Krishnaar warned him: the offer would not come again. But Sharath had never been one for dancing in cages—no matter how gilded.
"I don't sell truth," he said, folding the scroll.
The room froze.
"But," he continued, "I will build you your own press. Royal-funded. Royal-staffed. Trained by my engineers."
Eldrin blinked. "A… second paper?"
Sharath nodded. "Let the Crown speak through its own voice. Not mine. Not SK's. Two papers. Two purposes."
From the shadows, the Queen emerged. She'd been listening the entire time.
"And why," she asked softly, "should we agree to such arrogance?"
Sharath met her gaze. "Because you can't silence me. But you can choose to be heard beside me."