Princess Lainey requests an audience with her father and introduces the man she married from the Outlands. The court erupts: the father insults the husband as a filthy barbarian, fears disease and shames his poverty and lack of gifts, praising his other son-in-law Emmitt instead. Lainey insists they traveled far to show goodwill and brought presents, but the mood stays hostile. The turn comes when a noble recognizes one gift as a Jadecrest Crystal, top-grade jade, and the husband calmly says they have plenty back home. Her father is left forced to reassess; his next judgment hangs unresolved.