***Cadiz***
Boots scraped in the courtyard below. A horse snorted, hooves clicking on stone. The post rider was here again, bringing letters from the Empire.
Henrik came in with his arms full of envelopes. He put them on Raizel's desk, sorting by seals and family crests. His hands never shook, his face never changed.
Raizel sat behind his big black desk. He started breaking seals fast. He'd look at each letter once, maybe twice, then set it aside.
I pretended to study the map on the wall, but I kept looking at one envelope. It had the Eberhart eagle on it.
My chest got tight.
Raizel picked up my family's letter and broke the seal. He read it quickly, his face showing nothing. Then he set it aside.
"From your family," he said without looking up.
I walked over and picked up the letter before I could chicken out. The writing was fancy and official. Not from Father or Camilla. This came from the imperial court.
It was about Cassius's wedding.
Pages and pages about the celebration. The cathedral with red and gold banners. Choirs singing. Nobles crowding the streets of Avalyn. They called it the event of the season.
I could picture it. Cassius looking perfect in his wedding clothes, silver hair held back with a gold circlet. Standing next to Aldrik von Draven in red robes. The letter talked about their vows, Aldrik's strength, his family. Everything about their perfect union.
Father standing by the altar, proud. Camilla listed as a wedding witness. The Empire's golden couple.
And nowhere was I mentioned.
Not as a brother. Not as a son. Not even as someone who couldn't make it.
I didn't exist to them anymore.
My hands started shaking. I put the letter down on Raizel's desk.
"They didn't mention me at all," I said.
Raizel looked at the letter, then at me. "Your father probably wanted the official report. To remind you where you stand."
That hurt because it was true. "I'm nothing to them."
"You're here," Raizel said. His voice was flat. "That matters."
I laughed, but it didn't sound funny. "Here where nobody talks to me. Cassius has everything - strength, beauty, that scent that makes people love him. He gets the perfect wedding, perfect husband, perfect life. And I get..."
I looked around the cold stone room.
Raizel was quiet for a bit. Then he said, "Not everything that shines is solid." His voice had an edge to it.
I stared at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
His jaw got tight. He didn't answer, just turned back to his other letters.
I picked up the wedding papers and left. I couldn't stay in that room anymore.
In the library, I spread everything on a table and read it all again. Every detail about Cassius's perfect day. Crowds cheering. The imperial blessing. Father's proud speech about his heir bringing honor to House Eberhart.
They'd write about him forever. Songs, stories, history books. About me? Nothing.
Raizel appeared in the doorway. His pale eyes found the papers on the table.
"The bells rang for hours," I said without looking up. "The whole Empire celebrated."
He walked closer but didn't say anything.
"I used to think maybe I'd matter someday. That I'd find something I was good at. But this..." I touched the letter. "This makes it clear. I'm nothing to them."
The room got quiet. Then I heard Raizel move behind me.
"You matter here," he said quietly.
I turned around, surprised. His face looked the same as always, but his voice sounded different. Softer maybe.
I matter here..? As if!
He usually treats me like I'm no different from a political acquaintance, and now he says this?
Before I could say anything, he turned and walked away. Left me alone with my brother's perfect wedding spread across the table.
But his words stuck with me. You matter here.
It wasn't much, it's
ridiculous even. But after being erased from my own family's story, it felt huge.