Season 4: Chapter 30

                                        

                                              
It was no simple feat to adjust to life back in Xutia, and the expectations on her as both Marchioness and future Imperial Crown Princess. She met with the Emperor and readily disclosed all that had happened in her role as Ambassador, but publicly could only indicate the alliance's success. The change in Imperial Prince Damien's eye wasn't acknowledged at all, Ludwig's missing hand was explained away by an attack he fended off in his duty protecting Emberlee. And Aerig's Name correction was simply treated as something Adabans did after divorce. 
Vivian was as excited to see them all returned as anticipated, though she noted the aforementioned changes they'd all undergone. There was an undeniably depressed air that smothered them and yet Vivian didn't ignore the charges but lovingly accepted them post-Adaba. 
"Emberlee insisted I bring you Adaban literature," Aerig placed the blame at her feet, "but I'll either have to read it to you or teach you Adaban because it's not translated," He warned. 
"Reading her Adaban romance might constitute a war crime," Damien teased. 
"Only if I do the noises", Aerig confirmed and Vivian blushed a pretty pink colour.
She would have never survived the hedonism of the second festival day despite her literary preferences. Emberlee actually couldn't readily think of someone who would do well in Adaba, not with Uncle now married and respectable. It would likely take the Ivy House finding a Xutian Noble with enough 'tolerance' for that level of exhibitionism, and she'd be able to help train them for the rest with Aerig's tutelage. 
"While you were away I did as you suggested and received Father's permission to send letters to the trade partners in Maphate," Vivian smiled at Emberlee now, "it was a lot of fun to research the area I was writing to so I knew how to properly address them and what was appropriate to discuss." 
"You did say you wanted to see the world for yourself," Emberlee was using that fact to both their benefits. 
"Mother wasn't thrilled," Vivian mourned, "but since I'd spoken to the Emperor about it first she couldn't forbid me from it. She does insist that we read the response that comes back together." 
More likely that Empress Clara would intercept whatever response came in so she could determine if it was something she'd want her daughter exposed to. In Stussica Vivian was still considered a child until 19, but in Xutia she'd become an adult even before Emberlee had. Vivian had every legal right to privacy that other Noble adults had. 
"If you'd like, we'll have the Minister of Correspondence expedite it straight to you," Damien suggested, using a polite title for the Imperial Spymaster. 
"Why is the Empress trying to censor the Imperial Princess' mail," Aerig asked deliberately, helping Vivian see it for the control it was. 
"I've never written letters abroad before," Vivian defended her Mother's actions, "in Stussica we had a drafter who wrote our dictated letters for us, his calligraphy was exquisite." 
"I can only imagine how much of an adjustment its been for you to live in Xutia," Aerig's sympathy was real, "where you're expected to do all these things yourself after a lifetime of never having to." 
"I make mistakes that are rather silly to anyone else," she admitted so easily, her ego not a burden at all.
"Mistakes are the price we pay to earn experience," Emberlee's Mother's lesson would help once again, "there is no such thing as perfection without practice." 
"I'd like to be able to write letters without constantly having them reviewed for errors," Vivian seemed agreeable, "and I know Mother is so busy supporting the Empire..."