Dina was feeling nostalgic all of a sudden. Liberio was just the same as she remembered. Only now, there was a wild festival happening and all citizens came to see and enjoy for themselves the unusual foreign feel. Joyous music could be heard all over the internment zone. Happy children were running around, and the amazed adults were finally having some carefree time.
And soon, all of that would perish by her doing. Suddenly, she was having second thoughts. Dina knew that some things needed to be done and without a fight nothing could be achieved, but this was too much. Did they really have to go to this extent?
"Here you are mister" her partner in crime spoke as he handed the cup over to the customer.
"Thank you" the man said as he took a swig "how do you call it? Exquisite?"
"The pleasure's all mine."
Suddenly, the customer noticed that Dina was behind, tending to some barrels…
"Oh, excuse me madam, I didn't see you before…"
"That's my wife" the dark-haired wine expert said in her stead "she's very busy right now…"
"Oh, alright" the customer exclaimed as he turned to walk away "goodbye!"
"Have a nice day."
After she made sure that no one could see her, Dina turned to face her partner.
Pierre Schmied was a tall man with brown eyes and a curly moustache. In his hometown, far in the north of the continent he was the finest winemaker. He was also the only Eldian from Marley that offered to help them.
"I don't think anyone believes that I'm your wife" Dina exclaimed looking towards the streets.
Provided that she would stay out of sight, none of the warriors would be able to see her, but she still felt uneasy with how close she was to the enemy.
"Oh, come on!" Pierre responded, "you may not be as young and beautiful as my real wife, but I don't think anyone suspects us of anything other than brewing the best wine in the world."
Dina deadpanned at the man.
"One more word and I'll stomp you over" she said glaring daggers at him.
"Now, now lady" he said raising his hands in apology "you're speaking nonsense. And besides, I'm not into your crazy fantasies…"
The blonde woman just rolled her eyes. Of all people, he had to be the one to join their cause.
"How did we sneak all of that wine here, anyway?"
"The army checked it for all kinds of poisons" Pierre explained "but they don't usually expect the titan serum in alcoholic beverages, so…"
"I get it…" Dina responded sitting down.
All of it was finally getting to her.
"How do you feel about this?" She suddenly asked.
"About what?"
"Our little drunken scheme."
The man closed his eyes and crossed his arms as he stood against the wall.
"Hey, I'm just loading up the gun" he said defensively "I won't be the one to pull the trigger."
"Still" Dina affirmed "you must have this feeling…"
"What feeling?"
"That we're doing something wrong."
Silence filled the air as Pierre pondered on his answer. Suddenly he jolted away from the wall.
"Go to the back…!" He exclaimed as he walked over to the front of the booth.
Some warrior candidates were walking over to the stall. One of them looked exactly like Marcel, but he couldn't really be the jaw titan, could he?
"Two cups please!" The young man said as he held a bill out.
"Coming right up!" Pierre responded with his usual resolute tone.
"Hey Colt!" A young boy asked one of the older ones, seemingly his brother "can I have some?"
'Please, don't…'
"Absolutely not!" The older brother responded strictly.
"Trust me" the Marcel lookalike spoke out as he took his cup "it's better to be sober when Colt gets drunk…"
"Porco!" Colt exclaimed angrily.
"Just joking…"
"Thanks for the wine, man!"
"Not a problem" Pierre replied as he waved at them as they were walking away "bye!"
Dina wiped the sweat off her forehead as she stepped from behind the counter.
"That was close…" Pierre whispered.
"The brown haired one looked like one of the warriors I know…" the blonde woman said slowly.
"Well, it's unlikely the actual warriors will visit a wine booth" the winemaker explained "they are on service after all…"
Once again, silence filled the air.
"So" Dina started "what is your answer?"
Pierre just sat down and motioned for her to do the same.
"When I was a kid, my dad had his own winery. The townspeople really liked his wine, and everyone was happy. Everyone except for the Marleyan officials who used tax policies to fight honest Eldian businessmen. Even though my dad had been way too overtaxed, he still managed to keep the winery open."
"That was until the government changed the tactics. All of a sudden, weird accidents would happen. Sometimes a mysterious person would break into our house without taking anything of value. At other times, the winery would be found demolished. Finally, the secret service would accuse him of terrorism and treason against the country."
Dina looked at the man with raised eyebrows. How was that any different from normal treatment that all Eldians received?
"Now, the judge was more of an open-minded type. He didn't believe in any false evidence that the officials presented and wanted to actually exonerate the man."
"So" the blonde woman asked, "what went wrong?"
"Every single Eldian from my hometown showed up in the court and testified against him…"
"Oh…"
Pierre looked at the floor.
"He had been sent to paradise along with mother" he explained "and you know what the funniest thing of all was?"
"What…?
"He really was a terrorist."
Dina looked at the man with a shocked expression.
"My father was secretly arming the population of several important internment zones within the country. He wanted to stir up a nationwide insurrection and free all Eldians. Aside from the ability to brew the best wine in the world, that was the ideal he taught me…"
"Freedom…" Dina exclaimed.
"Yes" Pierre affirmed "but none of the Eldians living in Marley want it. Their cattle-like mentality always made me mad to the core…"
"You're talking like someone I know" the blonde woman suddenly interjected.
"Really?" The winemaker asked with surprise "I hope the guy you're talking about isn't as stupid and reckless as me…"
"You have no idea…"
The talk took so long that they never noticed when the sky turned red, and the sun disappeared below the horizon.
"Come on" Pierre exclaimed as he stood up "the play is about to start…"
