Sienna-Rose was astounded by the magnificent sight of the grand estate sprawling before her. It was a vast contrast to the pixelated landscapes she had previously explored in her game.
The estate itself was a marvel, with sprawling gardens bursting with color, flowers blooming in vibrant hues, and a central fountain that danced joyfully in the sunlight.
But what captured her attention most was the expanse of vineyards that stretched out behind the estate, the rows of grapevines swaying gently in the breeze, whispering secrets of the harvest.
As she wandered through the gardens, the intoxicating scent of ripe grapes wafted through the air, a fragrant reminder of the bounty that awaited her in the vineyard. The thought sparked her curiosity, and she turned to the butler, Simmons, who had been quietly observing her exploration.
"How many types of grapes do we have?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine intrigue.
"Pardon, my lord?" Simmons looked surprised, his brow slightly furrowing as he regarded her.
Sienna-Rose jolted at his response, realizing how her enthusiasm had startled him. "How do you make all the wine from here?" she pressed, her curiosity bubbling over.
"Just like any other vineyard does, my lord. We process the grapes together and transform them into wine," he replied, his tone steady but cautious.
"What do you mean by processing the grapes together and making it into wine? Are you saying, We don't sort out the grape type and just toss it in together and process it?" Sienna-Rose couldn't believe what she heard now. It's true that in the game she can just toss everything into the keg and ferment it inside a barrel.
"But this is real!" Sienna-Rose screams in disbelief.
A wave of disappointment washed over her, and she faced the reality of her new responsibilities settling in. As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of fine wines, she had expected more sophistication in the process.
"Do we still have any grapes that have been harvested but not yet processed?" She inquired, her brow raised in anticipation.
"Yes, my lord," Simmons answered, his demeanor shifting slightly, revealing a hint of nervousness.
"Take me there. After hitting my head, I seem to have forgotten some places," she remarked, crafting a believable excuse to mask her true intentions. The layout of the vineyard was entirely different from the one she played in the game, and she genuinely didn't know where the winery was located.
Simmons led her toward the eastern part of the vineyard, where the winery lay nestled among the vines. As they entered the building, Sienna-Rose was enveloped by the thick, heady aroma of freshly harvested grapes. The scent permeated every corner of the expansive stone structure, a tantalizing promise of the magic that would soon unfold.
Inside, large wooden fermentation vats lined the walls, their surfaces stained with the rich, deep purple hues of the season's bounty. In the central processing area, workers moved with practiced efficiency, their movements a well-choreographed dance as they tended to the influx of grape clusters.
Bins overflowing with plump, juicy grapes were carefully emptied onto vibrating sorting tables, where nimble fingers deftly plucked away any errant leaves or damaged berries. The rhythmic sound of the crusher-destemmer echoed through the cavernous space, its metal teeth gently breaking grape skins and separating the berries from their stems, creating a fragrant must that hinted at the wine to come.
Beside the primary fermentation vats, rows of smaller oak barrels stood waiting, their charred interiors promising to impart subtle notes of vanilla and spice to the aging wine within. The soothing hiss of airlock valves punctuated the background noise, a comforting reminder that the delicate process of fermentation was well underway.
"Tell the workers to stop sorting the grapes; I'll see it for myself," Sienna-Rose commanded, her voice firm and resolute.
"Pardon? Uh, wait, my lord," Simmons stammered, taken aback by her assertiveness. It was clear he was unaccustomed to having the lord of the estate take such an active role.
As the workers halted their tasks, Sienna-Rose felt a jolt of adrenaline course through her. She was startled by the sheer number of people working on her estate, a realization that struck her with a mix of awe and frustration. "Why the hell do I have to do everything by myself inside the game?" she screamed internally.
Approaching the grapes, Sienna-Rose examined them closely and noted that they had been planted according to seed type but had not been pruned. "Oh, these grapes aren't pruned," she observed, her brow furrowing as she assessed the situation.
"What's pruned, my lord?" one of the workers asked, confusion evident in his eyes.
"I'll explain later. For now, you need to follow my instructions closely," Sienna-Rose replied, determination flooding her veins. She was resolute in her desire to fix everything, envisioning a life of leisure with her four wives if only they could get everything in order.
Taking the lead, she began explaining her vision to the head worker, a man named Aiden, whose intelligence and meticulous nature gave her hope. As she laid out her plan, Sienna-Rose recalled the six types of grapes she was familiar with: Barbera, Merlot, Muscat, Grenache, Chardonnay, and Riesling. She decided to taste the ripe grapes one by one, savoring their sweetness. "Hmmm…"
"Separate the grapes as I instructed. You remember the types, right?" she asked, turning to Aiden. "What was your name again?"
"It's Aiden, my lord," he stammered, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and confusion.
"I trust this to you, Aiden. Once everything has been sorted as I instructed, report back to me. Also, separate the grapes into six small buckets. For the overripe and the unripe grapes, you can separate them by red and white; no need for types. Don't throw them out; wash and dry them, then spread the grapes in a single layer on a tray. If we don't have trays, ask the butler to have the blacksmith make some for us. Then cover them with cheesecloth," she instructed, her voice steady and commanding. "I'm sure we have plenty; ask the people in the creamery for a new one. Dry them under the sun for a few weeks. Pick some workers to assist; if you're shorthanded, hire more."
As she spoke, Aiden nodded, though the confusion etched on his face remained. It was clear that the lord of the estate was not one to typically intervene in the daily operations, but seemingly not today.
"And Aiden," Sienna-Rose said with an air of authority, "any rotten grapes, don't throw them away. I'll take care of it later; they're perfect for fertilizer." With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.
As she walked to the front of the winery, she soon approached the butler, Simmons, and requested, "Please take me to the administrative office. I'd like to review our sales numbers and everything else we have on record."
Upon reaching the entrance of the winery, Sienna-Rose's eyes fell upon Olivia, who was wandering through the vineyard, her two attendants trailing closely behind her. A burst of warmth filled Sienna-Rose's heart as she called out, "Livia!" She quickened her pace; a smile illuminated her face. "Are you out here exploring the vineyard?"
Olivia appeared momentarily startled, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Uh, oh, yes. I apologize if I'm disturbing you. I—" she faltered, taken aback by Sienna-Rose's sudden approach.
Despite her love for the lush grape orchards and the mesmerizing sight of workers bustling about in the winery, she had always hesitated to draw closer, especially after Sienna-Rose had previously advised her to avoid interrupting the workers.
"Why would you say that?" Sienna-Rose interjected, her brow furrowing with concern. Among the four of her wives, she knew Olivia and Sophia were the only true wine enthusiasts, but Olivia's passion for the wine-making process ran particularly deep.
"Come inside, hold my hand," Sienna-Rose urged, her voice warm and inviting. She then turned to Simmons, her butler. "Simmons fetches a few bottles of our wine production for the administrative office."
For the first time in the two years since Olivia had come to reside in the sorcerer's grand estate, Sienna-Rose was inviting her into the winery—a place that had previously felt off-limits. Sienna-Rose carefully assisted Olivia, ensuring her dress wouldn't trail in the dirt. "You know, I can have the designers create some pants for you. That way, you can move around freely in the winery," she suggested casually.
"You'll do that for me?" Olivia's eyes widened in disbelief, a mixture of surprise and sheer joy etched across her features.
"Of course! Why would I lie?" Sienna-Rose chuckled softly. "And I plan to introduce some new production techniques to the workers soon—possibly tomorrow. You can come and visit during that time."
"I can see?" Olivia asked, her voice barely above a whisper, still processing the excitement of Sienna-Rose's invitation.
"You're my wife, the lady of this estate. Who could possibly say no to you?" Sienna-Rose replied, casting a playful glance at Aiden, who was busy overseeing the workers. "Aiden! If my wife comes to visit, treat her well! Keep doing your job; no need to come to me."
Aiden nodded quickly, a mix of nervousness and gratitude on his face. "Yes, my lord!"
"Now, come along," Sienna-Rose beckoned, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
"Where are we going?" Olivia asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I want your opinion on our wines," Sienna-Rose beamed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. The phrase 'our wines' resonated deeply with Olivia, filling her with a sense of belonging and purpose.