Although the passage had seemed rather gloomy and eerie along the way, the guests felt as though everything suddenly opened up once they reached its end.
It was not hot or stuffy, since they were deep underground. Nor was the air stale, even though the place was lit by candles.
The ventilation system seemed quite good.
Oak barrels could be seen all around, and the fragrance of red wine filled the air.
The guests gathered in twos and threes, chatting among themselves.
Zhong Luoyue had already sent away several waves of men who had approached her after noticing she was alone.
Just then, a servant wearing the manor's uniform wheeled in a batch of unlabeled red wine, around thirty bottles in all.
Other servants then emerged with wine-opening tools and decanters. Before long, they flitted among the guests like colorful butterflies, serving them the freshly made wine.
A servant was approaching Zhong Luoyue with a tray of freshly poured red wine, but someone soon intercepted the servant.
It was Madam Eve.
Madam Eve took two glasses from the servant's tray and smiled faintly. The servant nodded and withdrew the way they had come.
Madam Eve approached Zhong Luoyue and offered her a glass. Zhong Luoyue accepted it with a word of thanks, and Madam Eve gave a coquettish laugh, her ample bosom heaving.
Interactions between women seemed to begin with compliments.
Zhong Luoyue admired the necklace Madam Eve was wearing and said thoughtfully, "If I'm not mistaken, this should be the Forest's Light, made by the master jeweler Pierre Phyllis using seven different emeralds. And the stone in the very center is called the Eye of the Forest, correct?"
Madam Eve glanced at Zhong Luoyue and chuckled. "You seem to know quite a bit about jewelry."
Zhong Luoyue smiled as