>>18445974>[Deadly silence filles the air, and the veteran servant takes a half step to his left, away from his younger apprentice. The Queen slowly turns to face the man. She says nothing for the longest time, before suddenly breaking into a smile -- a smile of the mouth, but not the eyes. She speaks, though her tone is flat.]“Aha, yes, of course, that is assuming I win, is it not? Tell me, what is your name?”
>’Ah, it’s Edward. Um, I mean, Edward, Your Majesty.’>[The still-learning man stands up straight, not daring to look his Queen in her now almost purple eyes.]“Edward. Very good.”
>[The Queen returns to face out the window, and behind her Edward breathes a sigh of relief. If he had dared to gaze at his senior, he would have seen no such sigh. The Queen continues to dictate her response, and at her conclusion the two men move silently out of her study. Edwards tries to make small talk with his superior, having clearly never been taught a very simple rule: never give reason for The Queen to know your name.][2/3]
