Valya Harkonnen enjoys her time at the Imperial Court in Zimia, seeing the palace as the world her family should have inhabited if House Harkonnen had not been disgraced. Though officially only part of Reverend Mother Raquella's entourage, Valya studies the court closely and hides her family name, while privately imagining the restoration of Harkonnen status.

Reverend Mother Raquella presents herself and the Sisters to Emperor Salvador Corrino, who wants his sister Anna removed from court quietly to avoid further scandal. Because the next spacefolder to Rossak will not depart for two days, the Sisters remain in the palace. Valya tries to approach Anna, but Anna isolates herself, so Valya instead asks to observe an Imperial business session, and Sister Dorotea secures permission.

At the meeting, Salvador convenes Landsraad leaders to discuss economic cooperation, tariffs, transport surcharges, and the risks of using shipping firms without Navigators. Valya finds the proceedings dull until a tall man in an old Army of Humanity uniform interrupts, pushes aside the speaker, and addresses the Emperor with the confidence of a veteran commander.

Valya recognizes the intruder as Vorian Atreides, the man she blames for Abulurd Harkonnen's disgrace and the ruin of her family's standing. Vorian declares that raiders attacked his planet, Kepler, enslaved his people, and that he has just liberated them from Poritrin's slave markets. He asks Salvador to protect Kepler, admitting that outlawing slavery entirely is politically unrealistic.

Salvador is initially confused but grows awed when Vorian identifies himself as Supreme Bashar, Hero of the Jihad, and offers genetic proof. The Emperor provisionally welcomes him and praises his service, prompting cheers from the chamber. Valya is sickened by the honor shown to Vorian and suppresses an urge to attack him, deciding instead to preserve her position and rely on her brother Griffin to seek revenge now that Vorian's survival and homeworld are known.