The cardinal slips a hand around her waist, guiding her to a plush seat. "My dear, the archbishop and my fellow cardinal were merely...mistaken. Punishment would be inappropriate. Instead, they'll pray for their sins." The fat clergyman smiles, casually touching her thigh as he takes a seat beside her, and beams as he's told about the confessor. "So, Cardinal Delenaga's favourite protege has been sentenced to death, eh? Wonderful news..." The cardinal takes the news in stride, apparently relating it to church politics.
When she mentions her night with the emperor, Yannika thinks that the cardinal might jump with joy, his smile broadening even wider, and his grip on her thigh tightening. "Good...Good... You'd have gone far in the church, it's a shame to lose you... But, you can serve us better as empress..." He chuckles, standing. The cardinal walks to a cabinet, opening it and withdrawing a jar containing a clear liquid. "I'd be more than happy to release you, but there's preparations that must be made, first. Even with a holy woman as his wife, he might still be lured by the temptations and traps of this world. I need you to stay close to him, and slip some of this in his drinks. It will ensure that he remains a...obedient servant of the church."
Across the room, Izzy crosses her arms, furrowing her brow. "Oh, so mind control is bad when I want to do it, but not when the church wants to?"