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“What the–” Leona muttered in disbelief as he watched one of the random intruders– particularly the only human lady within a mile radius or so– almost effortlessly tear through basically everyone of his dorm members in hand-to-hand combat. That looked like the strength equivalent of one of the female guards in the palace.
Not saying that he thought she’d be weak, but if you looked at her appearance that kind of skill wouldn’t be expected. If he didn’t have a reason to be afraid of women before, then he had one now.
“Woah Violet!” one of the Heartslabyul lackeys exclaimed. “Let’s chill for a sec, okay? I think they’re plenty terrified of you already by now–”
She stopped her hand inches away from chopping the daylights out of a poor frosh, prompting him to scurry away in fear. “Apologies.”
“Oi,” he called, a bit more hesitantly than he’d liked. “What’s with the racket out here? Who’re you guys and what do you–”
“Your eyes,” she said, facing him from where she stood with the rest of the Heartslabyul bunch. “They’re the same color as his.”
—
“Hey,” Leona called out. “So I heard you wrote letters for people or something, right? Do me a favor.”
“You request my services?”
“Yeah, I’ll pay you for however much it is. You can write a decent reply for some letters, right?”
“Yes.” Violet answered. “However payment will not be necessary, as I am no longer working with a postal–”
“It’s fine.” He insisted. “Just take my money. When do we start?”
“Preferably this evening or any time I am free.” Violet decided.
“Great. Come to Savanaclaw or something.” He said. “Just ask a random student where I am and they’ll answer.”
—
Leona opened the door to his room, and was met with Violet who stood in front of him with a case in hand, before doing a little bow. “If it is your wish, I will travel anywhere to meet you. Auto-memories doll Violet Evergarden at your service.”
“Uhhh…” He trailed off, a little taken aback. “Sure, just come in.”
She had a look around, standing at the center of the room while Leona twiddled his fingers waiting for something to happen. “Your room is quite messy.”
“Oh, yeah. Sorry ‘bout that.” He replied. “So… how many letters are you willing to write?”
“As much as you’d like,”
“A lot, then.” he muttered. “Perfect. So the deal is, here’s the letter.” Leona said, handing her an envelope. “You just need to write a reply to it and make it sound like me.”
“What would you like me to say?”
“Say whatever you want. Just don’t make it obvious it wasn’t me who wrote it.” Leona responded.
She nodded as she opened the untouched letter. “Have you not read the contents of it yet? It is still sealed.”
“I didn’t bother.” He shrugged.
“Who am I replying to?” Violet asked again.
“My kid-nephew.” Leona answered with a sigh. “My sister-in-law would probably get upset over it if I didn’t answer, and that would be a hassle.”
“Okay.” She nodded again, unfolding the letter and reading it. The letter was a page wrong and handwritten messily, but enthusiastically with a few small smiley faces doodled here and there. There were more errors than she could point out, but Violet found herself smiling the entire time.
“Dear uncle Leona,
Hi!!! It’s me :) Cheka! How are you? Miss you! Are you gonna be home soon yet? Kifaji said you’d be back from school!! Mommy helped me write the letter :) Dad showed me some new nice people again. They gave me a little neklas! Its so pretty! Kifaji is teaching me chess! When you get home lets play some! Dad said that was your favorite game so I asked Kifaji to help me learn. I dont remember how the castle and the pointy thing moves though. Haha! But its fun to move the little pieces around!! Cant wait for you to get back!!
Cheka :D”
“Are you sure you don’t want to say something for your reply?”
“Don’t really care. You can just write whatever as long as it’s a reply.” Leona huffed, laying in his bed lazily.
“Alright then.”
“Why are you picking up my stuff…?” Leona questioned confusedly.
“The mess will disrupt the writing process.” She insisted. “Allow me to clean your space up slightly.”
“Sure?” he agreed, even more confused. “Just don’t be loud….”
—
Violet huffed with a satisfied nod, admittedly proud of her work. The room wasn’t spotless, but she certainly made progress. For one, things were no longer lying around on the floor. The clothing was properly stored and folded, the chessboard on the table was put away, and other items were also stored away.
She sat on the desk and pulled out her typewriter and began her work, enjoying the ambience of the unique environment around her that accompanied the usual sound of her typing she;d grown so used to.`
—
Cheka waited excitedly yet patiently for the reply from his uncle. It had been a while, but his mom just said his uncle must have been really busy.
The letter arrived a week later, neatly stamped and sealed with wax. “Mommy! The letter came in!” he cheered excitedly.
“Oh my,” She chuckled. “Are you excited?”
“Yeah!”
“Okay. Do you want me to read it to you or do you want to try reading it yourself?”
“Um… I think I can do it myself now!”
“Alright.” She laughed. “If there’s any word you don’t recognize, you can just ask me.”
“Okay!” he beamed.
—
“Yo, Leona.” Ruggie greeted, entering his room. “Looks like you’ve got another letter from your family.”
“The brat?”
“Yup.”
“Could you go get the Ramshackle Prefect?” He groaned.
“Eh?”
“Just go get her.”
“Okay, alright.” He said defensively, walking out of the room.
—
“Your room has grown disheveled once more.” Violet remarked as she entered.
“Don’t question it.”
“It is very important to remain organized and clean.” She advised. “I believe a reply came in?”
“Could you write another one back? This is kind of part of last time’s agreement.”
She nodded. “Yes. What would you like me to say in the letter?”
“Just like last time, say whatever you want as long as you can make it seem like it’s from me.” He sighed.
Violet nodded again, looking a little disappointed.
—
“Cheka?” the queen asked. “Is something the matter?”
“Oh, I got a letter from unca Leona.”
“Oh! That’s great. So he replied. “ she smiled. “Do you want to write another one back?”
He nodded slowly, not as enthusiastic as usual. “Yeah.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked again. “You don’t seem as excited as you were the first time. Did you read what’s inside?”
“I asked someone to read it for me.” He responded. “There’s something… a tiny bit weird.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“No, it’s okay.” he smiled, though not as bright as he usually would.
“Can I read what’s inside the letter?”
“Okay.”
“Dear Cheka,
I heard you were learning to play chess. I’m glad you’re learning something new. Do your best and I’m sure you’ll be able to master it. The pointy thing you mentioned is called a bishop– it moves diagonally on the chess spaces. The castle piece is called a rook– it moves straight on the chessboard. I’d be happy to play with you once I return home. What does your necklace look like? I’m sure it must be very nice on you. How are you? I’ve been great here at Night Raven College. I hope you’re having fun at the palace.
Sincerely,
Leona Kingscholar”
Nothing was inherently wrong with the letter. If anything, it was nicely written and well-meaning, in the Queen’s opinion. However, she did feel something was off. It wasn't like it was hollow or meaningless, it just…
Didn’t sound like something Leona would say.
“Do you want to write a reply?”
Cheka nodded. “Mhm.”
“Alright, let’s get started then.” She smiled. “Do you remember how to start letters?”
“Yup! With a greeting!”
“What kind?”
“A ‘Dear uncle Leona’!”
“Do you remember how to spell uncle?”
“Eh?” he chuckled a little sheepishly. “No…”
The queen laughed. “That’s okay, I’ll help you. What do you want to say?”
—
“Mr. Kingscholar, I believe another reply came in?”
“Yeah,” he responded nonchalantly.
“What would you like to say in this one?”
“Just write whatever you want,” He replied, the same way as usual.
“...I see.” She nodded, disappointed again. “I made tea. Would you care to have some?”
“Tea?” he echoed with disinterest.
“Yes. Red tea with some sugar cubes.”
“You’ve been spending way too much time in Hartslabyul.” He scoffed. “I’ll pass.”
“Even with the sugar cubes?”
“They don’t make a difference.”
“They come with sweets,” She offered again. “Strawberry jam filled. Mr. Clover baked them himself, and he is excellent at his craft.”
“Again, I really don’t care.”
“Isn’t there something you like to eat?”
“Meat.”
“I see.”
“Just don’t be loud. I’m going to go to sleep.”
“You were asleep when I arrived.” Violet remarked. “How is it that you require so much rest?”
“Because I like sleep.”
“I do not see the appeal or purpose in sleeping too much. Is that healthy?”
“Please stop with the questions already?”
“Apologies.” Violet sighed. “But I still cannot see how it is that you manage to make your room so disheveled despite this.”
“Huh?”
“Please pay my words no mind.”
—
“Mr. Kingscholar,” Violet called as she was folding Leona’s scattered clothes. “Do you love your nephew?”
“Love is a strong word,” he sighed. “He’s just a bit of a nuisance.”
She frowned. “Is that all?”
“I guess.”
“Is there a reason for that?” She pressed on. “He loves you quite a lot.”
He groaned again. “None of your–” He frowned. “You were there when we were all in the infirmary and the brat was there too, right?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“That’s him, son of my older brother, next in line for the throne.” He grumbled. “Even after everything I worked for. Even after all that work I put in. No matter how much I actually cared and thought about our kingdom, the brat was going to be next in-line to rule.” He frowned again. “And if it were just that, maybe it wouldn’t have been that bad. But no, apparently, being born second comes with being hated by everyone around you and a stupidly destructive unique magic along with it.”
“...”
“‘Oh, the king is so cheerful and kind’ or something, ‘Oh, but if only his brother wasn’t such a screw up’” his frown only grew even deeper. “I actually had a chance before this, maybe. To rule, even for a bit because I was supposed to be next in line. But then he was born, and somehow he automatically gets rights? The second he was out in the world, he was going to be next in line? No judgment of his skill, no questions. They didn’t even wait for him to grow up and see if he’d make a good ruler, of course not. That’s just not how monarchies work. The second born is just some half-baked back-up –”
“Mr. Kingscholar,” She cut in. “Why don’t we write a letter?”
“Huh?”
“Let’s write a letter, and express all your feelings.” She clarified.
“No one wants to hear about my stupid–”
“No one has to.” She assured. “All letters deserve to be delivered, but only if the sender wishes for their feelings to be delivered. A letter is a way to convey one’s feelings to someone else, but they don't have to.” She explained. “Would you like to write a letter, that will never be sent?”
He paused, considering the offer, this time sitting up on his bed rather than lying on it. “...What do you have planned, Evergarden?”
—
“How should we address this letter?”
“We aren’t going to send this to anyone, it won’t matter,” He sighed. “Just make up a name, or don’t put anything at all.”
She nodded, and began typing for a few moments. “Alright. Let’s begin.”
“How exactly?”
“Just talk about your feelings.” Violet responded, completely seriously. “Just like before.”
“So you want me to rant?”
“If you think that could help.”
“Sure, I guess.” He shrugged, sucking in a breath. “If I was born first, would I have made a good king at all? I bet people would still find a reason to favor me over Farena though because I’d be born first.” he huffed. “Stupid birth privileges…”
The sound of the typing accompanied his words like they were a part of it. An accompanying instrument. He continued speaking and ranting on for a while, admittedly sounding more immature and upset that it was actually slightly embarrassing.
But it was nice.
“I know that the brat’s supposed to learn as he grows up, but it’s stupid that he’s a 5-year-old, and already has rights to the throne ahead of me right now ? They won’t even judge him on his skill. It wouldn’t matter if he sucks at ruling, he's going to be king anyway by the time he’s grown up. And what’s the second born prince going to do? Be a backup just in case? ”
“Well, I don’t know if this would help, but at least you have more freedom and less responsibilities compared to him and your brother.” Violet pointed out.
“But ruling is something I want to do,” He grumbled. “I’ve been training, studying, and working my entire life for that role and to take over after my brother. To be King. And then suddenly that doesn’t even matter anymore? Suddenly I’m even more of a screw-up?”
“...Is that how you see yourself?” Violet questioned. “'A screw up’?”
“Sevens knows,” He grumbled. “That seems to be what everyone in the palace thinks.”
“Not your nephew.” Violet cut in.
“What?”
“Certainly not your nephew.” She repeated, this time more firm. “Have you read anything that he said?”
“No–”
“He’s learning chess because of you.” Violet said. “He’s been practicing and learning to play chess so that when you come home, he could play with you. He learned because he knew it was your favorite game, Mr. Kingscholar.”
“...”
“You need to write a reply to him.” She said. “He’d want to hear from you.”
“He gets replies to his letters, isn’t that enough?”
“He wants to hear from you.” She emphasized. “He admires you so much. He misses you. He loves you. He wants to hear from you, and hear from your words, more than anything.”
“Does he even know that it isn’t me who’s writing back?” He bit back, voice a bit more hostile than he liked. “The entire kingdom loves that furball; why would he care about his stupid second born uncle?”
“Because he loves you.” Violet said again. “Your nephew loves you.”
“...I don’t care.”
—
“Cheka?” The queen asked. “Is there something wrong?” She looked at the letter in the boy’s hand. “A reply from your uncle came in.”
“...Is it really from unca?” he questioned. “Something…. Something is a tiny bit weird.”
“Hm?”
“This doesn’t sound like unca…” He trailed off. “It’s like… Someone else?”
“Oh.” The queen said. “What makes you think that?”
“I asked someone to read it for me again,” he said. “But that’s not unca Leona.”
“...I see.” the queen nodded.
“But whoever wrote it is really, really nice.” He smiled, a bit sadly. “I want to thank them.”
“...Alright,” she nodded again, listening. “Do you want to write a reply again?”
“Okay.”
—
“Okay, Evergarden.” Leona sighed with annoyance. “If you can beat me in a chess match, I’ll write a reply.”
“Really?”
“Yes, yes.” he sighed. “Just warning you now, I won’t be losing.”
“Then, why don’t we have a match now?”
“Your funeral.”
—
“I win.” Leona declared. “So, will you leave me alone now?”
Violet shook her head. “Of course not. I’ll keep challenging you until I win.”
“You sound determined.”
“I’ll make you write a letter, I swear on it.”
“Swear on what?”
“I swear in the name of my Major.”
“Your what?”
“Major Gilbert Bougainvillea.” She responded with determination that likely would not be deterred.
“Swear on whomever’s name,” he responded nonchalantly. “I won’t be losing or replying.”
—
“Mr. Kingscholar.”
“What the–”
“Let’s play another match.”
—
“Mr. Kingscholar, please wake up.”
“E-Evergarden?” He squinted as he slowly blinked his eyes open. “How did you find–”
“Let us play another round, I believe I will beat you this time.”
—
Violet flipped through the pages in the library, diligently reading. She memorized various chess techniques and moves and visualized them, like printing them into her memory. She’d only ever played chess a few times with the Major. He asked her to try it when it started growing in popularity.
Back then, Violet didn’t find much of a reason to learn how to play games, but she’d be lying if she said she was never happy to be the Major’s opponent. He taught her a few things after she learned the basics.
“The queen may be the most powerful and invaluable asset,” The Major once said. “But the king is the one that keeps their troops standing.”
“But the King is the weakest piece. As weak as a pawn. A weak ruler is only a liability.” Violet responded.
“Who do you think is the one sending out the commands?” He pushed farther. “The King cannot fend for himself, because he’s the one commanding every single piece.”
“Really?”
“A pawn may turn into a queen if it reaches the end of the chessboard, but a king is irreplaceable.”
—
“Again?”
“Please.” She said, a little desperately. “Let me challenge you again.”
Violet had only beat the Major in chess once.
It was the same emerald eyes that stared back at her from the opposite side of the board.
But a vastly different person.
It was rather fast paced now, considering it was the umpteenth time they had a chess match. Violet never won once before, but she was determined to win this time. She had to. Leona had to reply. No matter what.
“Why are you so determined?”
“Because you must reply.” She said. “Even if it’s only one word. You must reply with your own words.”
“Does it mean that much to you?”
“Your nephew deserves a reply.” She said. “He deserves a real reply from you.”
“...”
—
“Checkmate!” she declared, sounding somehow out of breath “I… I’ve won!”
“Congrats.” He admitted with a bit of a disappointed look. “Whatever, a deal’s a deal… Yeesh, I sound like the octo-punk.”
“Then you’ll reply?”
“Yeah.”
“Then please read his letter.” Violet requested, presenting him the unsealed envelope. “Please.”
“Why?”
“You have to.” Violet pleaded again. “You can only write a proper response if you know what you’re responding to.”
“Yeah, yeah…” He relented, albeit a little begrudgingly, opening the envelope. “Let’s just get this over with…”
—
There was an absurd amount of smiley faces and doodles on the letters, atrocious spelling and grammar, and some of the worst handwriting he’d ever seen. Not to mention the less than necessary amount of exclamation points.
So stupidly childish.
“Are you ready to write the letter now?”
“Evergarden.” He said. “Move out of the way.”
“Mr. Kingscholar?”
He not-so-aggressively ushered her out of her seat on his desk and sat himself down. He didn’t care what his posture looked like, he hated working on desks anyway.
“Are you going to write a letter yourself?”
“You got a problem with that?”
“Not at all.” She smiled. “Please take your time, and write with care. I’m only borrowing the typewriter from Mr. Sam.”
“Borrowing? I thought this was your typewriter.”
“I’m afraid I could not purchase it myself.”
He continued typing. Kifaji used a vintage old-school typewriter sometimes if he wasn’t writing it himself on an old scroll with an ink and quill like someone from the last century. Leona was admittedly a bit slower at typing than writing by hand, but he wasn’t slow.
“It doesn't matter how long it is, ri–” he paused for a moment, finally taking notice of Violet's hands.
“No. As long as your message is delivered. That is enough.”
“...Right.” he sighed. “Then I hope you won’t mind this for a letter.”
“I won’t be worried. You should think about your nephew.”
“...”
—
Cheka opened the new letter, not as enthusiastic as he usually would. Maybe he’d just try to read it himself this time. Unfolding the paper, he read it quietly aloud.
“Hey,
Keep dreaming if you think you can beat me, but you can try.
Leona Kingscholar”
He lit up almost immediately upon reading the single sentence. Only one sentence was enough for him. Only one sentence was enough to convince him that it was definitely his unca Leona!
“Mom!” He exclaimed excitedly “A letter came in from Unca Leona!”
—
“Your room has grown disgruntled once more.”
“Yeah, alright, alright.” He sighed. “Why are you here? I thought I said I’d write back myself this time. I got a bit of an earful from my sister-in-law, you know?”
“To deliver a letter, of course.”
“From who?”
“A letter addressed to no one will be returned to its sender.” She answered, handing him a sealed letter.
“Ah.”
“Then I suppose our contract is over.” She said.
“Oh, yeah. Here you go.”
“What is that?”
“I hired you, didn’t I? I’m paying you. That’s how transactions work.”
“There is no need–”
“Thanks for dealing with me and my spiel.” He said, handing her a white envelope that seemed to contain money. “Just take it.”
“I see.” She relented.” Then I look forward to working with you once more.”
“Yeah,” he responded
—
“Dear Uncle Leona,
….I love you!”