I think you mean "courtiers." Courtesans are high priced call girls.
From wiki and a number of online historical etymological dictionaries:
Courtesan - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtesan
A courtesan was originally a courtier, which means a person who attends the court of a monarch or other powerful person. In feudal society, the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together.
The word evolved from member of a King’s court to ‘prostitute’. Perhaps in Voltaire’s day, there was observed very little difference in behaviors of each category?
I need to thank you for pointing out the change of the meaning of courtesan. I lived in France for a time decades ago and was immersed in its culture and history, so likely my usage came from then.
Interestingly, Collins has courtier translated to courtesan to be a man,
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-french/courtier
whereas a woman courtier was referred to in french as dame de la cour or dame de cour.
Likely, the carryover from my time in France decades ago has me reverting to courtesan in the sense of Collins above. However, as you pointed out, it can be taken far from its historical context to something that distracts a reader, so I shall, as a result, avoid using the term and refer perhaps to agents of the King. Thanks again.