177 Inn

"I will introduce you to the servants, there aren't many of them, I haven't used this palace for several years." (MC)

"Why? You don't like this place? The palace looks pretty nice." (Elisabeth)

"I do not like big cities, but the main reason for my absence in Warsaw is the King. After the Prussian affair, it was suggested to me that my presence in the capital was undesirable." (MC)

In the meantime, all the servants had gathered.

"Listen to me, this is my wife and your new Lady. Princess Elisabeth. She doesn't know our language, so until I hire an interpreter or someone who knows the language, you do everything the same as before. Now take care of preparing the rooms and stocking up the pantries. We will stay in Warsaw until spring next year." (MC)

As it was only noon, and the preparation of the palace took some time, I decided to show Elisabeth around the city. On this occasion, we also visited the site of the construction of Stefan Batory's column... to my surprise, all the former monastery buildings have already been demolished, the area leveled and prepared for the erection of the column itself.

After two hours of walking, I decided that we would go to the inn, the supplies in the castle were not large, and the preparation of meals also takes some time, so today we had to dine outside, whether we wanted it or not.

The "Under the Gander" inn was one of the best in Warsaw, but due to the fact that it was visited by Polish nobility, many of its elements were often replaced. I opened the door and, as the custom ordered let Elisabeth go first... supposedly this custom originated in the Stone Age, where women were sent to the cave first, in case there were bears in it.

"Greetings, brothers nobility... Jew, give us the best you have there, just quickly." (MC)

We took one of the tables, the innkeeper appeared immediately with wine and mead.

"Lord, the best drinks I have... I'm not a Jew either, but a German, I bought this inn from the previous owner a few years ago." (Innkeeper)

I looked at him... well in the 1930s many said that they are Germans, without success... I suspect the sidelocks might have given them away.

"What is your name, innkeeper?" (MC)

"Abraham, Lord." (Innkeeper)

Indeed, a typical Germanic Aryan name... I wanted to hit a high five with him... in the 20th century it wouldn't be in good taste.

"Abraham, my wife and I want something to eat, it has to be fast and tasty." (MC)

Several minutes later, baked ducks, bread, a few cheeses and bigos appeared on our table... I spent the last few weeks mostly in English-Dutch cuisine... so I almost cried when I saw the bigos.

The meal passed in a pleasant atmosphere, I told Elisabeth a little about the history of the city, from which its name came from... I told her the legend of Wars and Sawa.

"How was your first impression of the city?" "Smaller than I expected... don't get me wrong, it's big but not as big as The Hague, London or Berlin. I also don't see beggars." (Elisabeth)

"Berlin is not big anymore... but you are right, Warsaw has been the capital of the country only for 42 years, previously it was Krakow, and even earlier Gniezno... as for beggars. If someone is begging on city streets, he is arrested and sent to the east, where is a lot of work and the opportunity to earn some silver." (MC)

Thanks to this, the number of Polish-speaking people in the East also increased, and with the additional settlement of peasants, the Polish language will soon become dominant.

"If you want, we can go to the theater later, I don't know what they are playing, but you certainly haven't seen it..." (MC)

Before I could finish the sentence, I heard a loud voice behind me... a familiar voice.

"... then Hetman Jazłowiecki honored us with his presence." (Stanisław Warszycki)

It was the familiar and drunken voice of the Mazovian Voivode, Stanisław Warszycki.

"And who is this beautiful lady?" (Stanisław Warszycki)

"Who is this?" (Elisabeth)

"Nobody important, many are like him on the streets of Warsaw. He is like church bell, loud because empty inside." (MC)

I tapped my head as I said it, which made Elisabeth burst out laughing. I turned towards Warszczycki.

"Let me introduce my wife, Princess Elisabeth Simmern van Pallandt." (MC)

"Simmern van Pallandt? This is the same Elisabeth that the king was going to marry..." (Stanisław Warszycki)

"Yes, the same." (MC)

Warszczycki will suddenly start laughing out loud.

"Brothers nobility, great and invincible Hetman Jazłowiecki collects the leftovers from the royal table... Innkeeper!!! Give me some beef or pork bones... Hetman Jazłowiecki will not despise them." (Stanisław Warszycki)

It was an obvious provocation which I did not intend to fall into. According to the law, duels were forbidden up to 10 kilometers from the king's residence, and violations of this law were punishable by imprisonment, sometimes even death.

Which does not mean that there was nothing I could do, Warszczycki spoke Polish so Elisabeth did not understand anything about our exchange. I got up from the table, went to the voivode... before he could do something, I grabbed him by his clothes and lifted him up.

He tried to break free, but he was drunk and I had more strength than Captain America on steroids... I held him up with one hand and lowered him with the other and grabbed his pants... no one in the inn expected what happened next.

I made a few turns, and when Warszczycki picked up speed I threw him out the door... the door was closed. The voivode landed his face on a stone-paved street and I saw him spit out a few teeth. I went back to the table, looked at the surprised Elisabeth.

"Don't worry... it's a local tradition." (MC)