Jessica had never seen a grander residence than the Imperial Palace, the city-sized home of the Emperor of a Million Worlds. She would remain here for months, at the side of the Lady Anirul Corrino, ostensibly as a new lady-in-waiting… though she suspected the Bene Gesserit had other plans in mind.

Generations of the Imperial family had accumulated the material wonders of the universe and commissioned the intricate designs of the greatest craftsmen and builders. The result was a faery realm in physical form, a single sprawling building with gables, soaring rooflines, and jeweled spires that stretched toward the stars. Not even Balut’s fabulous Crystal Chateau could approach such a level of ostentation. A previous Emperor, arrogant in his agnosticism, claimed that God Himself could not have resided in a more pleasing abode.

Standing here in awe, Jessica was inclined to agree. In the company of Reverend Mother Mohiam, she worked harder than usual to control her emotions.

Dressed in conservative robes, she and Mohiam entered a sweeping parlor whose walls were sheets of priceless soostones; rainbow hues danced in their lustrous, milky surfaces. The brush of a fingertip caused the stones to change color temporarily.

Accompanied by watchful Sardaukar guards, a tall woman glided in to meet them. She wore an elegant white gown with a black-pearl necklace, and moved with the fluid grace of a Bene Gesserit. When she smiled warmly at the young visitor, tiny lines formed around her large doe eyes.

“Not quite like the Mother School, or cold and wet like Caladan, is it?” As she spoke, Lady Anirul looked around at the palatial extravagance, as if noticing it anew. “Another week or two, and you won’t want to leave.” She came forward, showing no hesitation about placing her palm on Jessica’s abdomen. “Your daughter couldn’t be born in a better place.” Anirul seemed to be trying to sense the baby’s disposition, or its gender, through her touch.

Jessica flinched away from the Emperor’s wife. Mohiam looked at her oddly, and Jessica felt naked, as if her beloved yet hated teacher could see directly into her thoughts. Jessica covered her withdrawal with a hurried curtsy. “I’m sure I will enjoy my visit and your generosity, Lady Anirul. I am happy to serve you in whatever duties you think are fitting for me, but as soon as my child is born I must return to Caladan. My Duke awaits me there.” Inwardly, she chastised herself. I must not show that I care about him.

“Of course,” Anirul said. “The Sisterhood may allow that, for a time.” As soon as the Bene Gesserit possessed the long-awaited Harkonnen-Atreides baby, they would have no further concern for the affairs or wishes of Duke Leto Atreides.

With Mohiam at her side, Anirul led Jessica through a dizzying maze of cavernous rooms until they reached the second-floor apartment that had been assigned to her. Jessica held her chin high and maintained her dignity, though a wondering smile warmed her face. If I am just to be another lady-in-waiting, why am I receiving such royal treatment? She was given rooms near the chambers inhabited by the Emperor’s wife and the Imperial Truthsayer.

“You must rest, Jessica,” Anirul said, looking again at her belly. “Take care of your daughter. She is very important to the Sisterhood.” Shaddam’s consort smiled. “Daughters are such treasures.”

Jessica felt uncomfortable with the subject. “That must be why you have five of them.”

Mohiam looked quickly at Jessica. All of them knew that Anirul had given birth only to daughters because those had been her instructions from the Sisterhood. Jessica feigned weariness from her long trip, the overwhelming sights, and the amazing experiences. Anirul and Mohiam left, deep in conversation with each other.

Instead of resting, though, Jessica sealed herself in her chambers and composed a long letter to Leto.

That evening she attended a sumptuous dinner inside the Contemplation Tea House. A separate building in the ornamental gardens, the facility was large, with colorful woodcuts of flowers, plum trees, and mythical animals on the walls. The waiters wore distinctive uniforms, cut long and angular, with cuffs large enough to serve as pockets, and polished bells hanging from every button. Birds flew freely inside the structure, and fat Imperial peacocks strutted beneath the windows, weighed down by their long, bright feathers.

Like peacocks themselves, the Emperor and his Bene Gesserit wife displayed their own plumage. Shaddam wore a scarlet-and-gold jacket with a diagonal red sash across the front, adorned with gold piping and the Corrino golden lion. Anirul had a matching, though narrower, sash, over a shimmering platinum-fiber gown.

Jessica sat in a yellow chiffeau evening gown given to her by Anirul as part of an entire new Palace wardrobe, along with a priceless blue-sapphire necklace and matching earrings. Three of Shaddam’s daughters— Chalice, Wensicia, and Josifa— took their seats primly beside Anirul, while baby Rugi remained with her wet nurse. The eldest daughter, Irulan, was not there to join them.

“Lady Anirul, I feel more like an honored guest than a simple lady-in-waiting,” Jessica said, touching her jewelry.

“Nonsense, you are indeed our guest for now. There will be plenty of time for tedious duties later.” Anirul smiled. The Emperor ignored them both.

All through the dinner, Shaddam was silent and drank a goodly quantity of unimaginably expensive red wine. As a result, the other diners spoke little, and the meal finished quickly. Anirul made small talk with her daughters, discussing interesting subjects their tutors had taught them, or games they had played with their nannies in various park enclosures.

Anirul leaned closer to young Josifa, her large eyes wide and earnest, though her lips retained the tiny curve of a smile to show she was teasing. “Be careful with your games, Josifa. I learned there was once a child— a girl about your age, I believe— who wanted to play hide-and-seek in the Palace. The nanny said the Palace was too large for such a contest, but the little girl insisted. She ran off down the corridors, looking for a place to hide.” Anirul dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “And she was never heard from again. I expect one day our custodians will come upon a small skeleton.”

Josifa looked amazed, but Chalice scoffed. “It’s not true! We can tell it’s not true.”

Wensicia, the second-oldest daughter, asked Jessica questions about Caladan, about the ducal castle, about how much wealth the watery planet could generate. The girl’s probing voice seemed businesslike and incisive, almost challenging.

“Duke Leto has all the amenities he needs, and he has the love of his people.” Jessica searched Wensicia’s face, saw much ambition there. “Thus, House Atreides is very wealthy indeed.”

The Emperor paid no attention to his daughters at the table, nor to his wife. He didn’t deign to notice Jessica much at all, either, except when she mentioned Leto— and then he seemed not to care for her opinion.

Afterward, Anirul ushered everyone toward a small auditorium in another wing of the Palace. “Come, come, all of you. Irulan has been practicing for weeks. We must be an attentive audience for her.” Shaddam followed, as if begrudging another obligation of his office.

The auditorium featured hand-carved Taniran columns and artful scroll designs, as well as a high, gold-filigree ceiling, and walls covered with lush shimmer paintings of cloudy skies. On the stage stood an immense ruby quartz piano from Hagal, strung with newly tuned monofilament crystal wires.

Uniformed attendants led the Imperial party to a row of private seats with the best view of the stage, while a small audience of exquisitely dressed dignitaries filed toward lesser seats, flushed with awe to be included in such an elite gathering.

Then the Emperor’s eldest daughter, eleven-year-old Princess Irulan, walked straight-backed across the stage, a lovely vision in a cerulean blue merh-silk gown. She carried herself with poise, a tall girl with long blonde hair and a face of classic patrician beauty. Gazing up at her parents in the Imperial box, Irulan gave them a formal nod.

Jessica studied this daughter of Shaddam and Anirul. The girl’s every movement was precise, as if she could plan each motion with plenty of time to spare. Knowing all the ways in which Mohiam had instructed her, Jessica could see the mark of Bene Gesserit instruction on Irulan. Anirul must have been raising her with a complete grounding in the Sisterhood. This young woman was said to possess superior intellect and skills in writing and poetry, enabling her to construct complex sonnet forms. Her musical talent had marked her as a prodigy since the age of four.

“I am extremely proud of her,” Anirul whispered to Jessica, who sat in her own brocaded seat. “Irulan has the potential to achieve greatness, both as a Princess and as a Bene Gesserit.”

The Princess smiled at her father, as if hoping for a response on his wooden face, then turned to the audience. She perched delicately on the ruby quartz bench, her glittery dress flowing to the stage. She sat in utter stillness for a second, meditating, summoning her musical ability, then finally her long fingers danced across the soostone-inlaid keys, producing dulcet notes that danced in the air. The acoustically perfect auditorium filled with a medley of great composers.

As the magnificent sounds flowed around Jessica, she felt a wash of sadness. Perhaps her emotions were being manipulated at a visceral level by the music. How ironic that she was on Kaitain, despite having no aspirations of ever coming here, while Leto’s first concubine Kailea— who had so wanted this life of luxury and spectacle— had never been able to attain it.

Jessica already missed her Duke with an ache that filled her chest and made her shoulders heavy.

She saw the Emperor’s head tilt as he dozed off, and noted the disapproving sidelong glance of Anirul.

All does not glitter on Kaitain, Jessica thought.