He reached over as he realized where the conversation was going, and covered Bastetta's ears before he could mention making it its own sovereign state. Once the emperor to be was done, he uncovered her ears, ignoring her glare. "An interesting idea, but I have a counter idea. I go in, and you mention annexing it, and I point out the constructs, who had been training your guards, serve me personally. And if the old bloods continue to make noise about my 'foreign blood' then they can meet me on the challenge field. Of course, that has absolutely no bearing on my own selfish thoughts that they need to be reminded that aged ideas are stagnant, and that I would be more than happy to teach them that lesson. I also, being the poor, misguided, foreign barbarian that I am, might have to issue the challenge in an equally barbaric way. Like by tossing the gauntlet and 'accidentally' missing the floor. They don't need all their teeth, do they? And if they do, well, you have healers."<br/><br/>He waited a moment, smiling as if extremely proud of himself and ignoring the horrified or amused looks around him, before sighing. "Or at least, that is what I would want to do, but I will admit that I sleep better not having to worry about the nobles getting ideas for permanently removing me and mine. Not that it would work, but I tend to react poorly to attempts against mine. Also, I have seven various dragons living in proximity to the city, funding various businesses, and they would not take kindly to a forcible removal of the head that allowed them to run their businesses with minor interference. Four coppers, a silver, a brass, and a blue.<br/><br/>And unlike them, at least I pay all my taxes fairly. We could always audit them again, I am sure they have already forgotten the last one."<br/><br/>He paused, his head tilting slightly, ignoring Tysinni's amused look, though after a moment he laughed. "Sorry, tangent. But another interesting idea, one that is a compromise between my desire to rub it in, and yours. Declare Dragon Roost a free city-state, and date it about a year ago, with you and the Emperor's signatures on it. Has most of the benefits of a sovereign nation, but I still pay 'taxes,' official tribute, to you. Added benefit is that we can use me seceding from the empire as a viable threat, and you don't have to post guards there any more, it becomes fully my problem. And since it is a free city state, my descendants will be in charge, but yours can't slip something in without doing something that will cause me to come back to have a pointed discussion with yours."