Irene

My heart felt like it will beat out of my chest after seeing the man by the door. In his gold and red suit, the emperor of the southern empire is staring directly at me before I noticed his gaze averting to my hand - holding a strand of Seulgi's hair. Shock can be seen on my face, but Suho isn't aware of it since I can control how to reveal my emotions. I tried to keep my composure, but the silence is nauseating.

     Suho saw me kissing Seulgi's hair.

    "Were you and Seulgi in here the whole time?" Suho asked. "Sorry, I was busy with the court, and when I went to your room I see no sign of you. Good thing I decided to check on Seulgi."

    Suho didn't see? Observing my husband's reaction, it seems he didn't seem kissing the hair of the girl I love. That is assuring. I can now lower my guard. 

    "Yes, I was with the saint," I answered.

    "I see," he offered his hand towards me, "Let’s leave the saint with her dreams."

    Even if Suho doesn't seem to notice my gesture, the anxiety in my chest won't leave. My instincts are telling me Suho knows - or he is pretending not to know. I don't want to suspect Suho; however, the guilt of betraying his love and loyalty haunts me hence why the anxiety won't stop.

    "I heard from the city two unidentified individuals impersonated you and the saint," Suho spoke, which caused the feeling of anxiety to intensify. "I ordered the guards to search for you and the Seulgi and they haven't seen you. Yet there you were—in the saint's room."

    "Well—" Suho stopped walking, and I followed. 

    There is no point in hiding what happened tonight, and I don't want to hide more things from Suho that will cause not only my downfall but also Seulgi's. 

    I continued, "We were out, your majesty."

    Suho turned his head where I can only see the side of his face, "I see," and he continued to walk which I followed - now walking beside him.

    "Seulgi wanted to go out like we used to. The Magic Tower gifted Yeri and Seulgi magic cloaks that can help conceal the identities of its wearer. That way we can sneak out without the eyes of the guards."

    "Why sneak out? You are the empress of the South. No guard will stop you from leaving the palace, and Seulgi is a Grand Duchess who can go wherever she pleases. I see no point as to why you ladies had to cause a ruckus due to your shenanigans, especially at this time of night. Do you even realize how concerned I was? For the first time, a case of impersonating a saint and a royal reached my ears!"

    I chuckled. "My dear emperor, Seulgi simply wanted to experience the fun night as a commoner. Can you even imagine the attention my dear friend and I will have to go through if the people found out we are present? If we hadn't put a disguise, we weren't able to enjoy the night. Seulgi was able to dance Freiheit—you should have seen her, Suho! She was enjoying the music and—"

    Suho laughed. "It's late, my dear empress. Let's save the conversation for tomorrow at the banquet."

    "Banquet?"

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