Shi Ailin was inside a room. She did not know what the interior looked like, save for the darkness of the sack that blinded her.
She heard footsteps coming towards her after hours of silence, after battling her mind about what's her next move. She was kept bound, and nothing budged no matter how much she tried to wriggle her way out.
She could hear someone come closer, and her body shook and trembled again, but she willed it to go away. She felt the sack lift from her face, and she looked up at the faceless man defiantly, despite her tear-stained and tousled appearance.
"What do you want?" she shouted, voice quivering.
"I want to meet the Empress," he said.
Shi Ailin furrowed her brows. "What are you talking about?" she questioned, demanded. She couldn't see his expression, but she could have sworn that he was taken aback. Perhaps because she was genuine since she didn't know what he was talking about.
