☀️ Arselia and Akonia

Garrett certainly didn't surround Erefir with an aura of infallibility, either in thought or in word, but it seems that this was indeed a dark moment for her, so a moment of self-flagellation could be understood. Nevertheless, the redhead certainly shouldn't be wallowing in self-pity.
— No, it was right that she didn't dance to the tune of the Mindjins, especially with such vague wording. That senator over there is capable of all sorts of dirty tricks, and we've already been through that. If they really want to secede from the empire, they don't need either Credeor as part of it, or Karneol guarding the crown, that's my opinion. And I seriously doubt that the valiant Karneol impressed them so much at that moment that they would definitely want to have him on their side with purchased loyalty. In my opinion, this looks like a test of sorts - perhaps they'll manage to kill two birds with one stone. And they underestimated you, boss, so keep your chin up.