Letter 37: To the representatives of the most pious Emperor,

To the representatives of the most pious Emperor, We have received and carefully considered the communication from the Emperor regarding the changes in imperial policy toward our kingdom. We note with satisfaction those elements of the communication that confirm the existing alliance and the commitments that both sides have made. We raise questions about certain other elements that seem to us to represent a departure from previous arrangements without adequate explanation. Specifically: the modification to the trade provisions that your communication describes would, if implemented as written, significantly disadvantage Frankish merchants in imperial markets in ways that the previous arrangement did not permit. We ask for clarification of the reasoning behind this change and for an opportunity to discuss whether a different formulation might achieve the Emperor's objectives without the burden on our merchants. We do not raise this as a challenge to the alliance, which we value and wish to maintain. We raise it as honest partners who expect that adjustments to agreed arrangements be made through consultation rather than unilateral announcement. We await your response. From the court of Austrasia, with the greetings due to a valued ally