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How lucky to be locked away in such a dazzling space. In reality, it was no better than an elaborate prison.

Just before the door closed, stealing away the last bit of candlelight from the hallway, Soren's voice echoed back into the chamber.

"I'll bring a friend for you later on, so look forward to it."

Whatever that meant.

Left alone, Kel paced nervously back and forth. Just what was Soren playing at this time? And was the emperor alright?

What should her next move be? Did the emperor manage to escape those soldiers?

Maybe she should look for a way out. Hopefully, the emperor was safe.

"ARGH!" Kel crouched down, grabbing at the sides of her head. "Why can't I stop thinking about him?!"

Cool it. Get ahold of yourself, she chided as she took deep breaths. She had to push the emperor out of her mind and decide her next move before Soren had the time to do something weird again.

"Right now, I just need to think about me," she chanted. "Just think about me. Just me. Just me.."

She drifted off as her eyes focused on something interesting.

"... and these crystals."

Her thoughts slowed to a stop as she gazed at one of the mysterious glowing stones in front of her. In this darkness, all the crystals all gave off the same bluish light, but Kel wondered what they would look like under the sun. They might be a different shade entirely in the light.

"I wouldn't touch that if I was you."

Kel's finger paused, hovering just above the smooth surface of a fist-sized crystal only inches away from her face.

"Who…?" Straightening her legs, she squinted into the blackness that her eyes hadn't fully adjusted to.

"I knew he'd bring you here."

The voice came from a silhouette leaning up against one of the far walls.

It was the Dragon Emperor.

"Your Majesty?!" Kel exclaimed as she recognized him. "How are you here?"

"It's almost comical," the emperor scoffed. "That man thinks he knows this place better than I do."

"I'm just so glad you're alright!" Kel smiled, bounding across the floor.

She came to a screeching halt an arm's length away from the man, her cheeks flushing as she suddenly recalled the time spent pacing and mumbling to herself about the emperor. Had he seen all that?

Cutting her self destruction short, the emperor reached out and pulled her against him.

"If anything, you should be all the more convinced now," he whispered, resting his chin against her head.

Oh. Was he talking about earlier in the room when she dared question if the emperor would actually win against Soren in a fight? Clearly he had proven his superiority, but she'd never said anything about that out loud, right?

"Ha.. haha.. What?" She laughed stiffly, pushing playfully against the emperor's chest.

"That you can never get away from me," the emperor clarified, grasping Kel's hand and pressing it against his heart.

For a man spouting such corny words, his heart was beating rather.. calmly.

"Al-alright then," Kel replied awkwardly, pulling away from the emperor's embrace. It seemed that she was the only one flustered by their close physical contact.

As she created space between them, the emperor's hand slid from the small of her back to the base of her neck. Holding her gently but firmly, he leaned toward her with slightly parted lips.

Kissing? Again? Just what on earth was up with this man? Had the once aloof Dragon Emperor suddenly turned into the hero of a tacky romance novel? Kel couldn't think of a single other reason why he would think this was an appropriate time to be locking lips.

Her reluctance may have also had something to do with the guilt building inside her that she had already proudly declared (in her head) that she wasn't Adriell. How could she stand here now partaking in the affection of a man who honestly believed he was giving his love to the princess?

"Y-Your Majesty!" She exclaimed, pushing his mouth away

"Why? What's wrong?" the emperor murmured, undaunted by her rejection as he swooped in for another try.

"Later!" Kel squeaked, holding both of her hands up as a blockade between their mouths. "Let's get out of here first."

"... I don't want to," the emperor pouted, moving her makeshift blockade away.

"S-Seriously!" Kel winced, dodging another attack.

She took several steps back, doing her best to avoid looking at the emperor's disappointed expression.

"You said you knew this place well, right?" She changed the subject. "Where do we go, then?"

The emperor didn't respond. Instead, he stayed frozen in his place with his arms crossed and lower lip protruding ever so slightly.

"Is there a secret passage or something?" Kel continued prodding. "Or should we just fight the guards outside and run?"

With a huff, the emperor flopped into a sitting position and patted the ground next to him.

"Let's wait," he said nonchalantly, closing his eyes and leaning his head against the wall.

"Right. Let's.. What?? Did you say wait?" Kel blurted.

Without opening his eyes, the emperor nodded. "For seven minutes and thirty-eight seconds."

".. that's a little too specific," Kel remarked skeptically, raising her eyebrow.

The emperor simply shrugged, but she could see a subtle smirk playing across his mouth.

Realizing it was already hopeless, Kel plopped down beside the man, making sure to leave enough room to prevent any further physical advances on his part.

Hardly a minute passed by before she felt the need to fill the empty air with something, anything to distract from her previous clumsy rejection.

"... So, earlier, why did you tell me not to touch the crystals?" she questioned, gazing at the brilliant stones surrounding them.

"I was jealous," the emperor shrugged again.

"You.. were jealous? What does that even mean?" Kel sighed, shaking her head.

"It was distracting you from thinking of me.. I didn't like it."