act30side

No, nothing of the sort. Us men of Kjerag have been drinking since we were in diapers, unlike those Victorians who fall over after a single drop! Hahaha!

Ah, but this... Back then, it was considered taboo, especially for us Paleroches...

But those times are long gone. Things have changed.

Pah! What use is talking about it now?!

Come! Have a sip.

Woah!

This bottle might be even better than the last. If it wasn't for the fact that we were such kindred spirits, I wouldn't give it to you, even if you beat me to death over it!

Gotta sample it nice and slow! Real *hic* slow!

Look, you got it wrong again, boss. I'm over here, that there's a pillar!

Let me give it a try... Hey, why's this sour?

Sour?! How dare you!

This really is sour... But why?

It aged well at first, but you have to take into account how it was stored.

Our storage methods back then were not as sophisticated as today, and after so long...

There would always be a batch or two that went bad.

Went bad...?

I'd planned to give this out at the wedding reception and ask that everyone drink their fill.

I'd thought... I'd thought I might share a glass of this with her...

I...

You're drunk, Arctosz.

That's enough for now.

I'm not drunk! I'm... I'm not...

Hmph.

C'mon, give me that bottle!

The girl takes the slightly sour, aged spirit from Arctosz's hand.

She turns up her head, and without the slightest bit of hesitation, raises the bottle and pours the liquid straight down her throat, taking in its varied astringent notes.

Hah—!

And that's that problem solved. It was a little off, but overall, still a pretty good drink!

If you want my expert opinion, I'd say you could really grow to love that aftertaste.

Young lady, you—! Have you gone mad?!

Quick, somebody call a doctor—!

Nah, I'm good.

You're good?!

It'd long since gone bad, and you still drank it? Haven't you ever heard of food poisoning?!

I'm fine. Really.

I've eaten rotten bread and drank foul water out of the gutter before.

Compared to that, what's this drink gonna do to me?

Huh?

Out of the gutter...?

Why would you even do such things, girl?!

I'd rather not talk about those times right now.

But anyway, what I'm trying to say is, I might not really get what the whole deal is here, but I can feel it out.

You said this drink was pretty important, right, boss?

I'll take that as a yes.

Something as rare as that getting spilled away just because it's gone a little off sure would be sad, don't you think?

Listen...

Oh, c'mon, don't give me that face. It could work for you if you were more handsome, but you'd have to lose the beard first.

Hey! Why aren't we drinking?

Whatever boozy treasures are left, serve 'em up!

Today, the three of us—we're drinking until we drop!

You're sure?

I'm sure.

Hmph.

This might be an issue.

You know, lad, you usually come full of ideas, but you're a right mute here.

Can't blame me for that one, boss.

When a lord like you suddenly wants to throw a banquet, just freeing up the space for it took our men no small amount of effort.

It's simply for hosting two foreign dignitaries. Although it's still a bit off for that purpose.

*sigh* I understand.

We've invited a chef from a local restaurant to come and cook, and thanks to us and the locals being so buddy-buddy, we've also managed to get some top-quality ingredients to go with.

We're still stumped on drinks, though.

These three bottles of 'Snow Realm Spring 1095' were the best we could get from hereabouts.

This one... Mouthfeel is pleasant enough, and the aroma is suitably complex.

However, the layering's a little bit weak, and this acridity is somewhat unbalanced.

It would be fine to offer to someone the same rank as me, but for our guests at this banquet... it's far from appropriate.

It's only at times like these that your nobility shows, milord.

Well, I do have to work rather hard at it.

Enough already, we all know you're just a boozer who gave yourself the excuse that you're handling the lords and ladies.

Alright, enough lip out of you, go back and help out or something. I'll think over everything else that's left.

Boss, we've been here a whole month, and we've seen that the Kjerags, they really love their Saintess, and this Enciodes guy too.

I know you keep saying we're just here as tourists.

What is it you think I'm up to? If I really want to do something, I would tell you to get that ambush sorted before all this.

That's what you said, sure, but don't expect the boys to come save your hide if something comes up.

Oh, don't be such a worrywart. It's bad luck.

If I had known sooner, I would have asked the missus to pack that rare red wine we've got in the house.

...*sigh*.

Whyever are you sighing, My Lord?

Ah, Sir Enciodes...

Haha, well, you've caught me in something of a pickle. I'm the one organizing this banquet, but I can't quite find a drink fit for two illustrious guests such as you.

While worrying over that, I recalled a fine vintage in my collection back home, and it gave me a twinge of homesickness.

I'm afraid I don't know where exactly you are a viscount of—

County Barre.

If I recall correctly, County Barre is not far from Toron.

Indeed! They tend to follow the same trails, have done so for quite a while now.

If that is the case, then you and I were fated to meet, Lord Viscount. I lived in Toron for a time.

That's right, I feel like we might have met at some banquet or the other, back in the day.

If only we had recalled this forgotten connection of ours sooner, Sir Enciodes, we wouldn't have had to be at each other's throats.

Indeed.

If I had known that you were such an interesting man, I think we would have made fast friends, My Lord.

I have met with many a noble here in Kjerag, but I believe that you might be the first to get homesick at the thought of some wine.

Would it be remiss for me to assume that My Lord is a family man?

Hahahah, if my daughter heard those words, she would most likely die from laughter.

In her eyes, I'm the most worthless father across all the lands.

Relations always have a different view of things to outsiders.

You're right. Every family has its own issues.

I'm afraid that I have no solution to your longing for County Barre, but I do have the means to make you feel at home here.

Oh?

My Lord, please accept this as a token of my master's regard.

This is... 'Snow Realm Spring'... '1072'?

I had heard that other than the 'Snow Realm Spring' batch that started distilling in the 90s, there were even rarer bottles from a batch from the 70s.