Meanwhile, at the Imperial Palace

Selene knelt before the Empress, her expression unreadable.

Selene: "They escaped."

The Empress, sipping tea, unfazed: "Of course they did."

Selene, frowning: "They're going after the Aetherion."

The Empress, smirking: "Good."

Selene, raising an eyebrow: "…Good?"

The Empress, placing down her teacup: "Finn Gearwright thinks he's clever. Let's see if he's lucky."

She turned to a nearby officer.

The Empress: "Send word to the Admiral. Let them take the ship."

Selene, tense: "…You're letting them steal it?"

The Empress, eyes gleaming: "Only so we can take them."