Back at the Fort, Bae's father, Osamu was enjoying a cup of tea with Prince Gimu when a servant approached them and handed him a letter.

Immediately he recognised the seal.

"It's from Arvin," he said aloud.

Tearing the letter open, he began to skim the letter, checking that no one had been hurt. Since his daughter's Commencement, he had grown accustomed to the idea that correspondence usually brought bad news.

Relieved that no one appeared to be injured, he ...