Henri gently pushed open the doors to the emperor's office. The quiet click of the latch was the only sound in the still room. His footsteps were light but purposeful as he crossed the marbled floor and made his way to the grand couch near the fireplace, where he carefully sit me down, mindful of every movement as if I were made of porcelain.
Crouching down before me, he reached for my small hand, his gentle and reassuring. His soft, warm smile made the corners of his eyes crinkle, though I noticed a hint of concern buried deep in his gaze.
"Your highness," he said quietly, voice a whisper barely louder than the crackling flames. "are you alright?"
I blinked the last few tears from my earlier cry and returned his gaze with a sweet, innocent smile, the kind I had mastered to perfection. "Yes, Henri," I replied softly. "I was just… sad. I felt like I wasn't doing good enough as a princess."
That part was true, at least on the surface. But truth often wore a mask.
