aircannonsinc Chapter 1245 The Finishing Touches at Dawn Winery
Chapter 1245 The Finishing Touches at Dawn Winery
Diluc's already tense patience completely ran out when Jean couldn't utter a sound for a long time.
He walked toward the office door without the slightest hesitation.
"Diluc-senpai! Don't go! Please!"
Jean finally realized what was happening, quickly caught up with Diluc, and disregarding the dignity of the Knights Commander, suddenly hugged Diluc's legs, tears finally streaming down her face.
“Mondstadt can’t live without you, I…” Before she could finish speaking, she was overcome with sobs.
But Diluc's mind was made up. He didn't even look down at the piano. He just kept walking towards the door.
He dragged her along, her knees scraping against the cold ground, but she clung tightly to Diluc's legs, refusing to let go.
And so, Diluc, dragging the harp that was clinging to his legs, walked step by step out of the office and out of the gates of the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
The Knights of Favonius training at the gate were stunned; even the passing citizens of Mondstadt stopped in their tracks, watching the scene with curiosity and shock.
The esteemed leader of the ensemble was now lying on the ground in a disheveled state, clinging to Diluc's leg as he dragged her out. Her skirt was covered in dust, and her face was streaked with tears. Her former dignity and strength had vanished completely.
The knights wanted to help, but were intimidated by Diluc's icy aura and dared not approach.
Reaching the bottom of the steps of the Knights of Favonius headquarters, Diluc finally stopped. He couldn't very well drag the harp away.
So he bent down and forcefully pried Qin's hands off his legs.
Then, without looking back or saying a word of farewell, he quickly turned around and walked towards the Dawn Winery, soon becoming a blurry figure in the distance.
Jean knelt on the cold ground, staring in the direction Diluc had completely disappeared, her body trembling uncontrollably.
She reached out as if to grab him, but only grasped air.
A moment later, she angrily raised her hand and pounded the ground with her fists.
But she felt no pain at all, only sharp pain in her chest.
The tears that had been welling up in her eyes finally burst forth, rolling down her cheeks and dripping onto the ground.
"Why... Diluc-senpai... Why..."
"I'm so useless... I can't even keep the people I want to keep... Commander, please come back soon..."
Jean knelt on the ground in front of the Knights of Favonius headquarters, attracting a crowd of Mondstadt people who gathered around and whispered among themselves.
"This is... being dumped? Seeing how heartbroken Jean is, did she break up with Diluc?"
The person next to him quickly waved his hand, but also lowered his voice.
"I don't know, but which Mondstadt person hasn't seen Master Jean's dignified and strong appearance? This is the first time I've seen her lose her composure like this..."
Discussions rose and fell, some expressing sympathy, some doubt, and of course, some just watching the spectacle.
Everyone more or less assumed that the leader of the ensemble had broken up with her boyfriend.
Behind the window on the second floor of the Knights of Favonius headquarters, Barbara coldly watched everything below.
She pulled the curtains open a crack, her gaze falling on the kneeling zither. Her once gentle eyes were now filled with disdain, and a scornful smile even appeared on her lips.
Since being completely bewitched by the demon, Barbara's heart and mind have been filled with nothing but the obsession to "shape the wind god into the god in her heart," and her sisterly affection for Jean has long since vanished.
Seeing Qin lying on the ground crying without regard for her image, like a helpless child, Barbara's eyes grew colder, even showing a hint of disgust.
She scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm: "Tch, like a groveling bitch, utterly disgraceful. How could I have such a spineless sister!"
In her mind, Jean's act of abandoning her dignity as the leader in order to keep Diluc was humble and ridiculous, and was not on the same level as her great goal of "creating a god".
Immediately afterwards, Barbara slowly covered her chest, closed her eyes, and began to frantically imagine the scene of her god's resurrection.
Golden light bathed Mondstadt as the wind god descended amidst the clamor of the crowd. Everyone knelt and prayed to the deity, while I, as the "creator" of the god, stood beside him, feeling the satisfaction of resurrecting him.
Thinking of this, her face instantly lit up with a look of intoxication and fervor, and the smile on her lips became even more infatuated.
"Sister, your current sadness is nothing. Once the deity in my heart is successfully created, you will know who is truly worthy of your worship and who deserves your utmost devotion!"
……
Diluc strode back to Dawn Winery, and as soon as he pushed open the gate, he froze.
The employees, who should have been busy tending the vineyards and making wine, were now lined up neatly in the courtyard, heads bowed, hands clasped nervously in front of them, their eyes filled with unease.
The air in the entire winery was thick with a sense of oppression.
Clearly, news has spread that Diluc has "sold" the winery.
For these employees who have worked at the winery for most of their lives, the winery is not only a place to make a living, but also a home.
But now that their "home" is about to change hands, their biggest worry is their own future.
Selling the winery is easy, but what about the people who rely on it for their livelihood?
Will they be fired by their new master, or will they be able to stay and work here? Everyone was in a state of turmoil, clinging to the last glimmer of hope that Diluc would return and give them a definite answer.
Head Maid Adeline was the first to see Diluc. She took a deep breath, straightened her maid outfit, and quickly stepped forward, welcoming him while tentatively saying:
"Lord Diluc, you're back. Are you... are you sure you want to leave Mondstadt for good?"
She had followed Diluc for many years, watching him grow from a spirited young man into a capable winery owner, and she simply couldn't believe that he would give up Dawn Winery like this.
Diluc looked at the familiar faces in the courtyard, a complex emotion rising in his heart.
He nodded slowly, his voice softer than when he was with the Knights.
"Thank you, Adeline, for taking such good care of the winery during this time, and thank you everyone for your continued efforts."
He paused, feeling very guilty, and said, "I'm sorry for making such a sudden decision and causing trouble for everyone."
When Adeline saw him apologize, she quickly stepped forward, her tone a little more urgent, but she still remained respectful.
“Mr. Diluc, please don’t say that. You are the owner of the winery, and it is your freedom to make any decisions. We have no right to interfere.”
But as she spoke, she pointed to the employees standing straight behind her, and their eyes immediately turned to Diluc.
"However, so many people in the winery depend on you for their livelihood, with elderly parents and young children to support. Now that the winery is to be handed over to the Knights, shouldn't you give them some advice?"
"What should we do next? Should we stay here, or..."
She didn't say what she was going to say, but the words "being fired" weighed heavily on the hearts of every employee.
Diluc's return this time was not only to pack his bags and sell the estate, but more importantly, to handle the resettlement of his employees.
He turned his gaze back to Adeline and all the employees, speaking slowly and firmly: "Oh, that's exactly what I wanted to talk about."
These words acted as a reassurance, allowing the previously tense employees to breathe a sigh of relief.
Their future hinges on what Diluc will say next.
“I know you are all feeling uneasy. Some of you have worked with me at the winery for many years, while others have considered this place their home since my father’s generation.”
“I know that my decision to leave Mondstadt and abandon the winery was too sudden, leaving you no time to prepare and causing you to fall into your current predicament.”
At this point, Diluc paused, then slowly bent down and bowed deeply to all the employees.
"I apologize to everyone!"
After a moment, Diluc straightened his back and continued:
“But I, Diluc Legunfende, know all the hard work you have put into the winery. I remember it all and I will never let anyone be disappointed in the end!”
"Regarding everyone's accommodations, I have two options for you to choose from."
Diluc's gaze swept over the crowd again, and he spoke clearly:
"The first option is severance pay. I will give everyone a sum of money based on their years of service and contributions at the winery."
"A sum of money that will satisfy you all and is reasonable."
"Once you get the money, you can do whatever you want, whether you stay in Mondstadt to make a living or go to live in other countries, it's up to you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the employees immediately began to whisper among themselves.
Some people hesitated, some were quietly calculating the amount of Mora they expected, and some had eyes full of reluctance.
Diluc didn't interrupt the discussion. He waited until the murmurs subsided before continuing, "The second option is to come with me. I plan to go to Nata and reopen a winery there."
"If you're all willing to come with me, I promise you, once we get to Nata, I won't mistreat anyone!"
……
Faced with Diluc's two choices, the winery's employees also made their own decisions.
Overall, the winery's employees, especially those who grow the grapes for the winery, all chose the first option.
After all, what difference does it make which land you go to farm? Why do you have to leave your hometown and go to Nata to farm?
For example, Turner, an old farmer under the winery, helped grow grapes for the winery when Duluc's father was still alive.
The old man is getting on in years, and besides, his son is still with the Knights of Favonius; it's impossible for him to leave Mondstadt for Natalya.
Finally, after receiving his severance pay, he gave Diluc a few words of advice, wishing Dvalin protection, and left.
Then there are Moko and Haley. These two maids are native Mondstadt residents, and their homes are all in Mondstadt. It's impossible for them to leave their homes and go to Natalya with Diluc.
Therefore, the two women could only accept severance pay, and then they packed their personal belongings and prepared to go home.
The remaining small group of people also split into two factions.
One faction was determined to follow Diluc to Nata to develop the winery business.
For example, Eze, the executive chairman of the Mond Wine Guild, is in charge of the external business of Château de la Dawn.
He was promoted by Diluc himself; without Diluc, his life wouldn't necessarily be any better...
Moreover, he believed in Diluc's abilities and was certain that he could make a name for himself in a foreign land.
Following Duluc will definitely make you better than other wineries!
Head Maid Adeline was ostensibly in charge of the winery's internal affairs, but she also secretly helped Diluc with many hidden tasks. The two were essentially on the same side, so she went with him.
Connor, the winemaker, is based at the winery. To be honest, with his skills, he could make a living at any other winery in Mondstadt.
However, the salary that Mr. Duluc paid was very generous, and with his skills, it would be a waste for him to work at other wineries.
Moreover, without Château de la Dawn, Mondstadt is like the West without Jerusalem. Who knows, the future wine capital might just be Natas!
The rest are the winery employees who don't know what to choose.
Georg, also a winemaker, is currently undecided.
After all, his brewing skills couldn't compare to Connor's, and he also had a family and a business, but Diluc's monthly salary was quite generous... Sigh, this made him very conflicted.
Ernest, the winery's warehouse manager, has a job that's not very prestigious, and he often slacks off. He also frequently loses his keys and has to ask Ying for help finding them.
Even if you receive severance pay, it won't be much.
But if I follow Diluc and leave my family and home for Nata, I probably won't be able to save any money... Sigh, it's a tough decision.