"Anyone who thinks being in a position of power is a recipe to a relaxed, easy life clearly has zero idea what being in power entails. Being in power means you are charged with a lot of responsibilities as befit your station, and more often than not, you find yourself working *harder* than most people.

Of course, you could neglect all those and opt for a rich, easy life funded by the suffering of your people instead. As long as you're prepared to be sent to the gallows in the near future, that is." - Said by Jarl Tavros Gunsler, of the Armut jarldom.

While the Erstgertsog's official carriage was huge, it would be rather cramped if all of them were to pile into it, so the family split into two groups. The three matrons and all the children went into the official carriage, along with Grigori's wife, which made for a snug fit for the ten of them.

Meanwhile, Marek, Tatyana, Aideen, and Artair climbed into a smaller carriage that was already prepared for their convenience. Their driver was one of the soldiers she recalled from their trip back from Ptolodecca, an Alligator-therian who proudly displayed the distinctive scars that criss-crossed his large snout.

The carriage was rather roomy with just the four of them in it, and they chatted lightly during the short trip it took from the docks to the imperial capital a distance away. It was only half an hour or so by carriage, and that included the time it took to travel from the city gates to the imperial palace.

When they descended from the carriage, they saw that Artair's father had come out to meet them already, and had embraced his three wives even as the gaggle of children hugged his sides and legs and happily called him "grandfather".

"Father," said Artair as he shook the hand of his father and shared a familial embrace with the Erstgertsog, after his sister and brother-in-law did so. Aideen received the same warm hug from the man, who then beckoned for them all to enter the palace rather than stand there at the courtyard.

They were welcomed and ushered by servants in the palace's liveries. While Khaer Ul was never a noble before, now that he was emperor it was only natural to create a house for his name, and the servants of the imperial palace dressed in the liveries of his newly formed house.

White and Gray were the colors of the new house Tessarii, and the servants were attired in those colors. Aideen also noticed patterns that looked like the gradations on feathers on their clothes, likely because Khaer Ul was a feathered lizard therian, she guessed.

The imperial palace was still like how it was during her arrival in Sabaya months ago, though she noticed that the rebuilding of the city had proceeded really well. Clearly Khaer Ul was busy at work to rebuild his empire after the devastation the civil war had brought.

"By the way, I owe you some thanks, miss Aideen," said Artair's father after most of the family had gone into their respective rooms to rest. He had stayed with them as he led Aideen and Artair to their room - the same one they had during their stay last time.

"What for?" asked Aideen back, her eyebrow raised in doubt. She had not recalled anything she did that warranted a personal gratitude from the Erstgertsog, as far as she could remember.

"First of all, for taking care of my little boy," he said as he ruffled Artair's mane under his muffled protestations. The way he blushed told Aideen that he didn't really mind it, though. "And second for taking care of a potential problem that had so far escaped our hands. The band of bandits you encountered on the way was led by some of the few renegades we haven't managed to catch so far."

"While I am certain that my daughter and the guards with her would have prevailed against those ruffians eventually, it would not have been without casualties," added the man as they stood in front of the room, in relative privacy since nobody else was nearby. "And your help has neatly solved the situation for us, without any casualties to boot. For those, I thank you wholeheartedly."

"Just doing what I had to," said Aideen with a wave of her hand as if she wanted to deny the acknowledgement the Erstgertsog gave her. "Besides, I was in the group with Artair and Zoya back then. Doubt them bandits would let me off either way."

"Even so, old Jurgen owes you his livelihood, and a couple others their lives," replied the therian man with a warm smile on his face. "That's one debt of gratitude I will always keep in mind. I thank you for your kindness on their behalf."

With those words, the Erstgertsog gave them a slight bow, turned around, and left her and Artair in their assigned room. Quite naturally, Aideen asked him if there was any special relationship between his father and that one guard he mentioned by name.

Artair explained to her that old Jurgen had been a guard at the Veros mansion from the days of his great-grandfather, and had been one of the few who had not mistreated Illyvich when he was brought to the mansion. The old man had even pitied the boy back then, and had often sneaked some sweets to him.

Illyvich had never forgotten his kindness, apparently, and while the old man was not capable enough to be granted higher posts, he received treatment almost as if he was part of the family. His wife and daughter had also been nannies to Illyvich's children, and all of them viewed him a bit like a grandfather themselves.

Aideen nodded to that, as she recalled the old half-therian guard who had lost an arm in the bandit ambush, whose injury she had fixed on the spot. Now that he mentioned it, she did recall that all the other soldiers acted as if the old man was higher in rank despite that not being the case, as well as the friendly manner in which Zoya and Artair talked with him.