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Once the decision had been made, Yue could not help but melt into it fully. It felt right, and the Empress felt burgeoned at having her court more fully fleshed out. It was another step towards normalcy; in replacing what had been lost in the changing of the worlds. The Orchid would never forget those of old Tianlong – but felt it was beyond time to welcome those of the new.
The corners of her mouth turned up in a small, approving grin. There were only few that she felt at ease around – few that she felt had no designs on her success or choices, many of them now lost – and though she was not yet sure if Batu was truly one of those people, she was certain that he showed great promise.
For that reason, she smiled.
"I will help," the empress then suggested, flicking her gaze to momentarily look past him, observing his pelts and hides, "because you are helping me." She was able-bodied, and capable of shouldering some of his wares. There was no reason for them to be unattended, overnight, if it could be helped.
Her vision fixed back on him. "We could speak of the more... specific expectations that your role entails," the ivory shewolf suggested, suppressing a small sigh. She could not deny that it was a necessary conversation, but not one that she wished to have at the moment. The hour was growing late, and with it, her will to conduct business waned greatly.
Yue supposed he would soon know such intricacies about her; things such as her daily routine. Perhaps she might know these things about him, too, but so often soldiers hid their truest selves beneath their armor.
The empress pushed past him to press her nose against the skins, reaching for additional sensory input that might help her decode her own desires, in that moment.
"or I could share more of myself, had you any curiosities."
When she finished speaking, she made a wide arc with her nose to look at Batu over her shoulder, blinking heavily. There’s no use hiding anything, now, she supposed – and she wanted to feel real.
Not a figurehead, but real.
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