Shibue's thoughts about Linni

I've read about his mother, she was like number three in her own country? And his dad? He was a Lolland Prinz? Or was it Benevent? Damn, some of these foreign titles were 'or if you have a higher title someplace else, this doesn't count', why was everything so complicated? And the differences between a Mastarneir, a Lucumon and a Prinz were labyrithine! Although, Amarat was also related to the same people, at least in theory, and he'd stayed in the line of succession...   Oh, he was in the line of succession... to be chief of state, these other titles, as nice as they were, were not the ultimate authority over a country... "I swear, each time I think I've learned this damn job, I find a new layer." She thought angrily. But then, I should ask Amarat, as a principal. he was head and shoulders above the rest, and as this guy's first cousin, he would know of anything fishy.   "What? Linni? You're so funny. Linni can't fight his way out of a paper bag."   "He's harmless then? But he's spending so much time with my principal..."   "Linni's a big cat boi."   She giggled, tried to stop herself but couldn't. "You do know that's the cover any spy would die to have?"   "I bet, but he's my first cousin, I was raised with him, he's just not capable of deception to that level. He'd get spanked rather than tell a lie about who dunked sand into his sister's hair."   "Integrity?"   "If he wasn't such a civilian, I'd nominate him in the order of Kagomei."   "Funny, ok, so he's square?"   "If he was any squarer, he'd be a flat plane, like a square table nap."   "How did I never hear of this guy before then?"   "He's honest, and reliable. So boring. Also, he tries hard to avoid notice."   "Some of us ladies don't think all those are bad things..."   "What, you're thinking of dating Linni?"   "No, well, I'm just saying there's something to a man being reliable and dependable."   "I used to be dependable, I think."   "Oh, silly, no, you're a principal, you're very very off limits until I retire, and you're herevallin already, I prefer men who haven't been twitterpated over other women."   "Hmm, can't say Linni's mentioned any conquests so far, so you should be the first..." That was a lie, but he wasn't ok with telling this particular story just now.   "Oh, and you're a close friend of his? You haven't been my principal that long..."   "Silly Shibue, him and his sister are family friends, my mom almost adopted them, and my honour-brother, Tallson."   "I know Tallson, I assigned him a squad on the detail, he's a friend of yours?"   "His dad died sacrificing himself for mom while she was pregnant with me, when his mom died, Linni's mom almost adopted him, was asked to, but she died before the papers got completed. Since mom was Aumhavar of Veneer, she just deemed it enough, and basically raised the three of them with me, with Nellun's help."   "Oh, would Senya know him then?"   "You're making fun of me?"   "What?"   "Look, she's your second-in-command, you haven't heard of her dating Tallson?"   "What? No! I'd have kicked them both out of the service! And not waited for the massive title 65 that it is..."   "Neither of them is a chaplain..."   "No, but Senya is Thistle of the Guards!"   "Sorry to say, but it doesn't count, and I should know..."   "What, how, why would you know better?"   "Because I got pulled through the title 65 ringer, and I was both 6th fleet thistle and 6FLTMEDCHAP, and they backed down on thistle, said only my being a chaplain counted. They're still on the hook for a 64 though."   "Why?"   "Because being the chaplain, and getting confessions, from the troops is what a title 65 is in breach of."   "Oh. Neither Senya nor Firrson is confessing the guards."   "No, do you know who is?"   "No, tell me."   "Aumhavar Megamisama. My late wife was, my Mother now. My mother, of course, in between 00001-Star-Emerald Knight of Great Kagome, Nameihomei, Secretary of State and First Circle, second wave high duty, she can just tell them to get stuffed."   "She's not even in the military, she's a civilian!"   "Actually, no, she's a Knight of Kagomei, she's subject to military discipline."   "From who?"   "From the Fount of Dignity, or the 00000-Valour-keeper of Kagomei, the Fount of Honour."   "You're making that up!"   "No, no one else can even dare to try."   "And... Oh, wait. Both Meihomei, and the valour keeper sign the paychecks of everyone in uniform."   "Unlike mother, that's about the only thing that Mother isn't Meihomei's backup signatory for."   "Well, she is third in line for signing... If Meihomei is undisposed, or the fount of honour is... missing. Nameihomei can sign."   "Yeah, but anything recurring she'd authorized would be considered 'out of budget' expenses, and need to be re-approved, once their successor is established."