Lily
Welcome Your Majesties. It is wonderful to have you join me here. Tell me how did you find reading Embraced by the Emperor? It is your love story after all.
Charles
Thank you for inviting us, and for telling our story. It was a long time ago now but you brought it to life again. For that I thank you.
Isabella
*blushing* Though I have to say you were rather…detailed in some places.
Lily
For that I apologize, but you did come to me in the night, asking me to tell your story. And I’m not known for keeping the bedroom door closed when it comes to my writing.
Charles
*reaches for Isabella’s hand and squeezes* Our love for one another was deep and passionate, it is only right people should know that. Just because we lived by the strict rules of court and our marriage was initially political, it doesn’t mean we were without passion. Lots of passion.
Isabella
It is true, we had much passion for each other. And with that many children.
Lily
Children who went on to achieve much. Your eldest Philip ruled during Spain’s Golden Age and in every continent known to Europeans.
Isabella
Indeed he did, we are so proud of him. He was a staunch defender of the Catholic faith. Though I do wonder if Alvaro’s toy boat put the idea into his head to wage an armada on Henry’s second daughter.
Charles
*shakes his head* That would have been Philip’s victory if the wind had blown south instead of north.
Isabella
Do not concern yourself, dear husband of mine. That was a long time ago and Philip has many victories to be proud of.
Lily
So can I ask you about the Alhambra Palace? I have visited there myself, it is indeed beautiful. It must have been the most perfect place for a newly married couple.
Charles
It really was. *smiles* And the only place that could do justice to my new bride’s beauty. Her radiance filled the palace, her voice mingled with the trickling water in the courtyards and her smile lit up an already dazzling view.
Isabella
Oh you are sweet, Charles. And yes, Lily, it really was a special time. A whole city within the palace, and within it areas just for women. It’s so enormous that it’s easy to feel as though you are alone with nothing but beauty and tranquillity. It was perfect for not just the first moon of our marriage but for many months. I believe it was the most relaxed we ever were, the rest of the world drifted away as we learned about each other and made up for wasted months and years not knowing one another.
Charles
Indeed we did, and you loved it so much, Empress that I commissioned a palace just for you. Designed by one of Michelangelo’s prodigies and in the most beautiful renaissance style.
Isabella
Well, you did, but it didn’t actually get finished until 1923, possibly the longest construction time in history.
Charles
*shrugs* I had other matters to attend. That happens when a man is Holy Roman Emperor. There are many matters to attend.
Lily
And how did you find being Holy Roman Emperor, Your Majesty?
Charles
It came with great responsibility at a time with the Catholic faith was under much pressure. I was lucky to have good people around me, family and noblemen, councillors and advisors, otherwise it would have been too big a title for any man. But God was always with me, giving me strength and wisdom, so I was happy to do it for many years.
Lily
And then you passed your titles to your brother, Ferdinand.
Charles
Yes, it was his time. He deserved to shine and a chance to prove he could control Bohemia, Crotia and Hungary as well as his other states. *pause* The Ottomans were a constant struggle, in truth I longed for a more peaceful life with less sword wielding and travel.
Lily
I think you deserved that, you’d worked hard from a young age. Tell me, did you know that you and your predecessors all have a habit of throwing nuts, berries, grapes into the air and catching them in your mouths? I first noticed it with Maximilian, your grandfather.
Isabella
*shakes her head* It is most uncouth, I have told him many times about it. What kind of emperor behaves in such a manner?
Charles
*laughs* it is a habit, that is all, I am a good shot. And no, I didn’t have any idea that Maximilian did it. Philip, my father too?
Lily
Oh yes, and Philip. *takes a sip of tea* And the rose-scented oil. Can I ask if you sourced more from the general’s wife, Adriana? You did seem to enjoy it.
Charles
That is a very personal question. But yes, I did source more. It was most pleasant and most useful for many things. Some gifts, lets just say, are considerably more welcome than others, especially when they lead to new ways of satisfying ones urges.
Isabella
Charles!
Charles
Well it is true, is it not? *kisses the back of her hand* And you surprise me wife when it was you who got down on her knees when I sat on the throne that day and took me into your mouth.
Isabella
*looks away, eyelashes fluttering*
Charles
It was a fantasy I didn’t know I even had, Lily. A moment when I felt on top of the world, above the world even, somewhere between Earth and Heaven.
Lily
And did you feel like that often as Holy Roman Emperor? As though you had a direct line to God?
Charles
That is how every Emperor and Pope feels. It is their divine right to believe that.
Lily
One last question if I may. When you look back on your life is there anything you would change?
Isabella
I would have Charles write to me more when he was away, oh, and not get that awful pain in his toe that menaced him so when he was older. I would change those two things.
Charles
I would not write you more if I could change things.
Isabella
Why ever not? *frowns*
Charles
Because I would be at your side. If I could do things all over again, I would not leave you for years at a time. I would be there in the morning to wake with you. I would watch the sunset and sleep with you every night. We would dine and dance and rule together, always within reach of each other. That is what I would change my beautiful, sweet Empress. The one love of my life. I would be with you always and forever.
Welcome Your Majesties. It is wonderful to have you join me here. Tell me how did you find reading Embraced by the Emperor? It is your love story after all.
Charles
Thank you for inviting us, and for telling our story. It was a long time ago now but you brought it to life again. For that I thank you.
Isabella
*blushing* Though I have to say you were rather…detailed in some places.
Lily
For that I apologize, but you did come to me in the night, asking me to tell your story. And I’m not known for keeping the bedroom door closed when it comes to my writing.
Charles
*reaches for Isabella’s hand and squeezes* Our love for one another was deep and passionate, it is only right people should know that. Just because we lived by the strict rules of court and our marriage was initially political, it doesn’t mean we were without passion. Lots of passion.
Isabella
It is true, we had much passion for each other. And with that many children.
Lily
Children who went on to achieve much. Your eldest Philip ruled during Spain’s Golden Age and in every continent known to Europeans.
Isabella
Indeed he did, we are so proud of him. He was a staunch defender of the Catholic faith. Though I do wonder if Alvaro’s toy boat put the idea into his head to wage an armada on Henry’s second daughter.
Charles
*shakes his head* That would have been Philip’s victory if the wind had blown south instead of north.
Isabella
Do not concern yourself, dear husband of mine. That was a long time ago and Philip has many victories to be proud of.
Lily
So can I ask you about the Alhambra Palace? I have visited there myself, it is indeed beautiful. It must have been the most perfect place for a newly married couple.
Charles
It really was. *smiles* And the only place that could do justice to my new bride’s beauty. Her radiance filled the palace, her voice mingled with the trickling water in the courtyards and her smile lit up an already dazzling view.
Isabella
Oh you are sweet, Charles. And yes, Lily, it really was a special time. A whole city within the palace, and within it areas just for women. It’s so enormous that it’s easy to feel as though you are alone with nothing but beauty and tranquillity. It was perfect for not just the first moon of our marriage but for many months. I believe it was the most relaxed we ever were, the rest of the world drifted away as we learned about each other and made up for wasted months and years not knowing one another.
Charles
Indeed we did, and you loved it so much, Empress that I commissioned a palace just for you. Designed by one of Michelangelo’s prodigies and in the most beautiful renaissance style.
Isabella
Well, you did, but it didn’t actually get finished until 1923, possibly the longest construction time in history.
Charles
*shrugs* I had other matters to attend. That happens when a man is Holy Roman Emperor. There are many matters to attend.
Lily
And how did you find being Holy Roman Emperor, Your Majesty?
Charles
It came with great responsibility at a time with the Catholic faith was under much pressure. I was lucky to have good people around me, family and noblemen, councillors and advisors, otherwise it would have been too big a title for any man. But God was always with me, giving me strength and wisdom, so I was happy to do it for many years.
Lily
And then you passed your titles to your brother, Ferdinand.
Charles
Yes, it was his time. He deserved to shine and a chance to prove he could control Bohemia, Crotia and Hungary as well as his other states. *pause* The Ottomans were a constant struggle, in truth I longed for a more peaceful life with less sword wielding and travel.
Lily
I think you deserved that, you’d worked hard from a young age. Tell me, did you know that you and your predecessors all have a habit of throwing nuts, berries, grapes into the air and catching them in your mouths? I first noticed it with Maximilian, your grandfather.
Isabella
*shakes her head* It is most uncouth, I have told him many times about it. What kind of emperor behaves in such a manner?
Charles
*laughs* it is a habit, that is all, I am a good shot. And no, I didn’t have any idea that Maximilian did it. Philip, my father too?
Lily
Oh yes, and Philip. *takes a sip of tea* And the rose-scented oil. Can I ask if you sourced more from the general’s wife, Adriana? You did seem to enjoy it.
Charles
That is a very personal question. But yes, I did source more. It was most pleasant and most useful for many things. Some gifts, lets just say, are considerably more welcome than others, especially when they lead to new ways of satisfying ones urges.
Isabella
Charles!
Charles
Well it is true, is it not? *kisses the back of her hand* And you surprise me wife when it was you who got down on her knees when I sat on the throne that day and took me into your mouth.
Isabella
*looks away, eyelashes fluttering*
Charles
It was a fantasy I didn’t know I even had, Lily. A moment when I felt on top of the world, above the world even, somewhere between Earth and Heaven.
Lily
And did you feel like that often as Holy Roman Emperor? As though you had a direct line to God?
Charles
That is how every Emperor and Pope feels. It is their divine right to believe that.
Lily
One last question if I may. When you look back on your life is there anything you would change?
Isabella
I would have Charles write to me more when he was away, oh, and not get that awful pain in his toe that menaced him so when he was older. I would change those two things.
Charles
I would not write you more if I could change things.
Isabella
Why ever not? *frowns*
Charles
Because I would be at your side. If I could do things all over again, I would not leave you for years at a time. I would be there in the morning to wake with you. I would watch the sunset and sleep with you every night. We would dine and dance and rule together, always within reach of each other. That is what I would change my beautiful, sweet Empress. The one love of my life. I would be with you always and forever.
