You begin to look over the letters you had received, eyeing the seals on them, when one catches your attention: it is the seal of the Galliota family, and there is but one other man currently alive who holds it: your brother! It had worried you that his letter had taken so long, but you supposed some such manner must have delayed its delivery. Nevertheless, you waste no time in taking it, cutting away the wax holding it sealed as you carefully fish out the parchment within.

To mine honoured brother and lord,

My apologies, my good brother, for the similar lateness with which this letter may arrive to you. The duties assigned to me in your stead are ever so difficult for one who hath not been used to their workload as you are. Your letter was received with much joy upon this household, most of all by mother, who was under no small deal of duress during your silence. It is good indeed to know that the splendour has provided to your safety, and it is my hope that you shall continue so.

To answer thine own questions, it is with pride that I tell you that Portblanc has continued so most peacefully. There is plentiful harvest from the spring in Segoma to supply us, and the business of merchants has ever been present. Their disputes, of course, are ever present; in order to deal with this matter, brother, your chancellor and I had seen it fit to bring back to full motion those sluggish lower courts, conferring upon the judges the power to deal with such minor issues as they should have.

I've also the happiness to tell you that your trade mission, brother, the one you had sent to the League of Bach, has returned at last, and done so most succesfully. I am told that they've returned with 6,545 Imperii. Having invested 3,500 in the effort, it is no small profit. Such gains shall, of course, await thee in our treasury, brother.

In mine own matters, things are of no great difference, save for one. Mine health continues as it always has, but it has not worsened, nor have I had any spots of aggravated frailty in these past months, which I thank the splendour for. My spirit, however, could not be higher, for one event I had never expected has taken place: I've been approached with an offer of an arrangement for marriage! Is it not unexpected, brother? The man in question, one Don Tallascas, is barón from the Imperial Territories. He has approached me with the offer to marry his eighth daughter should I provide him with a rather sizeable dowry. I've little doubt that this is anything but a move of desperation; perhaps the man has acquired a great deal of debt as I am told a great quantity of the courtiers in Mascaloma do, though through what manner he had come to learn of mine situation I know not.