...Count Erich never imagined his collection of antique musical instruments would be turned into a diamond, nor did the Empresses' Voice expect the token of the Spire of Grace to be flaunted before guests. Ewigegnade tolerates the nobles' scheming, but she despises fools, and the fall of Erich's line is inevitable. Last month, when I had dinner with her, she mentioned that the last time she saw Erich, he looked as if he'd just swallowed a fly. Well done, Heinz. Your methods are as deft as ever. But you shouldn't have attracted unnecessary attention. I arranged the street performance outside the tower so you could slip away amidst the chaos, not so you could put on a magic show and deliver birthday wishes to some Liberi girl. —Michael Dear envoy, I am very sorry. But please allow me to offer a defense for my actions. First, the gem I gave that girl was my own, and I assessed the risks of doing so in advance. Second, it all worked out fine. I was not exposed, the Spire's authority was not exposed, and the mission was completed successfully, as were the thirteen missions that came before it. —Diamante Then consider this matter settled. By the way, you really wowed the crowd with your magic show, but how did you know that the Liberi girl would be in the audience? How did you know that, when asked what her favorite gem was, she would answer 'a half-shattered red crystal'? How is it that you just happened to be carrying such a stone on your person? Don't be nervous, I'm not going to start an investigation or anything. I just want to know how you pulled it off. —Michael I fled here many years ago, after I was gravely injured in the Grinden mine collapse. That Liberi girl risked discovery by the spire's casters to save me. Before I left, I tried to give her half of a red crystal—the only thing of value I owned—as repayment. A poor foreigner like her, that gem might have changed her life. She held the gem in her hands for a moment and exclaimed, 'It's so beautiful!' Then, with a heartfelt sigh, she returned it to me. I got my revenge a long while ago, and she's long since forgotten me. That did not, however, absolve me of my obligation to repay her kindness. Learning the 'secret' to any magic trick is always disappointing, my dear envoy. As for this particular trick, it was something I prepared years in advance. That is all. —Diamante ...I understand. But be more cautious in the future. There's one last thing I've wanted to ask you for a long time: now that we are both at Rhodes Island, there's no need to stick to secret letters, is there? And the next time we meet on the bridge, you need not pretend we're strangers. —Michael Very well then, Michael. —Heinz