Miki closed her eyes and took a slow breath.
The urge faded.
She dispelled the urge. Killing them would validate everything Erwen has done. To commit a slaughter not unlike the one he did.
Not only that, but the city was in a fragile state.
If she turned this chamber into a bloodbath, panic would tear through Grand Cathia like wildfire. Fear would drive people into the Nightmare even faster than before.
For now, there was still room to talk.
A thin, fragile balance.
But if she killed the nobles, that balance would break.
The citizens would fear her just as much as they feared the nobles.
And fear without safety only led to one place.
The Nightmare.
Miki opened her eyes. Her face had already settled back into its usual calm.
Across the chamber, the old man raised his cane and tapped it once against the marble floor.
"Now then. Since we all agree the emergency has ended, we should begin discussing the transition back to normal governance."
Miki held back a sigh.
