Book 16: Chapter 37
“You best have a legitimate reason for disturbing me so late at night. I have no qualms beheading you for disturbing my time with my family.”
Elizabeth sat down on the sofa. Castell immediately served her a glass of wine. Elizabeth flicked her black hair. She brushed aside her black face veil and had a drink of the strong wine. The man, who was standing there feeling panic-stricken, knelt down and saluted her. He nearly bit off his tongue as he greeted her in a shaky voice: “I-I am very honoured… Your Majesty… Y-Your Subject… o-o-on behalf of the new church….”
“I don’t care who you are. Are you out of people, though? You sent a man who can’t even speak to waste my time?”
Elizabeth placed her cup down loudly. She rose and grouchily turned to leave. The man anxiously leapt to his feet and exclaimed, “Sorry, sorry, sorry… I… I mean, your subject… your subject… is here for the first time today… and so…”
Elizabeth looked over her shoulder: “Turn around, then. Don’t look at me, and you’ll be able to speak, right? I forgive you for being rude. Just tell me what you have to say.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The man let out a breath of relief. He turned around to face the wall behind him. He was always told that Empress Elizabeth was an Empress so stern that she violently killed with or without reason, which was why he was so on edge that he virtually couldn’t speak. He never imagined her to be so gentle. She didn’t reprimand him for his rudeness, nor did she kill him.
Eyes on the wall, he explained, “Your Majesty… your subject is here to see you on behalf of the new church. Your subject wanted to know if our new church would be able to have the honour of holding Daisy’s baptism. We have authentic holy water, not the counterfeit type used to swindle people. All wounds can be healed with it; th-.”
“I don’t care if you’re the new church or old church. I don’t believe in your religion to begin with. I don’t understand your internal affairs, either. That’s why I haven’t interfered. That said, if your matters get Daisy involved, I will never approve. Daisy is my cherished grandchild. I will not allow her to become a tool for your religious practices’ conflict. I already spoke to the pope about the baptism and, thus, won’t change my decision. If that’s what you wanted to discuss, you don’t need to say anymore. If that’s all, I’m heading back.”