Irene was a serving girl of Sklavinian origin in the imperial palace complex at Constantinople. One day during the final years of Constanine IV's life, the teenage Justinian bumped into her while he was carrying a sweetened bun. Having just found out he could win smiles from girls with smiles of his own, and having a very messy dream a few nights before, the young Justinian was eager to begin exploring women, and had sought out the blonde-haired Irene whom he had run into before. Irene led Justinian into a closet and took his virginity from him.