I gave up struggling after a few more futile attempts, recognizing that he was considerably stronger than me and that fighting only made this more undignified. Also, his shoulder was actually comfortable, and I was genuinely exhausted.
We passed two guards stationed in the corridor, and both of them froze, their eyes fixed firmly on the opposite wall as though not seeing the Emperor carrying his future Empress over his shoulder would somehow make this less scandalous.
A trio of maids scattered like frightened birds when we turned the corner, their whispers following us down the hallway.
One unfortunate noble... I didn't catch who... flattened himself against the wall as we passed, his expression suggesting he was witnessing something he desperately wished he could unsee.
And then, gods help me, we encountered Aldric.
