"She didn't tell them to be rogues," Tyson began, stepping in—but Seraphina raised her hand. She would handle this on her own.
"Alex, do you really think they would have listened to me?" Seraphina asked, her voice calm. "If my father—Edmund Carver—couldn't convince them, why would my words make any difference?"
Alex hesitated. She was right. Edmund had fulfilled every expectation of a leader. He had made numerous attempts to foster unity and help people see reason. Yet, despite all the threats, restrictions, and consequences—Rogues still existed. People continued to walk away.
"Do you think it's easy to live without nano-particles? Without financial support? Without public recognition for their efforts?" Seraphina continued. "Even after losing all of that, they still chose to follow their hearts. Do you really believe a speech could have changed their minds?"
