"I do have to keep myself in business," Ianthe quipped back just as easily. "Whatever would I do if people didn't die? I'd have to use my necromantic talents to build myself a skeleton theater company and have them perform Shakespeare plays on a stage in the woods.

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts."

Laughing, Ianthe went to take another bite of stew but paused, her eyes running over Peony with a bit more obvious interest than before. "My dear Paeonia, you're forgetting that I'm a Submissive this festival. It's not my place to seduce you."