Nathaniel had contemplated writing his letter and following through on his offer to send the princess the book. He had been angry with himself in the way their conversation had ended, and he wasn’t entirely sure if she would even want to receive it any longer. But there was something within him that needed to do this, if at least to make some sort of peace and know that he kept his promise.

There had just been one problem--The book was at his home in Vanyar. Had he been able to return there, he would have given her that copy. But as he now had to remain in Noria for the time being, not knowing for how long, he did not wish to further make matters worse by making the Princess wait (whether she expected to actually hear from him or not). So Nathaniel was luckily able to find a copy of the book in the nearby marketplace, and bought it for her.

After writing, crossing out, crumbling up all the parchments he attempted to write due to his struggle with finding the right words, he finally managed to write something to her:

LENNA 762

---

Princess,

I hope this letter finds you well.

Despite what you must be thinking of me now, and whether or not you wish to hear from me--I am a man of my word. Included with my letter is the book I promised to send you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

I have never been the greatest in conversation, and I apologize for the way in which I had conducted myself that evening. If there is only one purpose of this letter, it is to make amends for my shortcomings. If I have offended you in any way, I sincerely apologize. It had never been my intention. I hope you do not think too badly of me.

Though I do completely agree with you--Women should be able to go anywhere by themselves without getting harassed, you and I both know that is, and might always be, a risk because men seemingly cannot control themselves. As much as I wish I could prevent such things from happening all the time--I am only one man, and the only actions I can control, are my own. The intentions of my words, were only to keep your safety in mind, not to accuse you of being the problem.

I hope you have been able to find some sort of peace and your thoughts and dreams have not been haunted by what had happened. Perhaps this book will help as a distraction for you.

Stay safe. Please don’t go wandering down anymore streets on your own. Always keep a stalker behind you.

      Sincerely,        

        Nathaniel        

Postscript: I do still look forward to reading your thoughts and opinions of the book, should you still wish to. I will be staying at my parents’ home (the forwarding address is enclosed) for the time being as I continue to work on making the necessary repairs and since I am unable to return to my home in Vanyar currently.

---

The book had been [ packaged ] carefully, wrapped in a burlap fabric, twine securing it in place, with a couple sprigs of purple flowers and a tag that had her name neatly written on it. At first, the package appeared to only include the book, but between the cover and first page, a folded letter, held shut with a wax seal, his initials ‘NS’ stamped in the wax.

He had given the small package to a boy, paying him to bring it to the home he had left that evening, hoping that she would receive it if she were still there. If not, perhaps she would come across it one way or another. The boy knocked on the door and handed it off to the servant who had opened the door, before he ran off in search of Nathaniel to receive the rest of his payment.

tag: Kira Sophia

Kira had been busy since her rescue and subsequent encounter with Nathaniel. She of course had plenty of time to mull over her thoughts and feelings surrounding him for the past three days, but tried to replace that time with more productive matters. She wasn’t certain if or when she would hear from him again, and due to the way they departed, the princess wasn’t so certain that she wanted to hear from him before she had time to figure out what it all meant to her. She had managed to convince her brother to allow her to help with some of what others may refer to as menial tasks around Noria - surrounded by guards and Valarocco, of course - to take her mind off of everything else. Logan knew about what happened that day, and understood that his sister needed to be out of the house and away from their mother in order to process a bit of it on her own terms. It didn’t mean he liked it, but went along with the plan all the same.

It had been a particularly long day for the princess, having been involved in organizing a collection of clothing items for people who had lost their belongings due to being buried under rubble, escaping fires, or being displaced in other ways by the quake. She had donated what she could from her own belongings, and it seemed her face managed to convince other wealthy families who hadn’t yet escaped Noria for safer ground to do the same. All the politeness had been exhausting, and by the time she got up to her room she felt well and fully tired for the first time that week. It was then that she spotted the package under a bunch of other correspondence that she had not yet replied to on her writing desk.

She removed the small purple flowers and set them aside before opening the burlap to find the book Nathaniel had mentioned. She wasn’t certain he would be sending anything at all, let alone what appeared to be a new copy. Kira ran her fingers along the leather spine, smiling as she flipped through the pages and relishing in the smell of a new book. Kira opened the front cover to find a letter tucked inside, which she promptly ripped open and started to read. After reading it over a second, and possibly third time, she managed to find her own supplies and pen a response.

20 LENNA 762

---

Dear Nathaniel,

Thank you so much for sending me the book - I certainly was surprised when I spotted it amongst my things! I’m sorry it’s taken me a few days to respond. It might shock you to know that I have been putting in some long hours with (brother approved) recovery efforts and hadn’t seen the package until today.

Please don’t worry yourself with any further apologies as I have no need for them. I may have been offended and taken aback at the time, but I assure you that I do not think poorly of you. I believe I can be quite over eager to learn about people, which I now understand isn’t the best way to get to know someone. I have been told I can come off as pushy, which is something I intend to remedy as it is not a trait I wish to associate myself with.

I know you stated you are not the best in conversation, but I have to disagree. You have given me much to think about the past few evenings, and even now with your statement that men are the issue - I see no problem with your verbiage. I do wonder about how it must have slipped your mind to inform me that you live in Vanyar. Certainly that is something I would have remembered….Even so, I am happy to hear you have a safe place to stay until you are able to return. Please send my well wishes to Cassandra and Amelie as well as your parents, and if there is anything I can do to help, I would like nothing more.

I look forward to reading the book, and still intend to send you my thoughts if you would like them. I do hope as you’ve said that it will provide a distraction for me, as my head has been a bit preoccupied since we last spoke.

Don’t worry yourself with a title if you write back, it really isn’t necessary.

                                                                                                                                                    Best,

                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                        K

---

tag: Nathaniel Shaw

A few days had gone by since he had sent his letter and the book to the princess. In all honesty, he wasn't expecting anything from it. Though, in the small amount of time he had spent with her, he was almost willing to bet that she would write back to him if only to give him her thoughts on the book and to thank him.

His days had been spent working with a small crew of men in repairing his family’s home. As much as he completely hated it, his wound had slowed him down. Not because of the pain, but more so because he didn't want to rip open the stitches again and have to find a medic to stitch him back up. They had enough on their hands with the many others who had been injured in the earthquake and didn't need to be bothered by him.

The family's steward, Edward, was also around to keep an eye on him. Although Nathaniel hadn't grown up in the household, the man had become somewhat of a second father to him. It was him who had brought the letter to Nathaniel while he had been working, advising him to take a break as the sunlight was beginning to fade and the rest of the help had left for the day.

At first, he didn't open the letter, leaving it on his desk in what used to be his bedroom as a boy, and whenever he stayed with his family. He wasn't entirely sure he wanted to know what was written. He left it there as he cleaned himself up, went to visit, and have dinner with his family and the friends they were staying with. When he had returned for the evening and retired to his room, he had almost forgotten about the letter until he spotted it where he left it.

He sunk into one of the chairs and turned the letter over and over, contemplating whether or not he should even open it, until he finally did. The words written upon the piece of parchment were not what he had expected to read. Without realizing it, they had caused him to smile. He read the letter several times throughout the night, trying to decide if he should write back, and if so, what would he even write?

The night had grown late and he finally sat down and wrote to her.

22 LENNA 762

---

Dear Kira,

I will be honest--I was surprised to receive your letter, as part of me did not expect to earn anymore of your royal highness’ time and thoughts. Especially a stubborn and broody man as myself, who might not be completely worthy of it.

It doesn’t shock me a whole lot that you have decided to assist with the recovery efforts. I wonder if that was your intention all along, or if I had somehow gotten through to you. Or perhaps both? Regardless of the reason, I am certain the people of Noria are appreciative of your help. Even I will admit that I admire your willingness to put in the effort.

Despite you not needing my apologies, I still feel they should be given. I am glad to hear you do not think poorly of me, but if I have made you feel, at all, that you should not be the way that you are (pushy and overly eager to learn about people), then I do not deserve your forgiveness. You told me that you do not often get to speak to others, and it only makes sense that when you do have the opportunity, you only wish to learn more about them. I do not hold any fault on anyone but myself. I do not make it easy for others to get to know me. Unfortunately, this is not something I feel I will ever be able to remedy.

Did it slip my mind to inform you I live in Vanyar? Or did you assume I was from Noria? You never asked. Besides, I did not want you to think I was just like everyone else from Vanyar, as you had claimed. I was actually born in Noria, my family is from here. When I was young, I was sent to Vanyar to live with my uncle. (The one with the horses I told you about), and I began my training to become a Valarocco.

My family is doing well--they are growing a bit restless not being able to be in their own home. I am working long hours to try and repair what I can, so it will be safe for them to return. Amelie, I am afraid, is not adjusting too well and is having a difficult time with everything happening right now. She wants to come stay with me at their home, but being the overprotective, stubborn and broody brother I am, I won’t allow it until it is safer.

I am not so sure there would be anything you could do to help (there are many others who need the help a lot more than my family and I do) and we will manage, though I appreciate your offer.

I’m sure by the time this letter receives you, you may have already finished the book. I would still like to hear your thoughts. I am curious, though, what thoughts have been preoccupying your mind since we last spoke. If the book does not help remedy that, and you wish to confide in and receive advice from a stubborn, broody man, I would like nothing more than to help.

Stay safe.

Sincerely,    

Nathaniel    

---

tag: Nathaniel Shaw kira

24 LENNA 762

---

Dear Nathaniel,

Why were you surprised by my letter? If you learn anything about me, let it be that I always follow through with what I say I’m going to do. Even if that involves responding to irritable, stubborn men who carefully omit things about themselves.

I wonder, how much longer will you ask for forgiveness, when I continue to tell you it’s already forgiven? I have a very difficult time holding grudges, even when the person on the other end is incredibly broody. You did give me a good laugh in your previous letter regarding where you are from. Perhaps I should not have assumed, but I promise you that you are unlike anyone else I have ever met from Vanyar - that much has been made incredibly clear to me.

You did manage to get under my skin about being able to assist in recovery efforts. It seems your voice has made a home in a spare corner of my brain. It was quite a task figuring out what it was I was allowed to do - I can’t always hide amongst everyone else, especially now that my brother has extra stalkers surrounding my every move. I’ve tasked myself with collection efforts in certain districts for those who have lost belongings due to the quake. It’s been exciting getting to speak to Norian people, many of which I’ve learned have been unfairly impacted by the devastation compared to others.

I’m so glad to hear about your family and can empathize with your sister struggling with her new normal. It would be hard to be in a new place, especially not knowing when you would be able to return to the comfort of your own home. I do hope you are also being safe while working on the repairs in your house, as I worry about you ruining my perfect stitching practice and dying before you are able to see what I thought of Gawain.

When it comes to the book, you are right - I simply devoured it! I was entranced with the story, especially the twist in the plot when the knight turns out to be the lord of the castle! Is this your secret that you’re trying to tell me through prose? Are you actually some sort of lord who is simply keeping their title a cover? I can honestly say I have never read anything like it, and can understand why it is among your favorites. Perhaps your pin will serve as my green sash, but instead of keeping me honest it will provide a reminder not to be so assuming of others...especially when I am meeting new people.

I apologize that my letter is so long. I would be open to both confiding in you and receiving advice, but I worry that writing it out will cause me to overthink myself into a sleepless night. It is already quite late - so if I write again, it will be in the daytime to keep those pesky thoughts from interrupting my beauty sleep.

What did I tell you about titles? Quit it.

                                                                                                                                    Best,

                                                                                                                                    K

---

tag: Nathaniel Shaw

27 LENNA 762

---

Dear Princess Kira,

It would seem that we both share in the quality of following through with keeping to your word. So many people lose sight of how meaningful that could be, as well as feeling able to rely on a person, perhaps. If there is one thing you learn about me, it’s that I am an honest man and I rarely say anything that I don’t mean. I only omit things.

I am appreciative of your forgiveness, and I will cease asking for it just as long as you truly do mean it. It is not as easy for me to let go of grudges, not unless a person proves their worth. It is with that sense, that I feel you shouldn’t forgive me, as what have I done to prove my worth? Sending the book does not count.

It is a relief to hear that I am unlike those you have met from Vanyar. Perhaps it is my Norian blood that sets me apart. Though, I would much rather be like those of Vanyar than of Noria. Perhaps because of those grudges I can’t seem to shake.

I am not quite sure if it is a good or bad thing that I have gotten under your skin and that my voice has made a home in your mind. I suppose it could be partially a good thing that I have convinced you to help in the recovery efforts--so long as you are not running into any more ruffians. I feel sorry for you that you have allowed my voice to occupy your mind, however. I cannot imagine that to be a good thing.

You will be pleased to hear that your stitch work has held up. You may find this incredibly difficult to believe, but I can be quite stubborn and tend to push myself a bit further than my limits. But you are not the only woman pestering me to be safe. I have not died before being able to see the thoughts you have of Gawain.

I am glad to hear you enjoyed the book. Though it might not seem the type of book a broody man might enjoy, I will give you some insight of why it has become one of my favorites. Since I was young, it had become tradition every year around Christmastime that my mother would read it to us. I don’t remember what had started it, but I am almost certain it was her way of teaching me to be an honest and kind man...Though I am not quite sure I have grasped the concept of kindness. I’m still working on it. When my sister, Cassandra, was old enough to understand it, she loved it so much that the tradition continued and it has been a part of our lives every year--even still, to this day.

I might be some sort of a lord, though that might be another thing I choose to omit, as titles don’t seem to be necessary with you. I can say, at least, that I do not own a castle. I hope the pin will serve you as Amelie intended--for protection, just as the woman promised the green sash would keep Gawain safe. But I am glad you have given it another meaning to remind yourself not to be so assuming. You cannot judge a person (or anything really) by its appearance and demeanor. Not until you truly get to know them.

You never need to apologize for the length of your letters. I do not mind at all. I have actually quite enjoyed reading your words as they have served as a distraction from everything else that rummages through my mind. And here I am writing you an equally lengthy letter.

I would not wish to be the cause of you overthinking yourself into a sleepless night, due to writing a letter to me. You do not need to write them to me if you do not wish to, but I am willing to lend an open ear and whatever advice I could give, should you ever want it.

For what it is worth, and if I may be allowed to be so bold, I do not believe that any lack of sleep could ever alter your beauty.

Stay safe. Avoid thugs and ruffians. Keep a stalker.

Sincerely,    

Nathaniel    

---

tag: Kira Sophia

1 SONDU 762

---

Dear Lord Nathaniel,

I’m glad we share this quality, as it is one I hold in high esteem. As you are aware, I tend to keep only others who share similar values closest to me. What a pity it would be to be surrounded by others who step around the truth only to appease those in their company. I fear that would both be a frustrating and incredibly dull life to live. Your omissions are another conversation entirely…

I assure you that you have earned this forgiveness. Just because someone is frustrated and expresses themselves, does not mean they get one hundred lashes and an eternity of apologizing. Your actions and kindness you’ve shown me far outweigh the bite of your words, and even so you are still allowed to react and speak as you wish. Like we’ve said: honesty is important, and to be respected in my eyes.

I think it is the way you’ve behaved with me - both before and after knowing my status - that makes you a different breed entirely. Vanyar or Noria aside, you treated me like nothing other than another woman. I have trouble expressing how genuinely nice that feels, especially when others can be very fake and contrived. It’s not often you find someone that has all of these qualities, even if they do manage to hold grudges.

Your voice bouncing around my head is nothing short of a comfort to me. It has helped me remember our conversation that evening as well as pushed me along to continue forcing my hand into recovery efforts. You see, I am not always welcome with open arms. Probably due to the potential of ruffians, though I must say we have not run into any yet. The only issue recently is at my own hand. A group of children were playing and I joined their game, only to twist my ankle and be sequestered to my room for a week. I usually am not so clumsy (I promise), but lately my head has been in other places.

I write to you from my bedroom turned cell, glad to hear that you are yet alive and received my thoughts on Gawain. Now I can continue to practice my medicine on humans instead of fruits, haha! Though I fear I might not be able to read your next correspondence should there be one. If my mother comes in here one more time to see what I’m doing or attempt to engage me or talk of suitors I will surely perish without another thought.

I did love the book, and now even more so after learning about your family tradition. We didn’t often have the opportunity to gather like that, but I think I would have enjoyed it. Your mother certainly impressed upon you the importance of honesty and kindness, even if you have a hard time seeing some of it yourself. Perhaps it is another thing you are choosing to omit from your brain, similar to your home and now as I have learned your title. I will let that go, since I wish to speak to the regular untitled Nathaniel as he is perfectly engaging and kind, despite what he believes to be true about himself.

What else is rummaging through your mind? I have written out my feelings on our shared experience about eighty times before trashing the letters and finally beginning this one. I hope in the future when I close my eyes before going to sleep, his is not the first face I see. Perhaps you could give me some advice on that. What should I do in order to get my mind to cooperate?

Just after I finished reading your last letter, my mother invited herself into my room. She assumed I had a fever from the blush of my cheeks. You may have just earned me more time stuck in this house, Nathaniel...but I would accept another week if it was at the hands of such a compliment.

The stalkers are a constant companion...unfortunately.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Best,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   K

---

tag:Nathaniel Shaw

5 Sondu 762    

---

Dear Princess Kira,

I hope this letter finds you while you are still alive.

I am sorry it has taken me a few days to write back. While we were beginning to make progress with my parents’ home, we had a bit of a setback. There was a large crack in a structural wall, and it collapsed in, causing a lot more damage than we were prepared for. So the last few days have been quite restless, and it may be a while longer before my family can come back. I have not told them yet.

I will say that I am rather impressed with how well your stitch work has held up (I have not been the most gentle with myself, admittedly) but now after reading that you’ve practiced on fruits-- I am at a bit lost for words. I am curious, though-- did my skin share the thickness of an orange or more thin like a pear? I suppose being stitched up by someone who has only experienced stitching fruits, outweighed bleeding out on the streets, or dealing with an actual medic.

Are you saying that since we share similar values, you wish to keep me close to you, seeing as you are glad we share in the quality of keeping to our word? Or am I perhaps reading too much into your words? Maybe I just want to make you blush again--wouldn’t want to provide any sort of dullness to your life, as I agree with you in that aspect. Lucky for me-- I do not keep many people in my company, which might seem to be an equally dull life to live. But--self-preservation, right?

As far as treating you as nothing more than another woman-- I did not realize, at first, that you were the Princess of my homeland, and for that, I feel extremely foolish. But afterward, I got this sense that you are tired of being treated as just a princess. You are a woman, and a human being. You have feelings, emotions, and thoughts as the rest of us do. (Not to minimize your importance or anything, because you are important.) But I am sorry that you have to deal with others who can be fake and contrived, I am sure that leads to a frustrating and dull life as well.

It’s a bit strange (and surprising) to read that my voice has been a comfort to someone. I do not believe I have ever been told this before. I know I have a tendency to come across as a discourteous, unfeeling, or harsh man, but I do have two sisters and have been told I can give good advice and encouragement of sorts. I am glad you were able to look past my demeanor and take my words to heart.

I am sorry about your ankle and current confinement. In other circumstances, I might offer to come aid you in escaping your cell. However, that may be frowned upon in this situation and if I were to get caught, I might have my head chopped off by the Green Knight and not be so easily forgiven or spared.

It would seem the pin is not working so well in preventing you from making assumptions. I said that I might be a Lord and that it is something I choose to omit. I truly believe that our titles should not determine your self-worth or the type of person you are or become. If it does, then perhaps those are the type of people who are unable to be genuinely worth anything. I would like to continue to be untitled Nathaniel, though I feel you are just trying to flatter me by saying I am perfectly engaging and kind. I thought you were supposed to be honest?

I am curious of the words that existed on the eighty discarded letters you speak of, though I will admit I have been doing the same thing, afraid you would think less of me or my words would seem foolish or not make sense. I’m not entirely certain why that is the case because I do not usually concern myself with the opinions of others.

As far as the unwanted visions you have when you close your eyes before going to sleep--I am afraid I don’t have much advice on this one. I do not imagine it would be an easy thing to overcome quickly. Perhaps in time, it should get easier and less severe. The advice I do have is to fill your mind with other thoughts. Read before bed and focus on the story, redirect your thoughts--instead of allowing yourself to think of what could have happened, or seeing his face--think of how you were able to escape him. Assign some sort of other thought that makes you smile or laugh, so whenever it creeps into your mind, that good thought finds its way in and pushes out the bad. It may also help to write down the experience… The things that went through your mind as it happened...the intrusive thoughts that have been haunting you… And once you have finished getting it all out-- burn it.

When all else fails-- Whiskey.

I am almost inclined to omit to mention the thoughts rummaging through my mind. They are rarely good ones, or not truly worth mentioning. Lately, however, my mind has just been littered with thoughts of my family and wanting to ensure that they will be safe before I can return home, and the upset I will cause Amelie when I leave. And, (though it is taking me every urge not to crumble this paper up after writing my next words here) I admit you have crossed my mind a few times. I have enjoyed reading your words and often wonder when I will hear from you next, and what you will write. I hope this does not cause another fever to rise on your cheeks, as I certainly do not wish to be the cause of extending your house arrest.

I could tell you that I think you are actually hideous if that will prevent such from happening-- but I do not tell lies.

Stay safe. I am glad to hear you are making companions out of your stalkers.

Sincerely,    

Nathaniel    

---

tag: Kira Sophia

8 SONDU 762

---

Dear Nathaniel,

I am blessed to be still alive, and mostly unbothered by my aforementioned mother. Thank you for being so concerned about my passing to the next life - it's good to know someone cares for reasons other than having a backup heiress.

I’m sorry to hear about your home, but am glad it happened now instead of when everyone had already returned or gotten their hearts set on a certain date. I hope you and the others working on your house were out of harm's way when the collapse happened. Due to my current arrangement with my stalkers I am not allowed to visit people - even if they are of noble blood - to administer any aid.

Speaking of aid, I would liken your skin much more to an orange or something quite thick rather than a pear. Those are such flimsy things and would be impossible to stitch closed successfully. You are lucky I had access to such fruits to practice on, otherwise you might be six feet under - or worse, perhaps sedated by the medics so they could fix you up themselves. They probably would have been much less forgiving, and definitely would not know about the secret whiskey hidden around this place.

You are very confusing, Nathaniel, and if I didn’t know any better it would be quite vexing to be in correspondence with you. You want to know if I would like to keep you close to me, and desire to know the thoughts that pop around in my brain (and keep me blushing!)...yet you omit things about yourself and keep your boundaries so tight it's amazing I got a peek inside at all. I understand it, though, which is why I will tell you that yes, I enjoy your company - albeit frustrating at times - because it is real.

Your senses are correct, I know my place but I often tire of that being my only identifier. I won’t wax poetic about how sad my life is - as I am well aware it is not - but merely lonesome due to its circumstances. There is no Green Knight to chop off your head here, but I fear there are many guards that would stand in your way of helping me escape. On the topic of being identified only by your title, I agree with everything you said related to worth and who you are to become. I will grant your wish of being untitled despite your unwillingness to stop using mine.

I appreciate your advice and will certainly try it. Though I think what you’re asking me to do is think of you when I am struggling to sleep. After all, you’re the reason I am able to sit here writing at all. It is definitely not an unwelcome thought, being helped by a stranger when so many cannot be trusted. You have managed to weasel your way into my thoughts a lot lately, so I'm sure I will have no problem remembering that day if I'm required to think of it in another way. I will try all of your aforementioned tonics to my ailment...including whiskey. Let's hope my brother will not notice his decanter being emptied, as he has been quite busy.

Inner thoughts are always welcome here, they give me a better look into what makes you...you. Though Amelie will be upset when you go, hopefully you can plan time to come back to Noria, have a longer visit, or invite your family to Vanyar? I always manage to do better with people leaving if I have an idea of when I might see or hear from them next, so perhaps your sister is the same way? If she does end up coming to Vanyar, please let me know. I would love to meet her, if nothing more than to offer my sympathies for my brother stealing you away from her. He can be quite greedy.

I still stand by my earlier comment, though now I feel perhaps you’re more interesting than vexing after all - we will have to see how things shape up before I can determine my exact thoughts on the matter. My blush remains the same throughout this letter, but whatever that is I cannot tell you as I am writing in the middle of the night and have zero access to any mirrors. Good thing my mother minds her own business after dusk.

I look forward to your letters too, even if they cause me to think of nothing else for hours.

                                  Yours in self preservation,

                                                     K

Postscript: Don’t fuss over your writing to me. I would tell you if I thought it foolish or lacking sense. Honesty, remember?

---

tag:Nathaniel Shaw

15 SONDU 762    

---

Dear Kira,

I am finding it hard to believe that others only care about you for reasons of having a backup heiress. And I am sorry that you feel that way. I wish I could give you the advice of ridding yourself of those people, though I cannot imagine it being so simple. Instead, perhaps try to fill your life with those who make you feel you have more self-worth than that. Or take comfort in knowing that there are people who do think of you as more than just a princess. I do.

You are right about me being lucky enough to have had a fruit-stitching princess around to stitch my orange-like skin up, rather than being sedated by a less attractive, less caring, human being. And, of course, whiskey-less. I can’t remember if I ever thanked you or not. So, I will do it here: Thank you.

I’m sorry that you feel I am confusing. There isn’t much worth knowing about me, save for the things you already do know. I live a quiet, simple life, and spend my days training and guarding whenever possible. It’s that preservation instinct that keeps those boundaries up-- I have a difficult time trusting others and haven’t quite found a reason to.

I appreciate your advice on how to handle the disappointment Amelie often feels when I leave. My family rarely visits me in Vanyar, though I am sure that is most likely because they know I can be quite busy. I shall have to suggest it, though, and I am pretty certain my sister would enjoy meeting a princess and would instantly insist that you become her best friend.

You wrote that you are not allowed to visit others, but are you allowed to have visitors? Perhaps from an experienced stalker who is good at lurking far enough behind to be unnoticed, and his sister.

I wasn’t asking you to think of me when you are struggling to sleep--But if that’s what helps you…I won’t try to convince you to remove me from your thoughts. I am a bit flattered that you would even think of me outside of reading my letters and writing to me. Or that you find me more interesting than vexing.

As we are being honest, I will admit that you have found a small home inside my own mind as of late...perhaps a bit more than the few times aforementioned in my previous letter. I find myself wondering if this is wrong, for many reasons. It is perhaps the cause of my delay in writing back to you. I haven’t thought of much else in the days it took me to find the courage to think of my words and how to respond to you. I find myself wondering about the thoughts that linger in your mind, and what the blush on your face would look like, and knowing I may have been the cause of it...
Should a man like me be thinking of, and writing to you, as I have?

If our letters were ever intercepted, would they be allowed to resume? Perhaps we should cease this and continue on our separate paths in life, as that is most likely the inevitable outcome. It may be best to keep up with the self-preservation. But I will not soon forget you, I can promise as much.

Don’t drink too much whiskey, as it will never permanently fix or erase your problems.

Stay safe.

    Sincerely,     
Nathaniel    

Postscript: It would appear we both have one another in our self-preservations.

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tag: Kira Sophia