The answer is coldly practical, but not entirely surprising. Emet-Selch has been kind to Dextera, but he has the command of someone who has had to make decisions like this before. The even demeanor, the consideration of the citizens as a group rather than as each individual people—in the most objective of ways, Dextera is reminded of the Archangel. He traitorously thinks he would rather follow Emet-Selch.

He returns his gaze to the person they’re dealing with, and something seems to click. Catching Emet-Selch’s attention, he gestures to the Shard on his own body. Maybe it’s obvious to a member of the Regent’s faction, but it only really now seems meaningful to Dextera that other people do not have Shards.