He nodded at her response, ''How long have you two known each other? If I can ask.'' he said, picking up her glass and refilling it without a word. ''She sounded like she caused you some grief a few years ago'' he said, intent on not causing offence but still interested in finding out more about Loyola.
"It's been year and the half I guess. I mean she might be abusive time to time, but she's great. For the last years she's the only person who I can also call a friend. Most of the current political Maltese leadership... I thought that they are backing me, but they were backing me just to backstab in time. Now they calling me infected or dead, or all together.
As for Eliza, not everyone would follow me in all of... 'advantures' of mine. It's tied with a huge risk and unpredictable consequences. And sometimes I think that I am not worthing her love and attention."
He chuckled at that and gave her a fresh glass of juice ''We often believe that we are unworthy of attention of our lovers. You must ask then, how do they feel? Of course we will never know for certain, but if you two are still together then I think it's safe to say your relationship is good. But I am not here to comment on your relationships, tell me, when was the last time you took a holiday?''
"Since the time I've formed the council, I did not take more than two days of rest in a row. And no, I am not telling that I've worked like in those 'history-of-success' books. Nothing about sleeping for four hours and working rest twenty. But, still I did not have time for the interview like this. It did not feel like it was some hard work or anything, you know, rulling Malta is my only destiny and vocation."
''But you don't rule Malta'' he said somewhat surprised she'd even bring that up ''And by all accounts it does not sound like you'd want to. But what makes you say it's your 'destiny'?'' At last he was begining to build some sort of a picture of who she was and the many traits she had going for her. He made several quick notes and crossed out several questions he intended to ask but now considered them irrelevent.
"I rule Malta." it looked like it's gonna be cut on that, but then Enma slowly started to push out more words out of herself. "It's temporary refusing to obey, due to preponderance of usurpers and traitors. They won't last for longer than a year, I guarantee. Looking at the current state of affairs I am sure that Loyola as one of the oldest families having exclusive legit right to rule over the planet. As a head of house Loyola, I am taking that responsibility on myself. Newer femilies have discredited themselves completely, I'm afraid. "
Scott paused his train of thought, her belief in her 'right to rule' as it were, seemed to border on the idea that it was 'divine'. Still, he knew enough by now to know that the only reason it was this way was partly due to Malta's byzantine politics and partly because she genuinely cared about Malta's people, or was very good at hiding whatever ulterior motive's she had, if there was an ulterior motive to begin with.
''Does house Loyola have an heir?'' he asked, curious to know if the line of 'rightful rulers' was more or less secure.
That's rather a painful topic, so Enma just tried to hide it.
"Having a heir is not my concern at this very moment. I'm only 33, that's very young for an Outcast. Eliza is basically a teenager, so you shall not wonder to her behavior. Quite a few of the old Maltese familias are having quite a few of Loyola blood in their origin. If that will be a problem in time, which is likely, we might as well adopt one of their boys. "
Thomas knew that the outcasts had a long life expectancy, professor Steiner had outlined that in his own document, but that didn't make it any less strange to Scott. Although by now he had covered pretty much everything he had wanted too, and further questions would undoubtedly require a trip to Malta itself.
''My lady Loyola, I believe we have exhausted all my conversation topics. You've been very kind to come here and talk to me about all of this and I thank you very much. I'd like to know, before we sign off completely, is there anything you wish to ask?''
![[Image: K21Vaai.png]](https://i.imgur.com/K21Vaai.png)
![[Image: Sici.gif]](http://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/Sici.gif)