"My dearest Consort," she replied with a smile as he kissed her hand. "No apologies needed, you didn't sic four bureaucrats after me this afternoon. How was the homeworlds and your kin?" She took his arm as he walked her out and leaned on it to reassure herself he was here and solid. He took his duty to his people seriously, as council to the Inhumans as they held the mighty empire together while the Supreme was recollected. But while she would not ask him to shirk duty, she had missed him terribly.