by Leona Jarnefeldt 16th January 2020, 9:53 pm
-Capital Crocus, inside Chateau DuVine-
Guided by the two young women she had rescued from the slavers, Leona had traveled through the large city of Capital Crocus until she ended up inside a clean and well-organized specialty wine shop. Leona was impressed by the immaculate wooden floors and carefully arranged shelves of product with convenient signs naming the region from which they had originated. Leona's green eyes moved around the shop and she saw wines imported from Midi, Shirotsume, Sakuramori, even a small section devoted to palm wine from Desierto. However, she did not see any display dedicated to Pergrande.
"What do you think of our uncle's shop?" The brunette asked Leona.
"I'm impressed with the selection and how organized everything is." Leona answered truthfully.
"Follow me to the counter and I'll get Uncle Alfred for you!" The blonde offered. Leona obliged and followed the young woman to a dark, polished wooden counter with an old-fashioned brass cash register sitting in the center and a display of more bottles of wine sitting in neatly arranged rows with the front labels facing outward sitting in an alcove behind the counter. She patiently stood in front of the counter while the blonde disappeared to get her uncle.
"Thanks again for rescuing us from those awful men. We didn't think we'd make it back to Capital Crocus, let alone have an honest-to-Ishgar Wizard Saint save us!" The brunette said, engaged the Wizard Saint in conversation. Leona turned to face her.
"It's no problem. I'm glad I could help." Leona assured her. Moments later the sound of footsteps on wood reached her ears and Leona turned to face a middle-aged brown-haired man dressed in a white dress shirt with a black vest and black pants with red tie. He wore matching black dress shoes and white gloves. He looked the part of the owner of a high-end specialty wine shop.
"Hello and welcome to Chateau DuVine, Miss Jarnefeldt. I am Albert DuVine, the owner of this establishment. My niece Candice has informed me that you have need of something from my shop." The man politely introduced himself before getting down to business.
"Yes sir. I'm looking to buy a special wine from Pergrande called Maison D'Everett." Leona answered. The man looked at her for a moment before speaking.
"I am sorry, Miss Jarnefeldt. While I do have it in stock, I cannot sell you that wine. You see, it is a rare wine from a year that was marked by a flood that ruined the fields, all except the field that the grapes used in the wine came from. As a result only one hundred bottles of it were made. The typical selling price is in the mid six figures." He politely informed her with regret on his voice. Leona kept a straight face but was feeling sharp disappointment that her errand had come to nothing. The man then smiled a little.
"However, I can inform you about the auction that will be held in three days' time. It will be held at the Capital Crocus Auction House. You may bid for the bottle of Maison D'Everett there and the event will be well-attended by the elite of Capital Crocus. Should you still be interested in the wine, I have two pieces of advice for you, Miss Jarnefeldt." He said to her.
"What might that be, sir?" Leona asked.
"First, I suggest that you go and buy a formal dress for the event. While you are a Wizard Saint of some renown, your current attire will simply not do." He gave the first piece of advice.
"Second, the bidding will be fierce and the bids will be high. I suggest that you bring plenty of Jewels with which to bid. I also suggest that you be prepared for some... uncivilized language to be directed toward you should you take the lead. Keeping your cool will be important if you want to win the auction." He warned her. Leona remained calm and took the advice into consideration. She would have to return to Capital Crocus to buy a good formal dress before the auction. She would also have to learn to keep her cool when being insulted.
"Thank you, sir." Leona thanked Alfred for the advice.
"I must thank you for rescuing my nieces earlier today. They are the only family I have left and I do not want to lose them. You have done me a great service and I wish you well in all your future endeavors." He thanked her with a small bow at the end of his statement. Armed with important advice, Leona turned and left the shop to go back to Silver Wolf Guild Hall and prepare for the auction of one of one hundred bottles of Maison D'Everett. She would be mingling with the Capital Crocus elite, so she would have to get a high-class dress and learn the manners used in high society. There was no margin for error and she did not want to look like a desert bumpkin at the auction.
[Post Word Count: 845]
[Total Word Count: 2,310/1,500]