at him... will kneel. This isn't just a system. This is vengeance dressed as opportunity. This is ruin turned into reign. Fortune Ascension System: Rise from Ruin — Your destiny is waiting. But you’ll have to earn it. ---

He is the guy with the weird tattoos and a past soaked in blood. She's the girl with the colourful hair and a fire in her soul. The night she met him became the worst day of her life. Alessia is an independent high school student who works as a part-timer at the chicken restaurant to make ends meet. Alessia's face twisted in a fury, her eyes blazing with rage."Who the hell do you think you are?"She thundered her voice echoing through the club. Enrico's eyes widened as he beheld the fiery young woman. Little did she know, this encounter would bind her to Enrico's dark world. And Enrico? He never let go of what he claims.

Max Carter once owned a chain of successful restaurants. That was before his rivals used underhanded tactics to ruin his reputation and drive him into bankruptcy. Now, reduced to delivering food on a scooter, Max still dreams of rising again. One rainy evening, fate grants him a second chance—he awakens the Divine Chef System. The system grants him access to a divine recipe roulette, where each spin—earned through dollars made—unlocks incredible dishes from across dimensions. From the very first spin, Max receives ownership of a mysterious abandoned restaurant and several god-tier recipes. With flavors that enchant, dishes that heal, and culinary skills beyond belief, Max begins his journey back to the top. But success attracts attention—and danger. He’ll have to guard his secrets, build a trustworthy team, and out-cook his enemies one plate at a time. This is the tale of a fallen chef reclaiming the world, one divine bite at a time

A normal person from a city died from an really bizzare accident he was wandering in the woods then one of the trees started to catch fire from something the wanderer smelled something burned and locked around and saw one of the tree burning he directly called 911 and waited for them the police also accompiened them to investigate they astinguished the flames and the police came directly to me and asked me what im doing alone in the woods so i told them that i was just wandering around because i love wandering but that wasnt enought for them and they tock me with them to the police department but something really bizzare happened on the way first the wheels from the car started to melt then 2 seconds later the car stopped working then the police officers started to lose conciousness i tried to wake them up and look if they had a heart attack but they were really cold i backed up and called the ambulance but after i tried to call them i also lost my conciousness.

Gu Mianmian lived her whole life feeding others, her tears, her dreams, her money. She gave up her spot in culinary school for her sister. Gave up her dowry for her stepmother. Almost gave up her restaurant dream for a man who swore he’d love her forever. The night before their wedding, she saw ten years ahead, a future of lies, loss, and betrayal. So she called it off. That same day, he married her cousin. This time? She doesn’t cry. She doesn’t beg. She marries the crippled third son of the powerful Lu family. Then she opens Wanwei Lou (Ten Thousand Flavors House) and feeds her enemies their karma on a silver plate. Genre: 1980s Chinese Urban Romance + Foresight + Restaurant Empire + Face-Slapping.

Anya, 28, carries an air of quiet resilience beneath her graceful exterior. With olive-toned skin, soft black waves, and deep green-hazel eyes, she moves through life with gentle confidence, her delicate floral dresses and matching earrings reflecting her understated strength. Balancing university lectures and restaurant shifts, Anya’s world is a delicate dance of responsibilities, yet her heart harbors untold stories memories and feelings she guards closely. Elias, in his early thirties, is the embodiment of poised elegance. Tall and fair-skinned, with piercing ice-blue eyes that seem to see straight through the surface, he exudes a calm power and precision shaped by his senior role in corporate management. Behind his minimalist style and commanding presence lies a man who has built walls around himself, wary of letting anyone close. Their worlds collide unexpectedly on a crisp spring evening at the restaurant where Anya works. The sight of her in casual attire, her hair loose and framing her face softly, captures Elias’s attention like nothing before. For Anya, seeing Elias a figure from headquarters, calm yet intense stirs emotions she hadn’t expected to confront while juggling her busy schedule. As their encounters grow from silent, stolen moments to hesitant conversations, both must navigate the complexities of their lives Anya’s demanding shifts and personal struggles, Elias’s corporate pressures and guarded heart. A shared ride to the train station, gentle teasing, and quiet confessions slowly chip away at the walls between them. Set against the backdrop of everyday challenges and small moments of connection, their story unfolds as a tender exploration of trust, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to rewrite one’s own story. “Silent Collisions” is a romance about two souls learning that sometimes love comes not in grand gestures, but in the quietest, most unexpected encounters.

Introducing "Her sassy omega" where the heir to AOB the biggest company in the whole omegaverse world "Tina" and a bartender who's also the heir to his family restaurant "Andrew" gets engaged by their parent.so entertain yourself with their eventful life.

Disclaimer: This story is inspired from only a mix of a few medieval, renaissance and industrial era's elements and is NOT historically accurate. Do not come at me, you have been warned that this is not an historically accurate work. Araminta has grown in a family of farmers all her life. With her grandmother's cooking techniques drilled in her, the young woman will try her best to open and manage her own restaurant while keeping her family safe with the power of...cooking utensils.

Yang Qing sighed as he gazed upon the black building that stood tall piercing the skies above with an inviolable aura around it. "The Order sure is black-hearted," he angrily thought as he made his way into the building begrudgingly. The building could be considered his home away from home and a source of endless grief for him due to its unforgiving working hours. The building housed the courtrooms of the Cultivation Order Society, an organization founded to maintain a semblance of order in the ruthless cultivation world of the southern continent who if left to their own devices would sink the whole continent to the ground. Due to how impetuous cultivators were, the cases never stopped. "Yi Jie, what do we have today?" "Two cultivators at the palace realm fought over a treasure and destroyed half of the territory of the blue deer kingdom in their fight, A rogue cultivator is suing the owner of the falling meteor blacksmith shop for selling him a faulty saber that keeps attracting lightning tribulations. A cultivator suffering from pill poisoning is blaming it on the white hilltop restaurant as he suspects they are feeding their spirit beasts pills to make them bigger and fatter. And the last case is 500 families are suing a cultivator by the name of Ren Fu for being negligent as a husband and a father whilst also pilfering their resources dry as he moves from place to place.," Awkward silence ensues........... Join me as we follow Yang Qing in his role as a judge in the Cultivation Order Society with cases and troubles that never seem to end. Fair warning the story has multiple POVs. Re-edited chapter (50/50) Second milestone (79/150) All support matters whether it's power stones, comments, reviews, golden tickets, subscriptions, or those who buy privilege chapters or even lurking readers..I welcome all your support in whatever format it comes in and I thank you for it, It really does mean a lot, especially to rookie authors like myself.

Hunter Cha Eui-jae, who was dispatched to seal a rift that appeared over the West Sea, was flung out as soon as he closed the rift. When he came to his senses, he was lying in a garbage dump. Starving, he was drawn like a zombie is to blood to a hangover soup restaurant, where he realized that he had fallen into South Korea, eight years in the future. In this era, disaster alerts notify people of rift openings in advance, ASMR videos of slimes gathered from dungeons were trending, and idle hunters livestream unboxings of A-rank longswords. Unlike the past, where people trembled in fear of an impending apocalypse, the future was surprisingly peaceful, leaving Cha Eui-jae feeling empty. Since things had turned out this way, why not start a second chapter of life as a part-timer at the hangover soup restaurant, rather than being a hunter? “That’s strange.” “…” “Have we met somewhere before?” Cha Eui-jae’s plan to quietly spend his remaining days as the only part-time worker at the decades-old hangover soup restaurant goes awry when he encounters a mysterious, gas-masked individual… DISCLAIMER: The story credit goes to og translator and author

Sabrina Baelleigh never expected her life to turn out this way. After the tragic murder of her parents, she became the sole protector of her younger sister, fighting tooth and nail to survive. Managing a small, struggling restaurant, Sabrina found herself drowning in debt, hoping for a miracle. But then came Thaddeus Gillcrest, a billionaire who promised a way out—through a contract marriage that could solve all her problems. But nothing went as planned. Despite their agreement, Sabrina found herself falling for him, and for a fleeting moment, happiness seemed within reach. That was until Cynthia Rodgers slid her way between them, causing betrayal, misunderstandings, and ultimately, a divorce. Sabrina’s life seemed shattered, but fate had other plans. One fateful night led to another secret: a baby. Now, with her life in turmoil, Sabrina must go through the rocky road from heartbreak to stardom, while the truth about the past threatens to unravel everything. Can Sabrina rise from the ashes, or will the betrayals of love and ambition destroy her for good?

**Synopsis:** Thea has loved Ryder, her childhood best friend, for as long as she can remember, but she buried her feelings to safeguard their unbreakable bond. ~Excerpt~ “Ryder, p..please listen.” Thea pleads, but he recoils, his voice cold: “You’re nothing to me now.” Her desperate cries—“You’re believing her over me?”—only deepen his resolve. “I don’t want to see your face again..” he snaps, leaving Thea broken and sobbing in the dust. Later on, Thea, now a struggling waitress, faces a cruel twist of fate when Ryder walks into her restaurant, his fiancée at his side. “I told you to stay away.” “Ry...Mr. Thompson.” she stammers, “I never thought we’d cross paths again.” His reply cuts deep: “I meant it when I said I never wanted to see you.” Locking eyes, she whispers, “I didn’t mean to hurt you..” but he scoffs, “Hurt? I hate you for what you did to her.” The boy she once knew is gone, replaced by a man consumed by bitterness. As their past unravels, whispers of the truth begin to surface, threatening to expose the rival’s long-buried deception. Will Ryder confront the betrayal he’s clung to for years? Can Thea and Ryder reclaim the bond they lost, or will the lies that tore them apart leave their hearts irreparably fractured? --- This Novel is not translated but an original work written by author Audenzia_16.

In the beginning their was war that lasted eons. Peace brought forth the races created about the 6 gods stopped the eternal conflict. While out drinking one night 6 Individuals would wish for a world were anything is possible so when a cataclysm tears open the sky, six strangers from Earth awaken in the mystical land of Anniekes —a realm ruled by magic, might, and ancient prophecy they'd never guess their wishes would come true. Dr. Robert Starfield – Scientist of hydrology and stellar astronomy is ready to explore. New star in the night bring forth mystery. Meloy Conners – Entrepreneur Gardener : She love to care from plant in her free time. With the vast new place their will be many new plant to see. Ivan Venn – Tailoring is the family business. Armed with brand new material he may become the best. Steven Cross – Head Cook of the cross 5 star restaurant. A love for all different foods and a new world to get and make all he come every wants. Captain Arlo Reyes – Pilot she a No nonsense type of person. Has a love for the unknown. Mech poster on her rooms wall but it's a secret don't tell anyone. Sana Cruz – Therapist she love helping other people. A real gym rat works out most days. DON'T touch she protein shake. In a world obsessed with swords, spells,and a ranking of races their roles are seen as “support,” “civilian,” or worse—useless relics of an age that never existed. But the arrival of new faces may change that for the better. Earth is faces enslavement from greater race and species from the vast unknown. Can they with occupation unknown be light at the end of the tunnel. Read to find out

Bobby works hard to prove himself better than peers in the Martial Arts Training Ground, but just when he's about to give up, a mysterious black, marble-like, object fuses with his left eye, granting him the powers of the ancient gods. With his newfound powers, Bobby embarks on the journey toward becoming the greatest martial artist of all time...

She had spent more than 10 years of her life working hard to make her dream of opening her very own restaurant, only to die on the die of the opening. How tragic can her life be?! When she opened her eyes again to see she was reborn into the body of a little girl, she thought she had thought the heavens felt pity for her unfortunate life, but it turns out their pity was so humiliating. Why did she have to be reincarnated as the unloved false daughter of a lecherous king destined to die in a foreign land? No, she has to escape to change her fate! But how can she ever escape from the heavily guarded cold palace?