"The Cetagandan ghem-lords would call it the loyalty justly due to superior culture and civilization," Maz smiles. "The fact is that anyone who's competent enough or powerful enough to pose a threat gets genetically co-opted. There is no higher reward in the Cetagandan system than to be Imperially assigned a haut-lady wife. The ghem-lords are all panting for it. It's the ultimate social and political coup."