Powerless.

Aster felt powerless. He was about to watch his plan go down in flames, all because of this smug snake of a High Justice who was licking his chops at his own over-dramatic performance.

If he tried to defend Nathalya publicly, that might be all the fuel his wretched fiancé needed to declare him guilty by association in open court. If he did nothing to save her and only made efforts to save his own neck, he would have to live with her blood on his hands ...