Book 6: Chapter 49
“Your majesty, the guests and other matters have been settled. This is the schedule for the wedding this time. The menu catered at the banquet afterwards requires your inspection.”
Castell handed Elizabeth two sheets of paper. Elizabeth put one leg over the other, placed one hand on her temple like she was massaging it and read the document with that posture. She then chuckled and said: “I never thought that there’d come a day where you would allow someone to handle your jobs for you, Castell.”
Castell froze. He then bowed and asked: “What do you mean, your majesty?”
“Ah, I’m not finding fault with you or complimenting you. I was just making a remark.” Elizabeth spread the documents out, pointed at the different handwritings and explained, “Freya was the one who wrote the budget for the menu and delegated the workers’ roles, wasn’t she? Not bad. They’re properly and logically organised. That girl certainly is talented. She’s young yet she’s able to handle his majesty’s work and deal with the people around him. She must be the next you after my son becomes the emperor…… You’re the only high-ranking vassal that I can trust and rely on.”
Elizabeth smirked and revealed a somewhat pleased smile. She switched her legs over then looked at Castell with interest and said: “But my Castell would never let anyone else take over his work. This time however, you let someone else take over jobs for you which I find interesting. Castell, tell me what you were thinking.”
Castell looked up. Elizabeth placed her elbow on the table and rested her face in her palm. There was a trace of a smile and wickedness in her eyes she looked at him with. His heart thumped gently. He shook his head and replied: “Nothing in particular, your majesty. It was just that… it is his majesty’s wedding after all, therefore I felt that his majesty’s people should have a hand in it…… It definitely was not because I was tired. Your majesty, I will never feel tired!”
Elizabeth chuckled softly and then stood up. She walked over to Castell, reached her hand out and pressed her hand down on Castell’s head. Castell spaced out as he looked at her majesty who stood in front of him. It was then that he realised for the first time that he was looking right into her majesty’s eyes, her majesty’s black eyes that were like splashed ink.
Shocked, he wanted to kneel down, but Elizabeth grabbed his arm to stop him. She stroked his head and tilted her head a little. She used her hand to measure Castell’s height and noticed that Castell was now almost taller than herself. She smiled as she said: “I’m surprised you’re so tall already, Castell. I’ve only just realised now for the first time. You’re always bowing or kneeling before me. You haven’t looked into my eyes for a long time, haven’t you? Hehe, interesting. The young boy I held back then has become an excellent man already.”
“Your majesty……”