"…I love you. I really love you, Somnus.
The only one in the world who is my… 'partner.'"
Those were the only words he could give in return.
Even so, Somnus showed the happiest smile Li Shen had ever seen.
It was so beautiful that Li Shen carved this resolve deeply, firmly into his heart, that no matter how many times it took, again and again, he would give him these words.
After that, once Li Shen had finally calmed down from sniffling and clinging for a while longer, Somnus began to speak slowly, prefacing it with, "I was planning to tell you soon."
Somnus intended to abdicate the throne and the position of Emperor of the Goa'uld Empire to Senel in roughly two years' time.
When he had invited the leaders of each nation recently, he had quietly informed them of this decision in advance.
This was also meant to prevent a collapse of the balance of power: the situation where a being equal to a god had a "partner" who was also the ruler of a nation.
