Chapter 196: The Tasting
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 196: The Tasting
“Why? Worried it might be poisoned?”
“I am being serious, Your Highness.”
Norton furrowed his brows at my playful whisper.
“Anyone could have accessed those bottles if they intended to harm the Consort.”
Norton emphasized the fact that no mage or priest capable of casting recovery magic had accompanied us today.
“Furthermore… consuming something made in a place like this could lead to an upset stomach.”
The woman who had poured the wine was staring at me, her face brimming with anticipation.
But how can I say no to a look like that?
Besides, it was cherry wine!
I was dying to know what it tasted like.
Perhaps sensing my hesitation, Evan quickly stepped forward.
“Your Highness, would it be alright if I tried it first?”
“You, Evan?”
“The alcohol might be a bit strong for Your Highness, so I thought it best if I tasted it first.”
“That sounds like a good idea. Your Highness has a low tolerance for alcohol, after all,” Perel added, catching on quickly.
It made sense; before being a merchant leader, Evan was an expert on spirits.
Fortunately, the villagers didn't seem to notice anything amiss. Evan took the glass in my stead and took a sip of the cherry wine. He smacked his lips as if gauging the flavor, then nodded.
“Often, when small fruits are used, the skins make the taste astringent, but this is remarkably refreshing. It’s not thick or syrupy at all—it’s very clean.”
The woman’s cheeks flushed with pride.
“It’s made using a secret recipe passed down through generations in my family. I’m confident in the flavor above all else!”
I turned to Norton with excitement, and he gave a small, reluctant nod.
“I’ll have a glass too, please!”
Just as Evan said, the cherry wine was fragrant, with a light and refreshing finish.
“This is delicious! It would be perfect as an aperitif.”
As the woman puffed out her chest and looked around at the other villagers, a middle-aged man stepped forward, thrusting a wide-mouthed bottle toward me.
“Please, try my family’s walnut wine as well!”
Once again, Evan took the first sip.
“How long has this been aged?”
“About three years.”
Evan spoke as he seriously evaluated the taste. “The flavor is quite deep.”
“This walnut wine is even supplied to the village inn!”
The walnut wine had a slightly bitter yet nutty flavor that was quite addictive.
“I think this would be wonderful to drink when it’s cold.”
“As expected, Your Highness recognizes quality! There’s nothing like walnut wine for drinking in front of a fireplace on a winter night!”
Sensing their turn was next, the villagers began to huddle closer, eyeing one another.
“Wait, why is everyone trying to get me to drink?” I whispered softly to the administrator standing beside me.
“It is likely because of the Snow Wine.”
From what I gathered, it seemed Porcelain Village was hoping to create a local specialty of its own, similar to Snow Wine.
“Originally, Porcelain Village was more famous for its alcohol than Sablang.”
The administrator added that every village in the Pogen Mountains took immense pride in their spirits.
“The water in this area is so good that it’s impossible for the alcohol to taste bad.”
True, water is the most important ingredient when brewing alcohol. Among the local settlements, Porcelain Village was well-known for each household having its own unique brew.
So, am I supposed to do something here?
“You don’t need to feel pressured,” Perel chimed in, observing my expression. “The residents likely just want their skills to be recognized by Your Highness.”
“That’s right. They will consider it an honor for generations just because Your Highness tasted it.”
Hearing that made me feel guilty about stopping at two glasses.
“Then shall I try a few more?”
As soon as I showed signs of drinking more, a stout woman boisterously lifted her bottle.
“Your Highness, please try our plum wine! We’re the only ones in Porcelain who make it.”
“What are you talking about! Your Highness, you must try our chestnut wine! You won’t find a unique spirit like this anywhere else in the Empire!”
“This strawberry wine is the most popular!”
“Try our medicinal wine made by decocting mint leaves!”
“Don’t fight, now.”
I was already feeling a pleasant, lightheaded buzz from the alcohol.
“What the heck, I’ll try them all.”
“Your Highness, are you perhaps intoxicated?” Norton asked urgently, searching my eyes.
“Of course not.”
Everyone was so excited. As the Grand Duchess of Blenheim, I had to live up to their expectations!
“Since it’s come to this, let’s hold a tasting event.”
My tongue felt a bit loose, but I waved my hand dismissively.
“It’s no fun if I’m the only one drinking. Let’s all drink together.”
“Are there any more glasses?”
At my words, several villagers dashed off and returned with armfuls of glasses. With the quick-acting Evan leading the way, several large tables and rows of glasses were set up in the open space in front of the castle in no time.
“This is lemon wine.”
“This is a berry wine made by mixing elfberries and blackberries.”
The scale of the event grew rapidly. Not just Evan and I, but the administrators, knights, and even the merchant staff tasted the drinks brought by the villagers.
“It feels a bit lonely just drinking alcohol without anything else,” someone remarked.
At that, a skilled woman brought out bread toasted with butter, while another household brought out cheese. Soon, the tables were laden with crispy crackers, large pieces of pickled jerky, and carefully dried fruits, turning it into a proper party.
As the atmosphere ripened, even the villagers began sharing sips of the alcohol they had brought.
“You! I asked for this sweet rice wine so many times, and you kept it hidden away!”
“Oh my, this is my first time trying this. It’s so sweet.”
By the end, even Norton reluctantly accepted a glass.
They weren't kidding when they said every house brewed its own; all sorts of spirits I had never seen before kept appearing. Perhaps a product capable of becoming the second Snow Wine could emerge from here.
However, once I started thinking about it seriously, it became a bit of a headache.
“Aide, what do you think? Our plum wine is the best, isn't it?”
“Hey now, isn't that a bit pushy? Sir Aide, please have another glass of this walnut wine.”
If I were to pick just one from among so many fruit wines, it might cause infighting among the residents.
It’s actually quite fun just tasting various kinds like this.
“Maybe I should create a tasting product?”
I had only muttered it quietly, but everyone’s eyes snapped toward me.
“A ‘tasting product’… did you say?”
Evan tilted his head at the unfamiliar combination of words. Since tasting was fundamentally about giving things away for free, he looked puzzled as to how that could become a product.
“There are so many good wines here; it’s a shame to only drink one or two.”
I explained the idea I had conceived.
“What if we gathered all these fruit wines so people could taste a little bit of everything, and sold that as a package?”
“Then we would need to prepare many small glasses and sell them on a tray?”
“That’s one way, but if the wine is poured in advance, the aroma will dissipate and the flavor will suffer…”
It would be much better to have people move around to different locations to taste the wine, like a tasting tour.
“You said there are quite a few small hot springs around the village, right?”
“They are scattered in size, but yes.”
“What if we built a large walking trail connecting those hot springs?”
I had already been worried about the lack of entertainment around the hotel.
“We could set up small booths along the trail so people can enjoy a walk and taste a glass or two of fruit wine along the way.”
Before I knew it, everyone was focused on the conversation between Evan and me. One villager plucked up the courage to ask a question.
“But Your Highness, noble guests will be staying at the hotel. Will the wine we make actually sell?”
“That depends on how much pride you take in making it.”
I tapped the now-empty bottle of walnut wine.
“If it’s a fruit wine made with sincerity using secret family recipes, as you say, it might actually be more exotic and appealing to nobles than the ordinary wine they drink every day.”
When I mentioned that it would also be interesting to share the brewing methods or characteristics during the tasting, someone spoke up boldly.
“I’m confident in our peach wine! It’s brewed using the finest peaches from Arsen.”
“Same for us! Our wine is made with the cleanest water drawn from the very top of the mountain range.”
“Good.”
The villagers’ spirit lifted my mood.
“If you are confident, I will actively support you.”
At those words, the villagers erupted in cheers. They really must have been envious of the Snow Wine.
Watching the residents already buzzing with talk about where the trail should start and end, and whether they should start brewing more wine tomorrow, I let my lips curl into a smile.
I’ll have to ask the administrator later to appoint someone to coordinate with the villagers. I should also ask Enol to help with decorating the trail.
I was feeling quite proud of myself, thinking that the fact I could still plan like this meant I definitely wasn't drunk yet.
It was then that a worker came charging out of the castle, screaming with a child on his back.
“A doctor! Someone call a doctor, quickly!”