***
{Outside The Projection}
Huh...
Scheherezade was actually in love with him.
How in the seven Hells did they get here?
A tragedy had suddenly turned into a confession scene.
Her gush landed louder than anyone expected.
It was way, way past flirting.
The hall nearly felt embarrassed for her.
Mostly, though, the crowd felt this weird, guilty pleasure.
This... this was the leader of an entire empire confessing to someone who should be her main enemy like a naive little girl, calling him a glorious, terrifying hunk.
It was something that she, unsurprisingly, didn't at all seem embarrassed about.
Rather, judging by the look on her face, she took pride in what she did.
Especially of the words in that twisted confession of hers.
Yet, she wasn't happy, for she knew what was coming next...
And oh, it certainly wasn't going to be pretty.
***
{Inside The Projection}
"...So you actually love me?"
Malik watched her without even a flicker of vanity.
