today the palace was quiet, there were no meetings or balls

He silently follows her for a while, intrigued by this mysterious girl. As he closes in on her, she glances back and sees him. There's surprise in her eyes, quickly replaced with caution.

"What business do you have here, my lady?" He asks calmly, his voice resonating through the empty halls. "You seem quite at home."

The girl's words leave him somewhat unsatisfied, but he decides not to press the matter further. "Very well. In that case, may I inquire as to your identity? You seem familiar..." He steps closer, studying her face more carefully. There's something about her...

An odd gesture, but he takes the apple nonetheless. "Your secrecy intrigues me... Very well, then I shall call you..." He hesitates for a moment, searching for an appropriate name. "Lilith." It comes out almost as a whisper.

"Until such time as you choose to reveal yourself, Lilith, know that you have my discretion and respect." A strange sort of offer, perhaps, but something about her seems genuine. And in the quiet solitude of his palace, company is welcome.

"I see." He replies, his golden eyes not leaving her face. "And you often spend time there?" The half-forgotten section of the garden sounds rather out of the way, but Lilith seems to have taken quite a liking to it. Perhaps he should visit there himself one day; perhaps she could show him something new about his own palace grounds.

"Yes," she continues, looking at her feet briefly before meeting his gaze again. "It's... peaceful." There's an almost wistful note in her voice as she says this, which makes him wonder what troubles might lie hidden beneath the surface of their quiet exchange.

"I see," he says softly, considering her words. There's something pained in them, something he can't quite place. "And you prefer to be alone?" Perhaps it is best not to pry too deeply; for now, Lilith seems content with this small interaction. He decides to change the subject, if only briefly.

"The harem maidens are preparing for a ball tomorrow evening," he informs her. "Perhaps you might enjoy attending." It would be an opportunity for her to mingle with others, to perhaps find some company or companionship amongst the other girls of his court. Or perhaps she has reasons of her own for avoiding such gatherings...

Her words make him chuckle softly. "Indeed, you have a point there." He tilts his head slightly, studying her more closely. There's an independent streak in Lilith that he finds both intriguing and appealing. Perhaps they have more in common than he initially thought...

"Very well," he says eventually, making up his mind. "I think I shall leave you to your explorations then, Lilith. But do not hesitate to seek me out if you ever find yourself in need of company." He bows his head slightly, acknowledging the unusual but genuine connection they seem to share in this moment.

He nods in understanding. "I shall keep that in mind. And now, if you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend to. Until we meet again, Lilith." With a final bow of his head, he turns and disappears into the shadows, leaving her alone once more with her thoughts and her half-forgotten section of the palace garden.

Intrigued and somewhat disturbed by the mysterious girl he met tonight, the Emperor couldn't help but ponder her words as he returned to his study. Perhaps she was merely searching for a place of solace in the hustle and bustle of court life... Or perhaps there was something more going on beneath the surface.

As days passed, Roastor found himself thinking about Lilith more frequently than he'd care to admit. He considered asking one of his agents to keep an eye on her, but dismissed the idea almost immediately; she had not given him reason enough for suspicion. Still, he couldn't help but feel a strange connection with her, as if they shared some unspoken understanding.

It was well past midnight when the Emperor slipped out of his chambers and into the palace gardens. Following Lilith's cryptic instructions, he made his way to the neglected section she

The Emperor approached Lilith cautiously, her intense focus on her carving drawing his gaze. The delicate craftsmanship of the piece was impressive, but it was her determination and resilience that truly captured his attention. He took a seat on a nearby bench, careful not to disturb her.

"You seem to have found solace in this forgotten corner of my garden," he said softly, breaking the silence. "I must admit, I'm intrigued by what brought you here." His voice was calm and gentle, as if he were merely curious, seeking understanding rather than judgment.

Another small revelation; she had found peace in his own palace grounds long before he'd met her tonight. Perhaps that was why Lilith felt so at home here... or perhaps there was something more to it. "It seems you value solitude greatly," he ventured, watching as she carefully shaped the wood with delicate, practiced strokes of her knife.

"Do you ever find yourself missing company?" His question hung in the air between them, the hint of an unspoken invitation hidden within its words. Perhaps if she felt safe enough to share more about herself, he could better understand why she'd been drawn to this quiet corner and what she hoped to achieve here.

"And what makes 'good company', in your opinion?" he asked, genuinely curious. "Is it someone who listens attentively, or someone with whom you can share laughter? Or perhaps someone who understands your silence and doesn't press for more than you're willing to give?" His gaze never left hers as he spoke, hoping that she would feel comfortable enough to open up a bit further.

It was late, after all; the halls of his palace were quiet, save for the occasional creak of settling wood or murmur of a servant seeing to their duties. For now, they had this space to themselves, and he sensed an opportunity to form a deeper connection with Lilith, should she choose to take it.

The Emperor nodded slowly, considering her words carefully. He had always prided himself on his honesty and forthrightness, but perhaps he'd fallen into a trap of assuming that everyone else saw things the same way he did. Lilith's insight was enlightening, and it made him rethink not only his own interactions with others but also his understanding of court politics and the dynamics between people in general.

"I see," he said at last, his golden eyes meeting hers once more. "And what of you, Lilith? Do you ever feel as if you're surrounded by deception, even here in my garden?" It was a delicate question, but he felt that it needed to be asked; their conversation had touched upon something profound, and he sensed an opportunity for them both to grow closer, perhaps in ways they hadn't yet anticipated.

The Emperor took the figurine with a nod of gratitude, his expression thoughtful. "It's an honor to be considered such by you, Lilith," he said sincerely. "And I must confess, your company tonight has been most enlightening." His gaze drifted back to her carving, marveling at the skill and dedication she had put into it. Perhaps there was more for him here in this forgotten corner of his garden than he'd first assumed; perhaps Lilith was not merely another pretty face amongst the courtiers vying for his attention.

"As for company," he continued, "perhaps you should allow me the opportunity to prove myself worthy." His words hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken intent and possibility. It was now up to Lilith to decide how far this connection might be allowed to grow, what boundaries might need to be set or crossed for them both to