Elenara's lips curved slowly.
It was not amusement. It was recognition.
"I am aware," she said. "Kaedor lacks the imagination required to orchestrate something of this scale."
Her smile deepened, darkening at the edges. "That does not absolve him."
She stepped closer, the garden subtly adjusting to her presence, flowers tilting as if drawn toward her shadow. "Intent does not erase consequence. He allowed it to happen. He failed to stop it."
Her gaze hardened. "For that, he will die."
There was no hesitation in the statement. No room left for discussion.
"As agreed," Elenara continued, her tone cooling back into control, "the Thal'zar house will not be erased entirely. An heir will remain." She inclined her head slightly. "One. Watched. Restricted. Their authority reduced to formality."
She met Valttair's eyes directly.
"Under our supervision."
A brief pause followed, deliberate in its weight.
