With a sudden, crushing intensity, he released the full, suffocating aura of his paragon status. It pressed down upon the council members, forcing them to meet his gaze as he continued, "I have not yet spoken to the Crown Prince of this, and I expect this discussion to remain within these walls. Let these matters be sealed."
He scanned the room, his eyes cold and unwavering. "You all know that the feelings of the Crown Prince are a luxury we cannot afford. Not now. Not when weighed against the magnitude of what we stand to gain."
The council members shifted under the oppressive weight of his presence, exchanging uneasy glances. A junior counselor opened his mouth as if to protest, but the sheer force of Ragnar's authority stifled the words in his throat.
Ragnar allowed the silence to linger, letting the finality of his decree settle into their bones.
