To: Princess Princess Kyōko
From: Her Excellency, President of the Duma Yeva Litvin
I am writing following Your Highness’ publication of the recommendations regarding the First Empire’s foreign policy. At this moment in time relations between the Holy Kingdom of Samantra and the First Empire of Rokkenjima are as low as they have been in recent history and the more time passes with relations remaining in the same state or worse the harder it becomes for any of us to amend relations to a level that allows a resemblance of normality.
Before I proceed further, I would like to state that I have chosen to reply in private for at least two reasons. Firstly is that the recent changes in the Anselmo royal family have left the Holy Kingdom unsure of what Your Highness’ role is in the imperial government. Secondly, the foreign policy of the First Empire is a matter that is reserved to the First Empire. Any comments I make are only in relations with the Holy Kingdom and its potential relations with the First Empire.
I welcome Your Highness apparent willingness to reconsider the First Empire’s approach to the Holy Kingdom. The current leadership of the Empire you represent has not displayed a willingness to put diplomacy first and especially foster dialogue when it comes to settling disputes. The interests of our two nations often do not align and the friends and allies we each have, in the case of Rokkenjima I refer to the Achkaerin Empire, have interests that also do not align with ours. However, it falls on us, the leaders of our nations, to make sure that we allow room for dialogue, manage these competing interests and not take actions that fuel the fire of animosity. I especially draw attention to the recent ill-advised actions of Empress Evanthe which made a
visit to the embassy in Nis in order to raise tensions by criticizing in harsh terms Nis domestic policies. Such actions have been ill received in the Holy Kingdom which has similar domestic policies with no intention of changing them. I fail to see what the purpose of those actions were other than provocation and fueling discord. Your Empress does not have the pressure of reelection like me and the members of the cabinet and so not even that excuse could explain in part her actions.
For our part the Holy Kingdom has been restrained in its actions against Rokkenjima,
we have not retorted with similar sanctions and have refrained from making similarly inflammatory gestures against the First Empire. In a further sign of good faith the Holy Kingdom has made
steps to create the conditions for trade to resume between our two nations, I hope that Your Highness will use its influence so that the opportunity created is not squandered. I do not believe that cordial relations between our countries will ever be possible but as the highest secular representative of the Holy Kingdom I remain open to Your Highness for dialogue through all channels including but not limited to a formal or informal meeting. Mundus is becoming increasingly smaller and interconnected, and it falls on us to build the best possible relations between our countries.
I pray for peace and understanding between our people.
Yours respectfully,
Yeva LitvinPresident of the Duma