The rest of the summit was, to everyone's lasting irritation and Dax's limitless satisfaction, a success.
There was no leaked footage of any heir throwing cutlery, insulting a former emperor, or starting a cross-border crisis in formalwear.
The public images were excellent. Too excellent, in Chris's opinion. Heirs photographed in polished clusters, young royals in discussion, future leadership framed against glass, steel, and flags.
Dax had looked impossible in every official release.
Chris had looked serene in all of them, which he personally considered an act of fraud.
Caelan had remained composed enough that no one could accuse him of missteps.
Arion and Sebastian had managed not to kill anyone.
Zion had emerged from the entire affair looking far more dangerous than he had on arrival.
Nero, naturally, looked as though he had been born under strategic lighting and mild scandal.
And then the summit ended.
