Stern when sternness was necessary, yet gentleness was the prevailing ingredient of his royal nature. Mitsuoki's sternness of his older style, never lost its dignity, but gained gentleness and tranquility. Excessive discipline and sternness in command result in cruelty. Having been ill his entire life, Ephraim always received stronger amounts of Deborah's sternness. In 2001, he joined Jun Akiyama's STERNNESS faction as second-in-command and his career skyrocketed. Dramatically, she offered more sternness and less glitter than some people might wish.