Lady Ana DuSonde sipped on her peach wine as she picked another letter. Setting the gss down, she grabbed her letter opener and slid it under a vender scented wax seal. Scanning the contents, she sighed. Another invitation from some count or countesses daughter for tea, or lunch, or brunch, or anything to try and earn social capital with the prince consort. Why she hadn't hired someone to screen her mail yet, she didn't know. Perhaps it helped to know that someone had to manually write them in one fashion or another and that she would end up attending a few of the events. Maybe she just liked the rustic paper the nobles used.

  Her main supposition was that she just liked the chance to rex and read. Time away from all the politics and little schemes of the imperial capital. Toby was the only one she allowed in her space during these times and he was at some event or other that she was thankfully exempt from participation in. A knock came at the door, though, and it excited her because it was probably Beth, the assistant post master.

  Despite a consistent stream of polite aristocratic correspondence, there were more important messages Ana was waiting for. Mostly from her family. She usually left a standing request for the pace rookery to bring her anything important. Right now that was anything from her sister, Hilda, or their mother, Verea. Hilda was gathering information for Ana on the frontier, and any message the duchess deemed important enough to send to Ana would be worth her attention.

  It wasn't Beth when Ana opened the door. There stood Tobias, third prince of the Empire, with his beautiful grin donned and his sharp formal wear partially unfastened for comfort. He held a couple of envelopes in his hand.

  “Hey Ana~,” he said, “how's your alone time?”

  Ana's eyes lit up, “You finished early?”

  “My presence isn't necessary for the reception portion of the ceremony. My father allowed me to leave to see you. I nabbed your mail when I ran into Miss Beth on my way over.”

  Ana pulled Toby into her study and closed the door. She couldn't believe how much she loved this man, sometimes. It made her want to try and expin to him just how much. Prince Tobias had made the dreams of a sad little girl, doomed to the wrong puberty, come true. Ana would get to be a princess with a dashing, caring prince and she felt she could never truly express her gratitude. Speaking of her past life to Toby might confuse or disgust him. Ana desperately doubted the tter reaction in her heart but still pyed it safe. It didn't need to be relevant.

  He handed her the letters before settling down and pouring himself a small gss of the wine. Ana was excited to see an envelope from Hilda - updates on Ademhill and the frontier for sure - and pleased to see that Kirk had sent their regur correspondence early. Tobias sipped his wine and watched her dutifully open Hilda's letter first. Toby would want to hear the contents. The information was good, and it came with portents for more, but Ana scoffed as she finished the second page.

  Toby chuckled, “Is Hilda testing your patience again, Lana?”

  Rolling her eyes, Ana griped, “Sometimes I think my family should be grateful that my youngest sister decided to fuck off to the frontier. She's so inconsistently aware of others’ motives.”

  “Is it Vasi?”

  “Of course it's Vasi. Who else is down there to manipute her? He offered something she wanted and she gdly accepted, with no regard for the imbance. The count clearly knows I'm getting information from her, and he'll probably want a favor from us.”

  Toby shrugged, “You did say there were drawbacks to using her. ‘Reliable and trustworthy, but cking finesse’, you told me. What did she find out?”

  Ana pursed her lips, “Ademhill has a queen. She headed negotiations with Vasi, and ascended to the position when said negotiations went well. They've been trading for a few years, and the cn has understandably tried to secure themselves a safe pce to live. They built their own fortress down there.”

  “Really? Impressive. They act like we made the north half of the continent unsafe for them,” he finished sardonically.

  “Exactly. The queen is currently taking an expedition south to find a safer pce to live.”

  Toby's eyes lit up with recognition, “No!” he gawped, “Dé Cyon?”

  “Yes.” The prince began to chuckle. “As a diplomatic measure, the queen put out an offer for some mercenaries to accompany her. Vasi sent one of his men, and Hilda was the ideal candidate to further legitimize the survey.”

  “Great. We get firsthand information on the cn, but…”

  “Like I said.”

  “Oh, but Lana. Hilda gets to try and see a big extremely dangerous snake, just like she always wanted.”

  Frowning, Lana chided, “It's bad luck to bspheme the godbeast, Tobias. I'm sure she won't even get close to the temple. It's unfortunate for Ademhill, but there's no way the city is safe after all this time. Godbeasts are immortal, and the way my mother described one was…” Ana grimaced as she flipped to the st page of the letter.

  As she read, Toby gesticuted, “Ah, but if they're unkilble, then where will your dear sister find a fearsome beast to sy for her own accomplishments.”

  Ana snorted, her amusement growing into a grin at the contents of the letter, “She'll make do. Hilda's already making headway on taking after our mother elsewhere.”

  “Oh?”

  “Remember the elf and the felind?”

  “The former sves, yes?”

  “They're all together, now.”

  “Ha! And Celia doesn't even have one girlfriend. You were sure they're competitive like that, right?”

  “It's practically the only reason Hilda attended the academy. She wanted to match or one up her golden sibling. I don't bme her, honestly. Celia can seem obnoxiously perfect at times.”

  “That's glowing praise for the navy's most feared commodore, Lana.”

  “It's all in retively good fun. Not like with Ed and Celia.”

  Toby's expression soured, “I don't really understand his bitterness, to be honest.”

  “You're not an heir whose biggest competitor is clearly the better choice. I don't even think Celia tries to outshine Ed. She just does.”

  “Poor guy. Maybe he'd be better as a political token like me.”

  “I don't think Tilda would be happy with that.”

  “That woman should let her only born child rex.”

  “She should. Not that anyone but my mother could tell her what to do.”

  “Didn't your mother have to literally beat Matilda into submission once?”

  “That's not how it was described to me, though I've been told their first argument after the wedding could be heard throughout all of the Sondervand, which seems ridiculous, but…” Ana left it unsaid that there was no proof against the story.

  “Incredible. At least Clyde and Elias are easy to understand. Both are assholes in want of power.”

  “Watch yourself when speaking ill of the crown prince this close to the pace, milord. ”

  Toby stuck his tongue out, blowing raspberries, “As the third in line to the throne, I will say whatever I please about Clyde. He wants half the world to rule over, and that's not a good thing.”

  “I know. I also wouldn't put it past his majesty the emperor to sp your wrists for it, Tobias.”

  Toby sighed with a smirk, “I shall have to settle by only speaking ill of Eli, then.”

  Ana giggled at him, “Not like there's much worth saying there, Eli only has a fiancée because of his position.”

  Toby snorted as Ana picked up the other letter. An update from Kirk on his studies and the quieter happenings of the estate, she expected. Since half of their siblings had scattered across the empire, Ana liked to keep up with her younger brother. Only Ed and Alvin were regurly at the estate, and the former was rarely good company given Matilda's pressure on him.

  Tobias eyed her as she reached for the opener, “How has young Kyrike been, anyway? You never mention his letters much, Lana.”

  Pausing, Ana admitted, “Kyrike is healthy, but unhappy. I'm not quite sure why, but he is the youngest sibling of seven in a family with at least five parental figures. Sometimes I wish I could spend more time with him at the estate. Help him out when he's not busy with his studies. I just don't have the time around him to find out what's wrong. Which is why I started sending letters.”

  “Hah. You really just reached out like that?"

  Ana smiled and tore open the letter. “I've told you time and time again that I love my family, your highness.”

  Toby sipped his wine and stared out the window, “Guess it's hard for me to imagine. Sometimes House DuSonde reminds me of a tale I heard of a macabre, almost brutal family that loved and respected each other, despite their varied personalities. It's good that you try to keep a rapport with Kirk, though. Even if you don't figure out his issue, he'll probably come to you first if he finds himself in a crisis. Ah- I'm rambling again. Shouldn't have had that drink at… Lana?” Tobias spoke much softer as he saw Ana's expression, “What's wrong?”

  While Toby had spoken, Lana started reading the retively short letter. Despite the mild suspicion that her fiancé has just said something rather odd, her expression dropped as she read Kirk's message. By the time Toby noticed, Ana was frowning with tears forming in her eyes.

  “It's Kirk-” she started, unevenly, “I know what's wrong,” Ana blinked, causing tears to stream down her face while she tried to focus, “gods! Toby, I have to go back home! and I don't know what I can even do.” Her eyes darted back and forth in thought while her mind was racing.

  Toby sat up in worry, “Ana, I don't understand.”

  Ana breathed deep through her teeth and looked her fiancé in the eyes, “I need to clear my schedule. You were right. He came to me for help. I have to find out what I can do to help m- Kirk.”

  “My love,” Toby's soft words tickled her emotions, “what is it that's wrong with Kirk?”

  Another tear formed in Ana's eye, “I want to expin, Tobias, but I don't think I'm ready yet. I recognize Kirk's worries, and why I do is a secret. The problem is… a sensitive subject.”

  Toby's concern showed in his face, but he nodded, “Okay Lana. I'll need your help to wrap up our petition with the emperor, if not put a pause on the matter until we can return. You should be able to get away from your responsibilities in the peerage with the excuse of a private family emergency, which I believe this actually qualifies-?”

  Ana nodded, “it better. If I can convince my mum that I'm right, it will be.”

  “Yes, of course. Your options are wide if you have the duchess's support. You'll have to personally tie up any of your social ends as well. We'll likely have to return for the summer ball, but maybe Celia can help support Kirk during her shore leave, if you become embroiled in the capital again.”

  “Celia is rather rough, but she might understand enough to help... Did you say ‘we’, Tobias?”

  “Yes I said ‘we', Lana. I have my own responsibilities, but if it's a big family problem, I want to come support you. Besides we both know I'm nearly helpless without your assistance. I'd still be trying to obstruct Clyde's imperious nonsense without you. It might take me an extra week or two to get away, but my father will certainly support my endeavors to maintain a positive retionship with my fiancée and the DuSonde duchy.”

  If prince Tobias had shown himself to be even a fraction as slimy as either of his brothers, Ana might not have felt so comforted by his words. She beamed at her fiancé, “thank you, Toby.”

  Ana didn't know how she could help Kirk other than to be there for him. She was going to have to do research on things that had never even occurred to her to look into. It'd be a few weeks before she could tie up her business in the capital and go back to Sondegürd, maybe even after Cecilia returns from her tour of duty. Ana might have to ask another big favor from Hilda to keep the Ademhill situation at hand, depending on how things look after their expedition.

  She knew one thing, though. Toby loved her, and the support of her prince was more than Ana could ever hope for. It was unchaste and scandalous for people of their status, but Ana didn't care when she pulled him up for a kiss in the privacy of the study.