The Celestial Emperor remained motionless for a few moments after Strax's last reply, as if allowing each word to settle in the air before continuing. The hall remained silent, but it was no longer the rigid silence of the beginning of the audience. There was now a more refined tension, sustained by two strong wills studying each other without haste. The pale light filtering through the ceiling structures drew discreet lines on the dark floor, and even the air seemed to circulate more slowly around them.
When he spoke again, his voice maintained the same serene, firm tone, devoid of any need for artificial imposition. "There is a simpler alternative," he said, resting his arm on the side of the seat. "If you accept becoming a Monarch, we don't need to measure our strength against each other. There will be no unnecessary conflicts, no pointless escalations, and everything that today seems like confrontation can be resolved through dialogue."
