Le maître d'escrime

The vivid depiction of Madrid's political intrigue adds so much depth — I wonder if real events or figures inspired this backdrop.

The descriptions made me feel like I was watching a duel unfold in real time. Were those scenes based on actual fencing techniques or purely fictional?

The mystical aspect added a layer of mystery that contrasted well with the political tension. I’m curious whether this was planned from the start or evolved during writing.