He shakes her hand, and some part of him wishes he could smile. Another part of him just feels very, very tired.

"You have the thanks of Rome, and my thanks as well. It shall be written down by the scribes, and proclaimed openly at Summer Court. I have a great deal of announcements to make there, related to the future of Rome."

And then he does smile, just a bit. There's something amused about it, not amused at Taryn, but amused at something else he's planning to do.... something that'll stick in the craw of the rebellious Patricians.