He tries to imagine life in a bustling palace. Any visits to the Imperial Residence had been for business only and even then Emperor Gregor Vorbarra had no close, blood family to speak of that would live there with him. Most of those there would be the Vorbarra armsmen and the servants with sparingly few nobility that had nowhere else to call home in the city of Vorbarr Sultana.

A very different life, particularly if women were treated as such in public spaces. Barrayar at least had not gone that far.

"Battle is not counted as a public space then?" he questions. She certainly hadn't come in shrouded from anyone on looking. "I admit, I'm used to smaller accommodations and people packed in closer. Barrayar has more space than the domed cities of Komarr."