If you put an inch gallon (about 4.55 liters) for only 1 pence and a 1% alcohol by volume and pear wine with 8% alcohol in the era when Isabel really lived, probably only some young women who liked to drink low-alcohol alcohol would drink it. Because the alcohol content of these two wines is so low, it takes 4 bottles of cider and a bottle of pear wine to equal a bottle of the most common, and cheapest red wine with 12% alcohol.

Of course, the Duchess Mary lived in an era where the brewing technology was very low, and the variety and quality of raw materials did not make a breakthrough in terms of quality. As a result, all alcoholic beverages, including cider, pear wine, malt wine, and French red wine, are stronger than the soft drinks of later generations. To add an extra mile, all beverages with an alcohol content of less than 0.5% in later generations are called soft drinks.

However, these things, which only a small number of people drink, were in Mary Fitzroy's eyes a kind of drunken wine. If you don't want to get drunk, you can choose to drink some ale with a lower alcohol content and similar to drinking water. It is true that the water of the streams or rivers of this era was not clean, and there were a lot of bacteria that could make people sick.

Isabel blended cider with pear sprinkles, naturally, to miss her favorite pure tequila, pure scotch and vodka with lemon juice. Drinking a glass of these spirits at 40 degrees will feel in your mouth and throat with only one word: "Cool!" ”

At this time, Duchess Mary also wanted to shout: "Cool! However, this language comes out of the mouth of Mary, who is educated and well trained in manners, and becomes: "Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me for my sins." ”

Mary took a shallow sip and stucked at Isabel before staring at Isabel: "God forbid, Isabel, I don't think you can drink too much of this mixed wine." If it's just a drink, it's probably nothing. However, I got a little dizzy when I mixed the two wines and drank them again. ”

Isabel pursed her lips and smiled, "Ernest's wife, after mixing all the wine together and drinking it, will have what you call dizziness or physical discomfort. ”

Mary's expression was a little exaggerated, "God, mix all the wine together and drink it?" Uh, and who is Ernest? ”

"My brother, the eldest son of the Waltons."

"Well, I'm sure your brother's wife learned this way with you." Mary really didn't dare to drink the mixed wine in the glass in her hand anymore, and turned to look at the maid again: "Amy, pour me another glass of cider." ”

After Amy brought the wine, Mary exchanged it for a glass of wine from the maid. After taking a sip, he said with a pleasant expression on other matters: "Isabel, when I saw you in the morning, you were wearing a knight's armor, a knight's sword and a longbow, is it true that you will encounter a mob at any time when escorting your highness to County Durham?" ”

Isabel just smiled: "Mary, this is the north, of course it is impossible to compare with the peaceful south. Also, because I am the acting custodian of the affairs of His Highness's domain, I only send him to the county border every time. ”

Her words validate a bad image of the North that Mary, who was pampered in her father's castle, had long held about the North: chaos, violence, and physical assault. Still, she doesn't believe it's true, "Isabel, I've heard people in the South talk about chaos and violence in the North. So, why are you just escorting Your Highness to the county border? Aren't you worried that Your Highness will be in danger on the road? ”

Isabel's face was still calm, and she didn't seem to be affected by Mary's questioning, "Madam, those mobs will never do anything to the nobles. ”

For a moment, Mary felt that her tone just now was a little heavy, and she hurriedly smiled: "Isabel, I didn't mean to reprimand you. I only don't understand your way of escorting Your Highness to the county border. ”

"It doesn't matter. Escorting His Highness to the county border is because I need to oversee many affairs in the territory every day. In addition, the round-trip ride from His Highness's Castle to Durham Castle, where the Northern Council is located, is more than 6 hours. In addition, it is necessary to return to the prefecture without changing horses or resting during the riding time. ”

"Oh, yes, it seems that I really don't know about the northern counties."

"Mary, while chaos prevails north of the Trent River, the people of the north are required to owe allegiance to the nobility in exchange for their own security and interests. On the other hand, His Majesty the King and the royal family also need the nobles of the north to stabilize the order of northern society. ”

"Well, I understand when you say that. When you came back this morning, did you encounter a mob? ”

Isabel pouted, "Well, just a couple of thieves who stole livestock. ”

Mary was amazed: "Thieves? How did you find out? What happened next? ”

In order not to make the Duchess appear as curious as a cat, Isabel briefly recounted the arrest of several suspects who had stolen livestock in the morning. Growing up in an almost greenhouse-like castle, Mary had never heard of such a thrilling experience, and she was completely mesmerized by Isabel's account of the capture.

The two valet maids, who were also fascinated by her, would have been chattering about it if it weren't for Mary's presence. When Isabel finished speaking, Mary felt her heart pounding. It took several sips of cider to calm down, "God willing, what a terrible person these are!" ”

"Terrible? Mary, just a couple of very stupid thieves, met me at the wrong time and in the wrong place. ”

"Well, the wrong time and place?! What if it was the right time, the right place? ”

"Then, they won't be killed by me and capture the others."

Mary nodded in approval, then suddenly asked about her killing of a thief at the scene of the arrest, "Isabel, I know that murder is a felony under the laws of the kingdom. So, don't you feel guilty about your act of killing a thief? ”

Isabel shook her head, but comforted her: "It's okay, as the superintendent of His Highness's territory, I often need to work with the security army under the county magistrate to arrest various criminal suspects to control the chaos in the county. ”

"One of the judicial duties of the magistrate is that if a person is killed for violent resistance to the law, the magistrate and his armed retinue are not criminally responsible."

"Oh, I didn't expect you to know the judicial duties of a magistrate." A slight smile of relief appeared on Mary's face.