“You’ve always been so quick to temper over such matters, not nearly as bad as Triss but that’s another matter entirely.”

Another sip here and a chug there and the bottle was nearly empty, with Philippa now sporting a bit of flush across her cheeks as if the alcohol had taken its course.

[+]

“Anything I can do to help? I find it’s easier to help forget when met with good company and enough wine to drown a vineyard.”

As if to prove her point, she refilled the glasses all the way up to the brim. Yet, those same movements were a tad sluggish from just how strong this brand of wine was.[+]

“A few years before Aretuza was practically wiped off the world, so it should taste better than most cheap wines these days…”

She took a rather long sip of her own, swirling the glass around a bit only to inhale its scent with a small smile as if the memories of the past flooded back into [+]

A moment was taken to think of what wine may be perfect, eventually pulling out an older looking bottle from a nearby rack. Soon pouring out two glasses for the two.

“A nice vintage from Kovir, haven’t had the proper chance to pop it open.”

She held out one glass towards the raven haired woman [+]

“Just the usual witch hunters attempting to break in here…happened so long ago that I can’t even remember the order they belonged to.”

This wasn’t an uncommon situation, especially with Radovid’s former rule only upscaling the violence against sorceresses.

“But enough of that…any preference [+]

“Bored of political galas and parties?”

She let out a soft chuckle, stepping through with them only to appear in a rather well put together study that also seemed to serve as a bedroom.

“Unfortunately, I was forced to downsize quite a bit with these wars…”

Despite saying that, the room was [+]

“Then let us not waste any more time…shall we?”

A brow rose, hand held out for the other to hold onto. It was more of a gesture than anything meaningful at least that’s what she tried to tell herself.

“I hear a glass of Erveluce calling to me.”

“I think it’ll end up being two all things considered. No reason to limit ourselves when trying to have a nice evening, wouldn’t you agree?”

A sudden spin of her hands and a chant followed only for a portal to open in front of the two.

“Luckily, my home remained intact after all this nonsense.”

“Oh Yen…”

For once, Philippa seemed to genuinely care for someone other than herself, after all the members of the Lodge were like sisters to each other.

“Come, let us brighten up this day by getting piss drunk.”

“How kind. Now shouldn’t you be off spending time with your witcher in Toussaint?”

“Truly? Because I distinctly remember her yelling at you and Geralt for snooping in our conversation with Margarita.”

“There’s a difference between making an effort and simply staying away in general, I recommend you follow the latter.”

“Of course, I will not force the girl into doing something she doesn’t wish to do. However…this also means you must trust me and not try to spy on the two of us.”

“And what exactly is that condition that may very well bar Ciri’s education?”

“Hmm, will you at least allow me to once again aid Cirilla in better control of her abilities? I’m sure Margarita wishes to do the same.”

“How…nice. You of all people should know that my curiosity could never be so easily satisfied.”

Despite the lack of vision, she could see in her own special way and the process to creating a new pair was rather long and tedious.

If she had eyes then they’d likely roll but alas…

“Such romantic tropes are so boring, why not throw in another tragic death while you’re at it?”

“Because the last time I saw you, that whole curse you two were bound to was over and dealt with. My curiosity has me wondering if it was meant to be.”