The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 3: Cards

Rosé wine, definitely someone from the big city... Lumian's gaze finally settled on the glass of wine in the lady's hand.

Rosé wine is a brandy made from sugar and pickled cherries. Its color and taste are very popular with ladies. Of course, other suitable fruits can replace cherries, resulting in slight differences in taste, but not too significant.

This is one of the few high-end wines the old tavern in Kordu Village can offer. They stock it because Madam Pualis fell in love with this pale red wine after a visit to the provincial capital, Bigorre.

Madam Pualis is the wife of Beost, the local administrator and territorial judge, descended from nobility who lost their titles during the Roselle Emperor's era.

She is also one of the mistresses of Father Guillaume Benet, the local priest, though few in the village know this; Lumian is one of them.

Lumian withdrew his gaze and walked toward the bar.

Sitting there was a man in his forties, wearing only a linen shirt and trousers of the same color. His brown hair was thinning and rather messy, and the lines from years of labor etched his eyes, mouth, and forehead with wrinkles.

This was none other than Raymond's father, Pierre Clegg.

Another Pierre.

That's why Lumian often joked to Leah, Ryan, and others that if you shouted "Pierre" in the bar, at least a third of the people would respond.

In the village, people refer to these Pierres and Guillaumes with family descriptors; otherwise, it's impossible to distinguish them.

In many families, both the father and child share the same name, either Pierre or Guillaume. Neighbors can only differentiate them with "Old," "Big," or "Little."

"Dad, why aren't you at the village square chatting with the others?" Raymond walked to his father's side.

The men in the village liked to gather under the elm tree in the square or at someone's house to play dice, cards, chess, and discuss various rumors—going to the tavern costs money.

Pierre Clegg took a sip of his red wine, glanced at his second son, and said, "I'll go later; there probably aren't many people in the square right now."

Right, where are all the men in the village? Lumian felt a bit puzzled.

Earlier in the square, he hadn't seen a single person.

"Uncle, I have something to ask you," Lumian said straightforwardly.

Pierre Clegg immediately became wary, "A new prank?"

The "Wolf is Coming" story indeed has real-life basis... Lumian turned his head, signaling Raymond to speak.

Raymond organized his words and asked, "Dad, the witch legend you told me about, when did it actually happen? The one where nine oxen were needed to pull the coffin."

Pierre Clegg took a sip of red wine and said in confusion, "Why are you asking about this?

"This was something my father told me when I was young."

The provinces of Lesdon, Orlais, and Souhit, where Kordu Village is located, are famous for their vineyards in the southern part of the Intis Republic. Cheap wine, especially poor-quality ones, are so abundant that some years people drink it like water.

Raymond felt disappointed because his grandfather had long passed away.

At this moment, Pierre Clegg added, "Your grandfather said he saw it himself when he was young. Since then, he's been afraid of owls, fearing they might take his soul."