102 ONE HUNDRED TWO: His Plan All Along

"... So, earlier, why did you tell me not to touch the crystals?" Kel questioned, gazing at the brilliant stones surrounding them.

"I was jealous," the emperor shrugged absently.

"You.. were jealous? What does that even mean?" Kel sighed, shaking her head.

Would it kill the man to give her an answer that made sense for once?

"It was distracting you from thinking of me. I didn't like it," he explained, as if in response to her wish.

"Right…" Kel trailed off, the embarrassment from earlier finding its way back into her cheeks and setting them on fire.

Of course he'd heard everything. Of course he saw her cursing herself for not being able to stop thinking about him. But isn't the polite thing to pretend he didn't?!

Her internal self destruction lasted much longer this time. Either the Dragon Emperor wasn't aware of what was happening just next to him or, more likely, he was perfectly aware and enjoying it immensely.