But she would eventually grow old and die, and the thought of entrusting Goethe to a completely unknown woman was unbearable for Manli. Anna's arrival pleased her greatly—a High Elf, detached from human regimes, and even if Goethe aged, she could never become a queen. Yet, any children she bore would be the King's progeny.
This was why Manli tolerated the uninvited robber and also why she was willing to relinquish her attempts to secure more power for Sigro when the situation was hopeless.
"The Queen, Lady Anna is outside," her maid said, after opening the door to the bathing chamber.
"Please, invite my sister in," Manli replied with a smile, turning eagerly to the door to watch her sister enter the bath chamber, watch her undress in the changing area and wrap herself in a bath towel before slipping into the bath to sit down.
"Sister Manli, you've been staring at me; is there something on your mind?"
