"They fear you because you are inhuman."
Regent Victor von Doom made a full circle around the desk, completely ignoring the stacks of official documents piled atop it, as well as the Emperor bent over the papers, writing annotations. After returning to Earth from Asgard, the Emperor had known that the last vestige of friendly relations between Kamar-Taj and Asgard would cease to exist. Before Ragnarok, that apocalyptic end, the Asgardians would clutch at any lifeline they could find, but Kamar-Taj had no intention of being dragged down by the Asgardians at the cost of the entire Human Race.
In order to arrange more work during this brief respite, the Emperor had even brought Kamar-Taj's official business into his office in Latverian Royal City's castle, leaving mundane matters such as taxes, education bills, and employment rates to Victor von Doom. Yet the Regent had not immediately begun dealing with the accumulated work. Instead, he stood in the office trying to chat with the Emperor. Faced with his friend's pestering, the Emperor gave no response. Aside from footsteps and conversation, the room contained only the soft scratch of a fountain pen against paper.
"In the eyes of the outside world, you have no companion and no private life. To this world, you are a shining divine statue. That makes many people and many nations instinctively keep their distance from you, and many agreements will fall apart because of your attitude," Regent Victor von Doom said. "I suggest releasing Countess Katarina Karkov, the last member of Sicaria's royal family, and having her accompany you to international social events. That beautiful lady possesses exceptionally powerful social skills. Perhaps you should consider having her lead a team of spies in your service, rather than merely using her as a decorative vase at social functions."