He had no intention of allowing a passing attraction to interfere with his judgment. Liora was Maxwell's wife. That fact was not negotiable. His eyes slowly hardened. "Why does it have to be her? She is so beauty and..." The Emperor tightened his grip around his drink. He had known beautiful women his entire life. His palace was filled with women who were elegant, accomplished, and eager to please him. His jaw tightened.But Liora had affected him differently. She did not seek his attention. She did not flatter him excessively. She had not tried to impress him with her status or beauty. She had simply stood among the flowers and spoken sincerely about something she loved. Perhaps that was what made her so difficult to ignore. She was natural and because she did not seem to realize how captivating she could be, her presence felt eve

Liora lowered her eyes, feeling a little embarrassed. "I apologize if my behavior has seemed discourteous, Your Majesty. I did not intend to neglect the celebration." "There is no need to apologize. A wife who looks forward to seeing her husband has committed no offense." The Empress, seated beside him, turned her attention toward Liora. She had been listening to their exchange without interrupting, but the indulgence in her husband’s voice made her increasingly uncomfortable. Ordinarily, the Emperor would not concern himself with whether a guest was enjoying every moment of a banquet. He certainly would not spend so much time reassuring the wife of one of his officials. Yet tonight, he seemed determined to keep Duchess Liora entertained. Shera, who was seated among the imperial family’s distinguished guests, noticed the same thing. Unlike the Empress, she found the situation dee