The joy on Kanerah's face dissolves into disappointment. "I keep thinking about the ordinary people day and ni

The joy on Kanerah's face dissolves into disappointment. "I keep thinking about the ordinary people day and night. About what we can afford to take from them, what we should leave them, how to reward the obedient and punish the rebels... While you seem blind to the very nature of power! So be it, I'll abate the taxes, but be warned: excessive kindness ruins rulers far faster than excessive cruelty!"