With a sigh, the emperor closed his fingers around the air just before reaching Kel's skin. He pulled his hand back slowly and then angrily smashed it into a nearby bedpost.
"W-what's wrong?" Kel squeaked, peering at the dangerous man through a tiny gap in her raised arms.
The emperor ignored her, instead placing his forehead against his flattened palm on the wooden post.
Bravely lowering her hands to get a closer look, Kel took note of just how ragged the emperor's appearance was. He was wearing the same blood-stained clothes from earlier with traces of dried blood lingering on his face from a half-hearted attempt at washing. His hair was messy, and his face looked gaunt.
Was this really the same man who presided so fiercely over the trial earlier?
"Your Majesty…" Kel hesitated, feeling that the person in front of her wasn't a great dragon, but a pitiful small animal.
