Mate?

The emperor's presence was a formidable one, his gaze sharp and assessing as it took in the scene before him. Vance straightened instinctively, his grip on the empress gentle but firm, and bowed his head slightly in deference.

''Your majesty, her majesty needs to be attended to as fast as possible.'' Why the emperor suddenly appeared in the garden of the empress's palace, he didn't know, but he was glad that the empress could be carried properly inside the empress's palace.

Though he was aware of the estrangement between the emperor and the empress, Vance felt the empress's health was more important.

''..Nngh..'' Vance was momentarily drawn to the painful moan of the empress. As he casted his worried gaze down to the red-haired lady, a large shadow suddenly loomed over them.