Prelude to the Great Purge

"Tch, who wants to have children with you?"

Jeanne spat lightly, then lifted her chin. "Look, we didn't even have time to whisper to each other before you came out. You've barely been gone, and those young ladies were already rushing out after you."

No sooner had she spoken than three figures emerged from the corridor.

Having all drunk some wine produced in the Sicilian military district, Vivianna, Lavinia, and Cherinina all had faint blushes on their faces.

"Why did you come out so soon?"

Lavinia adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses, which had slipped down slightly. "The bards were just telling of our decisive battle with the Saracens by Lake Burullus. The details were somewhat distorted, and the praise was far too excessive. It was rather embarrassing to listen to."

Just moments ago, a group of bards had surrounded her and drawn the entire hall's attention toward her. She truly could not endure it.

"It was too stuffy inside."

That was Cherinina's impression. As an assassin by trade, she was not accustomed to exposing herself to so many eyes.

"I've never liked such occasions."

Vivianna had attended more banquets than anyone present. She truly had little interest in a feast dazzling enough to leave those rustic lords from Western Europe utterly stunned.

The productive capacity of the Middle Ages was what it was. No matter how luxurious the Great Palace and the Blachernae Palace were, they could not compare to Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace.

"Is Prajna still gathering material?"

When he had left, he had noticed Prajna holding a bound notebook and scribbling within it. She did not truly understand the banquets of Europe's upper courts, so when writing Winter and Summer Song and The Witcher, she had glossed over many such scenes.

Vivianna nodded. "Mm, she is. For someone like Madam