The Empress eyed the man before her warily. Both Grant and Lorenzo remained still, but all of them had the same thought crossing their minds. The Emperor had a message for her; if so, why not send it by letter? Obviously it had to be important, otherwise they would not have sent a person bearing said message. Still, it couldn't possibly mean any good news. She had been in the same room with this man not even a minute and already she felt the urge to kick him out. Complications, complications, nothing would ever go as it should. "[b]Speak, then. I'm all ears.[/b]" She invited the man to bear his lord's wishes, granting him permission to speak. ------- Nadeline feigned ignorance of their conversation, but was relatively pleased. Emiri's face turned slightly red at Jaakuna's words. and she shifted slightly in her seat. This entire thing was too stuffy and too reminiscent of the days where she'd sit next to Grant at his many, many galas. Obviously, she wasn't in the mood to eat, neither was he. Emiri made sure no one was watching as she stood up, and she beckoned Jaakuna to follow as she excused herself. She walked out to the hall, making the first left onto the balcony nearby. The sky was clear, and the noise of the dining hall became a pleasant buzz. She leaned against the balcony, watching the view of the streets below.