24 July 3015

My Dearest Sister Elizabeth,

Your letter of the 10th of July reached me yesterday, having made excellent time given the current sailing season, and I confess I have read it through several times with a mixture of gratitude, concern, and deep reflection. That you would write to me with such candor about the political situation at home, about your meeting with Crown Prince Alexander, and about your observations regarding Catherine Rothwell speaks to both your perspicacity and your courage in these increasingly difficult times.

I shall address your concerns in the order that weighs most heavily upon my mind, though I suspect you will understand why I must begin not with the matters of court politics or family strategy, but rather with something that has caused me considerable unease since reading your account.

Your description of your encounter with Catherine Rothwell at the Spring Reception troubles me more than I can easily express in a letter that may be read by others besides yourself. You write that she spoke wistfully of Lysander and expressed regret that “circumstances” had prevented the marriage understanding from being realized, and that she asked with genuine interest what Lysander might encounter in Bravia and whether I thought he would be happy here. You interpreted this encounter as suggesting that Baron Rothwell’s campaign against Bravian accommodation may not have the full support even of his own family, and you saw in Catherine’s curiosity a sign that the younger generation may see Bravia differently than their parents do.

Elizabeth, I must ask you to consider an alternative interpretation of this encounter, one that fills me with considerable alarm. Baron Rothwell is, by all accounts, a shrewd political operator who understands the value of information. His daughter’s seemingly innocent inquiries about Lysander’s prospects in Bravia and her expression of regret about the dissolved understanding could well have been calculated to elicit from you precisely the sort of information you provided—details about Lysander’s likely activities here, my assessment of his chances for happiness and success, and our family’s general attitude toward Bravian society.

I do not wish to impugn Catherine’s character, which may well be as gracious and genuine as you perceived it to be. But I have learned in my time here that seemingly casual conversations can serve multiple purposes simultaneously. The Bravians have taught me much about the importance of considering all possible interpretations of words and actions, and about the danger of accepting the most pleasant interpretation simply because it is the most comfortable. If Baron Rothwell is indeed positioning himself as a leader of the anti-Bravian faction at court, then intelligence about what his opponents’ families are doing would be valuable to him. His daughter, whether wittingly or unwittingly, may have served as his instrument in gathering such intelligence.

I raise this not to make you anxious about past conversations—what is said cannot be unsaid—but rather to urge extreme caution in any future encounters with members of the Rothwell family or their close associates. Assume that anything you say will be reported back to the Baron, and that he will interpret it in whatever way best serves his political purposes. This is not paranoia, dear sister, but merely the prudent recognition that we live in times when information is a form of currency and when family connections do not necessarily trump political calculations.

Now, as to your meeting with Crown Prince Alexander. I am both heartened and concerned by what you report. That Lady Margrave was able to arrange an audience so quickly speaks to her continued influence and to her genuine regard for our family—both valuable assets in uncertain times. That the Crown Prince received you courteously and listened to your concerns with apparent attention is certainly encouraging. But I must confess that I am somewhat troubled by the very fact that such a meeting was necessary, and by what it suggests about the trajectory of political opinion at court.

You write that you presented our family’s perspective as one of “prudent realism” and that you emphasized the necessity of understanding a powerful neighbor’s ways rather than either enthusiasm for or excessive fear of them. This was precisely the right approach, and Lady Margrave’s counsel in this regard was sound. However, the fact that you felt compelled to make such a presentation at all indicates that our family’s position has become sufficiently questionable that it requires explicit defense. This is a more precarious situation than I had fully appreciated from my distance here in Bravia.

The Crown Prince’s response, as you describe it, was diplomatically noncommittal. He thanked you for your perspective, acknowledged the complexity of the situation, and assured you of his confidence in my service while simultaneously suggesting that “all voices must be heard” in matters of such importance. Elizabeth, I have enough experience with diplomatic language to recognize when someone is carefully avoiding commitment while appearing to offer reassurance. The Crown Prince has not positioned himself firmly in support of the accommodation policy, which suggests that he is waiting to see how political winds blow before committing himself one way or another. This is not necessarily a criticism of his judgment—it may indeed be the wisest course for someone in his position—but it means that our family cannot count on his protection should the anti-accommodation faction gain sufficient strength.

Your observation that the political situation involves not merely two factions but three is particularly astute, and I confess it is an aspect of the situation that had not been as clear to me from my vantage point here. The third group you describe—those who see in Bravia not merely a power to be negotiated with but a model to be emulated—represents a different kind of danger than I had fully appreciated. While the anti-accommodation faction poses an obvious threat to our family’s position given my role in negotiating the treaty, this third group poses a more subtle but perhaps equally serious risk.

If there are indeed those at court who speak admiringly of Bravian egalitarianism and who view the treaty as a first step toward transformation rather than merely prudent accommodation, then they may well view me as an insufficiently enthusiastic advocate for Bravian ways. My entire approach has been predicated on the assumption that I am negotiating a relationship between two fundamentally different systems, each legitimate in its own context, rather than facilitating the transformation of one system into another. If there are those who desire such transformation, they may come to see me as an obstacle rather than an asset—someone who understands Bravia well enough to explain why wholesale adoption of their ways would be inappropriate for our circumstances.

This places our family in a genuinely precarious position. We are potentially suspect to three different groups: those who oppose any accommodation with Bravia will see us as dangerously sympathetic to a foreign power; those who support accommodation purely as a pragmatic necessity may worry that our understanding of Bravian ways makes us vulnerable to co-optation; and those who desire transformation along Bravian lines may view us as insufficiently committed to their vision. Navigating between these three positions will require extraordinary care, and I am deeply grateful that you are there at court to maintain our family’s presence and to monitor the shifting currents of opinion.

Your decision to send Lysander to join me despite these complications was, I believe, the correct one, though I understand the anguish it must have caused you. You are right that expertise in Bravian affairs will only become more valuable as time goes on, regardless of which political faction ultimately prevails. Even those who most vehemently oppose Bravian influence will need people who understand how Bravia thinks and operates, if only to better resist that influence. And if accommodation or even closer integration becomes the established policy, then those with deep knowledge of Bravian society will be essential to managing that relationship effectively.

However, I must now address a development that has arisen since Lysander’s departure from home, and which adds an additional layer of complexity to his situation here. I have received a communication from the Bravian authorities informing me that Lysander has been invited to attend the opening ceremonies of the Cape Esperance Naval Museum, which will commemorate the Battle of Cape Esperance where the entire enemy fleet was destroyed. This invitation was apparently extended to him directly during his brief time in Port Esperance, and he felt obliged to accept given the prominence of those who issued the invitation.

Elizabeth, I must be frank with you about the significance of this development. The Bravians do not issue such invitations casually, nor without purpose. The Battle of Cape Esperance was indeed a devastating demonstration of Bravian military power, and the decision to commemorate it with a museum and to invite foreign representatives to the opening is clearly intended to send a message. The question is: what message, and to whom?

On one reading, this is simply what the Bravians claim it to be—an opportunity to mark an important event in their recent history and to extend appropriate courtesy to foreign diplomats. The Bravians are, as I have told you repeatedly, a people who value honesty and directness, and they may genuinely see no ulterior motive in inviting representatives of other nations to witness their pride in their military capabilities.

On another reading, however, this invitation could be seen as the Bravians sending a carefully calculated reminder to any potential adversaries of the cost of military opposition to them. By inviting Lysander specifically—a young man on his first diplomatic mission, representing a nation that has only recently concluded a treaty with them—they may be making clear that they view such museums and commemorations as appropriate subjects for diplomatic attention. They may be signaling that our relationship with them must include an acceptance of their military strength and a recognition that opposition to Bravia carries severe consequences.

There is yet a third possibility that troubles me even more. The Bravians may be testing Lysander, and through him testing our family and our nation, to see how we respond to such an invitation. Will we attend with appropriate diplomatic courtesy, treating it as a normal cultural event? Will we make excuses and decline, revealing our discomfort with Bravian military power? Will we attend but respond with visible unease, demonstrating that we view their strength as a threat rather than as a legitimate source of national pride? Our response to this invitation will be observed and interpreted, and those interpretations will influence Bravian perceptions of our nation and our family.

I have been considering how best to prepare Lysander for this event, and I have decided to send him detailed guidance along with this letter. I will instruct him to attend with appropriate diplomatic courtesy, to express genuine admiration for Bravian military efficiency and organization without celebrating the defeat of another nation, and to maintain throughout a professional demeanor that neither betrays discomfort nor suggests excessive enthusiasm. This is a delicate balance, but it is one that Lysander must learn to maintain if he is to serve effectively here.

However, there is an additional complication that I must bring to your attention. The timing of this museum opening means that Lysander will be delayed in his arrival here at the embassy. He will travel first to Port Esperance, attend the museum opening, and only then continue onward to meet me. This means that his first extended exposure to Bravian society will be in the context of a military commemoration, surrounded by Bravians who are celebrating a dramatic victory and by foreign observers who are trying to calculate the implications of Bravian military power.

This is not the gentle introduction to Bravian life that I had envisioned for him. I had hoped that he would arrive here, spend time adjusting to the daily realities of Bravian society, develop some understanding of their ways in ordinary contexts before being thrust into situations fraught with political and diplomatic significance. Instead, he will be representing our nation at a major public event within days of his arrival in Bravia, before he has had any opportunity to develop his own sense of how Bravian society operates or to receive detailed guidance from me about the subtleties of Bravian political culture.

I am not without confidence in Lysander’s abilities—your descriptions of his preparation and his own letters to me suggest a young man of considerable intelligence and judgment. But I would be dishonest if I did not acknowledge my concern about placing such responsibility on him so quickly. The Bravians will be watching him closely, assessing not only his personal qualities but also what his conduct reveals about our nation’s attitude toward them. If he handles the situation well, it could establish him as a diplomatic asset and strengthen our family’s position. If he mishandles it—and there are many ways to mishandle such a delicate situation—it could reinforce Bravian doubts about our nation’s commitment to the accommodation we have negotiated.

I am sending separate correspondence to Lysander with specific guidance about the museum opening and about his subsequent journey here. I am also sending a letter to His Majesty’s government explaining the situation and my assessment of its implications. You should be aware of these communications so that you can respond appropriately if questions arise at court about Lysander’s activities in Bravia.

Now I must turn to matters that are perhaps less immediately pressing but no less important for our family’s long-term position. You mention in your letter that you have been wearing the Bravian silk I sent you and that it has attracted considerable attention at court. I am pleased that you have found it beautiful and useful, but I must urge you to exercise some discretion about how visibly you display your connection to Bravia. Given the political sensitivities you have described, appearing too enthusiastic about Bravian goods or culture could reinforce suspicions about our family’s loyalties.

This is not to suggest that you should hide the silk or pretend that I did not send it—such concealment would itself raise suspicions. Rather, I would suggest that you treat it as you would treat any other fine imported goods—appreciated for its quality without excessive comment on its origin. If others inquire about it, a simple acknowledgment that it was a gift from your brother-in-law serving abroad should suffice without dwelling on the specifically Bravian nature of the item.

The same principle applies to your discussions about Bravia in social settings. You write that you have been educating your circle about Bravian realities as I have conveyed them to you, working to counter misconceptions and prejudices. This is laudable in intent, but I must caution you that in the current political climate, such advocacy could be dangerous. There is a fine line between correcting factual errors about Bravia and appearing to defend or promote Bravian ways, and those predisposed to suspect our family’s loyalties may not be inclined to recognize that distinction.

I would suggest that in social conversations about Bravia, you position yourself as someone who is simply reporting what you have heard from me rather than someone who is advocating for any particular view of Bravia. You might say something like: “My brother-in-law writes that the Bravians are quite honest in their business dealings, which he has found makes negotiations more straightforward,” rather than “The Bravians are wonderfully honest people whom we should admire.” The former is a neutral reporting of observed fact, while the latter could be construed as advocacy. In times such as these, such distinctions matter.

Regarding the preservation of our correspondence, I am relieved to learn that you have taken my earlier recommendations seriously and have already begun creating copies and distributing them to secure locations. The arrangements you describe—copies with your cousin in the Northern Province and with the Sisters of Saint Catherine—seem admirably prudent. I would only add that you should also consider keeping one set of copies in a location that you can access immediately if circumstances require rapid departure from the capital. A strongbox that can be transported easily, containing the most essential documents, would be a wise precaution.

I recognize that such suggestions may seem alarmist, and I pray that they prove unnecessary. But we have both observed that the political situation is becoming increasingly volatile, and families who have not prepared for various contingencies may find themselves at a severe disadvantage if civil disorder does materialize. Better to be overprepared for a crisis that never comes than to be caught unprepared by one that does.

You ask in your letter whether I have given thought to what provisions should be made should anything happen to me while Lysander is in Bravia. This is indeed a prudent question, though one I had been reluctant to address directly in correspondence that might be read by others. I shall now do so, though I ask you to share this information only with Lysander and to keep it secure.

I have made arrangements with His Majesty’s government for the succession of responsibilities here should I become unable to fulfill them. In the event of my death or incapacitation, Lysander would be designated as acting ambassador until a permanent replacement could be appointed. This would give him authority to continue managing our relations with Bravia and would provide continuity in our diplomatic presence here. However, I have also arranged that in such circumstances, Lysander would have the option to recommend his own immediate withdrawal and replacement if he judged himself unprepared for such responsibilities. I wanted to ensure that he would not feel trapped by obligations he could not reasonably fulfill.

Additionally, I have made financial arrangements that would provide for both you and Lysander in such circumstances. I have established an account here in Bravia that would pass to Lysander, and I have made provision with our bankers at home to ensure that you would have sufficient means to maintain your current standard of living. These are not matters I have discussed in previous correspondence, as I did not wish to seem morbid or to burden you with unnecessary concerns, but given the uncertainties of our times, I think it wise that you should know these arrangements exist.

I must also address a delicate matter that your letter raised indirectly. You wrote that Baron Rothwell has stated that he will not see his daughter married into a family of “Bravian sympathizers,” and that this effectively voids the understanding that had existed regarding a possible match between Catherine and Lysander. While I understand that this development has caused you pain, I must tell you that I believe Baron Rothwell has, however inadvertently, done our family a considerable service.

The Rothwell connection would have tied our family’s fortunes to a faction that is, I believe, fundamentally misreading the strategic situation. Bravia is not going to disappear, nor is opposition to Bravian influence going to prove a winning long-term position. A family alliance with the Rothwells would have constrained our options and potentially compromised our ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Baron Rothwell’s decision to break the understanding frees Lysander to make connections here in Bravia that may prove far more valuable than a marriage alliance with a declining political faction at home.

I realize this may sound callous, particularly given that you had allowed yourself to imagine Catherine as Lysander’s wife and to hope that such a match would provide him with both social standing and happiness. I do not minimize the pain of disappointed expectations, nor do I suggest that political calculations should entirely override personal considerations. But I must be honest with you about my assessment: the dissolution of this understanding, painful though it may be in the immediate term, is likely to prove advantageous in the longer term.

There is another aspect of this situation that I must mention, though it touches on matters we have not previously discussed explicitly. Lysander is now in Bravia, where he will spend several years developing his understanding of Bravian society. He will interact regularly with Bravians, observe their family life, witness their courtship customs, and potentially form friendships with young Bravians of both sexes. It is not impossible—indeed, I would say it is quite likely—that he will encounter Bravian women who are intelligent, educated, and attractive, and who share his interests and values in ways that might lead to genuine affection.

I am not suggesting that Lysander should or will marry a Bravian. Such a match would create complications both diplomatic and personal that I would hesitate to encourage. But I am suggesting that his time here will expose him to possibilities and connections that were not available to him at home, and that we should not assume that his romantic future will necessarily involve a match with someone from our own country. The world is changing, Elizabeth, and our family must be flexible enough to adapt to those changes while maintaining our fundamental identity and loyalties.

Regarding the package you asked me to give to Lysander upon his arrival—containing his father’s pocket watch, your devotional book, and your sealed letter to him—I will of course honor your request. I think waiting until he has had a few days to settle in before giving him your letter is the wiser course. The watch and devotional book I can give him immediately as practical items, but your letter should come at a moment when he has the emotional space to receive it properly and to reflect on its contents without the distraction of new responsibilities and experiences overwhelming his attention.

I am moved by your description of yourself as a pioneer of a sort, building bridges between different peoples and different ways of life. This is indeed what we are attempting, and it is work that requires courage as much as skill. We are navigating without clear precedents, making judgments based on incomplete information, trying to serve both our family’s interests and our nation’s welfare in circumstances where those interests are not always perfectly aligned and where the path forward is far from clear.

What sustains me in this work, Elizabeth, is the knowledge that I am not attempting it alone. Your presence at court, your careful management of our family’s reputation and connections, your willingness to take risks and to adapt to changing circumstances—all of this is as essential to our family’s success as anything I accomplish here in Bravia. We are partners in this enterprise, though separated by distance and circumstance, and I am deeply grateful for your partnership.

I will close with a thought that has been much on my mind as I have read and re-read your letter. You quote your late husband—my dear brother—as saying that the most important legacy we leave is not the property we accumulate or the positions we hold, but the example we set for how to live with honor in difficult circumstances. These words have haunted me since reading them, for they capture something essential about what we are attempting.

We do not know whether our judgments about Bravia will prove correct. We do not know whether the accommodation policy will succeed or fail, whether our nation will maintain its independence or whether it will be transformed by Bravian influence despite our best efforts to prevent such transformation. We do not know whether civil disorder will come or whether political stability will be maintained. There is much we do not know, and much that is beyond our control.

What we can control is how we comport ourselves in the face of these uncertainties. We can strive to be honest in our assessments, thoughtful in our judgments, and faithful to our principles even when doing so requires courage. We can work to understand rather than to judge precipitously, to adapt while maintaining our identity, to serve our nation’s interests even when those interests are complex and difficult to discern. If we do these things, then regardless of outcome, we will have lived with honor, and that example will be worth more than any political success or material gain.

Watch over yourself, dear sister, in these difficult times. Trust your instincts, but also remain alert to the multiple possibilities inherent in any situation. Keep our correspondence secure, maintain your connections at court, and know that you have my complete confidence and my deepest affection.

Your devoted brother-in-law,
Leonidas Smith
Ambassador to the Nation of Bravia

P.S. — I am sending with this letter a small additional collection of Bravian items that I thought you might find interesting. These include a sample of Bravian writing in several of their languages, showing the diversity of their linguistic culture; a small carved wooden box from the Forest people, different from the ones I sent before; and a copy of a Bravian household code of laws, which may give you some sense of how they organize their domestic arrangements. I thought you might find these items illuminating, though I would suggest discretion in sharing them with others. The household code in particular could be easily misunderstood by those not familiar with Bravian ways.

I should also mention that I have made inquiries about the possibility of direct courier service between the capital and Port Esperance, which would allow for faster communication between us. The Bravians have excellent postal services, but even their efficiency cannot overcome the inherent delays of sea travel. A courier service that could travel overland would reduce communication time by perhaps a week or more. I will inform you if such arrangements can be made.

L.S.