Lady Francisca of Emeron

[Filter: People in Emeron Unless Tarmon is in Emeron and not him if he is!]

They came back! They came back!!!! But he's writing, and now I'm really worried that they're coming here because they'd get here today if they left Mansoure when they were supposed to, but came here instead of Lireth! They were supposed to go to Lireth, right? I really thought they were going there!

That's not happening, right?!

It's all gone so well that I know something has to go wrong, but I didn't think it was going to be this! It's really not happening, right?

Oh, we've been back in Emeron! And it's really busy here! We're all getting ready for the troops to come home, and we're also really busy with Unification Day!

Actually, something really important happened not too long ago, because Oswald asked Cavvy to marry him, and she said yes, and their wedding is going to be very, very soon! And that's going to make all of even more busy!

I can't believe this, Cavvy's really getting married!

[Filter: Private]

Ayden really likes it here, and I really hate to cut his visit short ... I think he understands though. He's always heard stories about Tarmon, so he knows ... Then I showed him the page of what Tarmon was like when Lord Glenn made his announcement, and it was really easy after that to convince him that it was time to go back.

Chloe and Cavvy were really easy to convince.

Everything's set for Friday, I think...

[Filter: Public]

We're going back to Emeron on Friday!

[Filter: Anita]

Um! Can I talk to you about something, Anita? Really quickly?

Ugh, this is terrible! Anita just collapsed in her chair and I can't get over there to see what's going on, and everyone's saying stuff like "she's going to be fine" or "no, no, she needs help right now" and there are healers in the room, but they weren't expecting to have to heal anyone tonight, they're in their fancy clothes, and I just don't know what's going on and wish I could get over there to see!

[Filter: Private]

It's so close! It's really close now. This Friday! I think Chestnut is ready for the long trip, I've been trying to take her out as much as I can in the mornings, but now I'm wondering if it's enough. I'm sure she's got enough stamina in her.

It's going to be nice. I can talk to Ayden all I want in the day, and we can have the guards pass notes between our tents at night! Not too late because the guards will want to sleep, but it'll be nice! And then when we arrive he's going to show me as much of Vernhail as he can! It's all going to great!

But ... ugh, I can't be the only one who's noticed!

[Filter: Martha and Chloe]

There's something going on between the two of you, I just know it. What is going on?! Canti is so happy right now, and I don't want to two of you ruining it with whatever argument you're having!

He liked it! And he gave me a rose! This is really the best Rose Day ever! He said it was cooked perfectly, thank you Isanae for helping me with it!

I think Raoul really liked what you made him too, Canti! I think it's safe for you to come with me now! Martha's waiting for us right now! We've got a game we made for you to play with us. You're going to love it!

[Filter: Lord Glenn]

You know that your journal is working and you still haven't written to Canti!? I would know if you had! I didn't want to believe that you would be so ... so ... that you would do something that terrible to her! She's been waiting for you to write for months, and we've been doing our very best to keep her from sinking and Tarmon has written publicly before you have and I have no idea what you're even thinking doing this!

Do you even know what you're doing to her?!

[dotted with wet marks]

[Filter: Canti]

I can't believe she said that to me! I've been waiting for her to make any kind of gesture that she might be at all like the Benedette who I used to look up to like a mother, but she just -- she just -- oh Canti, she's got nothing to say to me, and that's even what she said, that she has nothing at all to say to me after everything! I wondered why after so long she wrote to you and not to me, and now I know, and I wish I had never even written to her! At least before I could pretend she was too busy, or too caught up in her new life, or maybe she just didn't know what all of us were going through, but now I can't because I know that it's because she never wants to speak to me again!

I used to wish I could grow up to be just like her. It wasn't Mother, Mother never cared about me at all. Maybe only Daddy ever cared about me back then. Maybe she was just pretending. I -- I know you care now, Canti, but I never had anyone except Daddy and Benedette. Not until I started becoming friends with the guards and servants. Even Cavvy was never someone I could depend on, we were just forced together. But the two of them kept me safe from Tarmon whenever they could, and they cared when I needed help, and they always made time for me whenever I needed it. Without either of them I've had to ... I've had to protect myself. I had to go out an earn everything I'm ever going to get now and I've had to make all new friends because the ones I used to count on are all gone now. I know Lady Isanae protects me now, and I am really thankful, but she wasn't the one who did it all those years.

She isn't the one I wished I could show everything I've become now! I wish I could show Daddy and Benedette what a woman I've become on my own! I know they'd both be so proud of everything I've done. I've always hoped that the real Benedette would come back from Rhia, and I'd serve her tea, and she'd tell me that everything that went on was all just a lie, and I would forgive her.

I would forgive her for ...

It's not fair at all! It's just not fair! She's alive, she's ... it was supposed to be easier because I could write to her, but I wish I never had one of these stupid, stupid journals! I would never have known that she didn't want to talk to me ever again! I wouldn't have known that my sister changed!

Canti, it's just not fair!

Happy birthday, Canti! I hope you're feeling hungry, because tonight we've got a small dinner for you. We're really hoping that you're feeling up to coming to it! There won't be too much noise or anything. Just a really nice dinner, and some gifts.