The Celestial Emperor remained silent for a few seconds after Strax's response. It wasn't an empty silence, nor a theatrical pause intended to intimidate. It was the kind of quietude of someone accustomed to measuring their words before deciding their weight. His fingers lightly touched the side of the container he still held, while his eyes remained fixed on Strax with the same constant attention as before.
When he finally spoke, his voice came out calm, steady, and without any hurry.
"So I'll rephrase," he said. "What exactly do you intend by killing my Monarchs and taking their territories?"
The question pierced the hall directly. There was no emotional accusation in it, but there was ownership. He didn't just say monarchs. He said my Monarchs. Not as childish possession, but as someone who recognized responsibility for the structure of that continent.
