+affair not related to military strength. You are my guest at the moment, and while I would never harm the woman my son loves, I am not afraid to make your, not her, life hard here. Am I perfectly clear?”

+your loyalty suspect, and you generally irksome. I inform you of my opinion so you understand how little tolerance I will have to you causing trouble in my domain—for until Annette completes her training after the wedding, make no mistake, I am the mistress of this duchy and manage almost every +

+reputation of my family will fall. You wish to preserve your niece, and I wish to preserve the legacy my husband left.

I will spare no expense to ensure this wedding cannot have fault found beyond how fast it occurs, and while I have no quarrel with your niece, I find your attitude bothersome, +

+wedding, the narrative I need paint to salvage her reputation, or her training to manage this duchy. Know I recognise your concern for her happiness, and if at any point she seems mot to desire this, you may take her, but otherwise you are not to meddle, or both Annette’s reputation and the +

After leading the Baron to her office and ensuring the door closed behind him, Mariya speaks.

“Your niece is marrying into my family, so it only is suitable we shall handle the wedding. You need not provide a dowry, as the blame for this falls on my son, but you will not interfere in this +

//I feel like I was on a drug trip despite being completely sober. Holy shit. That was definitely an experience.

//Two dead men, a tired widow and mother, and a grumpy sarcastic cat with a sword.

//Rodrigue voice: Love please protect yourself—

Mariya: A good offence is the best defence. Besides, I do have a shield. You.

Rodrigue, internally screaming

+tries, they listen only to me, do not fret.”

+that could be intercepted and the secret revealed—is on the thinnest of ice, and her serene smile should not be taken as a sign of pleasure.

“Baron Dominic. Kindly follow me to my office while the young generation reunites under the watchful gaze of my maids. Felix could not order them away if he+

Oh, she wasn’t happy with anyone in this room right now.

Felix was on thin ice, and could feel the displeasure radiating off her. Annette she’d be forgiving to, but she still is ever so slightly irked at her.

Baron Dominic, for all his short comments in his letter—and for writing such a thing +

+woman in this kingdom’s social hierarchy. She plans to utilise every weapon at her disposal.

This is not the first storm she has weathered, nor will it be the last, that threatened to take her family under. She’s become quite the expert at managing public opinion—and as no Queen sits upon the Faerghus throne with Dimitri and no Duchess stands besides Felix yet, she is the most powerful +

+telling her who passed it to me to gift. That is the least I can do for a knight who so loyally served with my beloved.

Sincerely, Dowager Duchess Fraldarius.

—

The letter bears her personal stamp and seal, not the official seal of Fraldarius.

+Rest assured, I shall endeavour to ensure your daughter has the perfect wedding day. Barring any unfortunate situations, it will be her only wedding, and therefore must be a fond memory. However, I will grant you a favour. Should you wish to pass her on a wedding gift, I shall do so without +

+duchess with some training, as a duchy is far different from a barony. As the war has taught us that life is short, I have no intention to drag out an engagement period, and plan to grant them a quick wedding.

I am sure you already know, but I doubt I shall be able to extend you an invitation. +

+life moves on, and I have gathered my strength to see the things he couldn’t, like the sight I hope to soon see after the union of our children—a grandchild to spoil.

My son seems enamoured with your daughter, and I have not the heart to discourage them. I am sure she shall make a wonderful +

Though it takes several attempts before Mariya can read it in full, she manages.

Her handwriting when she replies is neat, evidence of the amount of letters she must write a day.

—

Sire Dominic,

I thank you for your sentiments about my husband. His loss is a hole carved from my heart, but +