Letters, Lace, and Laughter
Runcandel Mansion — A Reply Well Aimed
Keith opened Susan's letter with mild curiosity.
By the second line, he was smiling.
By the end, he chuckled.
"…Competitive," he murmured.
He reached for parchment immediately.
Keith's Reply to Susan
Susan,
I can neither confirm nor deny that making your aunt blush was intentional.
However, if she nearly combusted, I will accept full responsibility—eventually.
As for you,
You're right. I do owe you a proper conversation. One without corridors, politics, or witnesses.
Be warned though—if you pout in person the way you do in writing, I may not be merciful.
Looking forward to seeing you.
—Keith
He sealed it with a light trace of magic and sent it off.
Somewhere very far away—
Bones Manor — A Heart Skipping Too Fast
Susan Bones tore the letter open the moment the owl arrived.
She read it once.
Her eyes widened.
She read it again.
Her face went red.
"…He—he—!"
She pressed the letter to her chest and flopped backward onto her bed.
"He's looking forward to seeing me," she whispered.
Her feet kicked the air.
"I'm going to meet him. Properly."
She sat up suddenly, determination blazing.
"I need a new outfit."
Amelia Bones — A Dangerous Experiment
In another part of Bones Manor, Amelia stood in front of her mirror.
She had abandoned her usual sharp robes.
Instead, she wore a simple, elegant dress—soft fabric, gentle lines, nothing meant to intimidate a courtroom.
She turned slightly.
"…This is ridiculous," she muttered.
Yet she didn't change.
Her cheeks warmed again as Keith's words echoed in her mind.
You'd look even cuter…
She sighed.
"…Idiot," she said fondly.
The door creaked open.
"Amelia?"
She yelped and spun.
"Father—!"
Edgar Bones stood in the doorway, eyes widening—then softening.
For a long moment, he simply looked at her.
Then he smiled.
"Well I'll be damned," he said proudly. "My daughter has a sense of fashion."
Amelia's face went crimson.
"Y-You weren't supposed to see that!"
Edgar laughed.
"When did you start hiding from your old man?" he teased. "You look lovely."
She crossed her arms, mortified.
Edgar tilted his head.
"…So," he said casually. "Is there someone?"
Amelia froze.
"No!" she snapped far too quickly.
Edgar raised an eyebrow.
"Amelia Bones," he said calmly, "you're thirty. Brilliant. Powerful."
He sighed dramatically.
"And still no lover."
Amelia groaned.
"If this continues," Edgar went on cheerfully, "I'll never see my grandchildren."
"Father!" Amelia shouted, face blazing.
Edgar chuckled.
"I'm only saying—if someone finally made you try on dresses, he must be special."
Amelia opened her mouth to argue.
Then closed it.
Silence.
Edgar smiled knowingly.
"Hm," he said. "Thought so."
He turned to leave.
"Just don't wait too long," he added gently. "Life doesn't pause for duty."
The door closed.
Amelia stared at her reflection.
Then slowly—
She smiled.
Far away, Keith felt a familiar ripple.
Two hearts racing.
Two letters delivered.
And the quiet certainty—
This game was no longer only about power.