The smoke from the incense slowly drifted upward, making the candlelight on the walls even hazier. Faint, almost imperceptible footprints marked the thick cashmere carpet, while the clamor of the banquet at its height drifted in from beyond the door.
Behind the screen lay piles of soft cushions covered in silk and satin. The exquisite metal wine cups that had once sat on the table had all been moved to the shelf at the back. The scratch of writing came from before the table, accompanied now and then by an almost inaudible sigh.
Crisp footsteps approached from outside, followed by the creak of the heavy wooden door opening. A woman's hand with dark-painted nails rested on the edge of the screen.
With a rustle, the screen was pushed aside. A surprised female voice rang out as a beautiful lady in a lavish red gown, with black hair and green eyes, stared blankly into Bruce's sapphire-blue eyes as he looked up from the table.
"Excuse me, Madam. Is there something you need?"
"Good heavens, aren't you Dr. Schiller's student? What are you doing here? Why aren't you drinking with your teacher?" The lady lightly covered her mouth with her fingers, looking quite astonished.
"It was rather noisy there. I just came up with an idea and wanted to test it, so I found somewhere unoccupied. Did I disturb you, Madam?" Bruce kept his gaze raised toward her as he spoke, his eyes intensely focused. Even looking up at her from below, he did not seem fawning or ingratiating.
"Oh, no, I should be the one apologizing. It seems I interrupted your research... You may call me Madame Xanadu." The lady smiled faintly. "That is what everyone calls me, because I once lived in Xanadu during the Yuan Dynasty."
"Greetings, Madam. There