Total pages in book: 207
Estimated words: 196971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 985(@200wpm)___ 788(@250wpm)___ 657(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 196971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 985(@200wpm)___ 788(@250wpm)___ 657(@300wpm)
Dear Sir,
As I am not in the habit of prevaricating, I would like to thank you for the forthright manner in which you answered my letter, and I further take this opportunity to confirm my assent to your proposal.
If you would still have me, I shall be honored to be your heartkeeper and from hereon swear to devote my life in performing my duties to the best of my abilities.
Sincerely,
Rhapsody
Milady,
I write with gratitude for your willing and voluntary consent to becoming my heartkeeper. And if there comes a time you find yourself troubled by any matter concerning our union, you only have to ask.
Yours,
A vampire from the kingdom of Chalys
Dear Sir,
I cannot think of any questions I wish to ask at this moment. But as I have only recently begun my lessons under Sir Isaac, perhaps this is due to change eventually. I beg in advance for your permission to continue speaking my mind freely if this so happens.
Yours,
Rhapsody
Dear Rhapsody,
You may ask whatever and whenever you wish, and be assured that my position on this matter shall never change.
Waiting avidly for your reply,
A vampire from the kingdom of Chalys
P.S. May I hope you return my sentiments on this matter?
Dear Sir,
It would be my pleasure to answer any question you have, even though it behooves me to think of anything about myself that someone like you would find interesting.
Your confused heartkeeper,
Rhapsody
Dear Rhapsody,
On the contrary, there is no one in this world that I find as interesting as you, and before you dismiss these words as empty flattery, do be reminded that heartkeeping bids me to only speak the truth where you are concerned.
That being said, let us turn our attention to one matter I confess to puzzling over for quite some time. How is it that your manner of speech is considerably more formal for one of your age?
Yours,
A vampire from the kingdom of Chalys
Dear Sir,
There is no great mystery behind my rather formal manner of speaking (or writing, as it were in this case).
Due to the nature of Bethany's employment, I was frequently subjected to bullying in the last school I attended. They believed I would follow in her footsteps, so to speak. I was disinclined to prove them right and sought to be the opposite of their expectations by volunteering at a nearby convent.
The first few weeks, I performed an assortment of routine household chores, helping the nuns in the kitchen and doing gardening. After a while, however, the Mother Superior asked if I would like to sit in for lessons with the novices. It is how I ended up learning Latin and, I must confess, sir - there was a time I seriously considered joining the order.
Yours,
Rhapsody
Dear Rhapsody,
And so it must bear repeating: you are, indeed, the most interesting creature I have the pleasure of meeting. The possibility of my heartkeeper being someone else's bride had naturally crossed my mind, but never did it occur to me that my rival would be none other than Jesus Christ himself.
Yours,
An incredulous but amused vampire from Chalys
Dear Sir,
Happy Easter.
Yours,
Rhapsody
Dear Rhapsody,
I apologize for not having written for weeks. I hope you enjoyed your first Easter weekend in the island. Sir Isaac assured me that it is a holiday celebrated with much fanfare by the locals.
Moreso, thank you for the greeting. It is rare for you to write to me with neither purpose nor objective. If you would allow me to hazard a guess, mayhaps the idea of writing such a letter is not entirely your idea?
Sincerely,
A vampire from Chalys
Dear Sir,
Mr. Booth says I must practice expressing my affection. Do you reckon I succeeded?
Yours,
Rhapsody
Dear Rhapsody,
While I wish to always take your side on all matters, heartkeeping also forbids me to speak any untruth.
Yours,
A vampire from Chalys
Dear Sir,
It did not escape my notice that you did not actually answer my question.
Yours,
Rhapsody
Dear Rhapsody,
That in itself is already an answer.
Yours,
A vampire from Chalys
Dear Sir,
Point taken.
Yours,
Rhapsody
DEAR RHAPSODY,
A happy seventeenth birthday to you, milady. I hope you like the gift I have sent along with this letter. If there is anything else you wish for, you only have to let me know.
Sincerely,
A vampire from Chalys
Dear Sir,
Thank you very much for your gift. Something such as The Idiot's Guide to Manners is exactly what I was hoping for but could not make myself ask.
Yours,
Rhapsody
Dear Rhapsody,
If you were any other girl, milady, I would have thought you sarcastic.
Yours,
A vampire from Chalys
Dear Sir,
I am afraid the art of sarcasm still eludes me.
Yours,
Rhapsody
Dear Sir,
It has been sometime since your last letter. I hope all is well with you.
Yours,
Rhapsody
Dear Rhapsody,
I beg milady's forgiveness for causing you undue worry.
Demons from Sulphur have been doing their damnedest to stir up trouble in our land, and much had to be done to remind them that their presence remains unwelcome in Brimstone.
I write also to let you know that I have just received your gift, which was indeed the surprise you intended it to be. I have long considered myself too old to celebrate birthdays, but if it is your wish to commemorate this occasion, then it shall be so.