"Of course." Just a little dry. Because 'no part could be left to chance' was only the argument of someone with things to hide. There could be very good reasons to hide, but a ruler who loved his or her people, in his view, let actions and that people speak for themselves. Not... whatever had been done to the people who lived in the houses they were staying at.

... and then his eyebrow twitched up at Ashe.

"I would say the former would require more than a few days' worth of trust buildup, anyway. Respecting and learning about them, like any decent neighbor."

They were that, he hoped. Whether the Empire would prove do so, as well, well. A Prince could hope.