"Well, let's talk about you then. Did your departure these years have anything to do with the Empress? The wanted notice for Fisher Benavides lasted only six months, like a little girl sulking with her lover."
"No, it has nothing to do with her, but I'll return sooner or later. Our issue was never about the wanted notice."
"Yes, anyone with a keen eye can see that..." Keken exhaled a puff of smoke, smiling as he spoke, "The ministers urge the Empress to select a Prince more quickly. Those suggestions fly to the Golden Palace like snowflakes, achieving nothing but souring Queen Elizabeth's mood. If Schwali's Prince Luosang hadn't married already, and if there were other suitable Princes, diplomatic mailboxes would have been flooded with wedding proposals."
"She is this year..."
