"Let's do it together from now on. It's good after this. I feel better after lying down for so long."
"Yes, lady Kalia. I'll be with you."
Even when Kalia wasn't around, Melan found time to warm up with her own adaptations of gymnastics, and she spread the word to the other maids.
The Summer Palace was buzzing with morning gymnastics. Freshen up before the workday, and work better!
Nearly half of the palace's users joined in the morning exercises. Many said it was a hassle, but refreshing afterward.
Unbeknownst to Kalia, Melan had collected all of this information and relayed it to the chamberlain and Mistress of the Robes.
The manor began to change drastically. At the center of it all, Kalia didn't care and was just busy exercising.
Despite her weakness, exercise isn't just for the strong. There are exercises for the weak. Even for those with paralysis in parts of their body, there are exercises that are suitable for them.
Then the first crisis came to her.
"My daughter, how are you feeling?"
Eysir came to his daughter's room. His intentions were clear.
You seem to be feeling better, so let's go back to our normal routine - that means, stop exercising.
That's how Kalia interpreted it.
"I don't think I'm going to collapse again now, though it's still uncomfortable to move."
"Good, that's good, as long as you don't fall again."
Eysir looked at Kalia with tender eyes. It seemed as if honey could drip from his eyes.
Eysir looked at her tenderly, honey dripping from his eyes. Despite his genuine love for his child, Kalia did not relax.
Because what he was going to say next was real. She had to approach this as a negotiation, not a simple father-daughter conversation.
"So, how's your running going these days?"
'Okay, It's started.'
"Yes, father, it's great to start the day with gymnastics and running."
"Good, I'm glad to hear that."
'Huh? That's not what I expected.'
Eysir's face showed genuine relief. His reaction caused Kalia to quickly redo her calculations.
Who was she in the past, and what did her parents want her to be?
She was silly and wasteful, but that was to be expected of a child. The wastefulness was also technically her parents' responsibility because they bought her endless things that they should have taken proper care of.
Other than that, Kalia was a "good girl" who was extremely well-behaved and focused on her studies.
"You were an unusually quiet child, considering you were from a noble family."
'Oh, that's it!'
That's right. She was unusually calm!
A normal child would be running, jumping, bouncing, and screaming all day long.
That was true even for the children of nobles. Being a noble did not make them a different creature.
Children were all basically the same. Education might mellow them, but it didn't take away their fundamental humanity.
But Kalia hadn't, and that was why her body creaked with every little step she took now.
She's well-behaved, well-spoken, intelligent, and eager to learn, but as parents, they couldn't help but worry: "Is she too well-behaved?" they asked.
'This is going to be easier than I thought.'
"A little, you're not like your siblings or the other children of the house, but it's a little reassuring to see you running so hard, even now."
"Yes, father, but I didn't mean to cut through the family dignity and run without grace. I'm not just a little kid, you know."
"Awww, my daughter."
At Kalia's reply, Eysir pulled her into a tight embrace. It was a tight but gentle embrace.
"You are a very thoughtful girl, my dear, yes."
"Was there anything else you needed to tell me?"
"Of course there was. It's been 8 days since you woke up, and you seem to have regained some of your strength...."
"I see, I'm back to studying after all...."
"There's a imperial prince, huh? studying?"
"A imperial prince What? So, you've been thinking about that. Of course, you'll need to resume your studies, but there's no rush. You can wait until after you've fully recovered."
"I see."
Right now, the prince was what mattered. As Eysir trailed off, Kalia thought he was about to mention something difficult to say in the current situation, but she hadn't expected the prince to come up.
Kalia waited without hurrying him. After a moment, Eysir, having gathered his thoughts, spoke again.
"As soon as you're well enough to speak, the royal family has decided to send the prince as an envoy."
It seemed Kalia understood why Eysir had been brief. The matter probably involved politics and noble society, something too complex for young Kalia, he must have thought.
It was hard for the royal family to ignore the fact that the eldest daughter of a powerful family had fallen ill. They had to maintain their external image, after all.
A simple message of well-wishes would have sufficed, but the fact that the prince was coming in person suggested that the royal family held the family of Animus in high regard.
Or at least, they wanted to appear that way.
Having reached that conclusion, Kalia found an appropriate response.
"The prince himself coming as an envoy? That's quite an honor."
"The royal family considers your health a matter of great importance. Please understand that."
"Yes, Father. I will receive him in a manner befitting the name of the Animus Ducal family."
For a moment, Eysir looked at Kalia with surprise, then soon smiled gently and stroked her hair.
"The prince who will visit this time is likely to be Prince Arleigh, the first prince. He's about your age, just a bit older. But you're much more mature. Think of him as a younger brother."
The prince, being of his status, would have been well-educated, but children often bring unforeseen variables that adults don't anticipate. The decision to send a young prince indicated a preference for the message over formalities and manners.
'And could that message be about something stronger than just goodwill between our families? Thinking about the next generation? Like, getting familiar with each other from a young age – the implications are clear.'