What would have happened had Jessica not read through Dr. Yueh's lies? The Beast might have been sitting at this very desk, my dried body rotting under his window, our daughter forced into concubinage with his wicked brother...

Instead, the battle is won. We laid the trap and waited, and when and where we expected them, the Harkonnen came, but they did not come alone. Among them were Sardaukar. It almost cost us our victory. So little of Arrakeen remained, but by dawn the fight was over and our House was still standing.

The Sisterhood must have known of the Emperor's involvement; if so, what did they gain from warning us? Or did my Lady Jessica choose to tell us despite their plans? Did she choose us?

It has been eight years. The war is going well. The Atreides and Harkonnen are now well into their deepest reserves; they scrounge for material, resources, men, anything to keep their heads above the sand. Two threats reduced to famished beggars, for the price of one circumscribed war. The spice is flowing. It's all that matters.

It is in our interest to draw it out for longer, but as appointed Judge of the Change, I have too few opportunities to leave Arrakis and meet with the Emperor myself. I don't have his ear as often as I once did. Influence requires careful and continuous maintenance, and I worry that for each minute that I do not advise him, someone else slithers closer. As long as I keep Arrakis under control, I still have his favors; nonetheless, we must play our cards well.

Ariste is here, on Arrakis. As suspected, she couldn't possibly keep away from those dusty boring ruins and her beloved papa. Instead, she's cavorting with the rabble in the sand dunes. How charming. Let her run for now; once this war is won, she won't be leaving much the bedchambers I will lock her in; she may as well enjoy playing Fremen as much as she wants.

That she's not hiding in Arrakeen will only make it easier to seize her and use her as a bargaining chip when the time comes. House Harkonnen is bleeding resources, but our ruthlessness is paying off. The Atreides already have one knee to the ground. They are too soft for this planet. It is eating them alive.

Every child needs to grow up, and when that day comes, I swear Ariste will regret breaking off our betrothal. No one gets away with humiliating me.