/What are you doing, Sister Liora?/ Sandra sent across their telepathic link.
/Hey, idiot, stop this!/ Maelona snapped.
/Sister Liora, please refrain from making any more arguments. We've already pressed the people hard enough./ Archpriestess added.
But none of their words were answered. Liora was locked in a silent battle of wills, her eyes fixed on Kaelen, her silence more dangerous than any words she could have spoken.
At last, Kaelen gave in, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He faced the gathering,
"Please forgive my mother's rudeness," he said, the words catching in his throat. He glanced nervously at the Archpriestess and Sandra before continuing,
"As you can see… unlike Princess Aqualina, who has the authority to rule the Empire, and the Saintess, whose power is recognised by all, Princess Aria was only ever a Princess within her own Tribe—not an Empire. So technically, Lord Aether does not possess a title or rank equal to your two Empires."
