"Papa!"
Adelia called excitedly as she tried her best to walk and not run into her father's lap.
Going back to this time seems to have also degraded her mind back to her 15 year old self. Or maybe this was simply what she missed most. She had never had the luxury of spending time with her father as an adult.
Her heart was leaping as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.
She heard his deep chuckle above her head.
"Well aren't you all dressed up today, Adelia."
He pulled on her shoulders to bring them face to face.
"My daughter gets more and more beautiful everyday." The King said fondly.
"Indeed, indeed."
"Of course!"
"The most beautiful in the land."
The vassals around the table concurred immediately, but Adelia didn't pay much attention to them. She was too happy to see her Papa again, she didn't care for much else.
She beamed at his words, and he threw his head back and laughed heartily.
"I suppose it won't be long before you'll be eagerly climbing up on another man's lap like this, not your Papa's"
Adelia's smile vanished and she frowned deeply.
".... Really, Papa?"
Maybe she had been conveniently overlooking this part about her father. What do they say. Rose tinted lenses.
But.
She'll let him off this time. She could hardly believe he was here now and she could speak with him again like this. The last time she had seen him, he was on his deathbed. He fought long and hard to survive the poison, but it had won out in the end. She would do anything to stop that from happening again in this life.
On this note, she quickly turned serious. She couldn't disturb the meeting for too long.
"Nevermind that, Papa. There's something I came here to ask you."
Instead of answering, he lifted his eyebrows up, and his grin warped into a polite smile. He motioned for the vassals, who had stood in greeting to the Princess, to take their seats.
Taking this as a cue to continue, Adelia went on carefully.
"Papa, I want to move back to the Tietia Palace. I've been thinking, and it's really not ok for me to neglect my studies like this."
His eyebrows flicked up in surprise for a moment.
"Oh so my little daughter really is growing up. "
The King's tone had grown pensive, and his smile faded completely.
He shifted in his seat, and moved Adelia's body more comfortably on his knee.
"Does this mean that you also plan to take the Chancellor up on his offer?"
Adelia screwed up her face in confusion.
Damn.
From the way her father phrased it, she was supposed to know. But she couldn't remember what he was talking about at all. After all, this event was 10 years in the past for her.
Her father must have misunderstood her hesitance. He continued slowly.
"It is a good step that you wish to move closer to the seat of power, but in order to understand government and policy making, your studies cannot be neglected. I am concerned it would only put you off again."
Oh yes, she thought.
Around this time, the Chancellor had offered to teach her. Her official tutor had been the Head Lecturer of the Royal College, but it was undoubtably better to learn from the Chancellor himself.
Mortimer Halmer was a highly capable man of only 35 years of age. He was hailed as a genius after passing the Administrator's exam at the age of 15, rising to the position of Chancellor by age 22. He was the King's closest aide and friend.
In her past life, he had been excised fairly quickly. She wasn't sure what had happened to him. At least he was not openly executed like many of the other Royal Administrators - but then, his disappearance was early, in a time when Nathaniel hadn't fully grasped all the strings of the Empire.
She pushed the thought aside, as she could see her father's hazel eyes darting nervously in anticipation of her response.
She chose to weight her words so he wasn't suspicious of her change of heart.
"Yes Papa, that's right, I do intend to accept his offer."
"Ha!!"
Adelia jolted as she heard a sharp clap from the corner of the room.
"Ahem. Pardon me."
Adelia looked around in horror. Was that that serious Chancellor she remembered? The one who used to march through the cloisters, his cloak billowing ominously behind him as he sneered at the other ministers on their lunch breaks, disdain clearly portrayed in the eyes peering over his square rimmed glasses.
'All work and no play' was definitely the phrase to describe him.
She tutted mentally. She had forgotten, but she really was an excessively pampered Princess! Even this dour Chancellor was behaving like a fool. It was night and day - how she was treated now, and how she was treated by the end of her last life.
But she must remember not to let it spoil her. There was too much at stake.
The Chancellor composed himself, and stated in an onorous tone, as if to cover up his prior exhuberance,
"That is good to hear, Your Highness. I will be well prepared for our lessons."
His chest was sticking out like a peacock. Silly old man. She was already 15. This was no time to be treating her like some 6 year old.
Adelia pursed her lips and swung her face back to her father. His posture was visibly more relaxed.
"That's very good news, daughter."
He paused before sighing.
"I really was beginning to worry you would never take your position as the Crown successor seriously."
Adelia swallowed uncomfortably. That is exactly what she had done in her last life.
"It's ok, Papa. I'll put my all into it. I can't say I will do well, but - "
The King frowned almost immediately and put his fingers to his lips.
Whispering, he said, "Now now, Adelia. We are in front of the vassals. We are royalty. I've told you before not to speak like that."
She blushed. It was important for the royal family to show face in front of the vassals. Apparently skipping up to her father and throwing herself on his lap like a four year old was fine, but talking down to herself was not.
She had never really understood it.
"Yes, Papa."
The King relaxed his expression, and reached out to pat the top of her head.
"There was something else I wanted to confirm with you, Adelia."
She widened her eyes in interest. What could it be? All she remembered from this point in time was her constantly running away from the Palace, avoiding responsibility.
"The plans for your birthday party have been finalised. Please look over the guest list later today."
Oh of course. She deflated. Not that it made much difference anyway. If things were the same as before, she knew many of the guests were unable to attend.
"Also, if you are set on beginning your studies in earnest, you must choose a Duchy for your first unofficial inspection."
Adelia's ears pricked up. She didn't remember anything of the sort in her last life.
Sensing her intrigue, the King explained.
"I've never mentioned it to you before, but traditionally, all the Royal children, whether in the direct line of succession or not, have always performed an unofficial inspection of one of the duchies before their coming of age."
He went on, a little more awkwardly.
"I thought it didn't matter too much as you are my only child... but there is a lot to be learned on this expedition. The choice is yours as to which Duchy you wish to tour."
The room was silent, awaiting Adelia's response.
"M-might I suggest the Tales duchy, Your Majesty." A voice piped up from the table of vassals behind them.
Adelia narrowed her eyes. If she wasn't mistaken, that stutter belonged to Duke Edward Tales. He was one vassal who survived well into Nathaniel's rule. She tried hard not to express any emotion outwardly.
No. She definitely wouldn't be choosing the Tales duchy. Or perhaps she should? Adelia's heart shuddered. To avoid the possible future, what choice should she be making?
"Papa, can I have some time to think it through?"
She decided to avoid the problem for now. Nothing could be gained from making a snap decision, she lamented bitterly. But if only she was more capable in situations like this.
The king grinned broadly.
"Of course, Adelia. That is very wise."
Feeling relieved, Adelia stood up. It was time to leave. After all, soon she would present at meetings like this.
The reason the Tietia Palace was such an important step for the successor was because it stood next to the Main Palace, where the throne room was situated, as well as the Administrator's block - the building they were in now.
The intention was for the Crown successor to participate more actively in affairs of state in preparation for their future as the ruler of the Kingdom.
As soon as Adelia moved back to Tietia Palace, she would be expected to be in attendance in meetings with both the vassals and Royal Administrators.
In her early childhood, she had moved to the Tietia Palace, as she was the only successor, but she had hated the meetings, hearings and courts. In her past life, she had never gone back before her ascension. All she had wanted to do, was tour the kingdom and offer her hands at various orphanages and houses of healing.
It sounds noble, but it wasn't. She knew how to bandage a wound, and how to put a smile on a young child's face. But that was it.
It didn't match the skills required to govern and lead millions of people and thousands of acres of land.
"Then I'll see you later, Papa."
Adelia leaned over to kiss her father on the cheek, before turning towards the door.
There was even more for Adelia to think about, but she was somewhat content. One step at a time, she reminded herself. It didn't have to be incredible, she just needed to move in the right direction.
The vassals, who had left their seats again the moment Adelia had, politely bowed, as was customary, until she had exited the room.