Irene tried to suppress her nervousness as Emperor Durand looked at her with a smile. He was waiting for her answer, but her mind was occupied with the sudden topic of Aldrian. It seemed he had already met the emperor, and the emperor appeared to be interested in her son. She wasn't sure what Emperor Durand's opinion of Aldrian was, but she still decided to answer.
"I really don't know much about him, Your Majesty. After he saved me and talked a bit, he continued his journey, and I don't know where his destination was."
She kept her composure in check, determined to ensure that the emperor wouldn't notice anything unusual about her explanation—or her lie. However, the emperor's persistent smile made her feel increasingly uneasy, as he seemed to be trying to read her. Unfortunately for Irene, Emperor Durand had already noticed several signs that she was, indeed, lying.
