The Emperor Hears My Thoughts

Synopsis

"The empress consort's makeup today looks like she's moved an entire cosmetics shop onto her face. Her cheeks are so red, as if she had applied far too much rouge." I kept my head down while holding the coffee tray, standing properly in the corner of the Drogten Hall. Lila was seated beside Emperor Orion, speaking to him in a gentle, soft voice. The entire hall fell silent as all the palace attendants held their breath. I didn't dare make a sound either, only muttering to myself inwardly that the scent was far too strong, overly sweet and heavy, like the smell drifting from the herbal shop by the roadside. Suddenly, Orion set down the memorials in his hands. He turned his head, his gaze passing over Lila and landing directly on me. My heart skipped a beat. Why was he looking at me? I was just here to serve coffee. His eyes were cold and strangely focused, like he was studying a cat that might suddenly speak. I quickly lowered my head even further. Yet I couldn't help thinking that from this angle, the emperor's chin looked slightly shorter. Orion abruptly looked away. I exhaled quietly in relief. Nothing happened. He was probably just glancing around. There was no way he could hear what I was thinking.