Chapter 32: Introducing, Brambleford’s Finest

The cold wind howled, and snowflakes danced wildly in the air, carried by the fierce gusts like flying dragons and serpents.

Standing outside the gate, Walter was nearly frozen to death. Only when Ysabeau announced. "His Highness summons you inside." Walter felt as if he had been granted amnesty. Shivering, he hugged his arms and hurried into the prince’s estate.

Simon had already moved from the side hall to the study. The secrets of the side hall were not something Walter could be allowed to see.

"Your Highness, you nearly froze me to death." Walter said with a sneeze, looking utterly aggrieved. "I don’t know how I’ve offended you these past few days to deserve such treatment."

Simon gestured to the chair opposite him, inviting Walter to sit, and said with a smile. "Walter, you worry too much. I had some urgent matters to attend to earlier, which is why I kept you waiting. But on such a cold day, didn’t you come by carriage? Why are you covered in snow?"

"Your Highness, I was in such a hurry to see you this morning that I didn’t even have time to prepare a carriage." Walter replied, moving closer to the coal stove to warm himself.

Simon feigned ignorance and asked. "On such a bitterly cold day, you must have come in such a rush for something important, right?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Well..." Walter hesitated for a moment before asking. "I heard that a few days ago, Your Highness gave the Chandlier family a fine wine to sell. Is this true?"

"Indeed, it is. I even saved a jar of that wine for you, planning to have it sent over to warm you up. I didn’t expect you to come here yourself." Simon said, knowing full well that Walter was more interested in how he had brewed the wine. But he deliberately avoided mentioning it.

Walter clasped his hands and spoke. "Your Highness, you even remembered to send me wine. I’m truly moved. Since it’s brewed by Your Highness, I must have a few cups."

"That’s no trouble at all. Gius, go fetch the wine." Simon called out.

Gius, who was waiting outside, acknowledged the order and soon returned with a jar of wine and two porcelain bowls.

The art of porcelain-making in the empire was already quite advanced, though only the nobility could afford the finer pieces. Common folk still used ordinary earthenware.

The porcelain in the prince’s estate had been brought from Eldora, produced in the official kilns of the Eldorian Empire. Simon had studied these pieces and found them comparable to modern porcelain in quality. That’s why, when choosing containers for his perfume, he had opted for porcelain bottles, elegant and practical.

"Brambleford’s Finest, what a fitting name! I wonder who came up with such a refined name." Walter said, examining the jar closely. Seeing the red label with the name ’Brambleford’s Finest’ he couldn’t help but lavish praise. He already knew Simon had named the wine but pretended otherwise.

Gius, who was serving in the room, proudly said. "Our prince came up with the name."

"So, it was Your Highness! Ah, Your Highness is truly talented. Walter, Brandt, Alfred and Lucan once called ourselves the Four Musketeers of Brambleford, but now it seems we were just boasting in front of a master. How embarrassing." Walter said with exaggerated admiration.

Simon felt a chill run down his spine. The flattery was so clumsy and tasteless. Even though the previous Simon had been uneducated, he would have known that ’Brambleford’s Finest’ was nothing extraordinary.

"Walter, you flatter me too much. Come, you must be freezing. Have a drink to warm up. Gius, warm a cup of wine for him."

Gius placed a copper warmer on the stove and heated the wine for a while before pouring a cup for both Walter and Simon.

In his modern life, Simon hadn’t been fond of drinking, but since coming here, he had gradually come to appreciate it. Especially in the cold winter, a cup of warm wine was more effective than an air conditioner. A few cups could make him sweat.

After a slight buzz, lying down in bed would make the long, boring night pass quickly.

And now, with the heavy snow and fierce winds making it inconvenient to go out, a small drink was the perfect way to pass the time.

"Your Highness, please!" Walter raised his cup and lightly licked his lips.

Simon raised his cup as well, and the two drank together. As the warm wine went down, Simon felt a fire slowly ignite within him.

"Ah!" Walter let out a groan, stimulated by the strong liquor. He closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and savoured the taste for a moment before saying. "Your Highness, this wine is spicy yet smooth. After drinking Your Highness’s wine, the rice wine I used to drink tastes like water. Truly excellent wine. But what a pity..."

"A pity? What do you mean, Walter?" Simon gestured for Gius to refill Walter’s cup.

The cups in the prince’s estate were wide-mouthed, narrow at the bottom, and could hold at least two caps of wine. Walter had just downed his cup in one go, as he was accustomed to doing.

Walter, still preoccupied with his father’s instructions, seized the opportunity to bring up the matter. "It’s a pity that our family cannot sell this wine."

"Walter, there’s a reason I gave the wine to the Chandlier family. While the Goldwynd family has a horse caravan, it can’t compare to water transport. Giving it to the Goldwynd family allows me to earn more silver." Simon explained.

Part of the reason he gave the wine to the Chandlier family was to support them, and part of it was what he had just said. In this backward era, land transport was inferior to water transport. Although water transport wasn’t fast, it could carry large quantities and was relatively safe.

"I see." Walter said, feeling slightly reassured. But he couldn’t resist probing further. "When did Your Highness learn to brew wine? Was it also from that book?"

"Let’s keep that between us." Simon deflected, unwilling to elaborate. He raised his cup and spoke. "Come, today we drink and enjoy the snow. Let’s not bother with trivial matters."

Having drunk a bowl too quickly, Walter was starting to feel the effects. His head was spinning, and he thought to himself that he had asked what he needed to ask. Why not just enjoy the wine? He spoke. "You’re right. Let’s drink."

With that, he downed another bowl.

"Walter, you have quite the capacity." Simon said, taking only small sips. He knew how potent the wine was, but Walter was clearly used to drinking this way.

"Your Highness, your humble brother can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. This little wine is nothing." Walter boasted. Remembering that the main hall of the prince’s castle had three floors, he suggested. "Your Highness, drinking here is rather dull. Why don’t we go up to the pavilion, enjoy the snowscape of Brambleford, and drink there?"

"You’re is absolutely right." Simon agreed. He had Gius bring the wine and the stove to the third-floor pavilion of the main hall, and the two followed.

In Brambleford, the main hall of the prince’s castle stood out like a crane among chickens, primarily because of its three-story height. From the top, one could take in the entire city of Brambleford.

The two sat by the railing of the pavilion and continued drinking. Walter quickly downed two more cups.

"Your... Your Highness, this wine is truly excellent. Come... Come, fill it up again." Walter slurred after consuming eight caps of wine. He was now as unsteady as a dizzy duck.

Simon shook his head. Walter was still treating his wine like ordinary rice wine. He spoke. "Walter, you’re drunk. Let me have someone escort you back."

Walter slapped his chest, looking offended. "Your Highness, do you doubt my drinking ability? I can still drink more."

If it weren’t for the fear of Walter drinking himself to death in the prince’s castle, Simon wouldn’t have bothered. He spoke. "Then how about two more bowls?"

"Pour the wine!" Walter stood up, swaying left and right. He flicked his sleeve and declared. "Your Highness, with this fine wine and the snow, today I shall compose a poem to entertain you."