I don't think my vote is particularly deferential, or at least isn't obsequious.I'm not saying we should escalate against Mab right now.
Just stay calm, non-deferential and let her pick the obvious win where she can have it.
Yours isn't really that confrontational, but it could be coded as directly challenging or rude and provoke a response. which would shift our conversation away from what we're actually trying to do.
Right now we're a rogue, we need to dodge around until we can stick the knife just right and walk off with the loot. Trying to grapple is taking the fight in a direction we don't want to go.