The beginning of the end

I had never written to anyone before, especially not to an elegant man like the Grand Duke. His letters were always interesting and friendly, and we chatted about various subjects. He didn't mind that I wasn't as intelligent as the others and even asked my opinion on some subjects.

It was unsettling at first, but the Grand Duke and I agreed to call each other by our names, without titles, so that our letters wouldn't be seen as treason. When I saw my name written in his exquisite handwriting, a pleasant and unique feeling came over me. It felt like we were a couple or something.

I would have liked him to write more, but I knew the circumstances. But, I was confused about the real causes of the conflict. Weeks passed and William's communication was limited because he was on the battlefield. It seemed that a group of rebels, together with foreign kingdoms, intended to overthrow the empire. The Grand Duke's deployment to the front line was to prove his loyalty to the imperial family and distance himself from the conspiracy.

I was afraid to ask William for details of the war in a letter. I feared that someone might read the letter and harm him. Although I had found an embarrassing solution, I decided to do it.

"Dear William," I began to write, already feeling the shame overwhelm me. "I've been spending my days thinking about you and when we'll dance at balls again. Your letters bring me great joy and uniquely warm my heart, making my lonely days brighter.

I know that a battlefield is a cruel place, and I wonder when it will finally end so that we can finally be together. Why did this war have to happen and separate us for so long? I've been spending my days in my room, just thinking about how far you are from me and what I could do to make this suffering finally come to an end.

I look forward to the day when you return, until then I will keep these feelings in my heart and pray that Eonora continues to protect you and your troops in battle and that this war ends as soon as possible with your victory. Until we meet again, I ask that you stay strong and healthy, knowing that my heart will always be with you.

With all my love,

Camellia"

I reread what I had written, looking for suspicious content, but found nothing, except for a very emotional letter that made me feel ashamed. I hoped that the Grand Duke would understand it and respond in the same way. Following my usual practice, I attached the letter with a small white flower and sealed it.

I was particularly anxious to send the letter because I needed information to get a clear answer about everything.

"Laura," I called. She came immediately. I sealed the letter and she smiled. Then she took it and left my room in silence.

Watching Laura leave through the palace gate, I knew that the Grand Duke would receive the letter soon. Every time I imagined him reading my shameful words, my body warmed up and I hid my face in my hands. It was strange that I hadn't written those words lightly. I hoped that the war would end quickly and that the soldiers would return home safe and sound. I also prayed for the Grand Duke's health and protection every time I visited the temple. The truth is that his letters were incredibly important to me. I was happy to learn that, although he seemed cold and distant to everyone, he was a kind and polite man.

The Grand Duke's reply was the quickest I had received. I was in the garden, taking a walk, when the Grand Duke's messenger appeared and handed me the letter, before leaving discreetly and quietly.

"His Grace answered your last letter more quickly than the previous ones. I wonder what Her Highness, the princess, sent him to make him so excited." I felt my face getting hot and pressed the letter against my chest.

"Let's go back, Laura, it's a very hot day." I turned and started walking quickly, Laura following right behind me.

My whole body was hot, my hands were shaking and sweating as I stared at the letter on the table. Laura had gone out to prepare tea, and I would have little time to have the privacy I needed to read that letter. If the Grand Duke understood the real reason for the tone of my letter, he must have done the same, and that thought was bringing me to the brink of a seizure. I closed my eyes and opened the letter.

"My sweet and gentle Camellia,

Your kind words have touched my heart, and I am happy knowing that you pray for my well-being. The battlefield can be harsh for those who face it daily, but our soldiers are loyal defenders of the empire. They are trained to battle all kinds of enemies, including foreigners from the East Sea who aim to invade our coastal lands and establish colonies without the emperor's permission.

Looking up at the tall trees and seeing their green leaves helps me clear my mind. Your long hair reminds me of the sound of the crackling fire at night that I desire to touch. Your smile is brighter than any star in the sky. We are about to win and I'm excited to see you, my love.

I apologize for such a brief letter, but, as I said, we are very close to returning with a victory. We'll see each other soon and you'll be in my arms once again.

With all my love,

William"

I felt relieved after reading the letter. Its sweet and loving words made me blush. I chuckled at the thought of the Grand Duke's flushed face when he wrote it.

As I drank my tea, I pondered the keywords the Grand Duke used. An attack from the Eastern kingdoms was unnecessary because they had comparable resources to our empire and didn't need to create colonies so far away. The emperor's decision to send imperial knights for such an insignificant matter was peculiar and appeared to be a way of testing the Grand Duke and keeping a watchful eye on him. The news of his imminent return had a worrisome tone, like a warning.

The day after, I sent a letter admitting my embarrassment. I stated my belief that the attack was senseless and must have been provoked. Additionally, I promised to look into the matter and keep him informed. The following day, I received permission to visit the Imperial Library, although it was not my true fair. I tricked the lone guard by using the fact that everyone thought of me as an outcast from the imperial family. Then I sneaked into the accounting room undetected.

The books lay open on the table for anyone to read. I picked up the first one and studied the numbers inside. The more I read, the more horrified I became. The imperial family was spending beyond their control. Even if they doubled taxes and sold their jewels, they could not reverse the precarious situation they found themselves in. The once fertile and productive lands suffered from climate issues and poor management, rendering them useless even for animal grazing. Spending money on dressing up cats, playing with toys, and fancying up the palace for the concubine seemed too expensive for the budget planned for the next three years. Upon further investigation, it became clear that the imperial treasury had been drained to fund a life of luxury and extravagance in the palace.

If these numbers were made public, it could lead to the downfall of the empire. The people would rebel, and the nobles would join forces with the ones most capable of seizing the throne. I recalled Theodore's engagement ball and the nobles who approached the Grand Duke warily. It's likely that they knew about everything and were planning a massive uprising.

I put the books down on the table once more and left, but as soon as the door opened, Theodore, followed by the Imperial Treasurer, looked at me in shock. It would be the end of me if they found out that I had looked at the books. It was common knowledge within the imperial family and among the closest officials that my education was different from that of an ordinary lady, so they knew that I would not only read the books but also understand the numbers and their meanings.

"You filthy pest!" Theodore shouted, grabbing me by the hair and dragging me back inside. He slammed my face against the table, over one of the open books. "What's a bloody piece of trash like you doing wandering around the imperial palace?