Idle Asides, No. 2, Cercis’ Perspective — A Long-Awaited Reply
✦✦✦Idle Asides, No. 2, Cercis’ Perspective — A Long-Awaited Reply✦✦✦
A whole week had gone by so quickly since I left the capital for the campaign. I had spent all my time in a tent erected near the border, drawing up operations and finalizing our plans for attack on Aurantia. I was also occasionally doing undercover work in disguise. It was the calm before the storm, since we were still in the planning stage, but before long I would have to turn in an initial report to HQ back at the Royal Palace.
The tent was large, with plenty of space inside. The inside was partitioned off into booths of sorts for the use of the knight commander (I was essentially the commanding officer), the inspectors, and for breaks and meetings. When I entered my booth, I stood and looked at the pen and stationery atop the work desk.
I had written up a report for the Royal Palace as well as one for Father. Both were old hat to me, so I could almost write them in my sleep. I completed them in no time. The real issue was the letter for Viola.
Obviously, I had not seen Viola for a whole week. It was a true tragedy, almost too much to bear. There had to be some way for me to convey all the feelings welling up inside me, threatening to overflow!
The excitement coursing through me was worlds apart from how I felt writing reports, and I let my pen glide agilely across the paper.
First things first—I must let her know how I am doing. I am well, physically-speaking, but emotionally, I am exhausted without her. I should tell her about this region and its climate, too. She’s never been to our duchy, after all, and I believe the servants told me she was fond of travelogs back when I was getting some books together for the cottage. Yes, if I’m to write about the duchy, I should play up its strengths.
It’s a lovely place, something of an oasis, with abundant agricultural and mineral resources. Fruit grown here sells for a pretty penny in the capital, so perhaps I should send some straight to the manor! Maybe I should write something about Aurantia, too, while I’m at it.
There, done!
...I think it turned out well!
Maybe it’s a little more passionate than I’d planned, but so long as my feelings get across to her, I don’t mind.
All that’s left is to submit it to the inspector. I’ll have them inspect it right away so it can be on its way to the capital later today. Chamomile was supposed to be the envoy today, I think. I’ll have to make sure to tell her to take my letter with her.
I proceeded straight to the inspectors’ booth to let them examine my letter. Hm? Was I going to lay on the pressure a little bit? Of course!
The inspector must have been surprised to see me, because he shot out of his chair as soon as I stepped in the booth.
“Commander! You don’t need to hand-deliver your mail yourself!”
I gestured for him to calm down. “I wasn’t busy, and I have a personal message in here, too.” I wouldn’t want my letter to Viola to get lost in the collection and delivery process.
“You do?”
“Yes. And I want them to be delivered today, too, so make haste.”
“Mmhmm... Oh! Oh, goodness! I’m terribly sorry, did you say you want them delivered today?”
“I did. I want them sent to the capital ASAP.”
“We’ll start with the reports, then—”
“No, with the personal message—The. Personal. Message.”
“...Understood, sir.”
The point of me bringing my mail to him myself, you see, was so I could have my messages approved ahead of the documents he’d already received. I decided to wait on a chair in the booth until the inspection was complete. Hurry it up and get them back to me! I need to get them to Chamomile!
Shortly after he had begun, the inspector’s eyes filled with tears—obviously because my emotional letter was so deeply moving. Ah ha, a man of culture.
I snatched back my letter from the emotionally-spent inspector the second he approved it and raced off to find Chamomile. Don’t leave until you have my letter, Chamomile!
“Make sure Viola reads it then and there, and do not even think of coming back without a reply from her.”
“What? I don’t think we should force her to do that, sir,” Chamomile grumbled, but she still put my documents in her bag.
“You think I’m going to wait until the next time the mail goes out? I haven’t seen Viola for a whole week! I’m emotionally malnourished!”
“...If that’s really how you feel, then I suppose.”
No, I did not care that I was glaring at her.
Once Chamomile left with my letters, I waited for a reply.
But I wasn’t just twiddling my thumbs and waiting. I spent my time researching the enemy, staking out our attack route, and refining our strategy. I wanted to finish my job there and head home as soon as possible, after all.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye as I busied myself with our attack plans and Chamomile returned from the capital. Great, she’s back rather early.
Chamomile would have to take all of the documents she brought from the Royal Palace to be inspected first. That was the standard procedure. Distributing mail before it was inspected was strictly forbidden. Royal decrees, official documents, letters from friends and family, all had to be thoroughly vetted and, unsurprisingly, personal letters were low priority, so I couldn’t be sure when Viola’s reply would finally rest in my hands.
Which means that’s where my letter is, and it’s where I’m headed now.
Arriving at the booth, I knocked as I let myself in, catching the inspector’s eye as he was reaching for the freshly delivered pile of mail. Going by how he froze like a cornered rabbit, it seemed like this was going to become a routine whenever I showed my face there.
Oh, but it looks like he’s only just now starting. Perfect.
“Inspector. It appears that the mail has arrived. I do believe there should be something for me in there.”
“Oh, let me see.”
“I think it ought to be something from Vio— my wife.” Of the three documents I was expecting—one from the Royal Palace, one from Father, and one from Viola—it was the latter I specifically pointed out. Viola’s reply!
“Ah, here it is.”
“Inspect it first, if you will. I’ll wait.”
“Huh?!”
“Pardon?”
“Er, nothing, sir. I’ll get to that right away...!” The inspector started to look through the pile for Viola’s letter. Figuring it wouldn’t take very long, I took a seat in the same chair as last time I paid the inspector a visit. The inspector, however, was staring at me blankly.
Oi, your hands had better not be slowing down.
“Hurry up.” He was putting me in a bad mood. All I wanted was to read Viola’s letter.
“Y-Yes sir!” The inspector rifled through the mail with renewed urgency.
He handed Viola’s letter over to me once it passed muster. I told him there was no rush on the other documents and to take his time before returning them to my office.
I tried to will my hands to be still, but they shook with excitement. I broke the seal emblazoned with my family coat of arms on the envelope and removed the papers. They were lined with beautiful, carefree handwriting. Now that I mention it, that was my first time seeing Viola’s handwriting. It was very her. Simply seeing it warmed my heart.
Viola said in the letter that she’d like to visit the duchy, try our fruit, and other adorable things. I was a little... no rather, perturbed that she thought to ask Rohtas and Cartham instead of me about ordering some fruit. I can arrange to have some sent to the manor right now! I’ll call a courier when I’m done.
She casually mentioned that she was glad to hear that I was doing well. I always knew she had a caring side. She’s praying for my safe return? Well then, I guess I had better be extra careful to not get injured!
Her letter, although she must have written it at a moment’s notice, was written in neat, flowing handwriting, and in many of the lines her heartfelt desire for me to return home and end her loneliness seemed to spill off the page.
I could feel my energy replenished as I munched on the cakes from Viola that Chamomile had handed out. There! My willpower has returned!
Several days later:
I happened to run into Corydalis just as I was passing by the inspectors’ booth; he was just leaving it.
“What’re you doing here?” Are you waiting on an inspection, too? I wondered.
“Ah, uhhh, just getting some valuable pointers for life?”
“What?” Why the hell would you talk to the inspector about that? Am I not working him hard enough?
“Yeah... life stuff... you know, like, relationships?”
“Huh?” The more he says the less I understand him.
“Er, yeah. That sort of thing. If you happen to know anyone, Commander, introduce them to the inspector, will you?”
“Uh... huh. I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I think I understand.”
What just happened?