🎀 Wisteria 🎀

Following Lucretia’s silent command, one of the servants hurried to take the ornament from Raphael’s hands and present it to the Empress. Judging by the changes in her expression, the gesture pleased her, but the item itself did not. Astraea waved her hand, and the servant quickly retreated with the foreigner’s gift. “Your position is clear to me, Raphael. If the ‘Golden Griffin’ could find a new home for itself in Clematis and simultaneously help in the development of the empire, that would be simply wonderful for everyone. However… Lucretia.” “Yes, Your Majesty.” At the Empress’s call, the Countess of the Crimson Lake stepped forward and took out a scroll. “A report on the activities of the ‘Golden Griffin’ for the past week.” Unfurling it, she immediately began to read. “A direct insult to a member of the imperial family and the Countess of Azure Coast, Brahei Air el Sufir, in the first minutes of her stay in Clematis. Take note, Sir Raphael,” Lucretia bestowed a contemptuous glance upon the palace guest, “such an offense deserves the highest punishment, and only through the excessive generosity of the noble Brahei did Sir Valdemar avoid the deserved execution. Furthermore,” the Countess’s eyes continued to scan the lines, “sexual harassment of the ‘Sterling Sea’ staff. I am unaware of what the situation is regarding these matters among the barbarians abroad, but here, such behavior is considered unacceptable.” After a very short pause, she moved on to the next point. “The mysterious disappearance of Rogdan Kraffmeyer. According to information received from Milos Ahoe, a city administration employee, the ‘Golden Griffin’ is an organization with three equal leaders, which, given what has happened, raises some unpleasant questions… And finally, yesterday’s drunken riot. Know, Sir Raphael, that I am impressed by the audacity of your comrades, but that does not improve the reputation of your organization.” She finally put the scroll away. “Do you have anything to say about the aforementioned events in the life of the ‘Golden Griffin’ within the walls of Clematis?”