Vol-2 Chapter 19: Letters
The next morning, Hania sat at her desk with a stack of parchment, a pot of ink, and a quill.
The orb floated beside her, pulsing with curiosity. What are you doing?
"Writing letters."
To whom?
"Everyone who's been annoying Lusha."
That's a lot of letters.
"I'm aware."
Hania dipped the quill in ink and began to write.
***
To His Imperial Majesty, Emperor of the Realm:
Your Imperial Majesty,
I write to you with the utmost respect and gratitude for your concern regarding my wellbeing. I am pleased to inform you that I am in excellent health, receiving the finest care from Queen Lusha and her subjects, and enjoying my studies in Silkhariana.
The Queen has informed me that you have written several times. I apologize for the delay in my response. I was recovering from a long illness and was not aware of your correspondence. I hope you can forgive my inadvertent silence.
My father once told me that you were a man of great patience and wisdom. I hope that is true. We will need both in the days ahead.
I hope this letter eases your concerns. I look forward to a future of peace and cooperation.
With the utmost respect,
Hania Luxe Noctis
Daughter of Dravin Kuro Noctis
P.S. Fluffy.
---
To the Honorable Members of the Magic Council:
Esteemed Council Members,
I have received your letters with great appreciation for your concern regarding my wellbeing. I assure you that I am not being held against my will. Queen Lusha has been a kind and generous guardian, and I consider Silkhariana my home for the time being.
I have heard that the Council has been writing to every kingdom and magical institution in the known world. While I appreciate your diligence, I must ask that you cease these letters. They are causing unnecessary concern and could lead to misunderstandings. Queen Lusha has been nothing but kind to me. I would appreciate it if you would stop accusing her of kidnapping. It is hurtful and untrue.
With respect,
Hania Luxe Noctis
Master Healer of the Silver Weave
P.S. Fluffy.
---
To Master Valentin, Vice Principal of the Grand Academy:
Dear Master Valentin,
Thank you for your touching letters about my need for 'human social interaction.' It brought a tear to my eye to know a total stranger cares so deeply about my academic future.
I do appreciate your worry that I might be isolated from human culture. However, my father, Dravin Kuro Noctis, Archmage of the North, taught me all the magic I currently need to know. He sends his warmest regards, by the way. He usually expresses them by glaring at the horizon, but I know he means well.
I am considering your polite invitation to study among my 'own kind,' but frankly, I'm not sure the Academy is ready for me yet. My father always said that if an institution hasn't had at least one structural collapse per semester, it's not a real school. Does your campus meet that safety standard?
I will consider visiting when I turn twelve. Until then, please keep up the good work shaping the minds of the empire's youth. Someone has to.
Yours respectfully,
Hania Luxe Noctis
P.S. Wait, fluffy.
---
To the Ant Queen of the Eastern Tunnels:
Your concern is noted. However, I must inform you that the Spider Kingdom's political structure is not your concern. The fact that a human is second in line to the Spider Throne is an internal matter, not a threat to the balance of power in the underground kingdoms.
However, I hear your tunnels are beautiful. I would love to see them one day. Perhaps we could discuss trade agreements over tea. I promise not to bring any spiders. That was a joke. I would absolutely bring spiders. They're my family.
If you give me a chance, I believe we can find common ground. If you do not, I will defend myself and my kingdom with everything I have. I hope it does not come to that.
With respect,
Hania Luxe Noctis
Princess of Silkhariana
P.S. Dear fluffy.
---
To the Esteemed Lord,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding my well-being. I am alive, healthy, and continuing my education under the care of Queen Lusha. Your concern is appreciated.
If you have questions regarding the Noctis bloodline, please direct them to my father. If you have questions regarding the Spider Kingdom, please direct them to Queen Lusha. If you have questions regarding me personally, please direct them to the nearest fire. They will be given the attention they deserve.
Respectfully,
Hania Luxe Noctis
Princess of Noxbrion
P.S. Fluffy.
Hania made several copies of the last letter, addressing them to each of the minor nobles who had written. Then she gathered the entire stack and walked to Lusha's chambers.
The Queen was at her desk, surrounded by scrolls and reports. She looked up when Hania entered.
"I have something for you," Hania announced.
She handed Lusha the stack. Lusha read through them, her expression shifting from curiosity to amusement to outright laughter.
"'P.S. Fluffy'?" Lusha wheezed. "What does that even mean?"
"It means nothing. That's the point. They'll spend weeks trying to decipher it."
Lusha read the letter to the Ant Queen. "'I would absolutely bring spiders. They're my family.' Hania, this is going to start a war."
"A small one. And we'll win."
Lusha read the letter to Master Valentin. "'Does your campus meet that safety standard?' You're mocking the Vice Principal of the most prestigious Academy in the empire."
"He deserves it. He's been annoying you for a year."
Lusha set the letters down and looked at Hania.
"These are perfect," she said. "I'll have them sent immediately."
"Actually," Hania said, "I was going to the mail office myself. I have a playtime appointment with the young weavers, and I thought I could drop them off on the way."
Lusha raised an eyebrow. "You want to deliver them personally?"
"I want to stretch my legs. And I want to see Klis. He's been helping me with... correspondence."
Lusha's expression flickered, but she didn't press. She reached into a drawer and pulled out a small wooden pass.
"Here," she said. "This is a mail office pass. It gives you permission to send letters within the kingdom and to approved external recipients."
Hania took the pass. "Thank you."
"Be careful, Hania."
"I'm always careful." Lusha laughed. "Go. Deliver your letters. And don't cause too much chaos."
"No promises," Hania chirped, snatching the pass and grabbing her satchel. "See you later, Lusha!"
★★★
The central mail office of Silkhariana was a bustling cavern of activity. Hundreds of web-lines stretched across the ceiling like postal cables, along which nimble messenger spiders zipped back and forth carrying parcels and scrolls.
At the main counter stood Klis, frantically sorting through a pile of outgoing dispatches with his front four legs while muttering numbers to himself.
"Ah... nine, ten, eleven... wait, where did the blue scroll go?"
"Right here, Klis," Hania said, leaning against the counter.
Klis jumped, nearly dropping a stack of trade manifests. "Princess! Hello! I didn't see you there."
"Good morning, Klis," Hania said with an angelic smile, sliding the royal permission pass across the desk. "I have official royal business today."
Klis’s eyes widened as he read the purple wax stamp. "Oh! An official courier detail from the Queen herself?"
"Indeed," Hania said, patting her leather satchel. "These need to go out on the first outbound dispatch to the surface and the underground tunnels. Special handling required."
"Consider it done, Princess," Klis said proudly, taking the satchel from her hands. "I'll sort them right into the primary postal line myself. They'll be on their way before the next chime."
"Thank you, Klis. You're the best courier in the kingdom."
While Klis was distracted by the compliment and began unbuckling the main flap of the satchel, Hania subtly flicked her fingers and slipped two extra letters from the deep lining of her dress directly into the middle of the official stack.
The first extra letter was addressed to Duke Leonarth. The second extra letter was addressed to Princess Thalira back at the Obelion palace.
Klis didn't notice a thing. He bundled the entire stack together, securing them with a web-strand tag, and dropped them into the express chute.
"All set, Princess!" Klis beamed. "Your official duties are complete."
"Wonderful," Hania said, dusting off her hands. "Now that work is done... are you ready for our playtime appointment?"
Klis blinked. "Playtime? Right now?"
"Of course," Hania said brightly, grabbing a small ball from her pocket and tossing it up and down. "You promised you'd show me how the couriers play web-tag across the upper tiers. And if you try to run away, remember, I'm a Master Healer now, which means I know exactly how many joints you have and how to make them ache if you cheat."
Klis swallowed hard, though a nervous, excited grin spread across his face. "Right then! No cheating! Follow me, Princess!"
As Klis scrambled up the silk-woven wall, Hania followed close behind, her laughter echoing through the cavern. High above the capital, amidst the glowing mycelium and the hum of a kingdom that had no idea what was coming for it, the nine-year-old princess settled in to play.