Quoted By:
"And yet you continue to pursue me," you let disappointment seep into your tone. "I won't work for you, Marchioness: I believe I made that much clear both through word and action."
<span class="mu-i">"Just as I made it clear that I consider you my House's best and possibly only chance at survival. You may not be my subject nor an imperial citizen, but when countless lives hang in the balance, the wants and needs of a single sapient cease to matter. Would that not align with your own philosophy of vigilantism and violence against select individuals? All I want is for you to- what is it that you find so funny, Ms Blavis?"</span> she asks as the sound of your laughter reaches her through the connection.
"Countless lives, you say?" you continue giggling. "Your House numbers several dozen, perhaps a hundred members. Add to that your spies, assassins, high ranking military members, and everyone else whose loyalty to the new regime cannot be guaranteed and you have what, a few thousand individuals? That is the butcher's bill for House Maevian's downfall. Same as it was with House Zenivail when it fell out of favor and yours was chosen to rise to prominence in its stead," you visited a couple history and general information portals when having your last meal on Barter to settle a few doubts and now it was paying off. "There were no great purges back then, no mass extermination of valuable workers and taxpayers. And there is no reason to think there will be now. You're not nearly as important as you think you are, Marchioness. Hardly anyone is."
There is a long pause on the other end of the call, to the point where you start thinking maybe you went too far.
<span class="mu-i">"Nevertheless, I have a duty,"</span> Shanaia says finally in a heavy voice. <span class="mu-i">"Both to my House and to my people - to protect them from whatever depravities the one who will replace me may inflict upon them."</span>
"I understand your position, Marchioness, believe me that I do," you say instead. "But ultimately we're talking about the death of bunch of Dragonbloods and their sycophants and I simply cannot muster an ounce of sympathy for their plight."
<span class="mu-i">"And may I ask why that is?"</span>
"Depravities, Marchioness," you reply.
Another silence follows.
<span class="mu-i">If any member of my House has ever harmed you or someone-"</span>
"Can you bring the dead back to life?" you interrupt.
<span class="mu-i">"I cannot,"</span> she sighs heavily. <span class="mu-i">"But if-"</span>
"Then there is nothing to talk about."
<span class="mu-i">"Nevertheless,"</span> she says. <span class="mu-i">"I have a duty. And you are the key to fulfilling it."</span>
"Am I?"
<span class="mu-i">"You admitted as much: you have the knowledge I need."</span>
"Indeed, but I would also like to point out that we live in a world where the knowledge need not be an intrinsic part of an individual,"
<span class="mu-i">"Explain,"</span>
(cont)
