Yesterday at dawn, it had been raining for days in the southern provinces of the Empire, but the capital where the imperial palace is located was fine. The sky was as blue as yesterday, with no sign of dark clouds gathering.

It seemed that the whims of the capricious weather had not extended their grasp this far.

“Just eat one. It won’t upset your stomach, but overeating leads to health deterioration.”

During breakfast time, enjoying the morning sun on the balcony, I handed Poppy a large chocolate cookie as a substitute for feed.

“Kyak?”

Pretending not to understand, are we? I looked at Poppy with a prim expression and shook my head.

“Your Highness, fortunately, the rain in the southern provinces was not at the level of a downpour.”

Next, I received a report while filling my stomach with potato salad and soup.

“However, due to the continuous rain, a few villages in low-lying areas have suffered damage, and the roads have become very muddy and slippery, making it difficult for carriages to pass and causing quite a few injuries.”

As time passed and I grew to some extent, Miranda and Hayley no longer performed nanny duties.

Instead, the two swore eternal loyalty as confidants, vowing to serve me by my side until death.

Of course, since there’s no need to make it known publicly, they officially act as my dedicated maids, but behind the scenes, they’ve taken on more responsibilities.

In any case, as the roles of the two maids became more important, Jeff and Hecate were also given appropriate compensation so that they wouldn’t just pour out passion, and afterwards, I listen to carefully selected news every morning.

Honestly, do I need to know every bit of news overflowing from all over the Empire? That’s why the officials filter it first.

“Is that so? At that level, it would be beyond the local lord’s capacity to handle it alone.”

I took a few sips of tea, quietly put down the cup, and folded my arms. It wasn’t a matter to be taken lightly, and it also reminded me of when I was an emperor in my previous life, so I became serious.

“Their resources alone won’t be enough, so we’ll probably hear from them soon.”

Recalling memories from my previous life, there are nobles who exert influence in the southern regions too, so they might somehow resolve it if left alone, but how could that uphold the dignity of the imperial family?

If we pretend not to know, we’ll be criticized accordingly, and rumors will spread that the imperial family doesn’t care for the people.

‘Jeff and Hecate aren’t fools, so they’ll handle it well.’

Due to my habit of living as a workaholic, I’m concerned, but I took a step back since I’m not yet officially qualified to interfere in state affairs.

Moreover, if I, in this 10-year-old body, were to order around saying I’m now the heir to the throne, would the nobles bow their heads and follow unconditionally? Some would raise objections.

Above all, I’ve sensed a strange atmosphere for a while now.

This is purely because there are those who are dissatisfied that a woman will succeed to the throne, despite the precedent set by the previous emperor. I’d like to catch them all and give them a good thrashing, but since they’ve never openly shown their discontent, I’ve had to endure it.

“I can’t get involved in state affairs yet, but I’m interested. Let me know how it was handled when we have dinner.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

Phew, just thinking about it again gives me a headache.

Afterwards, I focused on my meal again, and as soon as I lightly filled my stomach, I took another bath and headed to the dressing room. It was to wear the new outfit and accessories that had arrived the evening before yesterday.

“Ta-da! It’s such an adorable dress!”

“Since Your Highness is perfect, I’m sure you’ll look stunning in this dress too!”

As if they’ve all been infected by Jeff, they’re making a fuss again.

“Indeed. It’s well-made.”

Unlike Ronowe and Berith, I found it creepy and cringeworthy to play along with such things, so I reacted indifferently as usual.

‘Is it because it has colors that match my eye color? It does feel a bit more special… They’ve certainly used a lot of pearls.’

Since it’s important to wear attire befitting an imperial family member, I don’t particularly find the cost spent on this wasteful, but I casually mentioned that it would be nice if they reduced the lace a bit, and it seems they’ve already conveyed that.

‘At least it’s not crystal.’

I inwardly chuckled and tucked my flowing hair behind my ear.

“Shall we begin then, Your Highness?”

“Yes, let’s.”

Meanwhile, Miranda and Hayley immediately brought the footstool. Even though I’ve grown much taller than before, I’m still shorter than the maids, so I still needed the footstool.

‘When I’m a bit older and old enough to learn horseback riding, I’ll wear formal attire.’

Thinking that dresses are comfortable yet troublesome, I raised both arms and left my body to the maids’ care.

“Your Highness, please close your eyes for a moment now.”

A little while later.

The skin care routine was finished by replenishing moisture and applying a herbal preparation to prevent the skin from burning in the hot sun, and the hairstyle, now that my hair had grown much longer, was pulled up high and tied in a single braid.

“There’s no lesson in the morning schedule, right?”

As I left the room, I twirled the ends of my hair around my finger.

“Yes, Your Highness. His Majesty said to do as you please in the morning, as the children from the Fleur and Vladimir families will be visiting in the afternoon.”

Hayley, who was closest, answered first.

“Good. I need to conserve my energy before meeting the kids, so I shouldn’t get tired out.”

I chattered as I turned my steps towards the nearby study.

“When the kids arrive, prepare the gift boxes sent by the nobles, as we’ll be opening them.”

Later, as Poppy’s bouncing around became distracting, I swiftly picked her up and held her with both hands.

And a few hours later, in the afternoon.

“Is everyone here without anyone missing?”

Since the room we usually gathered in was undergoing interior renovations, we were using one of the spare rooms in Bowellian Castle as a temporary reception room.

“Yes!”

I told the maids to bring out only drinks, as I was told that the children hadn’t fully digested the snacks they ate in the carriage.

“I’m so happy that the Princess has called for me!”

That one’s not like a fish in water, more like reminds me of a dog I once raised.

As Berith cupped his cheeks with both hands and blinked his bright red eyes, I briefly recalled the animals I had raised as a hunter in one of my many lives before becoming emperor.

As I kept looking at him, it seemed as if Berith had invisible ears and a tail attached.

He looked ready to bark and run off if I were to pick up a ball and throw it.

“Alright, I get it, so sit down.”

I couldn’t honestly tell him he looked a bit like a dog as it might be misunderstood, so I barely swallowed the words that had risen to my throat and calmed down the excited Berith.

“The reason I called you all here today is to give you a special mission.”

Soon after, I spoke solemnly with a serious and dignified expression, but while Sasha and Berith quietly nodded their heads and listened attentively, the troublemakers, true to their twin nature, simultaneously raised their hands high and caused a commotion.

“I think I know!”

“Eating lots of cake!”

Interrupting before I even finished speaking. I was about to say it was presumptuous, but realizing that cleaning up after the mood turned sour would be more troublesome, I started with a denial.

“It’s not that.”

If the special mission was just eating desserts, I would have sent a letter in advance telling them to empty their stomachs. For a moment, I felt my tongue itch with the desire to chide them for being stupid.

It suddenly reminded me of when I was a knight, and I even started balding trying to make kids who couldn’t understand and said nonsensical things comprehend.

But I managed my expression well. My face may have stiffened, but it could be passed off as being surprised by the unexpected answer.

‘Is there nothing in their heads but food?’

The only thing that’s changed in 7 years is that they no longer speak with a lisp, but those two still seem to have an innocence cascading like a waterfall, forming a lake and progressing towards becoming an ocean.

‘Still, I who have lived hundreds of years more should be patient,’

It would be a great blow to my self-esteem if I were to childishly get angry, throw tantrums, and play pranks just like them.

So, unlike those fools, I’ll approach this intelligently.

After I was declared the heir to the throne, the amount of gifts sent from various territories of the empire became overwhelmingly enormous, too much for me to open alone. So, I’m going to use the children who happened to visit at the right time as labor.

That’s why I told Miranda and Hayley this morning that I would open the gifts sent by the nobles with these kids.

If you ask whether I really needed to use these kids, I don’t have much to say, but it’s easier to persuade and comfortably manipulate them.

I could see that if I just threw them a carrot, saying we’ll open the gifts sent according to custom together, they would move eagerly like excited horses.

“Now, everyone follow me.”

So, let me borrow your hands, you lot.

I spoke primly as I rose from my chair.

“Since it’s a special mission, I won’t send you home until we finish everything.”

In the past, it wasn’t about standing up from the chair, but more like getting down from it, so I always had to turn my body to touch the ground with my feet first to avoid falling. Life has really improved.

“We’re not being taken to be imprisoned, are we?”

Meanwhile, Sasha, who was following behind, blurted out nonsense in a half-joking manner, which startled me.

No matter how much I act like an evil master trying to exploit cheap labor, I wouldn’t lock up my companions in some secret room.

“Of course not!”

Sasha, this guy!

I thought he had become a bit more docile after being quiet for a while, but he’s smiling with his eyes while making irritating comments pretending to be innocent and asking genuine questions, which made me sigh.

“That’s a relief.”

“For a moment, I thought the Princess was really going to lock us up.”

“I said I’m not!”

They’re dull when they need to be smart, and only sharp when it’s unnecessary, which is frustrating. I refrained from speaking further, not wanting to delve deeper into the chatter.

Just when I thought we were starting to communicate better, one or two incomprehensible exchanges made me feel like there was a thick wall blocking us.

“Woooow~”

So if you ask if the atmosphere became bleak, the answer is no. I was just a bit annoyed, but I swallowed it internally instead of expressing it wildly. There was no reason to waste emotions dealing with each and every thing, and I judged it to be inefficient.

“Now, from here on, you just need to open each of these boxes one by one.”

And the troublemakers, who were the mood makers, cheered on their own as they saw the various gift boxes filling half of the large reception room. The seals of each family imprinted on the wrapping paper in various colors – gold, silver, white, red, etc. – sparkled in the sunlight, suggesting a combination of specially manufactured ink and wax.

“And let me know what’s inside. I’ll reward the person who opens the most boxes.”

To use a carriage-driving analogy, it’s like oiling and repairing the wheels. I smirked as I saw even Sasha, who had suddenly become motivated, showing interest.

Indeed, no matter how clever they are, children have a simple side that makes them eager to work hard when offered something.

In fact, this method was used when Jeff and Hecate were young, and seeing that it still works decades later, it will probably be effective on little ones a hundred years from now.

All that’s left now is for me to leisurely open gift boxes one by one while others are busy fueling their competitive spirit.

“As I said earlier, I won’t let you go until we open all of those.”

I pointed confidently with my index finger towards the pile of gift boxes that I had specially set aside, smiling broadly.