Chapter 112: Snow Wine
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 112: Snow Wine
“And the Head Maid?”
Perched on the edge of his office desk, Loik asked in a chilling voice.
“...She has been confined to the dungeon.”
“Investigate her movements thoroughly. Not a single problem must arise in the shopping district until today’s schedule is over.”
With a resolute expression, Loik glanced at Hedrick, who was delivering the report.
“What about the Grand Duchess’s escort?”
“I have dispatched up to the 2nd Knight Division to the lakeside. As you instructed, they have been positioned as inconspicuously as possible.”
Tiern, standing beside Hedrick, kept his mouth shut tight. He couldn't bring himself to look up, feeling as though he were the one who had committed a crime.
A few days ago, word had come from the information guild managed by the knights. They had supposedly found the culprit behind the previous egg-throwing incident.
— “She walked into the guild of her own accord. She asked us to stir up a commotion to denounce Her Highness the Consort.”
Furthermore, it was revealed that the jeweled brooch the client had left behind belonged to Lady Meisel of the House of Arbor.
Tiern had initially assumed Meisel must have lost the brooch or given it to someone as a gift. However, upon hearing the story, Perel had firmly concluded that Meisel was involved.
— “To be honest, I suspected Lady Meisel was behind the egg incident as well. The Grand Duke is already aware of this.”
— “But a noble lady wouldn't have gone there herself, so the person who visited the guild must be someone else.”
The moment he heard Perel’s words, Tiern’s heart sank.
‘Could it be...’
He’d had a nagging suspicion. After all, Her Highness had been accosted on the very day Marzella had come to him asking about her destination. But he had tried to comfort himself, thinking it was merely a coincidence.
‘If only I had properly interrogated Marzella back then.’
Tiern’s fists tightened.
When the receptionist who had met the client was given a description of Marzella, they had nodded immediately.
In the end, Marzella was thrown into the dungeon. The knights were in an uproar over the fact that the Head Maid of the Grand Duke’s Castle had gone so far as to hire an outside guild to frame the Grand Duchess.
‘No one knew until the guild came forward.’
Everyone was shocked by the realization of how lax the knights' vigilance had become.
On top of that, Lady Meisel was currently under house arrest at the Count’s estate. While they couldn't exactly throw the daughter of Count Arbor into a dungeon, the Grand Duke had already sent a formal letter to the Count stating his intention to interrogate Meisel regarding the charges.
Tiern couldn't help but doubt his own qualifications as a knight.
‘Do I even have the right to call myself the Knight Captain?’
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
It was then that Loik dismissed them, telling them to inform him the moment the Grand Duchess returned from the lakeside.
“The 9th Knight Division will go as well,” Tiern said, clenching his fists.
With two divisions already at the lake, there was no need for Tiern to move, but he wanted to alleviate his guilt, even if only a little.
Hedrick’s brow furrowed slightly. “Having three divisions out there is inefficient.”
“Then I will go alone.”
Loik stared at Tiern for a moment before giving a small nod.
“Do so.”
His gaze seemed to acknowledge the burden Tiern was carrying.
“It will be better for the Grand Duchess to have a familiar face nearby.”
I should be the one going, though.
The master, who usually loathed crowded places, muttered with an anxious face. Tiern wanted to tell him not to worry because he would protect Her Highness, but the words wouldn't come, so he simply swallowed them.
*
The delegation’s schedule in the shopping district continued until evening. We had just finished dinner at a restaurant with the best view of the fountain.
“My word, what is this?”
The eyes of a merchant guild leader widened after taking a sip of the dessert wine.
“Something is popping in my mouth!”
“It’s sweet yet tingly on the tongue—very refreshing!”
It was the sparkling wine Loik had brought from the Pogen Mountains.
— “I bought this for Annette, though...”
Loik had looked quite miserable when I told him I wanted to serve the wine to the delegation.
— “But you said Count Pacio looked down on us, saying Blenheim has no goods worth trading!”
Recalling Perel’s grumbling about how Blenheim wasn't particularly rich in resources—meaning the Count wasn't entirely wrong—a spark of competitiveness had flared up within me.
— “I want to take them down a peg.”
In the end, Loik had submissively handed over all the wine he had brought.
Seeing everyone holding their glass prisms and peering at the bubbles in the golden liquid with fascination, it seemed I hadn't made the wrong choice.
“Where did you import this wine from?”
Seeing the sparkling eyes of the delegation, I spoke with a deliberately nonchalant expression.
“It wasn't imported. It’s a local specialty of Blenheim.”
“What? You mean this wine was made in Blenheim?”
“Is this everyone’s first time trying it?”
“I’ve traveled to many countries and tried countless wines, but...” one merchant who specialized in wine said, looking utterly shocked. “This is the first time I’ve ever tasted a wine like this.”
“Indeed! This is actually bruising my pride a bit!”
I watched the delegation with satisfaction as they continued to murmur in admiration.
“What is the name of this wine?”
At the sudden question, not only the delegation but also the people from Blenheim turned their attention to me.
“The name?”
There wasn't one. According to Loik, it was just a brew made in a village, so it didn't even have a label. But to leave an impression on the delegation, it needed to sound like a proper brand, right?
Just then, Count Pacio lightly swirled his glass, and the white sediment inside whirled around like a blizzard.
“It’s... Snow Wine.”
I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Snow Wine?”
Ugh... what is wrong with my naming sense? Should I have just called it Blenheim Wine instead?
After a brief silence, Vice Minister Delon made a sound of realization.
“Now that you mention it, the particles in the wine look just like snowflakes.”
“I see.”
Everyone nodded as if they understood.
Haha. I wanted to come up with something more elegant and sophisticated, but... well, it’s friendly enough. Not bad.
Then, the wine merchant spoke up excitedly.
“Which merchant guild handles Snow Wine? I’d like to have a word with the owner.”
“Wait a moment, are you trying to cut in line here? Our Valchern Guild’s wine trade volume is no less than Condore’s!”
The Rondoris merchants in the delegation began to raise their voices, competing with one another.
“I had no idea Blenheim held such a hidden treasure.”
Amidst the commotion, Count Pacio spoke to me in a tone of slight admiration. I gave him a bright smile.
“It’s simply because there hasn't been much exchange with the outside world. Blenheim has quite a few competitive specialties like Snow Wine.”
Stroking his chin slowly, he turned to Perel with a serious face.
“If nothing else, I think it would be good to discuss the matter of spirits again.”
“As you wish.”
As Perel nodded, Count Pacio withdrew his gaze and began talking to the merchant next to him.
“Your Highness, you are truly incredible.”
Perel, who had been maintaining a stoic demeanor, whispered to me with a beaming face.
“I never thought I’d see the day when the merchants of Rondoris would be so desperate.”
My shoulders puffed up with pride at his words.
The delegation’s admiration didn't end there. When the long-awaited musical fountain show began, even Count Pacio, watching from the terrace, stood with his mouth agape and clapped.
Enolius, who had been dragged along at my request, was kindly explaining the principles of the musical fountain to the delegation.
Suddenly, Tiern came to stand quietly behind me. After offering his greetings, his complexion seemed somewhat darker than usual.
“I didn't see you all day, so I thought you had other business.”
“...I was delayed by some matters. My apologies.”
“No need for apologies. We’re heading back as soon as the fountain show is over anyway; you should have just rested.”
I got the feeling Tiern was avoiding my gaze.
“The Captain is at the castle. Originally...” Tiern hesitated. “He wanted to come to the lakeside, but something came up.”
Knowing Loik’s situation, I smiled to reassure Tiern.
“I can just see the Grand Duke when I get back.”
The fountain show happened to end right then. We stepped out of the restaurant to begin our return to the castle.
The delegation, still excited from the show, clung to Enolius, peppering him with questions. Raphael, whose energy had been depleted early on from playing so hard, looked like he was about to fall asleep.
Since it looked like it would take some time to get the delegation into their carriages, I lightly patted Raphael on the back.
“Raphael, go to the carriage first. I’ll be right behind you.”
“Huh? I’m okay...” Raphael rubbed his sleepy eyes.
“Sir Tiern. Could you take Raphael to the carriage?”
Tiern glanced toward the carriages, looking hesitant to leave my side. Because of the crowds leaving the lakeside, it seemed difficult for the carriages to pull in close.
“It’s fine. There are so many knights here.”
Not only Norton, but the knights escorting the delegation were standing all around. Eventually, Tiern took Raphael and headed toward the carriages.
The tipsy delegation showed no signs of letting Enolius go.
“Can you build a fountain like that in front of the Rondoris Opera House? I’ll pay whatever it takes.”
“What? You’re part of the Grand Ducal household? Dammit. I’ll find a way to ask the Grand Duke myself...!”
Watching the delegation linger and raise their voices in front of the restaurant felt strangely familiar.
‘They’re just like department heads loitering at the entrance of a restaurant after a company dinner.’
Usually, this is when a junior manager has to step in to get everyone to go home.
I was just about to let out a light chuckle when it happened.
The sound of something massive collapsing echoed from nearby.