The emperor's children

Gen dried the tears on his face and said, "No, I'm crying with happiness. I was trying to remember the last time I ate something so good.", and then he went back to eating.

Lina then looked at the others and said, "... Okay, if you say so."

Everyone then continued eating, and after a few minutes, everyone had eaten a little of each food.

Lina then said, "Well, it looks like everyone is done eating. I guess we can go to the next floor then."

And Lan said, "Let's wait a bit, or you won't be able to enjoy the effect of the food."

"Effect? What effect?"

"Try to feel the world around you."

"What? Feel the world?"

"Yes."

"And how do I do that?"

"Just pay attention to your senses, and you'll understand."

Everyone then started testing their senses, and Lina said, "What is this? My senses are sharper than normal. Why is this happening? Is it some special ingredient?"

And Lan said, "No. We use normal ingredients to make these dishes."

"Then what brought about this effect?"

"It was the way these foods were cooked."

"The way? You mean that depending on how I cook food, it can have that effect?"

"Yes."

Gen then said, "Is that the effect you were talking about on the previous floor?"

And Lan said, "Yes. Do you now believe that the owner made a person awaken with his food?"

"Well, a food that sharpens the senses is really impressive, but it's still nothing compared to a person awakening his essence."

"Hmm, you're right, but on the next floor, there's no way you won't believe it. Imperial foods are on a completely different level."

Lina then said, "Oh yeah? Let's go then. If there's something better than heightening my senses, I want to find out what it is now."

And Lan said, "Let's go then."

Everyone then got up and headed for the door. As they came out again, someone was waiting for them, and then the person led them to the next floor.

Upon arriving, Lan said, "Here we are, let's go in.", and then opened the door and entered the room.

Everyone followed her, and as they entered, Lina said, "Hey, that's strange. The environment here hasn't improved? I'd say it's gotten worse."

And Gen said, "That's right. The environment in here looks like the environment outside."

Lan then said, "You are right. The environment here really is like the environment outside."

And Gen said, "And why is it like that? To me, it was obvious that the emperor's environment would be better than the king's."

"Haha, it's normal to think that. But in the case of the emperor's environment, we tried to make it as similar as possible to the place where the emperor used to eat. That is why the environment is like the one outside."

"Hmm, got it."

"Come, let's sit down."

Lan then guided them to the table, and when they arrived, Lina said, "Wow, this table and chair are pretty simple. Are you sure this is where the emperor ate? Didn't you confuse it with where the servants ate?"

"Well, I can't tell you for sure. After all, the empire ceased to exist a long time ago, but don't worry, the owner said that's how the emperor ate. So it really should be like that."

Gen then said, "You really believe in the owner a lot. Have you ever thought that he might just be making all this stuff up?"

And Lan said, "Hahaha, you only say that because you've never met him. If you talked a little bit with the owner, you would understand that there's no reason for him to lie about these things."

Gen was about to say something when he heard Dehji saying, 'She's right, Gen. This place does look like where he liked to eat.'

'And how do you know that Dehji?'

'I already told you, I'm one of the emperor's children. So obviously, I've eaten with him several times.'

'Here you go again with that talk.'

'It's not just talk, Gen, it's the truth.'

'How can I be sure of that?'

'That's easy. Just ask this woman in front of you. She seems to know a lot about the times of the empire.'

'Okay. What do I ask her?'

'Ask her if she knows how many children the emperor had.'

'Okay, and what is the answer?'

'Three, being my older sister, me, and my younger sister.'

Everyone then sat down, and Gen asked, "Lan, you seem to know quite a bit about the empire."

And Lan said, "Yes. The owner told me quite a few stories about that time."

"Got it. Can I ask you something then?"

"Sure."

"Do you know how many children the emperor had?"

"Children?"

"Yes, it's a curiosity I have."

"Well, from what the owner told me, the emperor had three children. That being two women and one man."

Dehji then said, 'She got it right. It seems she really knows about the empire.'

And Gen said, 'It's too early to tell.', and then Gen asked, "Do you know what they looked like?"

And Lan said, "Well, not in appearance, but I know a little bit about what people talked about them."

"That's fine."

"Okay. The eldest daughter was known to be the emperor's right hand. She was highly respected by everyone and was said to be extremely friendly."

Dehji then said, 'What?! Are you crazy? In what world could that gorilla be considered friendly? And, of course, everyone respected her. After all, those who defied her had no peace no matter where in the empire they were.'

And Gen said, 'You see, she was wrong. You can't trust people's words like that. Let's move on.', and then Gen said, "What about the other daughter? What was she like?"

And Lan said, "The other one was the emperor's youngest daughter. She was a tranquil and patient person. It was said that she always prevented fights from happening between the various factions that existed within the empire. Many considered her to be the peacekeeper of the empire."

Dehji then said, 'Peacekeeper? She has to be kidding. How can that girl, who doesn't want anything and lies around looking at the sky, be considered something like that? She indeed broke up fights, but she only did that because she said the noise made it hard for her to watch the clouds.'

And Gen said, 'Looks like she's wrong again, then.'

'Yeah, she seems to know a bit about the empire, but there are some things she's making up.'

'Well, let me finish by asking about you.'

Gen then said, "What about the son? What was he like?"

And Lan said, "The son?"

"Yeah."

"Well ... he didn't have a good reputation. Do you want to hear anyway?"

"Yes, I'd like to hear about him."

"Okay. The emperor's son was not well-liked by the people of the empire. Everyone said that he was extremely sarcastic and that he had a scary look in his eyes. Which made most people not even try to talk to him, and those who did talk always said he wasn't friendly at all."

Dehji then said, 'What?! That woman doesn't know what she's talking about! Looks like you were right about her, Gen!'

'No. She probably knows what she's saying.'

'What?! What do you mean, Gen?! You were doubting her until just now!'

'True, but she gave a very accurate description of you. There's no way she could have made that up.'

'What do you mean she's accurate, Gen?! You're kidding, right?! Did you hear what she said about me?!'

'Yes, I heard it loud and clear.'

'She said I'm sarcastic!'

'And it couldn't be more true.'

'She said I have a scary look in my eyes!'

'Well, just look in the mirror.'

'And she also said I'm not friendly!'

'That's true. It's scary how right she is, and she doesn't even know you.'

Dehji then continued complaining in Gen's head, and Lan asked, "Is there anything else you'd like to know, Gen?"

And Gen said, "No, that was it."

Lina then said, "Good. Now that you guys are done talking, let's order the food."

And Lan said, "I got it."

Lan then rang a bell in the middle of the table, and a woman dressed as a maid appeared beside her.

The woman then asked, "May I bring the dishes?"

And Lan said, "Yes, please."

Lina then said, "Aren't you going to order the menu or something? How will you know which dishes to choose?"

And Lan said, "Don't worry, Lina. This floor only has one dish."

"One dish?"

"Yeah, which, in this case, is the emperor's favorite food."

The woman then went to a door at the back of the room and went through it. A few seconds after entering, she came out again carrying a dish, and several other maids came after her with more dishes. They then placed them on the table one by one, and when they were done, they left.

Everyone then looked at the food in front of them, and Raja said, "Wow, it smells so good, I'm salivating."

And Marco said, "Tell me about it."

Lan then said, "Well, don't stand on ceremony. Eat up.", and everyone started eating.

Gen then heard Dehji say, 'Wow, I miss eating this food. I didn't know they still made it nowadays, and it pains me to say this, but she's right. My father loved eating this food."