{oOo}
Roboute saw the Emperor's gaze flicker to the Arcanium as they passed it. The gesture was almost imperceptible, the meaning almost inpenetrable.
Almost.
The capital of Ultramar was not one of the ancient cities of Macragge. Rather than favour the city that had tried to overthrow his fa... Konor, Roboute had reluctantly allowed the administration to settle around a small estate that he had been granted as a child. Now acres of perfectly proportioned towers and domes surrounded the old manor, much of which had been demolished to make way for his new and palatial residence.
Probably there would be another spate of rebuilding to accomodate the leadership of Roboute's new Legion, although he hoped to place their functional headquarters somewhere more secluded. The architects would probably suggest again that the ancient stone building with its handcrafted iron fittings be replaced with something more fitting to the architectural style of the city that had grown up around it.
Obviously his new Emperor agreed with them. Not unreasonable, Roboute had to admit. Keeping his boyhood retreat intact was one of the few acts of sentiment that he allowed himself.
Sentiment did not seem to be the Emperor's forte.
He was not the only one to follow his new father's gaze. Clearly his sister - and that was a considerable surprise - was also well versed in the Emperor's body language for she looked directly over at the Arcanium and then smiled warmly. "Oh that's perfect!"
Roboute and the Emperor looked at her with identical questioning expressions.
"It's a beautiful city, Roboute," she assured him. "But that's the first part I've seen that fits your personality." Then Serenity blushed slightly. "It is yours, isn't it?"
"Yes." Roboute hesitated fractionally. "My father gave it to me."
The Emperor gave him a measuring look and then nodded. "Serenity's better at this than I am," he admitted blandly, "But it's clear Konor was a fine man and a good father."
The Consul of Macragge was still processing this tenative gesture of acceptance of his mixed feelings when Serenity seized his arm. "Can we see more of your home, Roboute?"
{oOo}