My Dearest Dame Catherine

[Aeus 2653]

 

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Spoiler

 

 

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A drafted letter is found alongside another, unopened, sealed and unsent.

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My Dearest Dame Catherine,

 

I hope this letter finds you in good health. It is with a heavy heart that I put pen to paper, for the purpose of expressing a matter of utmost importance. I find myself in a conflict of duty, tradition, and personal desires, and it's a dilemma that weighs heavily upon my conscience.

 

I must begin by confessing that the engagement arranged for me, the union to which I was bound by societal expectations is one that I can not accept any longer. As much as it pains me to admit, my heart yearns for another, and I am bound to her by an unbreakable bond of love and affection.

 

You see, my dearest Catherine, since we last spoke, I have met a woman who has captured my soul in a way that I thought was reserved only for poets and dreamers. Her name is Isabella, a vision of elegance and beauty whose spirit and intellect have bewitched me beyond measure. In her arms, I have found a love that transcends the boundaries of social obligation. 

 

Moreover, my dear friend, I must confess that Isabella and I have been blessed with a child, a beautiful son we have named Alexander. He is the embodiment of our love, a radiant soul who fills our lives with joy and purpose. I cannot in good conscience proceed with a betrothal to another while knowing that I  have a family of my own, one that deserves my utmost devotion and commitment. 

 

With a heavy heart, I have taken the liberty of penning a letter to our esteemed Archduke Paul, imploring him to legitimize Alexander as my rightful heir, I humbly request your assistance in this matter, dear Catherine, as your wisdom and influence may prove invaluable in securing a favorable outcome.

 

Know that it is not without a profound sense of regret for which I write. I understand the gravity of the situation and the repercussions it may bring upon my family and the reputation of the commonwealth. But I beg you to consider the happiness and well-being of an innocent child, one who deserves to stand proudly as my son and legitimate heir.

 

Please forgive me, Catherine for any pain or disappointment my actions may cause you. It is not my intention to bring harm or sadness into your life, but rather to honor the sacred bonds of love and fatherhood that have been bestowed upon me. I hope in time you will find it in your heart to understand and perhaps even support the choices I have made.

 

With profound regret and sincerest of wishes,

 

Sir Emilio d’Anpalais.

16th of Sun’s Smile, 1893

 

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Along with the unfinished letter, came another in an unopened envelope sealed with the official seal of House d'Anpalais.

 

Spoiler

Your Grace, Archduke Paul Salvian,

 

I write to you with the utmost respect and humility as a loyal knight of the Commonwealth, burdened by a matter of great significance. It is with profound sincerity that I seek your attention and ask for your assistance in an affair that holds the key to the future of my lineage.

 

I come before you to implore your gracious consideration in legitimizing my son, Alexander, son of Isabella and recognizing him as my lawful heir. Born out of a deep and abiding love, he is the embodiment of the union between myself and his mother. His arrival into this world has brought joy and purpose to our lives, and it is with a sense of duty and responsibility that I turn to you, a pillar of justice and wisdom in pursuit of his rightful recognition.

 

As a knight of the Commonwealth, I am aware of the weight that comes with our positions and the expectations that society places upon us. However, I firmly believe that it is the duty of a nobleman to act with honor and integrity, even when faced with challenges that test the limits of convention. My love for Isabella and the resulting birth of our son are the products of a profound connection that surpasses societal norms, and it is my fervent desire to secure Alexander’s legitimate status as my heir.

 

I humbly submit to your wisdom and ask that you consider the implications of this request, not only for my own lineage but for the preservation of justice and fairness within our noble society. My son possesses the blood of both noble families and commoners, a unique heritage that speaks of unity and a bridge between worlds. By recognizing him as my heir, you would be affirming the importance of love, family and equality in a world that sometimes seems driven solely by rigid traditions.

 

Your Grace, I humbly request your wise counsel and guidance in this matter. I am prepared to provide any necessary documentation or undertake any obligations that may be required to secure the future of my son and his sons. I place my trust in your fairness and impartiality, knowing that your decisions are driven by a deep understanding of the delicate balance between tradition and progress.

 

I extend my sincerest gratitude for your attention to this matter, and I eagerly await your response. My the light of GOD guide your way, and may your wisdom guys us all towards a future that embraces the bonds of love and the importance of family.

 

Petra, Flowing Water! Ave! Ave!

 

Sir Emilio d’Anpalais

16th of Sun's Smile, 1893

 

 

[AndrewTech 3330]

[!] Deep within the Catherine Collection of the Petran Crown Jewels was a copy of this letter. She had intended to tender it to the Archduke, but had never had the chance.

 

But it was legitimate. It was written in Emilio's handwriting. It bore his seal in the corner of the document. A old handwritten note was left next to it, a self reminder to Dame Catherine written in her own hand to pursue this further. Emilio had died in her service shortly after the letter was written, and presenting the request was the least she could do, though it would be the Archduke’s decision. 

 

The first Chancellor of the Petra had been unable to perform this service. The Archduke had died, and in any case, she knew not where Alexander was. Later, it was not the Princess-Regent's place to act in the stead of her sovereign. Then the Civil War had come. His daughter had perished, and the bastard remained missing. History had yielded a tragic result. She had thought Emilio’s bloodline gone. 

But she had kept the letter on hand and it was, along with so many of her other historical trinkets, in the possession of the House of the Petra. She thought that perhaps someday, the child might resurface, and it would be uncovered...

[Guest]

Somewhere, Sir Paul Montalt lifted up a glimmering star-steel blade. He regarded its luminescent surface with foggy eyes, recalling that years before, he had slain his best friend Emilio's sister. He remembered Livia's defiant eyes as they stood in the arena. "Simply go into my custody, and you will be spared from the fighting." He remembered her vocal disagreement as she said, "You will have to kill me. If you let me live, I'll return to fight with the true Archduke." Her words oozed venom. Paul could feel a pang of regret in his heart, but he did that which he was conditioned to do his whole life. Before a stadium of hundreds of onlookers, he pivoted and drove his thanhic blade sword through her heart, killing her instantaneously. Clean.

 

Treachery has its price. I tried to save her. She made her choice. People cannot be saved.

 

No pain. Or at least Paul hoped.

 

His wife Maude peered to him with a lifted eyebrow, to which Paul said the following.

 

"I pray for her soul, I pray for Emilio's soul the most though, and I hope to tender my care to his shrine once I get the chance."

@Axelu