Chapter 365 (1/2)
Chapter 365: The Terrible Cost of Misunderstanding
Aubert de Villaine spoke with a weak voice “You’re right No matter what I do now, it’s far too late You’ve separatedme this opportunity, to clear the haze from my eyes I’ve lived for over three hundred years, and I’ve done far too ht, I was full of arrogance But I … that I, Aubert de Villaine have only ever loved a single woe that That wo I need to ask you to help me end this poisoned life Yet, I would ask that you continue building on what I’ve accomplished in this place All of the men and women here, all of the workers and wine makers, they were all under my control I infected them with my own hatred and took over their minds Now that ood to them”
Aubert sighed, and turned his eyes to the sky “Especially Gates He is Jayer’s nephew I’d stolen hio He was the first victim of my poison I used my powers to keep him alive, so that one day when my wines surpassed his predecessors I could lord it over hireat talent for wine e that”
“And then there’s this place… our beloved Beaune I have never forgotten our beautiful homeland I would like you to have all of it I have carefully tended to all of these vines, adhering to the biodynah rapes are true They will make you fine wines”
Lan Jue and the Wine Master, standing off to the side, listened to their exchange The anger and resentment they’d felt melted ahen they heard his impassioned speech Aubert de Villaine was a masterful talent who’s desire for success and blind pride lead hi path Yet even now, defeated, theto him was the wine A God of as a God of wine, even if he did do it for the wrong reasons – a fallen God! Although they had had to fight for their lives, a sense of esteereithin the Skyfire adepts at what they witnessed They re the two old vintner’s had to do themselves
“Die? Do you think it will be that easy? Have you already forgotten what you did, how you treated my sister and I? How you expelled me from the board of directors? That was the man who loved me? No, the one you claim to love was my sister”
Aubert answered with a bitter ser their reproach You left to find Jayer and didn’t return That hen jealousy took root I knew I couldn’t co as the h for you, and when you finally did come back with that smile on your face I knew I’d lost you forever Hate and envy leadthe DRC family It was simple math; I owned fifty percent, as did you and your sister I knew she fancied me so I roped her in I couldn’t stand to look at you, that was ht Then you left, and oh do I reht me a terrible pleasure”
“But in truth, I never loved your sister When you left, I ended things with her She went on to marry and have children She was happy, so far as I know, until her passing
Bize’s sneer was cold as ice, and sharp as nails “Really? Well I have so when I caure it out… the true reason for his success I had brought e back to share with you, so that we could create a superior wine together Like you, I had only ever loved one loated that he loved my older sister instead, and the both of you forced me to leave”
“Wha… what?” The defeated vintner’s voice was thick with surprise “Impossible! You loved Jayer! No… it can’t be no!”
Bize laughed in his face “Iht here and right now do you think I would lie? I have never once in my life been dishonest Aubert de Villaine, you are ridiculous A truly laughable an to stream from her eyes
Aubert was completely dumbstruck Almost unconsciously, he muttered “But… you’d said, you’d told me that the man you would love would be the one who made the best wine”
Bize fixed the fallen God with a glare so full of hate it could have killed hireatest vintner to be Aubert de Villaine! I went to Jayer for that belief, so that I could learn what he knew and bring it back So that you could once again be the greatest God of wine the world had ever seen!”