[For his part he did listen. He was not the person for this. They all knew that. Even he knew that - he never cared to be a counselor or anything of the sort. But that didn't mean he didn't care. He cared about his Emperor. And he cared about his country. Both were in grave danger.

How unfortunate, then, that changing their fates might rely on Verstael's social skills.

He finally let out a deep sigh.]

This was all so much simpler when all I needed to do was feed the country or cure an ancient plague.

[That stuff he could work enthusiastically on all day. The fact that he was the only one from his country here to even take on this task was just more proof of how poorly the gods treated Niflheim.

He straightened himself slightly, folding his arms instead.]

I had considered those around him.

[Politicians, many of them. Nobility. Crowds Verstael never cared for as a whole, but he left them to do their nonsense politics while he did his own work.

Not all were evil. He knew that. Like with everything, there were those with good intentions and those with bad. Yet it was so easy to think of those who would linger around waiting for their opportunity.]

Sabertusks. [He hissed disdainfully. A fitting enough analogy considering the legend.] I may need to separate some of them from him.

[He quirked a brow, on the other hand, at Regis' analogy. It was a strange one to be sure. But, after some thought, it got the point across. So the Emperor felt as if he had lost everything, and he needed to see that something was still there.

But, for him, this was all so vague sometimes. He shifted in his place, looking directly at Regis.]

So were you to remind him of such a thing, what words would you use?

[Because it was all well and good to talk about it, but what the hell was he supposed to say to the Emperor?]