‘Showing off strength—how barbaric.’

Cecilia couldn’t understand why she was feeling pleased.

‘…He really is strong.’

She recalled the moment in the Hall of Mirrors when he had lifted her.

He had done it so effortlessly, as if her weight didn’t register to him at all.

Russell returned to the table, followed closely by Dustin.

“To celebrate your victory, Milord, you must have a drink.”

Without waiting for Russell’s reply, Dustin poured a drink and placed it on the table.

“Leader, are you still holding onto that? I’ve told you—I don’t get drunk.”

“There are those who are strong drinkers, but no one is immune to it, Milord.”

Russell had learned forgotten imperial knowledge passed down through his family, including magic.

After mastering how to handle magical energy, his body naturally eliminated substances that interfered with its circulation.

This made him immune to poisons and incapable of getting drunk.

However, he couldn’t share such a secret.

“Today, I’m not trying to see you drunk, Milord. This time, the drink is exceptional.”

“I’ve heard this batch turned out particularly well, yes.”

“It’s more than just good, Milord. Truly, we must bring this to market. Let the Ewen Guild handle it.”

“So that’s your angle?”

“It’s hard to watch such a valuable product go to waste, you see.”

“How much are you offering?”

“Two and a half Iria gold coins per bottle, Milord.”

“Last time, you said two coins.”

“We’ve slashed our middleman margin significantly. Sometimes the seller has to yield—what choice do we have?”

“It’s a tempting price. But Leader, as I told you last time, I’m skeptical about bringing this drink to market. Fruit wine doesn’t have much appeal in the premium liquor market.”

“Milord, this wine has a unique charm. I’m certain it will perform well.”

“There isn’t much of it. And I have no plans to increase the production of liquor.”

“The rarer the item, the greater its value.”

As Cecilia listened to their conversation, curiosity sparked in her.

Having spent much of her life in glittering ballrooms, she had tasted most of the renowned wines.

The continent’s upper class had a deep appreciation for fine alcohol, often willing to spend exorbitantly on a bottle of famed liquor.

‘A price like that for a bottle of fruit wine? That’s absurd. If they’re paying the producer two and a half gold coins, the seller would have to charge even more.’

The free trade city of Iria, established by an agreement among the seven grand duchies, issued gold coins known for their value and reliability.

One Iria gold coin could sustain a commoner family for an entire month.

Cecilia had, in her past life, tasted a wine worth a hundred Iria gold coins.

However, such occurrences were rare.

At most, wine served at banquets seldom exceeded three gold coins per bottle.

Additionally, distilled liquors were the favorites among the aristocracy.

Cecilia glanced at the rough-hewn wooden cup on the table.

The wood made it hard to discern the color of the liquid inside.

‘The head of the Ewen Guild wouldn’t spout baseless exaggerations.’

While the two men were engrossed in their conversation, Cecilia discreetly reached for the cup in front of Russell.

She quickly brought it to her lips and took a sip.

‘This taste…’

A perfect harmony of sweetness and tartness.

She recognized the flavor.

‘So Sunset Wine was produced in Lagos Castle?’

This fruit wine, as red as the evening sky, would later become known as Sunset Wine.

Its sweetness made it drinkable like a dessert wine, but it was so potent that no one who finished a bottle could leave on their own feet.

About ten years later, Sunset Wine would explode in popularity among the upper echelons of high society.

While its taste was excellent, its fame wasn’t solely due to its flavor.

Many aristocrats, plagued by insomnia from irregular lifestyles, discovered through word of mouth that drinking Sunset Wine before bed allowed them to fall asleep quickly and wake without a hangover.

However, its annual production was limited.

As demand soared, people were willing to pay exorbitant prices, sometimes over twenty gold coins per bottle.

Drinking Sunset Wine before bed became a status symbol of wealth.

Cecilia had also relied on this wine for a time.

She too had been a noblewoman plagued by insomnia.

However, once she realized she was becoming too dependent on it, she quit drinking altogether.