"The dress suits you". He tells me as he takes a sip of whatever drink Iain his cup. "Thank you, whoever chose this has great taste" I reply meekly. "Yes, I do have great taste".  I look to him. "You chose this dress?"   Usually men don't pick out clothes for their bride or wife, they just pay for them so this gesture shocks me. "Yes did I not just say that?" He asks but not really as a question. "Yes sorry" I'm a bit embarrassed and I can feel it showing on my cheeks. 

"Sorry?" His gaze on me with a puzzled look in his eyes. "What are you sorry for?"Oh um well I don't know".   "It's a habit I have apologising when there's no need". Embarrassment showing as clear as day on my face now. "Don't apologises when you don't have to" "I will make an effort to stop" the corners of mouth curving upwards ever so slightly. 

"Anyway let us eat" as he spoke servants came with our meals and placed them on the table infront of us. The dish is a small stuffed pigeon with a mix of vegetables on the side. "Thank you for the meal" I bow my head as a sign of respect and gratitude for the meal. Then I begin to eat, it's one of the delicious meals I have ever had despite it's simplicity. 

I have eaten half of my meal when the doors swing open. Who would dare intrude on the Emperor while eating whith his betrothed? Then I remember Kun she doesn't know of me eating with the Emperor!! Then I see her standing there, completely unaware of what she had walked into until she saw who I'm sitting beside. Her face now blends in whith the white marble pillars."I am so so sorry Your Imperial Highness " she didn't get to finish. "Just who are you to walk into the royal dinning room while I am eating" his voice dangerously low. 

I can feel my heart beating in my chest, knowing if I don't do some thing he will kill Kun. If he does that I'll lose my only friend. "So who exactly are you to walk in here uninvited?" I take a deep breath before speaking"She is my friend and before I got the invitation to eat with you we where meant to eat together" His glare no longer on Kun but on me. "I forgot to inform her of the change of plans, so please excuse her she was unaware of the change in plans".  

To my upmost suprise his glare was gone and his face relaxed. "Oh so she is your friend" I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. He turns to a  servants "I want a space for her ready immediately, next to my bride". The servant nods and preps a seat on my left. Kun is guided to the seat and she is served the same dish me and Suyin. 

"I  apologies for my brash behaviour" he tells  Kun once she is seated. "No it is all right you where just confused and thank you this meal" she bows her head. "Now lets eat" we all start to eat with no effort to make conversation, there's only the sound of cutlery being used and the clink of cups. 

It's an extremely uncomfortable silence, no one knowing what to say. Before we knew it we had finished the second course as well as the first in silence. Until Suyin starts to speak, "Well I didn't have dinner with you Meili for nothing" he starts " I just didn't expect you friend to join but nonetheless I will still discuss the "