She met his gaze a soft little smile on her lips, that was tinged with just a little sadness. He was right of course, proclaiming one's feeling was always so much easier in an Opera, even if it did usually end up in tragedy and at least one of the parties dead. When in reality declaring one's feelings, opening yourself up to the scrutiny of the other person and society was harder than passing ones self off as the cool and immutable 'Empress.' It was definitely easier to be her than Suki sometimes, she couldn't get hurt.

Her gaze met his and her mouth formed a small 'o', her brows knitting, and she looked back at the stage as she tried to control her features as her brain fought to process his turn of phrase. Nowhere else I'd rather be...' was he trying to kill her? She wanted to close her eyes, bury her head in a pillow and scream - the emotion behind the scream she wasn't entirely sure. 'You flatter me Mister Foxwood.' she said, attempting levity, but her voice was stiff and she felt as though she had a lump in her throat. Looking back from the stage, but unable to look at him not knowing what she would see there, or not knowing what she wanted to see there. Her heart thundered in her chest, so much so that it felt like he might be able to hear it, and she could feel her breathing getting shallow, her chest heaving.

'I....' she tried to speak again, but platitudes and social avoidance failed her, 'I eh, ' there was much she wanted to say, but so much that society prohibited a woman from voicing. 'You must know that your company is important to me as well.' she managed, it was clipped, her tone thick and she was looking at her hands.

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