Jethro had interrogated the dignified South Cloud World Empress so openly before so many people. How could she carry herself with dignity in public after such humiliation?

What made it worse was that Jethro had accused the Empress of having sexual intercourse with an unruly man.

That was intolerable!

Jethro faced the Empress' wrath calmly; he remained impassive.

The hundreds of civil and military officials in the hall held their breath in trepidation.

On one side was the Empress, while