In reality, Sam doesn't know how the Imperial City looks, and it's his first time going there. If you asked Sam whether he's excited or not, he would definitely say that he is. He heard that in the Imperial City, the royal buildings float in the air.
Everything important or related to the imperial and big families exists in the floating air, while the houses or buildings of qualified and retired soldiers are on the ground. That's why it's said that the safest place in the Blue Star is the imperial city of any country.
Sam also remembered from his previous life memories that even when the world was on the brink of destruction, or when these provinces became ruins during the war against the Cthulhu god, the Imperial City still existed. Only a few floating buildings fell. Sam is quite eager to see it with his own eyes.