Author's Note: this story is just an idea that suddenly came. When I suddenly thought that I could write a story where Al-Cid and Messallina sorts of become a couple. This is not canon to "The puppeteer's extra strings", but a 'what if' instead. One day, the idea of this being a story told through letters just came, and I thought that it would be quite an interesting way to write a story. I actually wrote this on my phone using evernote. This story is from Al-Cid's point of view completely, and it might be a bit out of character, but the main idea is that this is from the point of view of someone who is in love. In the canon version of my story, Al-Cid and Messallina's relationship is sort of a friendship, he is not in love with her. This is just a what if.

The seven letters were in a neat stack in the drawer, tied with a faded ribbon. Very carefully, the young woman unknotted the ribbon and placed each envelope on the desk in front of her.

Each envelope had a different but familiar name, and some envelopes were clearly more faded then others. One was her name, but that particular letter was the very last one.

"Six letters that were never sent and the one that would be sent." was her father's words. "They are all for you, my precious morning star, although they are not about you."

The first letter

My dear sister:

I think I might be in love.

Perhaps you will laugh at the context, or perhaps you will be too surprised. Or maybe you will do both. I think I'm doing both. After all, it is one of the most foolish things I have ever done. To meet someone, and then to think that I am in love.

You are naturally thinking of who the person is, and why I'm writing to you. The reason is because you have seen her and might have played a part in causing me to be like this. I have seen the way you looked at our cousin and I used to think that this is foolish of you. I don't think my mind has changed but I can't reproach someone for something I've done too.

During that ball in Bhujerba...you wanted to dance with our cousin. I did not realise that your want would be a reality. After all, our cousin would surely not insult Archadia so.

Yet he did, with you as an excuse. Because of that, I ended up dancing with Lady Messallina Solidor.

And so my madness starts.

Yes, my dear sister, no doubt you are thinking that your brother has gone mad.

Maybe I have.

Initially, I merely sought to dance with her because of the consequences for Rozarria, as well as feeling that our cousin has gone too far. However...

This sounds crazy and I'm a madman for saying this, but she laughed and smiled with me. When she did that, there was something different about her.

They say that she is a widow who loved her husband so, but I'm not sure if I agree. There is something about the way that she laughed. I feel that she had little chance of laughing before.

This can not be a woman who had a happy marriage.

If she is pretending...that makes it even more tragic then her simply having had a bad marriage.

Politics is a very twisted road and I think she had her share.

There is also her relationship with her brother-in-law. They are supposed to dislike each other, only civilized due to the emperor. Even though I am not sure about her, I am certain that he regards her as very important.

So why this twisting road?

And what is it that I want?

I don't know. I don't even know why I'm writing this letter.

I'm not fully certain whether I am in love, but I know that I have a very strange feeling towards her. I'll certainly like to know more about her. Perhaps I should visit Archadia a bit more?

Yes, I will do that.

~Your brother, Al-Cid.

The young man placed his pen down and re-read the letter once more. Even though he is certain about his desire of going to Archadia, he decided against sending the letter.

As he himself said, he was not sure of what he wanted at all. Sending a letter with so much uncertainty would probably just embarrass himself.