In The Name of Love

To Prince Adalberto of Syazonia, may Chuezoh richly bless him and his family,

Minna pauses, her pen hovering over the parchment. She read her fiancé’s letter to her early this morning, before getting dressed, and has been mulling over her reply all day, during all the fittings and negotiations with the seamstresses about how to use the fabrics from Vyrunia in her trousseau. While she was standing still and debating colors, she had a million things she wanted to make sure she wrote to Adalberto. But now that her work is done for the day and she is alone—Fifi is once again nowhere to be found, and even Algot is asleep on a cushion he’s claimed as a sort of nest—words fail her. And I still need to reply to Prince Didier, as well….

With an angry sigh, she crumples up the parchment and tosses it into the fireplace. Ink from her pen spatters her desk and her dress as it clatters to the floor.

“Great,” Minna mutters. “I guess I’m not taking this one to Syazonia.” The thought pains her; this simple grey frock has been one of her favorites for everyday wear.

“Is everything all right, Princess Wilhelmina?” Greta asks, coming into the study from the antechamber.

“No….” Minna turns to face Greta and gestures with exasperation at the ink on her bodice and skirt.

“Oh, I should say not! Let me help you into something clean. If I get this one downstairs while the ink’s still wet, we might be able to save it….”

“Really? I thought ink like this would be permanent.”

“It can be. But we have a few tricks. Hurry, now. Let me unlace you, and we’ll pick something else for the evening, or else just put you in your nightclothes early.”

“I’ve already had supper. My nightclothes will be fine. Thank you.”

“Of course. I know how you like this dress. And it’s my job to help.”

“Do you like your job?” The question comes out before Minna can stop it. She immediately bites her lip, wishing she could take it back. Asking such a thing is far more like Fifi than like her.

“Why, of course, Your Highness!” Greta exclaims. “You and your sister aren’t half so uppity as some of the duchesses and marchionesses of Aethyrozia. From what I’ve heard. Begging your pardon for saying so, Your Highness.”

“I…appreciate your honesty. And the compliment. And I’m sorry for asking such a question. I just….” She pauses, casting about for words, as Greta finishes unlacing her gown. “My intended says I may bring a few maids with me, and I haven’t asked my father yet, but I just wondered…if you might be willing…. I know it’s a lot to ask, and a long journey, and—”

“You mean it, Princess?” Greta interrupts, then flushes pink. “Forgive me, Your Highness. I didn’t mean to cut you off….”

“I don’t mind at all. You would go with me to Syazonia?”

“Far better for me I do that than stay here. My parents want me to marry that awful Baron of Nunsingham from your Quest for Favor, the one who made that drawing—”

“You can’t be serious,” Minna gasps. “I thought Father put him in prison.”

“I suppose not, or he bribed his way out. Mum says he’s offered my father three thousand gold durgen for my hand in marriage, which is quite a lot of money for us, but he’s horrific. I don’t think I can do it, not for any amount of money.”

“And you shouldn’t have to. I’ll speak with my father about it tomorrow, but if it’s a boon to you to come with me, I would love to keep you in my household in Syazonia.”

“It would be an honor and a blessing, Princess. Thank you ever so much. I’ll just be going to get this ink out of your dress now. May Chuezoh’s light shine always upon you!”

Greta practically runs out of the room with Minna’s dress, leaving the princess in her nightclothes to once again contemplate her letter to Prince Adalberto.

***~O~***

To Prince Adalberto of Syazonia, may the blessings and light of Chuezoh be always upon him,

I am so grateful that you found time and saw fit to reply to my letter. Your words have brought comfort and smiles to me. I am so thankful that it will be possible for me to bring maids with me, and I will happily work with you to convince my father to allow Emrik and Fifi to visit once we are married, preferably for the feast of Oggerheim. My mother will also be arguing our case on this matter; she is completely in favor of the idea. I haven’t spoken to my father yet about the maids, but my maid Greta is most eager to come with me to Syazonia, and I aim to persuade him to allow that, as well.

I did speak to him about bringing the Aethyrozian Royal Orchestra for our wedding, and I believe he will write you the same tidings, but they shall be our musicians for the festivities. I have already begun to work on choosing music and dances. Thank you for making this request, and for allowing me to handle this part of the planning. All things musical are such a delight to me, and I hope to be able to pass brief interludes playing with the Royal Orchestra when I meet with them about these plans. If there is anything else I can do to help you in any way, please do let me know.

On another note, providing Aethyrozian flowers for your mother will be no problem at all, and my pleasure. We will also bring some seeds, so that we can perhaps plant such flowers in a courtyard at Zosya, if they are pleasing to her, or else at Nysia. How is your mother doing, by the way? And the rest of your family? I hope everyone is well.

And what of your father, at the border near Barhesta? Are the negotiations going well? I confess I take great interest in political affairs, and I want to be able to help the common people, if princesses and queens are permitted to be involved in such things in any way. My father allows me to sit in on his meetings with ambassadors and advisors from time to time, but I must remain silent throughout. This is a command I can keep, if I must. Fifi cannot, and so she is no longer permitted to attend those meetings at all.

I must confess I am rather worried about my sister. She disappears for hours on end nearly every day, and she hates all mention of our wedding. We have been able to spend time together again, just us, on a few odd afternoons, and pretend like all is as it was, but I’m afraid our relationship will never be the same. I wish I knew how to talk to her about it. I don’t know where she’s been going, what she’s been doing—but we used to tell each other everything. This distance between us breaks my heart. And so I am grateful, beyond the power of written words to express, that she may come to the wedding. I know it will be hard for her, but it will at least allow us to spend more time together, before our lives split off into entirely separate directions.

To that end, I feel you must know that Fifi has not even the faintest interest in Emiliano, nor in any of your other brothers. Even if she did, my father has made it quite clear that we will not both be permitted to marry into your family. I can only believe that it would make things easier for everyone if we found a way to dissuade them from competing in Fifi’s Quest for Favor, whenever it takes place. I don’t know if such a thing is possible, but I do think it would be wise to attempt. Please forgive me if this offends—but I do feel that honesty between man and wife is a necessity, and I tell you this in the hopes of making things easier for everyone in the long term.

I do not mean to take up too much of your time with a lengthy letter, and I’m not at all convinced that I have answered all of your questions. I hope that, should you find the time and words to write back to me, you will tell me more about you. I am particularly interested in hearing what it was like to grow up with so many younger siblings, but I will be content with whatever you see fit to tell me. I am looking forward to your next letter, whenever you get a chance to write again.

Yours Truly,

Minna