"Understood, Master," Mahir said, bowing one final time. "I will return to my standard defensive perimeter."
As Mahir marched out of the Great Hall, Julian leaned over in his throne, resting his elbows on his knees, and looked at Elara.
"You handled that very... clinically," Julian noted, a teasing glint in his ice-blue eyes.
"Clarity prevents kinetic disruptions," Elara replied smoothly. She turned her head to look at him. The thermal anomaly in her chest immediately pulsed, a warm, heavy rhythm. "Furthermore, I informed you that you are now the primary system override. Outsourcing maintenance is no longer logically sound."
Julian laughed, reaching across the gap between their thrones to take her hand. "I am very glad to hear that. My jealousy parameters were starting to reach critical levels."
.
.
Later that evening, the private chambers of the Empress Regent were quiet, bathed in the warm, golden light of the setting sun.
