"I am a prince of the North, Elara. I have spent my entire life being evaluated for my political utility. My father chose me for this alliance because he knew I had the discipline to survive a foreign court. I am not a worm, and I am not a livestock asset. If you require me to be a legal ghost to keep your empire stable, I can perform that function with absolute precision. But I will not be looked down upon by mid-level managers of public works."
Elara analyzed his words. The tone was no longer demanding; it was transactional. He had stopped trying to claw through her armor with emotional pride and had instead chosen to speak within the parameters of her own system. He was aligning his performance with her design.
