Kern gave a humorless chuckle, his gaze lowering to the table. "The kingdom and their beloved control tactics... No matter what our alignment is or how much we support them, they always make sure they have the upper hand."
Yun-Jin met their eyes, her tone shifting, softening just a little. "Listen, no matter what happens, regardless of what our beliefs might be about the kingdom's stability and the structure they've upheld for generations—if things go south, I need you both to make sure Ty is taken care of. He doesn't deserve to be left behind if this entire plan falls apart."