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, ced 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 therede 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, Im not finding fault with you orplimenting you. I was just making a remark. Elizabeth spread the documents out, pointed at the different handwritings and exined, Freya was the one who wrote the budget for the menu and delegated the workers roles, wasnt she? Not bad. Theyre properly and logically organised. That girl certainly is talented. Shes young yet shes able to handle his majestys work and deal with the people around him. She must be the next you after my son bes the emperor Youre 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 ced 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 particr, your majesty. It was just that it is his majestys wedding after all, therefore I felt that his majestys 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 Castells 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 majestys eyes, her majestys ck eyes that were like sshed 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 Castells height and noticed that Castell was now almost taller than herself. She smiled as she said: Im surprised youre so tall already, Castell. Ive only just realised now for the first time. Youre always bowing or kneeling before me. You havent looked into my eyes for a long time, havent you? Hehe, interesting. The young boy I held back then has be an excellent man already.


    Your majesty


    Castells body shook a few times and his cheeks went a little red. He breathed in the empresss unique fragrance. The fragrance she had on her hadnt changed for countless years. That was the scent that once calmed him down. The fragrance hed search for like crazy when he awoke from a nightmare pierced through space and the years, and hit him once again.


    Her majesty virtually gave him no attention after his majesty returned. Despite understanding the reasons, he still couldnt help but feel jealous.


    How truly interesting. My son virtually grew up in a sh as well. Hes just a kid in my heart, yet hes going to be married in a few days time Youre the same, Castell. In my heart, youre that stubborn kid who would rather work himself into the ground rather than handing off your work to somebody else. I never realised youd grown so much as well. Am I still not popr? Youre my personal vassal and yet I didnt notice your change.


    Elizabeth sat back in her chair. She looked at Castell, chuckled softly and went on, Castell, youre slightly older than my son, arent you?


    Yes. I am older than his majesty by five years.


    I see.


    Elizabeth nodded then looked at him and continued, You should get married too then. My son is getting married and youre older than him yet you have no family. Is it because I give you too much work and you dont have time? Thats my fault. Castell, you should have a family as well.


    Castell went down on one knee. He looked at her majesty with absolute seriousness and hastily said: Your majesty, I am still young. Having a family will distract me. I still wish to serve you!


    Serving her majesty was everything to Castell. If she were to tell him to leave, it would be no different to telling him kill yourself. If he was forced to leave, his purpose in life would be erased.


    Realising that, Elizabeth waved her hand and responded: Ah, no.


    She then bent over to stroke Castells cheek and exined, I wasnt getting rid of you. I just hope that you could have a family too. You cant spend your entire life alone because of me now, right? You need a ce you can rest at to return to as well. How about this: Ill put in a word for you for whichever courtdy you like or whichever daughter of whichever noble family you have eyes for.


    Castell looked at Elizabeths gaze. Her gaze was neither ridiculing nor disgusted. To the contrary, they were full of concern and care for him like she was looking at her child. Actually, it was the gaze she would look at her son with. Castell was slightly happy but bitterer than happy.


    He tried so hard to be acknowledged by the empress. However, the acknowledgement he was after wasnt the empresss doting and love. Everybody considered him the empresss favoured vassal and even her male pet. But he knew that he was only going to be her sons substitute forever. All he got as a reward for his countless efforts were head-strokes. She had never loved him as a man before.


    He loved her majesty more than anything in the world though. He didnt want to get married to another woman and have a family with her because the one he loved was the empress who was the only one who could give him warmth when he was writhing in pain and had no home to return to. Despite knowing that his love would nevere to fruition, that didnt affect his love.


    The empress loving someone else and him loving her were two separate things.


    Castell bit his lip then looked at the empress and seriously said: Thank you very much, your majesty, but I have a woman I love already.


    Elizabeth dawdled for a moment before smiling cheerfully. She stroked his head and replied: Isnt that a good thing? Thats great. Tell me if you have a girl you like. Castell, youre a talented young man and my favourite vassal. No woman would reject you if you confessed. Or was it because you needed me to put in a word for you? Thats fine with me. Tell me, who is she?


    No woman would reject me?


    There is


    Or does her majesty not realise that I love her?


    Castell looked up at the empress and enunciated his answer word by word, emphasising every word: Your majesty, I love you.


    Elizabeth froze up for a moment before twitching the corner of her mouth. Castell prepared himself to be scolded but then the empressughed with joy. She rubbed his head and with a smile said: Nice, nice, Castell. Youre getting smoother and smoother with your words now. But you dont need to love me. Having my sons love is enough for me. You dont need to see me as your mother. I have no way of receiving your love for your mother either. What you need to do is love a woman. I have my son already, so I dont need another son.


    The empress breaks peoples hearts sometimes.


    Castell would be happy if she was furious.


    Even if he professed his feelings


    She would only interpret it as a son expressing his love for his mother in a coquettish manner.


    And he wasnt her child


    Castell lowered his head and clenched his teeth. He held back his tears with all his might. He then faced his empress and in a soft and polite tone a vassal speaks with to sincerely respond:  Understood.