Yes

Liandra felt her eyes long for Kendra, and felt a bit guilty for inadvertently forcing her into a dinner with her Emperor. Kendal was very nice and pleasant, but she knew well how nervous people behaved around royalty. And now she fell asleep, she will undoubtedly feel very guilty after she wakes up.

"She wont be in trouble, you can tell her that. In fact, please tell her she can chose her reward, for everything she did for the Empire. I have read her report, and I am very satisfied." Liandra nodded faintly, her heart more at ease.

There was an awkward silence between them. The Emperor looked indecisive, as if torn on whenever or not he should say something. Liandra broke the spell first.

"Lady Gwen... Now that you made it clear she isn't being **** to anything, why not meet her again?" Liandra´s innocent tone didn't hide her feminine wile

"That was sudden, where did it come from?" Kendal did appear surprised, but not angry. So Liandra continued

"I was thinking about how people behave around royalty. Maybe she just need a chance to be herself, and make her own choices."

"I confess I find myself liking very much the company of your kingdom´s maidens" But Liandra missed the clumsy innuendo, and said

"Great. Lets do this, i will meet her tomorrow and invite her to... lets say, enjoy the city view, from our tower? And you can happen by, if you care. No one is forcing you to anything either!" Kendal laughed, and Liandra had to admit it was young and refreshing. Despite ruling one of the most powerful realms of their time, still he was jovial and fun.

"I will happen by. And if she walks away, it will be a date for the two of us" The Emperor tried again

"And Kendra. If her duties don't keep her away from us"

"I can..." The Emperor began to say, but Liandra interrupted him. "Why dont you use shadow magic to solve your problem?" Kendal made a face, but the topic interested him far more than any charming girl.

"I thought about that. But shadow magic is ephemeral, it takes a strong will and a strong heart to sustain it for even short periods of time."

"I remember when I was very young, I had a kitty and she passed away. From age" it happened almost half a decade earlier, and Liandra had already accepted the pain. "I mourned for a long while, but eventually I accepted Snowflake went to a better place." She was losing her audience, the Emperor was struggling to see her point "anyway, what I am trying to say is that sometimes people focus their emotions on their deceased relatives. Maybe that could serve as a focus?"

The Emperor pondered, and Liandra recognized the same iddle stare she saw in him when she came to dinner. He was like that for a while, until he said "Not to replace a limb, that would be too painful, but maybe if we used it to do something different. Like Aracne legs. Yes, I think that would work." He still sounded indecisive, but he opened a big smile

"YES! It would WORK!" He clap his hands and laugh, and before Liandra could do or say anything he embraced her and kissed her lips. He wasn't forceful, it was just that it happened so fast she was just caught unprepared. "It will WORK!" He turned and left his room, leaving a befuddled princess and a sleeping baroness behind.