A black envelope was received out of the blue one day while Leticia was managing the estate. It was something she had dread and had feared since it was something that her brother had sent. It was an odd color to be used for the envelope, as the messenger slid it onto her desk in the study before leaving.
She stopped what she was doing and contemplated on what to do with it. She could ignore it, or toss it out but then the one that had to deliver the letter would be punished.
Her fingers picked up the letter, and her fingers trailed the back of it where there was a seal stamped onto it. She managed to flip it over and with her other hand pick up a small letter knife and slowly removed the seal of black with the Braxton emblem upon it.
She opened it to reveal two small letters that had been folded inside with a small parchment of some sort next to them. Her fingers pulled them out, and opened them.
“Dear Fredrick,
I hope everything has fared well for you. I am aware of your difficulties at this time, as your mother's death anniversary is nearing. The celebratory atmosphere will be quite difficult to bear, as the end of the late queen's rule is still being celebrated.
I do wish that you would return soon to the capital, and spend more time with us.
Richard was quite concerned about your health, since you have taken up drinking. I wish, like him, that you do not blame yourself for the outcomes of the rebellion. It is nobody's fault. We can only continue to live our lives and honor those that have long passed.
I hope that this break fares you great comfort, and that you too will find someone that you will love and adore like I do with Richard.
We have been through so much together, and those memories are something I am quite fond of. It gets me through these difficult times, for now I bear such a large responsibility.
I do hope you bring someone with you to the event that we will be hosting shortly, as I have added in the parchment of what this event will entail.
From,
Seraphine”
Leticia scanned the letter once more, and read it a few more times before taking a look at the other letter. This confirmed that her brother did indeed get married to this woman named Seraphine after the fall of the late queen and her death.
The other letter was from her brother, Richard.
“Fredrick,
My good friend.
Time has not been kind to either of us, as we both wallow in grief and regret. I too ponder on my actions, during my duties as king. I ask myself if there would have been a better option, but Seraphine would always assure me that there was no other at that time.
I am most thankful to her for being here by my side. I am weak, and unfit in so many ways to be king for I never asked for such a position to carry such a large responsibility.
It seems that I must request for your return to the capital due to urgency. Seraphine had asked me to wait, but I cannot. I need you here by my side, as the gathering of nobles has begun.
Richard”
A gathering of nobles?
Leticia had never heard of this before, as she folded the letters and placed them back into the envelope. She picked up the last item, which was the parchment and opened it.
Inside was a colorful parchment of multiple colors that ranged from black to yellow and written on it was Fredricks name in a thin light letter with his standing, the time, and the event written on the bottom. It looked to be a celebration of the unity of all six nations that included Braxton with what was a peace conference afterwards.
Leticia put the parchment back onto the table, and leaned herself back onto her chair. Her head up against the head rest, as her eyes peered up at the ceiling for a brief moment.
How was she going to fool that brother of hers?
“Albert.” Leticia called out, and the door to the study opened, and an older gentleman with a long-curled mustache, a clean-shaven beard stepped in with his fine fitting suit that was grey on top and black pants on the bottom. He was the head butler of the Burton family.
Leticia could recall how she was quickly introduced to him during the first few days of her gender swap. Her opinions of him were not high, due to his constant nagging. He did have a few honorable traits, since he had served the Burtons for over forty years, and was well versed in literature. He carried quite a high standard in etiquette that Leticia found quite irritating, since he would watch her from a certain distance to often point out when she took a misstep or if her gait was slightly off.
He looked quite exhausted with a slight frown on his face with the amount of work that had piled up during Fredricks absence. “You called, master?” He asked with the papers now being put to his side. He held his head down and kept his free hand on his chest.
“I did Albert. I was invited to the upcoming festivities. I need a new set of outfits to be tailored in my size for the event.”
Albert looked up not too surprised by Leticia statement pulled up the paperwork at hand, and slowly walked towards Leticia. He leaned towards her, and picked up one of the quills at hand and scribbled onto one of the papers, before he added "are you referring to the ball that the majesties had invited you too?”
Leticia who did not expect Albert to walk up to her desk meekly said, “yes” with her eyes wide open.
He took a few steps back and straightened himself out. “Will you be attending with Lady Natalia?”
Leticia who had let the thought slip through her mind remembered that she did make an arrangement to go with her to the ball. "It seems to be the case. Albert since you are aware of my engagement, what do you know of the Brown family?”
“It is quite strange for you to ask that question. If you would like to know more about the Brown’s, I do suggest that the private library would be the best choice.” He motioned. “I will inform the tailor about the new outfit. Will you inform the lady or would you like me to do so, master?”
Leticia didn’t feel like writing a letter to Natalia, so sending Albert seemed to be the best option. “Do so.”
Albert gave a quick bow, before he took his leave through the front door once the conversation was completed.
Leticia had quite a feat to face these next following days that would require a lot of her mental prowess. She would have to take a detour towards the capital and meet up with her brother, whether she wanted to or not before the ball.
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