Dearest Princess Emilia,



The blame in the lack of correspondence does not fall on you alone. Life back in Taengea has been hectic. Between the coronation of the King and my sister’s wedding tour of the temples, life has taken a most interesting turn, to say the least. But things have calmed down a bit, and your letter was my first order of business.



I had heard about the engagement and was incredibly pleased with the match. The Dimitrou family is one known for their character, and she will be well matched with him. While their family lacks the political pull that some of the other houses of Taengea have, they are a true and honest family. They are known for the loyalty, so fear not-- Lord Iason will serve your sister well. There is no one more supportive. You have my word that he will care for her and provide her stability. While I cannot attest to a gentle nature, it is not due to it being false, but only due to the fact that my contact with him has been mostly limited to reputation. Prince Vangelis will be staying with the family during his next visit. I could press him for more information if you would like me to. He has promised to give me an honest judgment of character, should I ask for it.



If I visit, I am going to insist that you put your dress on to show it to me. I do not think any amount of written word could accurately describe the fabric or the way it fell against your body. I shall need to see it for myself. I wish I had stayed longer, but a part of me thinks that the sheer amount of people in the room would have caused another bout of stress. While I am learning to handle the fear, I must confess that large groups still make me nervous. It is something I will have to get over, as we have our own festivals coming up and I want to attend.



I am determined to overcome the Creed. I do not wish for them to hold this power over me for the rest of my days.



Things have calmed down now that the King has been crowned and the Creed has been executed. My sister’s tour of the temples for marriage to Achilleas of Mikaelidas was a huge success. If you could have seen her dress, you would have been most jealous indeed. We are currently in the city, as my father has caught an illness that seemed to be highly contagious. Fear not, he is on the mend and we should be able to return home soon. I long to be back in the home of my childhood, to ride through the country and rest on the beaches. It has been hard to be stuck in the city, but I must admit that it has been nice to be at my sister’s side. The Queen is pregnant and far enough along that travel has been difficult for her, so being able to sit with her has been nice.



I hope all is well in your Kingdom. I have certainly missed you and your sister, and have thought of you both often. I will make sure to say a prayer to Aphrodite as well, to make sure her marriage to Lord Iason is blessed. I hope your family is in good health and that your kingdom is thriving.

Write to me soon, for I long for news of the rest of the world. Having seen as much of it as I have, each place has found a special spot in my heart and I want to hear everything you have to tell. I’ll expect details from the race, for we do not have those here and I would imagine it will be exciting.



May the Gods keep you,



Selene.