Henry graciously accepted all the flattery from the surrounding nobles, frequently raising his cup in toasts. His hearty manner lifted the atmosphere to a whole new level.
No one could dislike a hearty, valiant, and generous noble, especially one who had earned their rank through military merit. Only those decadent nobles who had fully turned to commerce would follow etiquette to the letter in every situation.
Of course, it was still best to maintain proper etiquette in front of the King. You could have an eating contest with a good friend, but you shouldn't be impolite in front of someone of higher status.
"By the way, you just said that the descendants of the Kyiv princes were discovered. How did that happen?" Henry asked the noble from the Northern Lands abruptly, after a few rounds of drinks with the other nobles.
