Bit of a headcanon time, but how do you think it first started between sindel & li mei, like who showed interest first, made first moves, before or after sindel married etc? (And who got close to slipping up (public or semi public) once?)
Sindel and Li Mei were best friends since they were children. But when they reached adolescence, things started to change, feelings started to grow.
So I think that because she was a little older and more mature, Sindel knew first that she was in love, because Li Mei seems to me to be the type of person who is very focused on her work, but also seems to be a complete gay disaster and loser who just understood Sindel's feelings, when she spoke clearly to her face. And when it dawned on her, Li Mei almost fainted with happiness, as she didn't expect that the feeling she tried so hard to keep to herself would be reciprocated by Empress Sindel.
Because with the hierarchy, it kind of prevented certain actions that could come from Li Mei like, declaring herself. So because of that, Sindel acted first and told her feelings. And Li Mei also felt the same since she met Sindel still with the title of "the future Empress", but she never thought it was possible for Sindel to feel the same love that she felt.
So Li Mei was just content to stay close to Sindel even though she thought she would never have a chance to experience that love. And this was all before Sindel was forced to accept the arranged marriage with Jerrod by what tradition imposed, but also by the prohibition of the relationship between her and Li Mei, due to the Umgadi vows.
But her relationship with Li Mei continued, although hidden from everyone, and Jerrod kind of knew everything, and understood that even though they were married, Sindel's heart belonged to Li Mei. But he and Sindel knew that they still had to fulfill the duties assigned to them as Empress and Emperor consort of Outworld.
Some time later, the event occurred in which the matrons caused Jerrod's death to end the Umgadi, and Li Mei ended up taking all the blame for being the only survivor.
And as for which one of them came close to committing a public or semi-public slip-up, it was Sindel. Because I see that Mileena looks a lot like her mother, and when Mileena is in love, her love makes her so intense that she shows all her feelings even though she tries to hide it. I think Sindel is like Mileena in that aspect, she is very intense when she loves someone.
So at some point in a semi-public place, while Li Mei is just doing her job (which is protecting the Empress) and staying in line correctly, Sindel ends up deciding to take away this rigid stance from her beloved, and brings out the most fun and Li Mei's inconsequential side. And the two allow themselves to be the rebellious and horny teenagers that they couldn't be in the past due to the many responsibilities of their respective roles.
