The Edengold capital residence was just as opulent as you'd expect, built from marble and imported hardwood. It stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the palaces of other great nobles and kings.
The Imperial family had gifted them all, of course, a magnanimous gesture to any noble human or beast-kingdom ruler with any kind of positive relationship with them.
It came with a price, naturally. These mansions arrived fully staffed with a small army of servants whose first loyalty was stamped with the imperial seal.
The residences were basically beautifully appointed surveillance posts for these connections, connections positive enough to be worth monitoring. A roof over your head in the heart of power, with the walls pre-installed with ears.
Eastiel knew. Everyone who mattered knew. But refusing the "gift" would be a diplomatic incident, a declaration of paranoia or, worse, guilt. So you accepted the gilded cage and then set about quietly changing the locks.
