She'd know better than anyone how often having a great deal of power meant there was nothing he could so often. It was his position to see to the Royal Household - a wayward daughter that liked to be out on the rooftops of a night, and a hundred different leads he had to follow up and seldom, seldom was there much as a figure he could do.

But this? This was something that was perfectly within his purvue. "It is in the Empress's wishes that her reign be one of justice for her people and to bridge the gap that... previous governments fostered." He doesn't speak of Burrows, he never speaks of Burrows. "Your brother achieved his position on his merit and not his breeding. It is a good thing not only for you family, but it sets an important precedent for all the great houses. The Empress will not want to see one of her most up and coming natural philosophers thrown away on old prejudices that his teacher unfortunately harbours."

He takes up the tea cup, swirling it a moment before he takes another mouthful. "Nor I, as her servant and your families patron, like to know that what might become of such a fine young mind when it is wasted by being removed from the place it can be fostered."

To say the least, the army could most definitely use someone who knew their way around making an impressive explosion or two. So could royal celebrations, for that matter. "So yes, I believe there is something that can be done."