The queen's sudden turn from worried girl to dignified ruler threw Eli off balance for just a moment. He had expected his words might calm her at best, but her almost disdainful words were quite a bit more than just calm. There was no time to formulate a response to that before Queen Julia reverted to shyness and threw another bit of strangeness at him. She offered her wine to him, which was rather unusual. No, more than that, she [i]insisted[/i] that he try it, which was rather more than just unusual.

Eli had no choice but to comply. To decline would be both rude and in defiance of an implied order from the queen. He bowed his head to her. "As you wish, Your Grace." He looked around to see if anyone might be looking their way and saw nobody paying himself or the queen much attention, though he knew that even had he spotted staring eyes he would have no choice but to follow through. Eli lifted the goblet and took a small mouthful of the wine, savoring it as he set the goblet down where it had been. After he swallowed he voiced his thoughts aloud. "You were right, it's far superior to the wine being served to everyone else. I feel as if I've stolen something valuable from far above my station with that small sip." He considered for a moment making a quip about how he'd drink no more wine tonight, as he wanted that to be the last thing he tasted in case he died on the morrow, but that would be in poor taste. Instead Eli bowed his head once more, speaking in a light and joking tone. "I thank you for the experience, though I fear no wine in my future will ever satisfy me now. I shall have to struggle on somehow."