With my still slightly damp body wrapped in the soft fabric of my yukata, we returned to my chamber next door.

  What met my eyes were Yukari and Mom, sorting through something laying on my bed while chatting. Upon noticing our entrance, they turned to face us. I caught a glimpse of a regalia lying between them on the bed.

  “Oh, you are here too, Yukari! And mom too?! Shouldn’t you be with dad?”

  Rinako, as if caught by surprise, immediately dropped her carefree attitude. She and Misaki reflectively greeted Mom. Misaki gave Rinako a wry smile, as if to say, "Serves you right."

  Compared to Yukari, I was more surprised to see mom in my chamber this early in the morning. Both mom and dad are usually busy at this time with official calls and duties, so it is rare for them to see me during these hours.

  Placing her hands in front elegantly, Yukari bowed slightly at me.

  “Good morning, Princess Aseria. To answer your question, Her Majesty asked me to accompany her to bring your new regalia for the coming-of-age ceremony since I'm free, as Princess Elysia already dressed.”

  To think that Elysia woke up earlier than me, actually…she always does. She must be feeling excited for today too.

  “We are checking through your new set of accessories and ornaments to ensure nothing was missing and in good condition.”

  “Heee, am I not welcome here?” Mom asked, feigning a bitter expression.

  “No—no, I’m happy to see mom being here…”

  “A-Ah, and here I was, eager to see you in your new set of attire.” She sighed dramatically, pressing a hand to her face before interrupting me playfully.

  “That’s kind of embarrassing to hear when it comes out from you.” I replied while walking to the tea table.

  “Do you know how much trouble your dad and I went through to have this whole set prepared for your coming-of-age ceremony? It took us quite some effort to cooperate with the royal artisans personally. ”

  “I appreciate it really~ but, I bet you have other reasons to be here right?” Still in my yukata I sat down on the chair, followed up by mom in front of me.

  “You are so sharp whenever it comes to this kind of thing. Well, I just want to remind you about the ceremony. Do you still remember the ceremonial protocol I told you yesterday, right?”

  “Eh—I was so sleepy that I couldn’t pay attention to the brief explanation last night.”

  She signed while moving her gaze to her side for a moment.

  “I knew it. I could tell when you kept nodding sluggishly. Well, I don’t blame you when you had to deal with all those things yesterday.”

  We continued to chat for a little while Misaki and Rinako were changing into their royal maid uniform—designed slightly differently compared to normal maids’ uniforms in the palace as if to symbolize and differentiate their status.

  xxx

  “So, regarding the Dragon’s Blessing—your dad will transfer it to you on stage after giving his speech. He will explain the details to you soon.” Mom said after taking a sip of tea, freshly prepared by Rinako, who stood attentively by her side.

  “I mean, I know dad is a busy man, but it would have been nice if he had informed me about this earlier.”

  "Actually, your dad made the decision just yesterday, after much thought. Instead of following tradition and waiting until your future wedding ceremony, as has been done for generations. He chose to transfer the blessing to you earlier than originally planned."

  “I don’t even have a fiancé yet. Come to think of it—you’re not opposed to the idea?” I blinked.

  "Well, even though you just turned sixteen today, you’re already incredibly talented in magic, mastering all elements, especially your fire and wind elements’ magic. Your mana pool is the densest in the empire, surpassing even all the royals from previous generations."

  "Yeah, keep the praise coming." I smirked.

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  Closing her hand fan, she playfully pointed it at me, a teasing glint in her eyes.

  “But,”

  “you’re still far from reaching your father and me, though. We’re ‘monsters’ after all.”

  I rolled my eyes and let out a small laugh.

  “Hmm… I hate to be reminded of that but that’s true. I admit it. Anyway, it’s dad’s decision, so I won’t go against it. But wouldn’t that mean Dad won’t be having the blessing anymore?” I asked while casually plucking the hand fan from her hand in response to her playful jab.

  She nodded. “Yup. Unless you transfer the blessing back to him, but that is not possible—” she paused.

  I frowned, leaning forward slightly. “Huh? What do you mean?”

  “Oh, it is nothing.” She hesitated for a moment before answering.

  Something about her tone made me feel like she was intentionally avoiding the topic.

  “Well, even without the blessing’s power, your father will still be the strongest, thanks to his monstrous mana pool—just like me.” She smiled confidently.

  “Maybe once you receive the blessing and grow even stronger, you’ll reach his current level with it.”

  “I wonder… but I guess?” I hummed, considering her words.

  Mom chuckled softly before reclaiming her fan from my hand.

  “Aseria, you should have more confidence in yourself. Soon, you’ll be directly assisting your father and me in ruling, rather than just indirectly like now.”

  “Ruler, huh…? I haven’t really given it much thought until now. Time sure flies.”

  "You've been doing great and have even achieved results, haven't you? Especially with the crackdown on the corrupt council..."

  That statement brings back memories of that day—the day of operation, where I was directly involved as one of the leads, striking down their main hideout. A cold shiver runs down my spine.

  Back then, just recalling the sight of those victims and imagining the horrors they had endured would have made me vomit.

  I took another sip of tea, trying to suppress the nausea. Come to think of it, It tasted slightly sweeter. Looks like Rinako added more sugar today, probably to suit my mom’s taste.

  "Princess Aseria, I have finished drying your hair," Misaki said from behind me, dismissing the wind magic she had been using—a routine of hers.

  Meanwhile, Yukari continued meticulously inspecting the ornaments and accessories.

  Do you really need to check them for that long? I wondered silently. But that is just how Yukari is—always thorough, down to the finest detail.

  Mom then shifted her gaze to the dressing screen at the corner of the room, facing it deliberately, as if telling me to hurry up and get changed already.

  Mom is always soft on me, much like dad. She is also friendly with the maids, but when it comes to official duties or ruling, she is dead serious. That is probably the reason why Rinako always behaves herself whenever Mom is around, her usual attitude shifting completely.

  xxx

  Closing off the dressing screen’s silk panels, Misaki stood behind me, untying my yukata. The fabric slid from my shoulders, gliding down my body before pooling at my feet, leaving my bare skin exposed to the cool air.

  Almost as if sensing my exposed skin, a brisk wind swept through the room, causing the curtains of all of the left-open windows to sway strongly. A shiver ran through me as the chilly air infiltrated the dressing screen.

  Yukari had likely left all the windows open while checking my accessories—probably to get a clearer view in the chamber, which was dim despite being morning due to the overcast sky.

  “Hnn…!” I shuddered involuntarily as the cold air brushed against my bare skin, goosebumps prickling across my arms. My body tensed instinctively from the sudden chill.

  Noticing my reaction, Misaki, who was about to help me into my undergarments, immediately turned to Rinako.

  “So sorry, Your Highness. Rinako, close the windows at once.”

  “It’s fine, I can handle a little chill. We just had a warm bath.”

  “That will not do, Your Highness. I must ensure you’re in perfect condition—especially today,” Misaki insisted, her tone slightly worried. She then signaled Rinako, who had stopped mid-motion, seemingly lost in thought.

  “Oh yea, I’d be so sad if Aseria-chan caught a cold today of all days, on her coming-of-age ceremony.”

  Apparently, Rinako had been half-daydreaming—but she quickly caught on, rolling her eyes dramatically as she spoke in an exaggerated, teasing tone.

  “Alright, if you insist, Misaki.” I nearly burst into laughter at Rinako's reaction.

  Rinako, still holding my discarded yukata, nodded and walked toward the windows.

  At that very moment, as if taking advantage of the still swaying curtains of windows, the morning sunlight finally slipped through the clouds, casting its golden glow into the chamber. The light filtered through the silk dressing screen, creating a hazy silhouette of me and Misaki inside.

  Glancing at the embroidered silk panels, my faint reflection outlined against the delicate floral patterns stitched into the fabric.

  With Rinako closing the windows, I felt slightly more comfortable. Misaki resumed helping me dress in my new regalia, her movements practiced and efficient.

  As we continued, the blurry shadows of our figures flickered against the silk panels, shifting as we moved within the enclosed space.

  Meanwhile, I could hear mom and Yukari voices. I wasn’t paying full attention, but from their conversation, I could tell they were deciding which accessories and ornaments should be worn.

  Winter had just ended, and it was early spring. The trees had begun to bloom, filling the palace grounds with soft, colorful petals. From my high-positioned private chamber, I could easily see the blossoming gardens outside in the palace whenever I wanted.

  Xxx