Chapter Text
If one had to choose between their duty to their spouse and the duty to their people, what would they choose? For Cassidy this question was a simple one, for the duty one had to their people would always be greater than the duty one had to someone who they were bonded to in the form of a purely political and loveless union.
But this union wasn’t loveless, now was it? Cassidy and Jeritza did love each other, they loved each other deeply and without regret. Thus Cassidy was grateful that she would never have to answer the question of which side to choose. Or at least, she wasn’t supposed to ever have to choose.
Cassidy hadn’t slept in days, she couldn’t. For how does one sleep when the entire world had been turned on its head; When everything you knew had been shattered. Edelgard was revealed to be the Flame Emperor, and had declared war on The Church of Seiros. Cassidy had refused to leave her dormitory since the event transpired.
Most assumed that Cassidy, like many, was in shock over the fact that such a thing could happen; but that wasn’t what Cassidy was being consumed by. No, Cassidy was being haunted by the two letters in front of her as she sat at her desk.
One sealed with crimson wax stamped to depict a two headed eagle, the symbol of the Adrestian Empire; while the one next to it was sealed with wax of azure and bore the symbol of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, a knight riding atop a mighty Griffin.
The seals on the letters had already been broken, their contents explored. Yet Cassidy chose to read them again, in hope that maybe that would magically change the words within the offending documents. She started with the letter she received from her homeland, from Faerghus.
To The Lady Cassidy von Xemenior,
I have debriefed the Lords of Faerghus on Adrestia’s betrayal. We have been planning on how to handle the situation from this point, although for security I cannot reveal much. While discussing what to do about our children within the Officer’s Academy the fact that you were currently living within the Empire was brought to our attention. Some questioned whether we could trust that you would be loyal to the Kingdom; how foolish for them to suggest you to be anything but loyal. His Highness has spoken of you in nothing but the highest regard, and I have known both he and you for more than long enough to know that all he said was true.
Which is why after much discussion it is my honor to inform you that you are to be allowed to return to Faerghus where you will be working alongside His Highness as one of his war advisors. While I can understand that you may be hurt that we have not offered you back the Xemenior land I can promise you that if you were to help the Kingdom in winning this war there would be no noble who could argue against you reclaiming your land and title; and know that when that time comes I, along with His Highness and many others will stand in support of you. I gladly await seeing you again. It has been too long, Cassidy.
Regards,
Lord Rodrigue Achille Fraldarius
Cassidy knows she should have been ecstatic to read such a thing, and at first, she was. She had fought so hard to take her parents place after the events in Duscur, after all, that was her right; only to be sent to her uncle in the Empire.
Now she was being promised a chance to get everything back, a prospect that had it come sooner would have left her overjoyed. Now it only filled her with a feeling of dread that clumped in her stomach and made the back of her throat sting.
All because of the letter sealed in crimson.
It would not be foolish to assume this letter was from Edelgard herself, the only issue with such an assumption is that to think such a thing you would have to not be aware of the fact that Cassidy had already received a letter from the newly crowned empress.
A letter that had asked Cassidy to join Edelgard in the Empire and serve as a general for her.
A letter that Cassidy promptly destroyed in simple flick of fiery magic.
Cassidy would not for a second choose Edelgard, choose the Empire, over her homeland. But the letter that sat before her now, that letter was not from the Empress, even before Cassidy opened the envelope she knew who had written her this letter.
While a messenger had delivered both Edelgard and Rodrigue’s letters, this one was simply at her desk with no indication of where it came from.
Yet Cassidy knew from scent alone who the sender was; a scent that was mostly metallic, bloody, but from closer you could catch traces of something almost sweet. Cassidy knew this was from her betrothed and yet when she had opened his letter she still wasn’t prepared for what Jeritza had left for her.
The second Cassidy opened the letter a gold ring, inlaid with a gorgeous diamond nestled between two amethyst, fell out. Yet Cassidy did not at that moment pay attention to the ring; no, what had caught her eye was what was onthe parchment. Written in a messy scrawl, almost as though the writer could barely manage to stop from shaking long enough to write the message, were 5 words.
Will you still marry me?