[In Chuuya's office at dawn, there will be a new bottle of his favorite wine, along with a single peacock feather. It seems as though the label of it is peeling a bit - and if he chooses to remove it, he'll find a message scribbled on the back of the label.]
See what you did?
I told you we'd only end up with something inevitably tragic.
It wasn't me. I just thought that you, at least, should know. [It's the only one of Baren's letters where he doesn't take the blame for the Traitor's actions. Where he doesn't entertain the idea that maybe it was him - because if it was him, that'd mean not telling Chuuya when he knew something was happening to his people. Chuuya is the only one he defends himself, too.
The whole world could hate him - but it'd be nice, maybe, if Chuuya didn't.]
Okuni will be safer this way though - if I'm the bigger problem.
So if there's one more thing I can bribe you into: take care of her. Make it a promise.
In exchange, I'll tell you a secret.
[Should Chuuya go to check the locks on the bridge, he'll realize the lock he intertwined with Baren's on his birthday has been cut and is missing.
In its place, a note tucked in its place, just barely hanging on:]
no subject
See what you did?
I told you we'd only end up with something inevitably tragic.
It wasn't me. I just thought that you, at least, should know. [It's the only one of Baren's letters where he doesn't take the blame for the Traitor's actions. Where he doesn't entertain the idea that maybe it was him - because if it was him, that'd mean not telling Chuuya when he knew something was happening to his people. Chuuya is the only one he defends himself, too.
The whole world could hate him - but it'd be nice, maybe, if Chuuya didn't.]
Okuni will be safer this way though - if I'm the bigger problem.
So if there's one more thing I can bribe you into: take care of her. Make it a promise.
In exchange, I'll tell you a secret.
[Should Chuuya go to check the locks on the bridge, he'll realize the lock he intertwined with Baren's on his birthday has been cut and is missing.
In its place, a note tucked in its place, just barely hanging on:]
I wish it had been easier for us.