[ despite himself, the near-invisible tension in his shoulders does seem to ease faintly. the translation the device provides is imperfect, but it's better than nothing. and in a strange place surrounded by strange people, without so much as his nohecharei, anything familiar is embarrassingly welcome.

he's never heard of the barrayaran imperium--unsurprisingly, given this stranger's unusual colouring and ears--but it's comforting to think that someone in maia's position has managed this place. he even seems.. content, perhaps? at ease in his skin, at the very least, which is far more than what maia can see. hast been here longer, surely.

he hesitates, head tilting faintly, ears lifting. ] If not your title, we would.. be glad to know how you prefer to be known. [ this is already turning into one of the stranger encounters he's had in his short reign. this emperor speaks of support, of friends, as if it's only to be expected. .. perhaps it is, in his court. perhaps his lands are more like the barizheise in tradition.

his eyes dip briefly, lips pressing thin. he sucks in a breath through his nose, though, glance coming back up. ] We do not.. seek to impose our rule on-- on these lands. Truthfully, nothing could be further from the truth. [ if he could just be maia drazhar again, he'd love nothing better. ] But we cannot.. [ he struggles to find the words to explain, brows drawing together faintly. ] We cannot entirely set aside the trappings of our office, either. Were one of our subjects to arrive, we cannot.. not be their emperor. [ he hesitates, and then more softly: ] But we can be Edrehasivar, without stylings.