The Wine Cellar

Carrying the two wine bottles, Lellouch Go, a lady in her twenty's, walks carefully downstairs towards the old basement - the wine cellar. This is just underneath their cottage house. 

She's been here before, eight years ago, but still she's very familiar of the space. She's been trained not to lose her way. The path going to the wine cellar is too tricky. Someone needs to pass through some diverging route and doors, as if descending to an unending stairs.

Then, reaching the huge wooden door, she knocks. A middle-aged woman opened the door.

"Lellouch!" she exclaimed. A screeching sound of the old door can be heard as the woman opened it wider. With teary eyes she was hugged by the woman. "I miss you!"

"I came down to give you these two bottles mother." She smiled as she handed the bottles to the woman. The woman nodded, took the bottles and walk towards the wine cellar.

"You need not to come her, Lellouch. You could have rested." she said as her smile was replaced with frown.

"How can't I? I missed this place." she snorted. They walk across the hall toward the end shelf. The further they walk, the more she sees wooden barrels with notes on its cover- indicating the year it was made.

This is the oldest wine cellar in town. It was passed down for centuries to her father's parents. And now, both her mother and father are taking care of it. The oldest is around a five hundred and ninety years in the cellar. They reproduce the delicious wine not just in the town but the neighboring cities as well. 

Passing through, she saw a unique small bottle. She took it and wipe the dust covering its surface. "Do you remember this, Mother?" She asked as she held high the small bottle.

Her mother glanced at her. "How can I forget? You were the one who made that when you were still five. You made it so special and swore that the man you'll marry will be the first one to drink it."

"Yes! That's right!" She giggled as she reminisced an old memory. "And I still feel the same way, Mother. That's why I'll keep this for the time being." She said walking towards her mother.

"Anyway, you had a long travel. You could at least have a nap before coming down here." the woman change the subject.

She happily took the hand of her mother. "I enjoy doing my work these days that I've almost forgotten how it feels like to be at home. And this wine" she emphasized raising the bottle, "This is part of my happiness. Besides, Father promised me to taste that forty-five-year-old wine he opened this morning."

"Alright, alright. It's good that your home as well. I have made your favorite stew. Come on, let's go back upstairs." The woman took the lamp, secured the basement and together, they ascend the stairs.

Although, it was a family business. Nobody, except the immediate family, really knows the entrance towards the wine cellar. The secret has been kept for over centuries. As the only daughter, the secret was left to her.

"Mother, it's been eight years since I came down here. I was so happy realizing that I could still remember clearly the passage towards the cellar." she suddenly utters.

"Why? Is something wrong, Lellouch?" her mother asked.

"I was just confused. Those others doors that we passed through as we go downstairs, what are those for? I asked father about this but he always brushes the idea."

Her mother froze. Her paleness was evident and sweat started to form in her forehead.

"I honestly don't know, Lellouch. I too, have asked your father but even him couldn't answer. It's one of the secrets this family has been hiding over centuries." she said earnestly. 

"That's odd. Those doors will never exist for nothing." she replied, her expression is indifferent. 

"In relation to that, there's something I need to tell you." She hesitated but still continued. "Your father and I just got married and it was my first time coming down the wine cellar. I was overwhelmed at the maze-like path and got suspicious of the doors we passed by. So, I stop by and tried to open one. When your father shouted at me to stay away from the door. He was so pale and sweating while running towards me. After that incident, I never dared tried to do so." her mother revealed.

"And you learned to ignore it. As if it doesn't exist." she added and her mother nodded in approval.

The eagerness to know the secret of the wine cellar aroused in her interest and her mother saw the glint in her eyes so she urges the lady to continue their tract. Her mother was behind her, trying to catch her breath. She is still in her late fifties and yet her health is deteriorating. Worries flashes on her face as she looked her mother's state who was heaving in exhaustion.

The moment they gathered on their humble table, her parents couldn't contain their happiness that their daughter have come home after almost a decade. They talked about her venture outside her town, Oakville, and her work in the orphanage. It is a noble job for the family, they were so proud of her.

When the subject went to her mother, the atmosphere becomes tense. She can feel it. Everyone noticed it. She then broke the silence.

"I decided to stay." Both of her parents froze but her father recovered instantly.

"No, you can't." both her and her mother froze. "You have a noble work waiting for you. You might not be earning much but its fine, we're here to support." her father said with certainty.

"The work is fine, and I love it. Since I left, I kept on worrying for the both of you. Many times I tried to pack my things and go home just to check on the both of you but you would always say that you're both out of town or you had been loaded with schedules for wine delivery." Her voice rather sound annoyed than worried.

"There's nothing to worry about sweetheart. We are more worried about you. We don't want you stay here and hinder you dream. We want you to live a life we wished we had." Her mother reached her hand, trying to comfort her.

"Both of you are part of my dream. I want you two to be there where I am." She said in a pleading voice.

"Unfortunately for us, we can't leave the cottage – specially the wine cellar. We just can't. We ought to serve this family for the rest of our lives. And that doesn't mean to include you." her father said firmly. "We want you to break the tradition of this family. We are setting you free."

On the other hand, a man with an exuding power walks out of the elevator and storm towards the huge door. An assistant approached him to open the door.

"Mr. Grand, you got a phone call from your grandfather. You are requested to come home to Monaco." He paused and stare at Magloire, his assistant. She's been working for him for five years now. She's in early forties yet unmarried.

"Did something happen to my grandfather?" he asked in an indifferent expression.

"According to the Butler, the information is highly classified." He tensed. He understood right away what it meant for highly classified.

 "Cancel my meetings and signing of contract for the next two weeks. I need to go back." He ordered and his assistant curtsied as he went inside his office.

Inside, a tall young man waited for him. His suite fits perfectly to his masculine body. One can tell he has despicable strength.

"Mr. Grand, when should we depart to Monaco?" he asked as the man seated.

"Canada. We need to drop by to Canada first. I need to need to check on something. Gather all information you can get about this girl and let's meet on the plane by five." He replied as he handed him a photo of a girl.

The girl in a curly brunette is wearing a uniform. Anyone can tell she's in middle school. Her beauty is evident even at a young age. One thing is more captivating upon looking at her. Her unique blue eyes. He has seen it before.

"The Heart of the Sea" he has spoken his thoughts. The man glance at him and he composed himself. "Her eyes, Mr. Grand." He added.

"Yes, that is one thing that can assure you that it's her. Aside from the fact that she does have the other half of the diamond, still it is the necklace of the Heart of the Sea." The young man was stunned but recovered right away. He started walking towards the door when Mr. Grand spoke again. "And by the way Lucas," he stopped and turned to face him. "Make sure to find the wine cellar."