"She's already closed out that session. I can't access anything without her credentials," Amai protests desperately, but that isn't even her biggest concern. "You -- you don't understand. Even with evidence, do you have any idea how much of a scandal it'd cause? The Handmaiden is second only to the Dowager Empress. If this were purely a haut matter, we probably wouldn't ever even hear of it, but for a ghem to be involved in the accusation -- "

She makes frustrated gestures with empty hands, looking at both of them in appeal. "You must understand. What would happen if -- if a Gem from a lower caste accused a Diamond of this level of corruption? How well would that go for the accuser?"