***Aldrik***
The letter arrived shortly after breakfast.
I recognized my father's seal immediately. For a moment, I considered leaving it unopened. Not because I feared its contents. Quite the opposite. I already had a fairly good idea of what it would say.
Dravenshire had tolerated my absence longer than most duchies would have. The war was over. Reconstruction had begun. At some point, my father was going to remind me that I was still his heir.
With a quiet sigh, I broke the seal and unfolded the letter.
The first half contained exactly what I'd expected.
Updates regarding the duchy, trade routes reopening, several border disputes requiring attention, a summary of matters my father deemed important enough to mention and unimportant enough to handle himself.
The second half was where things became interesting.
I read it once.
Then a second time.
Then leaned back in my chair and stared at the window.
Duke of Dravenshire.
