The Duke of Valdemar is not an interesting man. 

Following in the footsteps of his father before him, he runs his distant provincial duchy competently enough. Pays his taxes on time. Breeds horses more than just 'competently', but this is hardly a glamorous pursuit; and the fiddly details of horse pedigrees are of little interest at Court. Certainly he shows no particular skill at the games of power. (Which means that he'll lose, sooner or later, but the Emperor is in no particular rush to reassign the smallest duchy in the Empire as a prize to a favored courtier.) 

Duke Valdemar, like his father, is innocently oblivious to the spy placed among his manor lords, and reports still flow to the Capital along with taxes and tributes, but they almost never merit the Emperor's personal attention, even briefly. Once in a while, though, even a country bumpkin can produce some amusement. Some polite snickers are shared around the Court after Lord Merrin reports that his lordship the Duke of Valdemar spent an entire night – during a storm, at that – cooped up in the stables, personally supervising the birth of a horse. 

Reminded of the man's existence, the Emperor has his secretary check the records, and notes that eight years have passed since the Duke's last visit to Court. It seems only appropriate to order his personal attendance this year, along with his usual tribute of finely bred horses. Maybe he can provide some entertainment. 

Of course, even the apparently-harmless may not be what they seem. This visit calls for some closer surveillance. One of the Emperor's junior mages will be assigned to keep an eye on the man during his visit, from the moment he arrives. 

Duke Valdemar presents his invitation, which also serves as a temporary Gate-talisman, to the Gatekeeper, and is cleared to cross, and less than a minute later, ushers his strings of horses across the Gate, and steps into the Capital.