<div style="text-align: justify;">Francesca listened with as much attention as she could muster about the fate of the only remaining guard. Her mind, usually suspicious of anything that didn't seem like the natural course of things, created a series of questions. And a worry - was the remaining guard involved? Was he a vampire? Was he under the vampire's orders? There were a few possibilities as to why only one had survived, and none of them seemed like good ones. Whatever the truth was, Francesca was unsure as the what the results would be. Hopefully, results would turn out for the best. Francesca dare not being so hopeful, but she would try.<br/><br/>While Maximilian listened to music later the same day, Francesca was out for a few hours, talking to a few friends Max would probably not have approved of. Seers, 'witches', as the Church would deem them, were amongst the people Cesca conversed with. She knew that Max knew, or suspected, about her unsavory friends, but it didn't really matter. Out of respect for her friend, Francesca made sure not to make her trips known to him, stating only that she would be out on social calls. Not to mention, of course, that their superiors would be less than happy with this kind of acquaintances.<br/><br/>In the morning, though, Francesca was ready for their trip to Prague. Her mind was focused, and as usual, the Italian lady kept silent. A slight frown on Francesca's forehead was the only sign of concern about their current mission. It was not a matter she could freely discuss with her friend, now was it? Pushing the bothersome thoughts aside, Francesca pulled from the drawers of her mind a more joyful disposition. They would see a new place, do their job, and go back home. And that was it.<br/><br/>The Hotel where they would stay for the days passed in Prague was a beautiful one. Francesca did not mind social niceties much, if at all. But the beauty of the place was not lost in her eyes. As the comfort was not lost in her mind. Francesca enjoyed the pleasures of life, though discreetly enough not to offend her friend's susceptibility. <br/><br/>Already in Prague, Francesca smiled when the waiter, approached by Max, took a look at them both. The slightly mischievous smile was not followed by words, though. Not while they could be heard by the waiter, at least. When the waiter finally left and Max turned to Francesca, she smiled and nodded. "Yes, of course. Are you sure we are going to be allowed inside the Cathedral, though? I would bet you my garters that our waiter is now talking to his colleagues about us, and creating the most absurd versions about us and what we are doing here. I will not declare them, though, because most of what I could say would make you blush." <br/><br/>Before Max could even respond, Francesca shook her head. "I am sorry, Max. Yes, we should get going. There is work to be done, after all. And you can continue to be polite, and aristocratic, and all those lovely things once we get back here. After our visit to the Cathedral, though, I might want to make a social call or two. If you do not mind too terribly, of course."</div>