Taeui is highly intelligent to analyze Malik's proposition to Richard saying he *needs* Tartens to maintain 'a close and strong relationship' with Arabs because he knows Richard's choice will be pivotal during the succession ceremony and recognizes the gravity of such a choice, and he trails off almost coming near to a conclusion that siding with Malik which is saying yes to whatever they ask for would be the most reasonable choice to clear the last part of their debt versus continuing the centuries bond between Tarten and Reigrow WITHOUT even knowing what Malik was implying which is basically taking what Reigrow owns aka Taeui from them by betraying Ilay and forcefully handing Taeui off to Rahman.
Taeui just being there and witnessing this whole interaction is foreshadowing as ultimately Richard betrays Ilay and hands over Taeui as a final form of debt payment to the Arabs which is exactly Rahman's ploy/shortcut to get to Jaeui after his escape from the annex years ago and also to keep Taeui captive for Jaeui's wellbeing based off the tip Jaeui shared with Rahman about the twins connection linked directly to his health (also Richard must have thought that trading Taeui is an add-on benefit since Taeui was getting close to Christoph).








