[She laughs at that, a bright, girlish laugh of delight and claps her hands together.] If everyone is as entertaining as you, I shall have no fear of being bored! I hope you'll sing one for me one day.

[Laughter subsiding the little empress pauses by some roses, plucking one unceremoniously to thread into her hair, the red vivid against the snow-white of it.]

Thank you for indulging my questions. I'm sure you're a very busy man, and the last thing you needed was to cater to my curiosity. [She takes another rose and gently peels the thorns from it, before turning to him with a sweet smile, holding the flower out to him]

I'm sure you're very eager to get to business.