It wasn't a question.
I looked at Father.
How did he..?
Right.
Duke.
Politics.
Annoyingly competent.
I raised my hand.
The storage ring on my finger glowed faintly.
Three black envelopes appeared in my palm.
The moment they entered the tent, the atmosphere changed.
Dark paper.
Ancient runes.
Dense mana woven through every seal.
Father stood immediately.
Valerian's amusement disappeared.
I placed them carefully on the blanket.
"Three diplomatic letters."
Father stepped closer.
His eyes moved across the runes.
"From whom?"
"One from each clan."
I touched the first.
"Cat."
The second.
"Deer."
Then the third.
"Rabbit."
Father reached toward one.
The runes brightened.
Mana moved through them.
For the first time since he entered the tent, genuine surprise appeared on his face.
"Old sealing magic."
"Elaris said they can't be read, copied, changed, or opened normally."
Valerian stepped beside him.
"Who can open them?"
