The Gift Feels Like a Bribe

The aroma wafting from beyond the sealed cork was definitely not sangria pretending to be wine like last time.

Rune checked the label wrapped around the wine bottle.

Not that I stared at it long, but I'm sure. Golden liquor called God's Tear. Bernodel wine from Imperial Year 985.

Emperor Schultz, a wine enthusiast, had tasted it and fallen so deeply in love that he started his own vineyard.

A tragic wine from Bernodel, whose production method was lost when the country fell in war.

It was so rare, they said you couldn't buy it even if you had the money.

And the reason Rune knew about it?

It's famous not just for the taste, but because it's tied to the history of a fallen kingdom.

Setting aside all that backstory, it was liquor renowned enough to make anyone want to try it.

But no way would they actually serve something like that.

Sigh.

He swallowed a sigh inwardly.

It's not like we can drink wine served at a lesson. Just a picture of rice cake—unattainable.

Still, it wasn't placed there for nothing.

That was when Perdikion spoke up.

"Lady Christina, it's an honor."

The red-haired boy placed his right hand over his abdomen and bowed his head.

Rune followed suit, bowing perfectly in line with the flawless etiquette.

Heungmi and Amelia joined a beat late, mimicking Rune.

After one breath, Christina gestured to the seats.

"Please, sit."

Perdikion moved immediately, and Rune, Heungmi, and Amelia followed.

Christina smiled softly and asked,

"Now, how do you think your greetings appeared to a human?"

Heungmi answered first to Christina's question.

"Heungmi's so happy to see kind Lady Christina! I think they felt Heungmi's pure heart."

Christina neither affirmed nor denied the innocent reply, simply commenting,

"A fine answer. Any others?"

Amelia, after some thought, spoke up.

"Um... I, I think they saw it as a cau, cautious occasion. Like we were on tr-trial or something..."

Christina nodded slightly with a faint smile.

"Yes. That's close to the heart of it."

Christina's gaze shifted to Rune.

"Rune, what do you think?"

While they exchanged words, Rune had already scanned the surroundings.

A round ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠table with chairs matching the number of people gathered.

Not a long rectangular table, but round—signifying equals without rank hierarchy. And lost kingdom wine at such a table.

It looked friendly on the surface, but he sensed the intent.

The mind behind setting this up.

Rune replied,

"They'd probably think Perdikion, who greeted first, holds the initiative."

Christina's smile grew warmer.

"Sharp instincts, Rune."

She turned to Perdikion, who spoke.

"I agree with Rune."

"Indeed. This lesson must feel familiar by now."

As expected.

Christina's hand reached for the teapot.

"Their history always features a leader and nobles under them. Kingdoms, empires, even small villages."

Her fingertips lightly touched the handle, and the enchanted teapot floated into the air on its own.

"Greed, desire, religion, and more. For various reasons, they've stirred turmoil throughout history. History changes culture—erasing or advancing it, sometimes evolving, sometimes declining."

Pour.

The tilted teapot began ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠filling their ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cups.

She continued,

"Let's discuss them and experience their culture. That's the purpose of this lesson."

Rune's eyes drifted back to the wine.

Lost kingdom wine.

A nation that rose and fell because of wine, destroyed by an empire that coveted it.

That single item encapsulated the human story Christina described.

Heungmi's eyes sparkled with a drawn-out "Ooooh."

Amelia hunched her shoulders, tense.

Well, they're heading into a world where that culture exists. Even for Perdikion's trial, it's good to know.

They had experience, but Perdikion couldn't teach everything.

Rune had shared knowledge too, but gaps remained.

Same for Amelia.

"So, for our first lesson, we'll cover teaparty conversation techniques. I'll demonstrate how to converse."

With that, Christina looked to Perdikion.

"I've prepared a wine that suits the noble red gentleman. I hope it makes a fine gift."

Perdikion didn't even glance at the wine.

"I'll prepare a fitting reciprocation."

Christina smiled at his reply and asked the others,

"What meaning do you think that exchange holds?"

"Hmm."

Heungmi tilted her head, pondering.

Surprisingly proactive in the lesson, Amelia hesitated before speaking.

"Ah... um, like giving a pr-precious gift, I think..."

She answered but bowed her head, unsure, saying little more.

Understandable—their dialogue alone left the meaning unclear.

Rune gauged it a moment, then spoke.

"It could be interpreted either way. With lost kingdom wine, maybe wishing ruin by following a fallen path."

Meeting Christina's intrigued gaze squarely, he continued,

"Or symbolizing how the wine remains coveted even after the nation's fall."

Impressed, Christina nodded.

"Excellent. A clever answer with multiple interpretations."

Clink.

The teapot, having circled and poured for all, returned to its place.

"As you navigate the human world, you'll need to read such nuances at times."

Christina lifted her teacup first and went on,

"It doesn't have to be the right answer. Think of it as practicing perspectives different from your own."

This lesson trained reading between the lines.

Rune thought of Heungmi and Amelia.

Definitely useful.

Heungmi and Amelia, with little to no human experience, wouldn't even suspect others' motives.

Purity is good, but they'll be shocked by humanity's darker side.

Knowing words can hide opposite meanings beforehand would help.

Good. I should pay close attention to this lesson.

Rune grasped what the teaparty aimed to teach, but Heungmi looked puzzled.

"Ugh. Heungmi doesn't get it. Too hard."

She made a face like her ears—had she had any—would fold back.

Rune, thinking it fair, spoke up.

"Remember when we went to Perdikion's fire lair? The dwarf uncles?"

"Ah, yes!"

Heungmi perked up at the familiar topic.

Amelia focused intently on the unfamiliar dwarf tale.

"How were those uncles?"

"Hmm. They really liked Heungmi. Made clothes, loved booze and metal and gear... Ah! Wanted Rune-nim's scales bad!"

Not quite what Rune meant, but the point was there.

"Right. Dwarves are transparent about desires. But they don't say it outright—they infuse the feeling into gifts."

Heungmi blinked, thought a moment, then clapped her palms lightly.

"Ah! Heungmi knows what that is. It's a bribe, right?"

The unexpected word brought momentary silence.

"Where'd you hear that...?"

Before he finished thinking, the dwarf doll's face popped into Rune's mind.

Confirming his guess, Heungmi replied,

"Uncle Jed!"

As expected.

He'd forgotten briefly, but Jed's true nature was greed incarnate, loyal to money.

He'd matured with age, showing it to Rune at times, but core traits don't vanish.

"Huh? Come to think, Heungmi got bribes too."

"Khk! Cough!"

Caught off guard, Perdikion choked, throat bobbing.

Amelia stared at Heungmi, unable to hide her shock.

Rune asked,

"What'd they give?"

"Dried fruit pieces."

Ah.

What? That's just a snack.

Not healthy in excess, but hardly a "bribe."

Rune relaxed—until the next words.

"But in return, Heungmi went to meet Uncle Jed—who's a dwarf—and the dwarf sisters and aunties!"

"?"

Rune wasn't the only one whose face stiffened.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"...My."

The others held back from voicing thoughts to innocent Heungmi.

But their minds conjured the same image.

Rune exchanged glances with Perdikion and Christina.

Amelia seemed still pondering, but the other three nodded knowingly.

Details varied slightly, but none strayed far from this vision.

Then,

"Um, wait... I think it wasn't a bribe... but it looks like one..."

Amelia offered an unexpected take.