#016. The Answer Was Simple. Of Course I Should Do What I’m Good At.
2023.08.16.
After seeing the Grand Duke off, I turned around.
“Tula.”
Tula, who had been standing just two steps behind me, gracefully bowed her head.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Let’s hold a tea party.”
A sudden tea party? She probably had no idea what I meant, but instead of asking for clarification, Tula simply bent her knees in a light curtsey.
“As Your Highness wishes.”
A response worthy of praise.
Satisfied that Tula was keeping up well with her etiquette lessons, I happily recalled the many banquets I had hosted in my previous life.
Now then, how should I plan this party? Should I focus on what I’m best at? Or prioritize the satisfaction of the guests?
The answer was simple. Of course, I should do what I’m good at.
However, before preparing the tea party, we needed to move. The tea party was to be held at Jasper Palace, after all.
“Oh my, Princess! Please look here! The pond is so beautiful!”
Despite my efforts to train her to be calm and composed, Tula was visibly excited. But I didn’t scold her. It was understandable.
“It’s definitely something the Grand Duke would be proud of.”
Jasper Palace truly was stunning. Perhaps they had used wood instead of stone for its construction just for this reason. Every pillar was engraved with reliefs, the ceilings painted with murals, and the floors were tiled in a vibrant array of colors.
Overall, the palace felt less like a place built for living and more like a fancy dollhouse. But beautiful is beautiful, no matter the intent.
Sitting in the explosion of color created by five dedicated gardeners and looking back at the palace—one could be overwhelmed by the splendor. I thought maybe I should use this view to dazzle the children during another party, though not this one.
While Tula admired the garden, I went ahead to the bedroom. It was conveniently located on the first floor. I didn’t know who picked this room for me, but perhaps they had considered the length of my legs.
“Oh…”
Thankfully, the room itself was quite normal. I don’t mean the furniture was ordinary—it was quite luxurious—but at least the layout was standard. No chandeliers inside the bedroom, for instance.
That said, the furniture seemed more suited for a noble child who played with the Grand Duke than for a three-year-old. It all looked too heavy and mature.
The oak bed I could accept, but did a toddler really need an end table?
Of course, I couldn’t change clothes by myself, so Tula would be the one actually using the dressing room. Still, it was technically mine. The wardrobe had no handles at my height, and the full-length mirror was absurdly tall.
Whoever decorated the palace clearly hadn’t considered the actual user.
Even so, the palace was stunning. Even someone as discerning as I, who had lived a life of luxury in my previous life, had to admit it.
“Ah, there you are, Princess.”
Tula entered the room, cheeks flushed—probably from the excitement of exploring the garden. Her tone had also calmed noticeably. I reached out both hands to her. It was time to take a full tour of the palace.
“Let’s look around the second floor.”
“Certainly.”
Lifting me gently in her arms, as she always did when I needed to climb stairs or get on chairs, Tula understood my intention immediately.
“Aren’t I heavy?”
The question came out instinctively. Her arms looked so slim. I couldn’t even climb a chair on my own yet, and Tula wasn’t large or particularly muscular.
Even though I had been a warrior in my past life, I wasn’t familiar with an average person’s strength. But surely I shouldn’t be this easy to carry.
“Oh my, were you worried about that? Don’t worry—you’re as light as a feather.”
Her kind words didn’t really answer the question, since I wasn’t concerned about my weight but her ability to carry me.
“But now that I think about it… there probably won’t be many more days where I get to carry you like this. You’ll grow up so fast.”
She had a point.
I still didn’t know how she could carry me so easily, but she wouldn’t be able to forever. The only reason I let her carry me around was because I physically struggled to move alone. Once my limbs grew longer, I’d have no reason to be carried anymore.
“I suppose so.”
It was just a matter of practicality. And yet… thinking about it made me feel oddly wistful. Come to think of it, even in my previous life, I had never been carried like this.
Feeling strangely sentimental, I wrapped my arms around Tula’s neck. I didn’t know if she understood my complex feelings, but she softly laughed and patted my back.
Being carried through the palace like that, I realized something: this place might not be ideal for a real child, but for me, it was perfect.
Mainly because it was entirely my own space.
“The palace is so pretty and cozy.”
Just as Tula said, Jasper Palace was smaller than Emerald Palace. But while I had shared Emerald Palace with three others, this place was mine alone. In terms of usable space, they were probably about the same.
And since palaces were usually built for a single resident, this setup was far more practical.
“Did you see the ceiling murals? The pillar engravings? Even the curtain embroidery—it’s all so detailed and elegant.”
I personally liked a more subdued and refined aesthetic, but elegant was better than shabby.
And the actual living spaces like the bedroom and study were all appropriately toned down, so it wouldn’t be visually overwhelming during daily life.
“The furniture is all so large and dignified, too.”
If I had been a real child, it might’ve been inconvenient. But mentally, I was an adult. If everything had been made childish, I’d probably have been more uncomfortable looking at it every day.
Luckily, I had Tula to take care of my physical needs. I’d gladly trade a little inconvenience for the visual comfort.
“Yes, this is quite nice.”
Not too big, not too small, tastefully elegant—a space mature enough to make me proud, and decent enough to show off to others.
As someone who might host parties here in the future, it was everything I could hope for.
“Now then, let’s go meet the new staff.”
As the Grand Duke said, nothing was beyond my control. With the palace move, we had received more than enough personnel.
All that remained was for me to show them my skills.
*
Ella had originally worked as a kitchen maid in the Empress’s palace. But when the Grand Duke’s playmate was chosen, she was reassigned to Jasper Palace by imperial decree.
Even during the transfer, she wasn’t particularly nervous. After all, she had served the most noble woman in the empire. How hard could it be to serve a bumpkin little princess?
In fact, she figured things might even be easier. Fewer staff to deal with, and no stern head maid breathing down her neck.
“Is this everyone?”
But the moment she laid eyes on Princess Blanche—nestled in her nanny’s arms—Ella realized she had completely misjudged the situation.
Come to think of it, while Ella had served in the Empress’s palace, she had never met the Empress herself. She just needed to do her assigned tasks well.
But now that she was serving someone this closely, she couldn’t help but straighten her spine. The princess, so small she barely reached Ella’s knees, had a way of commanding attention.
With a calm gaze unbefitting her age, the three-year-old princess surveyed them and finally spoke.
“All of you, you’re going to have a rough time for a while.”
For a moment, Ella thought the princess meant she was going to make their lives rough.
*
Yi Baek-ryeon was no stranger to hosting banquets. As a child, she was head of the Yi family, and as an adult, the emperor’s most favored vassal.
Today, she hosted yet another banquet—this time, to celebrate her promotion to Supreme General.
As always, her banquet was perfect. The scent of peach blossom wine filled the air, delicacies were served in abundance, and the orchestra’s melodies were sublime.
There wasn’t the usual festive chaos of a typical banquet—but that, too, was part of Baek-ryeon’s ideal.
After all, if a fight broke out, she would be the one held responsible.
“Baek-ryeon, come here.”
The emperor, seated at the head table, called her over. Baek-ryeon approached, carrying a wine bottle.
“It’s an honor to have Your Majesty grace this occasion.”
Normally, the emperor wouldn’t attend a subordinate’s banquet. But Baek-ryeon’s was an exception. As the empire’s second most powerful figure, her events warranted it.
His presence not only emphasized his favor, but also made the banquet special.
“Of course I had to come. It’s rare to see such a solemn banquet.”
Smiling faintly, Emperor Cheongneung raised his glass. Baek-ryeon filled it.
“If any generals start sword dancing at my banquet, they’ll end up in prison. Knowing that, they naturally become more solemn.”
She was referring to an incident where two drunken generals had drawn swords and fought during another general’s banquet.
That general was kind-hearted and chose to cover it up, saying they had merely performed a sword dance.
Though it was a flimsy excuse, Baek-ryeon had let it slide since both men were usually competent. She had even asked the emperor to be lenient.
But if they had done that under her roof, she’d have thrown them in the dungeon for three days without question. Apparently, that message got through—they were now quietly sipping their drinks.
“Then why host a banquet at all? Didn’t the one I held for you suffice?”
Indeed, the emperor had already hosted a grand celebration for Baek-ryeon’s promotion at the palace.
Her new title—Supreme General—was a newly created position, combining the roles of High General and Grand General into one supreme authority over the military.
To commemorate it, the emperor had held a week-long celebration. So technically, Baek-ryeon had no reason to host another.
She wasn’t even the type to enjoy throwing parties.
“I had to drink up Your Majesty’s boundless grace before it dried up.”
She replied lightly, glancing at the center of the garden—where a small lake of wine shimmered.
