Forget dancing, go for a moonlit stroll.

"My dear Empress, instead of dancing perhaps we should take a walk? It is a lovely night for such an occasion", you boldly suggest.

"My, that is a splendid idea Inquisitor", she replies. She takes your arm in hers.

Immediately a group of guards begin following line up behind you but the Empress dismisses them with a wave of her hand, "I am with the Inquisitor men. I will be safe with him, return to your stations", she commands them. The guards seem unsure for a moment but they obey, quickly returning to their stations.

You smile at the mature noblewoman as you traverse the rose garden with her, speaking of simple things and and small stories. You keep her in good company, keeping up a sharp wit; playful flirtation and stiff smile... as well as stiff other things. The scent of flowers at night fills the air around you and the distance chirping of crickets sets a very romantic mood.

After what seemed a full half hour of walking it occurs to you that you were outside the palace walls.

"Oh, I wonder where we ended up?", asks the Empress.

You take a quick look around. According to the stonework, the noise and the architecture... it seems you had wandered into the slums, close to the Elven Alienage. One of the buildings was still lit this night and you could see an elf handing out food to the homeless outside it. You immediately recognized the elven woman as Shianni. A red-headed woman who lived within the elven alienage. You had crossed paths with her before.

From a nearby alley, you could spot some rather filthy men eyeing the perhaps "overdressed" Empress Celene quite lewdly. She was afterall, dressed for a ball and standing in the slums.

"I don't quite like the look of this place Inquisitor. Perhaps we should turn back?".