“Your Highness, are you certain about this?”

Felix’s voice carried a note of worry, uncertain whether to obey you or the emperor’s strict orders—to keep you from leaving the palace at night or to protect you no matter what. Yet, even with his hesitation, he didn’t stop following as you slipped quietly out of the palace toward the festival in town.

“I’m quite sure the emperor will scold us for this… again,” he muttered under his breath.