What did it mean to rule?
To be a leader, to be responsible for the lives of countless people, what did that feel like?
To some, it was intoxicating. Such power to view others as ants was exactly the goal of a large portion of people, and though they were considered leaders, they did not lead.
They used their power to fuel their own selfish desires while those under them suffered.
Naturally, they were not true rulers.
An Emperor would only ever be as good as his Empire. What was the use of an Emperor when the people were all dead or impoverished.
What proper qualities of a leader did such an Emperor possess?
Perhaps they were domineering, perhaps they had the arrogance of a leader that would allow them to make great strides in negotiations with foreign powers, but none of that mattered.
When Thalia was asked what it meant to rule, she answered simply.
