Finally, the tension between their palms eased as both parties absorbed the essence. Klein felt like collapsing, but the ancient Ra'shi was still there, preventing him from abandoning all pretence and decorum.
"I can tell it was very hard for you," she told Siona, who wiped a line of sweat from her face. "But I'm glad to see the change in you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" the princess asked.
"Nothing of immediate importance," she said, "compared to what I am about to tell you. While the outcome of your cultivation is barely safe enough to call it successful, it was not enough to relieve either me or your noble mother of concern for you."
"I'm not surprised," Siona returned with a hint of scorn.
"My Sujin, did you tell your mother that you have no intention of ascending to the throne?"
"If you call screaming my throat out to the woman before she even listened as anything, then yes, I did make my intentions clear."
