ASTRID stared at the two men in front of him, observing their interaction down to the smallest detail. The way Valentine leaned slightly into the emperor's space without hesitation, how the latter didn't pull away even when the actor pouted at him. It all spoke of a familiarity that went beyond casual acquaintances. Most telling was how the emperor allowed this behavior at all. Someone like him, the one standing at the very top of this Empire, was letting Valentine get away with behavior no one else would dare attempt.
Astrid could only come up with one explanation, but the idea seemed too explosive to even consider. What else could their behavior mean besides that? And by 'that', he meant a romantic relationship. Surely they wouldn't silence him just for witnessing this, right? Not that Wulfric would let anything happen to him. Still, pretending he hadn't noticed anything might be the safer choice.
