I was pacing about my bedroom when I should have been dreaming about tomorrow's breakfast.
Behind my window, the moon was so large that it almost seemed to be watching over my antics. With few clouds to block its view, it had every balcony seat in the theatre to be entertained by my relentless strides as I shuttled back and forth from my wardrobe to my mirror.
Yes, I was currently making one of the hardest decisions of my life.
“Bright colours will suit spring and summer, but will look gaudy come autumn. Dark colours are more forgiving, but will make me appear aloof and unapproachable ...”
It was deciding what to wear for my journey ahead.
That's right! I will restore our kingdom's finances through whatever means possible! And that meant … leaving my bedroom!
It was plain to me that I could no longer ride on the coat-tails of my family. My mother, father and siblings were all striving towards the kingdom's prosperity. I, alone, cannot bear the shame of inaction. Especially if inaction meant looming poverty!
How could this situation have transpired? Were our fields not verdant and green? Were our forests not ancient and tall? Were our mines not deep and bountiful? From the shores of our western bay to the mountains of our eastern hinterlands, the Kingdom of Tirea was awash with resources that were the envy of the world over!
How, then, did things come to be so dire?
Civil unrest, deteriorating security, organised crime, border skirmishes, rebellion, failing industries, loss of merchant shipping … I couldn't imagine what succession of travesties had occurred that would cause so much to go wrong. And I didn't intend to find out by meekly sitting in my room and begging for answers.
No … I could no longer rely on others. This was a crisis I must solve. My very ability to pretend I enjoyed escargots au beurre persillé while stealthily tossing it beneath the table depended on it.
I came to an abrupt halt. I was putting the cart before the horse. It was very important, true, but before I decided what I wore, I needed to decide on what I wanted to do and where I was going.
To start with, then ... a step-by-step action plan!
Step 1: Discover what wrongs are plaguing this kingdom, and fix everything!
The clock by my mantle ticked audibly as I waited for my brain to conjure up additional steps to follow.
None came.
Wait, was that it … ?
Well, what else was there to do? Clearly, our sources of income were failing us. In that case, all I had to do was see to the issue in person!
Undoubtedly, my family and our retainers would have approached the sources of our kingdom's problems already. As a result, their failure to reverse declines suggests it wasn't something a mere royal visit could solve. Or more specifically, something that simply stamping the boot of authority couldn't solve.
Normally, that'd be an issue for me as well. However, as someone with overwhelming confidence due to never having tried anything that could result in failure, I was extremely upbeat about my own abilities.
That's right! My success rate was 100%. And until the day I tasted failure, I intended to abuse that winning streak for as long as I can. Ohohoho!
I went to my bedside table and picked up a parchment and quill.
Dearest Mother and Father,
In keeping with the traditions of our family, I will be undertaking a royal tour of our kingdom. Please be assured that I will use this opportunity to see to the needs of our people and to honour the dignity of this House. When I return, I will be worthy to hold the title of princess.
Do not allow the kitchen to braise confit de canard with hot oranges ever again. It is disgusting.
Juliette.
I nodded, satisfied at my detailed penmanship.
Strictly speaking, it was only the crown prince or princess who undertook a royal tour of duty, and usually just before their ascension. But there was precedent for greater participation in times of civil unrest.
My letter complete, I resumed my search for suitable attire. Travelling attire, at that. And one which didn't scream royalty. A highly difficult task. And yet one I had to succeed at for this endeavour to bear fruit. Long gowns, excessive frills and pandering crowds would hinder my walk even to the nearby village outside the Royal Villa.
Yes. Walk.
Even thinking the word caused my very spine to shudder. To use my own legs instead of a horse. It's a wonder I didn't search for a hoe to carry with me too. Yet such burdens on my soul were necessary.
As this journey would most certainly be forbidden by both Mother and Father, I needed to make my way to the village by myself. And also leave there by myself. I could not stay within the vicinity of the Royal Villa. I'd need to find a means of transporting myself to wherever the kingdom's ills are most severe.
Fortunately, time was on my side. It would be midday at least before the maids grew concerned that the food outside my room hadn't been touched or thrown back out. Time enough to be on my way to my destination.
But where was that?
Before I knew which problem to fix, I needed to know the true extent of them.
I needed to assess the state of the kingdom. That much was clear. And from an unbiased source. I doubted if anyone within these walls would give me an account untouched by a curtain of kindness.
“Hmm. I suppose this will suffice.”
Having scoured my wardrobe from top to bottom, I'd accumulated a set of clothes that could substitute as travelling attire.
It was the most informal pieces of clothing I owned, and would never see the light of day in a royal function. Even so, it was enough to clearly distinguish me as a nobleman's daughter.
Dark boots and high leggings. A patterned skirt and a square buckled belt. A small shoulder cape tied with a red ribbon. A grey sleeved tunic and white gloves. My experience with aristocratic families told me I'd fit well with a merchant baron's household.
With my clothes settled, I attached my sword, Starlight Grace, to my new belt.
Clothes? Yes.
Equipment? Sword.
Belongings? None.
Hmm. I couldn't help but wonder if I was missing something. My lack of experience with midnight escapades was beginning to show itself, wasn't it?
I looked in the mirror and adjusted my hairband. A small, black rose decorated the side. My personal sigil, should I ever choose to adopt one.
There. Better.
And with that—
It was time to depart.
I was pacing about my bedroom when I should have been dreaming about tomorrow's breakfast.
Behind my window, the moon was so large that it almost seemed to be watching over my antics. With few clouds to block its view, it had every balcony seat in the theatre to be entertained by my relentless strides as I shuttled back and forth from my wardrobe to my mirror.
Yes, I was currently making one of the hardest decisions of my life.
“Bright colours will suit spring and summer, but will look gaudy come autumn. Dark colours are more forgiving, but will make me appear aloof and unapproachable ...”
It was deciding what to wear for my journey ahead.
That's right! I will restore our kingdom's finances through whatever means possible! And that meant … leaving my bedroom!
It was plain to me that I could no longer ride on the coat-tails of my family. My mother, father and siblings were all striving towards the kingdom's prosperity. I, alone, cannot bear the shame of inaction. Especially if inaction meant looming poverty!
How could this situation have transpired? Were our fields not verdant and green? Were our forests not ancient and tall? Were our mines not deep and bountiful? From the shores of our western bay to the mountains of our eastern hinterlands, the Kingdom of Tirea was awash with resources that were the envy of the world over!
How, then, did things come to be so dire?
Civil unrest, deteriorating security, organised crime, border skirmishes, rebellion, failing industries, loss of merchant shipping … I couldn't imagine what succession of travesties had occurred that would cause so much to go wrong. And I didn't intend to find out by meekly sitting in my room and begging for answers.
No … I could no longer rely on others. This was a crisis I must solve. My very ability to pretend I enjoyed escargots au beurre persillé while stealthily tossing it beneath the table depended on it.
I came to an abrupt halt. I was putting the cart before the horse. It was very important, true, but before I decided what I wore, I needed to decide on what I wanted to do and where I was going.
To start with, then ... a step-by-step action plan!
Step 1: Discover what wrongs are plaguing this kingdom, and fix everything!
The clock by my mantle ticked audibly as I waited for my brain to conjure up additional steps to follow.
None came.
Wait, was that it … ?
Well, what else was there to do? Clearly, our sources of income were failing us. In that case, all I had to do was see to the issue in person!
Undoubtedly, my family and our retainers would have approached the sources of our kingdom's problems already. As a result, their failure to reverse declines suggests it wasn't something a mere royal visit could solve. Or more specifically, something that simply stamping the boot of authority couldn't solve.
Normally, that'd be an issue for me as well. However, as someone with overwhelming confidence due to never having tried anything that could result in failure, I was extremely upbeat about my own abilities.
That's right! My success rate was 100%. And until the day I tasted failure, I intended to abuse that winning streak for as long as I can. Ohohoho!
I went to my bedside table and picked up a parchment and quill.
Dearest Mother and Father,
In keeping with the traditions of our family, I will be undertaking a royal tour of our kingdom. Please be assured that I will use this opportunity to see to the needs of our people and to honour the dignity of this House. When I return, I will be worthy to hold the title of princess.
Do not allow the kitchen to braise confit de canard with hot oranges ever again. It is disgusting.
Juliette.
I nodded, satisfied at my detailed penmanship.
Strictly speaking, it was only the crown prince or princess who undertook a royal tour of duty, and usually just before their ascension. But there was precedent for greater participation in times of civil unrest.
My letter complete, I resumed my search for suitable attire. Travelling attire, at that. And one which didn't scream royalty. A highly difficult task. And yet one I had to succeed at for this endeavour to bear fruit. Long gowns, excessive frills and pandering crowds would hinder my walk even to the nearby village outside the Royal Villa.
Yes. Walk.
Even thinking the word caused my very spine to shudder. To use my own legs instead of a horse. It's a wonder I didn't search for a hoe to carry with me too. Yet such burdens on my soul were necessary.
As this journey would most certainly be forbidden by both Mother and Father, I needed to make my way to the village by myself. And also leave there by myself. I could not stay within the vicinity of the Royal Villa. I'd need to find a means of transporting myself to wherever the kingdom's ills are most severe.
Fortunately, time was on my side. It would be midday at least before the maids grew concerned that the food outside my room hadn't been touched or thrown back out. Time enough to be on my way to my destination.
But where was that?
Before I knew which problem to fix, I needed to know the true extent of them.
I needed to assess the state of the kingdom. That much was clear. And from an unbiased source. I doubted if anyone within these walls would give me an account untouched by a curtain of kindness.
“Hmm. I suppose this will suffice.”
Having scoured my wardrobe from top to bottom, I'd accumulated a set of clothes that could substitute as travelling attire.
It was the most informal pieces of clothing I owned, and would never see the light of day in a royal function. Even so, it was enough to clearly distinguish me as a nobleman's daughter.
Dark boots and high leggings. A patterned skirt and a square buckled belt. A small shoulder cape tied with a red ribbon. A grey sleeved tunic and white gloves. My experience with aristocratic families told me I'd fit well with a merchant baron's household.
With my clothes settled, I attached my sword, Starlight Grace, to my new belt.
Clothes? Yes.
Equipment? Sword.
Belongings? None.
Hmm. I couldn't help but wonder if I was missing something. My lack of experience with midnight escapades was beginning to show itself, wasn't it?
I looked in the mirror and adjusted my hairband. A small, black rose decorated the side. My personal sigil, should I ever choose to adopt one.
There. Better.
And with that—
It was time to depart.
