[ His smile is thin as he takes a drag off his cigarette. He is aware. Painfully aware. In spite of all his jesting, in spite of his ironic posture towards his title, he does take it seriously. Because he is the emperor for all those people in stasis. There are countless Barrayaran subjects, and he is the only one who can see them awake. The job of an emperor indeed - to save his subjects.
no subject
But to admit that would be to admit...weakness. ]
So how did your father control you, dear maiden?