Kaiser, for his part, seemed to consider the journey a pleasure cruise. He poured himself a glass of light wine from the small reserve and headed toward the port-side panoramic porthole, where Olivia was watching the passing landscape.
"The Donoghan duchy," he commented as he approached, glass in hand. "Renowned for its acidic vineyards… And, incidentally, for a very rare variety of grape that grows near the border. They say it has… interesting properties."
Olivia did not turn her eyes from the porthole, where the farmlands were now giving way to dense forests and hills. "Interesting properties? Are you becoming a botanist now, Kaiser?"
He let out a small laugh and took a sip. "Not exactly. But as an occasional hedonist, I've taken an interest in… natural aphrodisiacs. This particular grape is supposed to be remarkably potent. A key ingredient in certain refined mixtures, they say."
