The Emperor didn't tell me where we were going. He just said, "Walk with me," and placed a firm hand on my shoulder. Almost immediately, a strange quiet settled around us, like a soundproof bubble.
I looked down at the pavement beneath my feet, smooth concrete now, not the cracked stones of the palace courtyard but my shadow wavered, as if I wasn't fully there.
We stepped out into the capital streets.
The noise hit me first: cars hummed softly on the roads, a distant siren, conversations spilling out from open cafés.
People walked by, dressed in casual clothes, business suits, or simple uniforms. Soldiers in neat coats passed us on patrol, their steps steady but not loud. Everyone seemed busy, but nobody noticed us, not really. The Emperor's presence cloaked us like a shield.
"Sometimes," he said quietly, "it's better to see without being seen."
