âReally? You?â He hadnât meant for the words to sound so incredulous, but, well, smoke and ash and the violent crackling of wood werenât exactly sensations he would have thought to associate with his delicate wife. She was tooâŚsoft for such things. Too tame, like an indoor cat sheltered from the wilderness of its own backyard. Even bringing her here- to Resembool, the location of his best friendâs wedding- had felt like uprooting a flower from its garden and depositing it without care into the middle of the Amestrian boondocks.
  But still, she seemed to be taking things in stride, and for that he was actually rather proud. Heâd feared that she, raised in propriety among the finery of Xingese high-class culture, would be unable to handle the rugged folkness of the little sheep-farming village, but her words and her expression and even her posture told him that heâd been wrong. He took comfort in in that, and turned his face back towards the flickering flames of the campfire that he, his wife, and a great many of the invited friends and relatives had gathered around as night fell. He didnât think heâd felt this calm- this happy- in a long time.
  âThey are rather nice, are they not?â
--- âYes, me indeed.â She allowed soft laughter to sound privately between them. âThough before tonight I had never experienced something such as this, it is beautiful. Fire has always been something of a dangerous ally. Though we need it, it has also the potential to be indomitable and dangerous. But like this, in the darkness, its light and warmth are so welcome. People gather and bring food. They dance.. It is simply a wonderful experience.â
   She did feel like a lily amongst tulips. Not in any way more beautiful than the others there, but so obviously different. Her emperor had soon donned his more casual attire upon arrival, but she had failed to pack anything very informal. As the emperorâs wife she could not allow a bad reputation, and as such, she sat, legs neatly to one side and her hands folded in her lap. In all her royal glory. Flowy robes, shining jewellery and headdress.. Out of place indeed amongst these warm, open people. Though they certainly treated her and her husband with respect, they were also immensely friendly, their address of them was not practiced nor had it had any underlying intention. They were simply.. Friendly. and Wen Yue found that it was a breath of fresh air not to have to get involved in proper politics.
   âYour friends.. They seem very popular. miss Rockbell is very beautiful.â She looked over to the blonde, and as they caught each othersâ eye they smiled. Until she turned to pull her soon-to-be-husband by the arm and forced him -to his blatant dismay- to dance with her. Wen Yue smiled fondly at the sight. She could dance.. But only for show. For an audience. Never for fun, and always alone.. âThey look happy. They marry for love, yes?â