Father

I’ve been told that my relationship with Father is abnormal, that a daughter shouldn’t have to schedule meetings with a father living under the same roof, and that a mere five minutes of his time out of the week is absurd. I suppose I’ve felt some relief hearing such things. It means I can expect my children’s father not to put them through such tedium.

I stepped into my Father’s office and presented him the necessary salute. “Crown Princess Diane greets you, Father.”

As per usual, Father didn’t look away from his work. “Why have you scheduled this meeting?” He asked.

“I wanted to ask you about Mother. How did she die?” I had asked the servant who had informed me of her death a similar question. He had not been told, so I sent him from whence he came to retrieve the details, but upon return, he told me that my father ordered that the information be kept classified. The first time I saw Father after that was at Mother’s funeral. Unfortunately, I could not speak to him beyond the formalities. After all, it would do me no good to portray myself as ignorant to Mother’s circumstances in public.

And so that leads me to today’s meeting. I knew that Mother left to investigate the disappearance of a village’s inhabitants the day before my coming of age, but I was clueless beyond that.

After asking my question, something unexpected happened. Father put down his work and looked at me. “The investigation was a disaster.” He said, proceeding to describe the happenings as best he could.

Initially, the government of the Milan duchy believed that the missing villagers of Eding evacuated after discovering all of their fields had rotted through over winter. The problem with this theory, however, was that their search parties couldn’t find any trace of the villagers traveling up or down the Vena River.

Upon receiving word of this, Mother decided to lead a search party of her own. According to the notes they left behind, we know that they were eventually able to locate the burnt remains of the villagers in a mass grave. The village was relatively close to Nordenheim, so it’s been assumed that roaming barbarians found a way to evade our joint forces at the border. Encountering the evacuating villagers somewhere less than a day’s trip from the village, the savages slaughtered them for an occult ritual.

On the return trip from the investigation, Mother’s party began to show signs of sickness. At first it was only those who had come in close proximity with the mass grave, but it eventually spread to the rest of the search party. Once mother began showing symptoms, she had the party come to a halt. Having no intention to expose the capital to an unknown plague, she sent forth the only two retainers who were yet to show symptoms. The party was only a short distance from the capital, so a medical team was assembled under the assumption that something could still be done to save them. By the time they reached the party; however, the living members—including Mother—had reached an irrecoverable condition. The rest of what happened to them needs no further explanation.

Upon hearing the news, Father wished for the remaining two retainers to be interviewed, but by the time the medical team had returned to the outskirts of Vallisia, they were already showing symptoms. Right now, Vallisia’s top medical researcher is doing her best to keep them both alive.

“May I meet with her?” I asked. What happened to Mother was sad, but if there is risk of an epidemic, I needed to know about it as soon as possible.

“Whenever you are ready, I’ll have her called for. Make sure you are prepared.”

“I will.”

In Consequence...

Diane, whenever she is ready, can have a meeting with Agatha.

Cassandra's Letter

By midweek, the lion’s share of the condolence letters—even from our states furthest to the east—had been delivered. It’s been very refreshing to have not had to deal with any of them yet. Instead, my work continues as usual. After studying for my proofs and practicing accounting in the morning, I decided to go to the palace library and take up a more intriguing form of work.

I’ve been required to review the crown’s audience records, but not to submit a proof on them. All audiences are recorded for the short term, but when the records are again recorded for the long term, the minor things are only tallied with similar events into categories. What this leaves is a collection of Vallis’s most prominent news: shipwrecks in the Broken Sea, important military reports from the northern lines, proposals for wild performances at festivals, the announcement and funding of various inventions, etc. Few have access to such a wide variety of information and even fewer are able to affect the events spawning from it.

However, it was not long into such a study that Eliza entered the library. “Your Highness,” she said. “You have received a letter from Lady Cassandra.” It was the only letter Eliza need not review before delivering to me and the only letter I was looking forward to.

“Thank you.” I took the letter and Eliza vacated the library, most likely returned to her sorting.

Though I’ve never met my sister before, she has always felt closer than Mother or Father. I’ve grown enough to not be embarrassed admitting that when I was small I’d send her tear stained letters complaining of Mother’s rejections. During those times, it was Cassandra who encouraged me to work hard for Mother’s approval.

What were the things I loved about Mother? Cassandra told me to strive towards what I love and embody the ideals that Mother failed to represent. If I succeeded, then Mother couldn’t help, but recognize me.

It was hard to take on such a task when Mother failed to show the slightest shift in temperament, but in my mind, Cassandra was there with me every step of the way supporting me. Things haven’t turned out as we had planned, but thanks to our effort, I couldn’t be more prepared for the current situation.

I opened her letter. She began with condolences and an expression of sorrow that she could not be in Vallisia, mourning with me. In the wake of Mother’s death, it is necessary to make sure the east was secure before her departure. As we had originally planned, we’ll have to wait until this summer’s gala for our first meeting. The rest of the letter progressed as expected and I suppose that was the problem.“I ask that you continue to be strong as you’ve been up until now,” she said. “Continue following in mother’s footsteps and everything will turn out fine.”

Following in mother’s footsteps. I wonder if that’s still the right way to proceed. I’ve started to think that the differences between Mother and I are more important than the similarities. What ideal led her to an early grave? Whichever it is, I’m fine with throwing it away.

But saying such things to Cassandra is hard. She’s only ever seen, ever written of Mother’s good side. It would be fine with anyone else, but I’d rather not lessen Mother’s image in her eyes.

On the other hand, my sister is my most trusted confidant. If there’s anyone to be understanding towards me, I expect it to be her.

In Consequence...

Diane is open to confiding about this situation to Eliza.