His tone sharpened slightly, though it did not lose its control—only gained an edge that spoke of mounting frustration and a mind unwilling to let something so illogical go unanswered.
"Think about it carefully, Aurelia," Aldric continued, his voice measured but insistent. "For a monarch, swearing an oath in the name of their god is not something taken lightly. It is not something that is done on impulse, nor is it something that can be dismissed once spoken."
He paused briefly, then stepped closer, his gaze locking onto hers with deliberate intensity.
"Aurelia, do you truly understand what it means for a monarch to swear in the name of their god?" he asked again, this time more slowly, as though forcing her to confront the full weight of the question.
"Do you understand the magnitude of that kind of vow—the consequences that follow if it is broken?"
Aurelia did not look away.
