To My Lord Arles, His Excellency by the Grace of Arith the Duke of Derrien, his most loyal Mademoiselle Emmeline d’Cerisey, Thalassan in birth but Uzec at heart, wishes him a happy life through long years, good health, and offers her sincere respect.
Your noble perseverance in these difficult times is already well known and you surely have no need for the humble praises of country gentry. Nonetheless I wish to convey my respect and appreciation for what must be many difficult challenges you now face.
Yet amid darkness there is light and happiness to be found.
Were the Margrave free to do so I am convinced he would be pleased to share this good news himself. But as he is away to war, he has given me the honor of relating to you the cause of our happiness.
On the twenty first day of November, 488, Henri and Lara were born to their father the Margrave Roland of Calder and Uzec, and myself. I’m certain Her Grace the Baroness Rivanon will have her own announcement forthcoming regarding her new siblings.
I know the Margrave is as overjoyed as I am that both children are in excellent health.
I humbly apologize for the lateness of this letter. While the children are strong, the birth was very difficult for me and it required more than a week of the best care before I could fully recover.
Yours in Service to the Duchy and Uzec,
[signed Emmeline d’Cerisey, 1 December 488]
The letter is elegantly folded first four ways, then the corners in to form a rectangle. This is then sealed with the official emblem of Cerisey (the oak tree), as provided by then-Baron Roland. The statement here is that she is no country bumpkin to roll up a piece of vellum like a common scroll and slap some wax on it. Her letter is composed in her own hand, as is evidenced by the hand writing of the signature being the same as the hand writing of the letter itself. Thus the statement is that she knows how to write a proper letter. Further, she felt so strongly about the news she wanted it in her own hand. Components consisting of Salutatio, Captatio Venevolentiae, Narratio are included, but as there is no request the Petitio is omitted. She finishes with a brief Concludio followed by the signature and dates and the formal folds. She’s demonstrating courtly knowledge, which she tries to do very consistently around any of the nobility.
To The Graceful Friend of my Cousin, the Margrave of Northmarch, Mademoiselle Emmeline d’Cerisey, we send you both congratulations on the birth of the twins and wish you happiness for all your days in Aarith’s arms.
Your kind words are appreciated in this tragic time. My mother, the Duchess, suffers most of all, both with the death of my esteemed father and of my brother in memory, not the madman he became. We thank you and your cousin, the young and honorable Magus Elemix, for your actions that each in their own way saved many lives. We are in your debt. Please convey such to you cousin in particular. We have learned that his warning was a key event.
You and yours are always welcome in Derrien. Please feel free to visit us as soon as winter concludes so we may thank you in person.
Your protector by the light of Aarith,
Lord Arles, Duke of Derrien and Peer of the Thalassan League