She hurried her steps and the maids who were following her had to matched her pace, worried Rosaria might do something that will cause a ruckus.
When Rosaria saw the Emperor's people's heading into a room and saw the opportunity to enter, she didn't waste her time and pushed the large door to open.
The people inside hadn't even gone to their seats and had stood on the side, surprised by the uninvited guest, Rosaria then walks in without any problem.
" Your Majesty " she calls to the man who had look to see who had cause a disturbances, his other subjects also followed the call and didn't expect to see the princess. What surprised them even more was her attire, it was too plain, clearly a commoners clothing.
Rosaria ignored the stares and then straightened her back, and she smiled confidently.
She knew this would take a long time to convince them of her plan but she needed to start early or else her chance of getting out of the palace and helping the people in the battlefield will be closer to 0%.
" I'm sorry for disrupting your time with your hectic schedule your majesty but I humbly request for your mercy and understanding " she walks towards him and her gaze were filled with determination and confidence.
" There is a solution to this war without losing more of our people, " straight to the point, she states her opinion and the people around looked perplexed as she spoke, thinking of her foolish and naïve act in the presence of the Emperor.
Yet she didn't let lower her head nor shrunk in their presence and continued her way in front of the Emperor, with a resolute gaze, she stood in front of him.
Seeing her eyes the Emperor didn't realize he had given her the permission to speak
"...And what is it that you want to tell me? " he says, enough for everyone in the halls to hear.
Rosaria smiles in a unabashed manner.
" Thank you your Majesty. The terrain could be to our advantage, the south had always experienced heavy rainfall during these season and the land formation around the border could be used to create a surprise attack to the Harthemr soldiers. " she remembers the painting in the pub and the gossips around it, using her system, she had long confirm about the changing temperature of this world.
" If you can spare me your time, I'd like to offer my solution to your majesty, I won't take long "
The Emperor looked at her without any hint of emotions, in the eyes of their subject, the picture of the father and daughter-in-law at the moment was far from a family portrait of a familiar atmosphere and warm smiles. Instead, standing face to face was the Emperor without a hint of emotion and the princess who looks determined and unwavering.
" The battlefield isn't a playground Princess Rosaria, I only let capable men into this meeting... leave and you can go back to your room or serve the Prince in his chambers " The Emperor spoke and Rosaria didn't look surprised at his reply, she laughed lightly without a hint of fear from the Emperor.
" It's not your playground but now it's mine but if I were to play, I'd rather play without losing anymore of my men " she glance at the King chess piece hovering on her side, she looks at for another second it but decides it wasn't the time.
" why do you think I would want to listen? Don't I have the greatest experts strategists, the Empire's strongest general and best soldiers in this very room? They're ideas are something worth to listen for. What would a mere girl even know about war?" The Emperor says coldly, his words could cut anyone down but not Rosaria.
Not when Eve is now in control for Rosaria's life.
" Yes, their reputation and experiences are outstanding, comparing to mine, I'm nothing more than just a speck. I agree your majesty " this reply made the men murmured.
For what reason is she being like this?
This woman has gone insane...
She must've think the crown prince favored her and is acting up.
Favored? Heh, we all know that...
Before the words could be finished the Emperor had heavily slammed his hands on the table, most of the gossiping men in the room were now quiet.
Rosaria stood there, her golden eyes showing amusement. She did not fear the Emperor's anger.
The Emperor shut their mouths before Rosaria would be able to learn about the truth, she was kept in the dark about the real reason of her marriage.
To shift their attention on the last words that were incomplete, the Emperor sat on his seat and glared at the men who had chatted too comfortably almost exposing the truth.
The Emperor tried to shift Rosaria's thoughts. He looked at her, like a father looking at his son's soon to be divorced wife.
" I'll let you waste our time, you may speak but after you speak, leave the room. I will ignore your impudence today Princess, seeing as you are the wife of my son. " he was clearly not taking her seriously, Rosaria only smile lightly.
Her expression too humble and not even any hint of fear nor anger on her face.
" Thank you for your mercy, your majesty. Then, I should start and not waste any more of your time,"
She let's the men around find a place to sit before she spoke again.
" if the strategists on the enemies side is smart then those Harthemr soldiers will use the mountains to scout and ambush on our soldiers, they already set a solid formation on our borders and they have the numbers to do so. "
She she spoke, someone started to yawn, being openly disrespectful towards her.
No one commented on the man, and Rosaria didn't seem to care.
" There's a shortage of supplies and resources on our base but that doesn't seem to be the case on our enemies side seeing they have never retreated nor plan to lower their numbers" she smirk seeing how this gotten a few of their attention.
" by the looks of the recent recruitment, we are losing this war and have gone to settle on keeping hold our defenses until the very end."
She continues and slightly tilts her head, as if she was thinking.
She then smirked.
" The solution is simple and will only need at least 5 soldiers to do this, " She then lower her head and bows.
" Preposterous! " one adviser who had been listening was surprised on how the Princess had told the confidential information being spoken out loud, about the recruited soldiers, he had started to believe her words until she said the last part.
" It is possible " and it's crazy.
The princess smiled as if she wasn't faze by the sudden reactions.
" but I'll speak of the rest of my solution once you find me worthy of your time in this meeting, if you ever need my knowledge I will be at my room, I'll be heading out for now. It was an honor to be here Your majesty " she leaves the meeting room and met the worried gaze of her maids.
She smiles at them, they didn't follow her inside so they might not know what she had spoke of in such place filled with high racking officials.
So Christopher wouldn't know unless he asked the Emperor or any of those people present.
That's not a problem since Rosaria wasn't any of his concerns, he wouldn't seek the Emperor to learn what she did, even if he is curious.
It had always been that way, and Eve wanted it to stay that way.
" Let's go, I wanted to rest for this afternoon " she says and walks back to her room.
She checks the system and the mini-map, the other functions in the map checking on the climate and possibilities of rainfall. Even things such as earthquake or tsunamis and even landslides could be check in here.
The map in the south is still unlocked and dark with no shapes of its terrains, so without the map that she saw in the pub, she would have not had any idea of the terrain. Eve opens her bag and found the photo of the Map in the pub that she secretly took a screencast of.
From the looks of the digital map, It was clear and there were many mountains and pasture in the terrain, she looked at one place and knew this was the solution to their problem.
If the Emperor's adviser were wise enough, they understood what she had been hinting about.
" Guess we'll have to find out in the next few days "
And Eve didn't need to see from her system on the discussion in the meeting room, she knew they'll run out of options and let her speak.
When she arrived in her room, she lets the maids remove her heavy dress and changed into a comfortable one. Rosaria orders her maids to later bring her dinner in her room as she wasn't feeling well and might not attend dinner with the rest of the royal families. She sits on her bed thinking and Sandra looks at her wondering what she was thinking.
The maids were waiting for her commands.
Rosaria looks around her room and then to Sandra and the rest of the maids.
" Re-arrange my space here, I need an open area with a carpet on " she points at the furniture and flowers around, Rosaria's room was very crowded with a lot of decorations and old expensive furniture.
The maids hurriedly acted and didn't waste their time, fearing the princess was in a sour mood.
The moved the sofa and tables, the vase were set near the wall and chairs were lifted and placed to the farthest corner. Rosaria smiled when she saw the space that was made, it was perfect for warm-ups and exercises.
When she was finally satisfied, orders them to leave. They bowed their heads and finally left, Rosaria headed towards the door immediately locked it. She smiled and walked back from her
Rosaria had to loosen the frustratingly tight dress and take it off herself, she sighs in relief once she was out of such pain-in-the-ass like corset and then threw them in her bed. She was only wearing undergarments as she walked towards her closet and slip on a night gown. It was the only comfortable wear she could find, and women didn't have pants in this kind of era and timeline, they don't even have pockets!
" Deprived of pockets, yet again" She member her times in other worlds where she keep forgetting about how her dress were empty when it comes to pockets, this world also didn't disappoint when it comes to that aspect.
Rosaria stretched her body and tried to semi-twist to loosen up her muscles. She continued her warm up from head to toes, it hasn't been five minutes but she could feel her body starting to sweat.
" Now then, " she opens her system and checked the time, there was no indicator of what year it was nor the month of the calendar that she was familiar, only a running watch that actively counts the time in every hour, minutes and seconds of the day.
8:49:25
Rosaria started with her warm up and tried to recall her previous worlds where she had actively undergone training in the army, military, air force, and the marines. Although she can't do such intense training and exercise seeing her body was not used to such physical works, Rosaria was still going to do some light work-out.
She had to start and get this body used to active movements and weapons. She would need to learn how to run without gasping for air every 20 seconds, and be able to handle carrying heavy objects while she runs.
Rosaria Elijah Serpentine Ronan-Rosemond, princess of the kingdom of Rosemond, will be doing her husbands duties and show him what a lousy bastard he truly is. Let him taste the humiliation he truly deserves.
Oh the idea of just making him lose face is such a thrilling image.
Rosaria started to exercise during that day and made her own training regime fit for such body. The next following days, she busied herself with it.
During the morning the moment twilight painted the sky, Rosaria was already outside the palace and returned from her morning run from the west forest with just a lamp. Guards were not patrolling that side of the palace grounds, so Rosaria was able to run a few laps before cursing out as she gasp for air.
She would return to her chamber jog around to cool down, after that she would do 50's. If it was her original body, she would be able to do it, if it was those in her other previous bodies, she could even more to a 60's-200 without breaking a sweat, but this was Rosaria Elijah Serpentine and she was not meant to work out.
" 9, 10, 11.....12" she pushed her arms from the ground and lifted her upper-body, making sure her feet stayed straight and plated to the ground. She was going to do sit ups and squats next.
In lunch time, Rosaria would dined with her family member's and eat silently, letting the men speak and the women listen was the ways of the nobles. She answers only when she was called. Rosaria could feel the Emperor's eyes on her, he must have thought about her words during that meeting and was curious of her idea. She didn't look at him though, she would wait for his summoning, preferably in the assembly for his men with ranks. It had been five days when she had spoken in the meeting, and every lunch time, the emperor would set his eyes on her. The rest of the royal families could feel it in the dining room. Rosaria pretends to be blind.
In the afternoon, she would be taught by the butler in the royal library, of the history of Rosemond and their noblesse oblige. She would the talk about a few uninteresting matters, especially about her duties as a wife at night for the crown prince. She was not listening for most of the time and just smiled, every afternoon, it was the same conversation. Just lie down and let the crown prince do it. Rosaria would just internally cringe with such words.
After those discussion, she would be left alone in her room and continued to do some exercise. She even tested her flexibility and surprisingly Rosaria was at least flexible and not rigid. So every afternoon, she sweats and practiced kicks and punch. She fumbles a few times but gets back on her balance.
In the evenings, it was time to copulate with the crown prince. Which Rosaria just want to vomit imagining even kissi--okay stop, she can't even think of the word without wanting to drink poison.
Every evening, Rosaria would have to try and find ways to make him sleep before he could even touch her.
" oh, aren't you too stiff? here, let me help you relax" This was her during the first night after the meeting with the emperor, she deliberately pushed him down and massaged his shoulders. " I asked the maids and showed me how to make you feel good, I heard you've been busy during the day. Doing your duties and bearing the weight as the crown prince must have been tiring, dear."
The crown prince looked at her golden eyes, his blue one's stared at her but couldn't linger longer in her direction when she let's him lie on his stomach. He couldn't speak when her fingers moved on his back and easily loosen the pressure on his muscles. When she pressed the right places on his back and shoulder, he groans shortly and sighs.
Rosaria pressed her fingers and palms, her hand's working hard on his back until he feel asleep when she moved to his temple and worked her magic there.
Cristopher slept that day, and woke up the next day feeling puzzled when his wife was nowhere by his side. Rosaria would sleep far away from him, with a pillow between them and wake up in the early morning for a run, before she heads to her room, finished her exercise and wash-up, and continuing her day.
For five days, her morning and afternoon were the same routine, she was starting to feel her body get used to the work outs. Every night however was a war of wits with her, she either massages his back, make him wait in bed until he is asleep from boredom, let him work overtime in the bedroom, or Rosaria sleeping early and dead tiredly so he can't touch her resulting to Christopher sneaking out the palace for Caroline to accompany him.
Rosaria was just sleeping when she felt the door close and Christopher leaving the room.
She opens her eyes and smiled victoriously, as she watched his figure from her windows. He walks towards the awaiting carriage and disappeared from the palace grounds.
" I wish he doesn't return, this idiot couldn't even guess I'm not into him" Rosaria went back to bed with a yawn escaping from her mouth.
The next morning, Rosaria felt refresh from her bath and her quarters. She already had her morning run and exercise, today, she felt energized. She should continue such activity and strengthen her body, Rosaria would need it in the future.
She looks outside the window and the sun was shining bright, it was too warm and the heat could be felt inside the room. Rosaria thought about the meeting she had attended and smiled, her instinct tells her she would have news of his majesty's summons for her.
It didn't take too long when the butler ask for Rosaria's presence in the meeting room as the Emperor had ordered her to come.
I was already nine in the morning, Rosaria was about to head to the library when the head butler had called her.
" The emperor had summoned you to the meeting room, your highness " the butler bowed and Rosaria, smiled.
Finally, he thought long and hard before accepting my presence to be in his meeting.
She didn't leave them hanging and followed the butler.
" Take me there " she smiled, relax and unbothered.
Usually when people are being summoned by the emperor, they would have panicked or feel anxious. The head butler felt the princess wasn't the least bit worried and was amazed by her.
When they arrived at the large door with knights around the hall guarding the vicinity, she knew what was to be expected on the other side.
The knight near the door knocked on the room, opened the door and presented her name for them.
" Princess Rosaria Elijah Serpentine Ronan-Rosemond has arrived, your majesty" he says and the men around the room looked at their direction, especially to the woman who had recently been married to the prince.
She curtsy and waited for the emperor's approval.
" You may enter, Princess"
She straighten her back and entered the room.
Rosaria could see different people inside, filled with high ranking officials in the army, military advisers sat left and right, older men who had retired even joined the meeting and younger promising soldiers were presents among the people. The chairs were occupied, no one reserved any empty chair for her and it was clear that Rosaria was there for only needed for short moment of the meeting.
They will need to hear her explanation and if they find it ridiculous, then she will be immediately kicked out.
That's the reason why she doesn't have a chair to sit on, her position was clear in this meeting and she wasn't dumb enough to fight for a seat, but it doesn't worry her.
She only needs few minutes to explain without interruption.
" Before the rain will come down, a heat wave will accompany us this week. So jugs of water is needed to survive in this war, the same goes to the other side, they'll need more just fighting to survive."
She started, no introduction nor flattery was needed to capture their attention. She want's them to listen and wonder, to start thinking and start judging her words. The more they try to find her faults in her presentation, the more they start to listen carefully.
" As soldiers, you all know that your bodies needed the proper or minimum nourishment to continue on a long battles. Staying dehydrated is also important, dying from the lack of proper management of one's body during a war would have been shameful to every soldiers dignity. And I'm sure it also goes to the Harthemr's soldiers as well, our men and their side will need to be in top shape for this war"
She was now looking at each faces of the men around, seeing them slightly agreeing and even focusing on her words now.
"It will not rain for a week, and the sun will beat our soldiers down with it's heat if we keep them on the battlefield. The heat will burn them out and wore them down than the battle that they've been trained for-- "
" before you interrupt me, let me finished, " she says she close her eyes then opened them to look at those men, where a few of their mouths were about to open.
they were surprise at how she looked at them, as if a teacher reprimanding her students, it wasn't insulting but it was a look with authority, they let her continue and their mouths were shut.
" Thank you for letting me continue, gentlemen." She gave a smile and returned to look at the men who sat near the emperor, the seating arrangement were based on ranks and Rosaria knew these people were the closest to his majesty.
" this isn't a long drought but a sign of the start of heavy rainfall. As I said previously, we can use the terrain to our advantage, with a few experts here, they will understand my next words "
Rosaria looks at the large map laid in the middle of the long table that had been there, it was the map of this country and she points at it. To the map that showed the borders of Rosemond, their kingdom.
" The southern border right now is almost completely conquered judging by the looks of the recent recruitment and the tax increasing over the past few days" she had heard during her time around the palace, a few gossips from the maid and knights as she walks around, to reach to such conclusion.
" And pardon my rudeness, seeing how you came to find me for my idea, is another clue of how our border must have been closely being won by the enemy troops " She heard few coughs, as if not letting her say more of such thing, she sees nervous eye movements from the other soldiers and the emperor looking surprised. The emperor looked at one of the generals as if indicating, they will have to talk about that matter once Rosaria was done.
Rosaria continued with serious expression.
" the mountains must have been scouted by them if they're smart enough, now if we are losing every inch of the border, when we are surrounded by Harthemr soldiers, it's almost time for our front base to fall. It might be our land but with their strength, even if we recruit more numbers, it would be waste of manpower and money. "
It takes about a week to arrived in the southern border by carriage and five days by a horse. Every minute spent in this meeting, their soldier must have lost a few territories and lives by now. She needs them to act quick, this people will need to accept her crazy idea and make a move. Then she would request something from his majesty.
Rosaria looked at them before her eyes were set to the map.
" As I mentioned five days ago, we only need 5 soldiers and the terrains around the borders to weaken their defenses and take their front base, pushing them out slowly from our territory. " she says and crosses her arms in front of her chest, she walks towards the nearest side on the map and stood behind a general in his uniform.
Rosaria takes a model clay laying outside the map and placed them on five different locations.
Everyone knew where it was that she ha placed the mark, but they didn't understand her point.
" Each of these locations must be familiar to everyone in this room since all of you have more experience in this reading the map and the field on the battle, than me " she said with a bit of respect in her tone but also, her words reminded them of their incompetence. If their more experience than her, then why did they need here to point out the obvious, is what she was saying, yet none of them interrupts her.
" I'll take your silence as agreements, therefore there's no need for me to name the nature of this terrain, so I will proceed with the solution as I promised. " she takes a step back and watched them as they looked at the five clay standing in the map.
" down streams, falls, river banks, and small streams, these are our advantages since those water flow from the highest peak of the mountains and goes directly down the south, east and west from Rosemond Mountains. The water our soldiers fetch came from these channels also, during this season, water will be everyone's priority."
she smiles and there were a few who looked at her without any signs of understanding her point. Until one man, the strategists of the second base platoon had look at her as if she had solved the most difficult challenge they had face.
My god, your highness! such thought is crazy!
" But your highness " the strategist from the second base platoon says, catching everyone's attention " what you're planning, won't it become a bigger issue? This could cause us an epidemic " The strategist said, rejecting her idea.
" so you understand!" she happily said, enjoying the man's worried gaze and frown.
" His Majesty was not wrong when he said there were experts here, I am glad. " her golden eyes glint in amusement, the man could only stare at here waiting for her reply yet his ears were slightly red.
" It won't be a bigger issue " Rosaria moves her hands and brushed her silver locks away from her shoulder. " Since we won't do it frequently nor we will do it in a large scale, the goal is to attack the enemy without sacrificing more number of our soldiers. "
"The plan is to bringing down the troops on the other side and not kill their nation. The rivers have the ability on self-purifications, so we are only going to do it in those areas. " she replied with a smile.
" This--- you're highness where did you even got the idea from?! " The strategist replied back with worry.
"Hmm it's a trade secret, I'm just here to tell you what you need to create such thing " Rosaria smiled brightly, as if she was a child who was asked a very funny question.
" alright your highness how? How will we do it? " the man replied, almost forgetting everyone else in the room.
The strategists and Rosaria spoke at each other in a rally, as if the conversation were just withing themselves and everyone was left out, still confused.
Rosaria saw their expression and smiled.
" Have you ever heard a tale of poisoning the waters and killing the village? " Her happy expression remained and a few men had looked at her as if a demon had possessed her body.
The Emperor was silent the whole time, he had looks at the princess with an unreadable expression.
" Well, If you have haven't, then there's no need for you to know about the story. You just need to know how the poison was made and applied. " She says and before she could continue, the emperor raised his hand and gestures something.
Rosaria thought she was being dismissed but turns out, a knight entered the room and brought her a chair. It was placed just in the end of the table, just next to one of the generals of the army wearing black uniform.
Rosaria, thanked the emperor before she adjusted her dress before settling down. Unlike their seats, hers were comfortable and wide enough to fit her attire.
She proceeds to tell them on how to concoct the said poison.