This new husband of mine has two concubines and three children. The concubines aren't important, but the children are because none of them belong to the concubines. Kai is the eldest, he's twelve. Heri is eight and Jailin is six.
The mansion has fifteen courtyards, servants' and guards' quarters, the main hall and front courtyard. This excludes the three gardens, a training area and the stable.
I get dressed in something simple. A black dress with a purple outer robe, my hairpins matched my white jade mask. It was different from the one last night, though it was still a half mask. I wasn't ready to show my face yet. I wanted to see what was going to happen first.
"Breakfast is usually in the eastern garden pavilion." Bira said as we walked there. "The prince?" I asked. "He stepped out. The Queen Mother sent someone." I scoff. "She couldn't wait until after breakfast. Calling him away to the Palace before I arrive. She really moves fast."
"What do you wish for me to do, Master?" I raise my hand. "No need to do anything. I know what she wants. I just don't know which road she wants to take." I stop at the entrance of the eastern garden and watch to two women. "Everything depends on her next move." Bira nodded.
I walk in and up the steps of the pavilion. The two stood up and bowed. "Greetings, your highness." They greeted. "Sit." I say as I sit down but they didn't move. "We went to greet you this morning but weren't allowed into the courtyard, so I hope that you don't take offence to our lack of absence."
"You are?" The one that spoke bowed again. "I am Tara, I take care of Heri." She replied. I look at the other one and she bowed. "I am Evian. I take care of Jailin." I nod. "Sit. This is breakfast not a trial." They nod and sit down.
"Bira had already told me that you gave your greetings from outside the courtyard this morning, so no need to feel burdened. I'm accustomed to only my children giving me greetings in the morning, so you don't need to." They nodded. "Yes, your highness."
"Which of you has been handing the accounts?" Tara bowed her head. "I am. I will bring over the accounts to have you take a look after breakfast." I nod. "Yes. Let's do that. Evian, you come along as well." She bowed her head. "Yes, your highness."
A boy walked into the garden and once he entered the pavilion, he bowed. "Greetings Mother." I nod. "Sit." Kai, I saw him at the wedding yesterday. He was the only one old enough to be there for the ceremony. "I heard you would like to be a soldier." I say as he sat down.
"Yes. Father said my mother was a mercenary with mid-level martial arts. So, I wish to follow in her footsteps in my martial arts." He replied. "Then you should allow my mother to help you with your martial arts. She's nearly at the high-level threshold." Lion said as he and Lia walked into the garden.
"The Prin- Mother can fight?" He looked at me with suspicion and awe. What an odd mix. "Yes. Otherwise wandering the Continent with two small children would've been difficult, even if people knew her identity as the eldest Princess of the Palk Kingdom."
I ignore their conversation and begin to eat. "Your highness. Try this." Tara placed a pastry on my plate with a smile. "It pairs well with the chicken soup." I nod. "Second Mother!" A young girl shouted. She rushed up, her hair a mess and clothes unkempt. "Heri. Why are you so unkempt? Where is Nina?"
On cue, a young maid rushed in breathless. "I wanted to sleep a little longer, but Nina kept waking me up, saying today was important. I rushed over as soon as I realized." I glance at the young maid and she bowed. "Forgive me, your highness. The second miss ran off so quickly that I didn't have time to catch her."
"It's fine." The maid bowed again and stepped to the side with the rest of the personal maids. Tara quickly fixed Heri's clothing. "So unladylike." Tara mumbled. "I want to learn martial arts like older brother but none of you agree."
Tara sighed and pushed her towards me. "Greet your mother." Heri looked at me for a few seconds before bowing. "Greetings, mother." I nod. "Sit." She sat next to Tara and began eating. "You want to learn martial arts?" Heri stopped eating, swallowed what was in her mouth and nodded. "Will you allow me?" She asked hopefully.
"Did you ask your father?" She shook her head. "Did you ask your second mother?" She shook her head. "Then how would anyone allow you to practice?" She remained silent. "Let's make a deal. If you can show me the results of your etiquette lessons from over these past three years, then you'll follow Lia in her lessons."
"Right now?" She asked, getting up. "No. after lunch when I return from the palace." A small figure walked in and bowed. "Greetings mother." I nod to him. "Have a seat."
Breakfast was relatively quiet after that. After breakfast, I went back to my courtyard and changed clothes to get ready to go to the Palace. "Master. Tara and Evian are here." Bira announced as I sat reading a book. "Let them in." I close the book and the two walk in. "Your highness." They bowed and greeted.
"Hm." Tara motioned for her maid to bring forward the account books. Bira took the books and brought them over to me. "Sit." I tell them as I pick up the first one from the pile.
I read through them quietly. "Your highness." I look at Tara. "Since you are here, I don't think it's appropriate for me to continue managing the household." I close the book in my hand and pick up the last one. "Why is that?" She didn't answer.
"Do you feel inadequate, or have you embezzled funds?" I asked. "No, your highness. It is the right thing to do." she said. "The right thing to do is what I tell you to do." She remained silent as I continued looking through the book.
"I'm very satisfied with the management of the household." I tell her as I close the book and put it back on the pile. I motion for Bira to give it back to her. "I didn't marry into this kingdom and household without doing some research. Other than child rearing, you've done a good job."
"Thank you, your highness." I waved my hand. "Don't thank me. Although you didn't neglect Heri, you overindulged her. In the times I'm in the mansion, I shall personally take over her discipline. When I'm not present, you will follow the program I have for her."
I look towards Evian. "You've also failed in the child rearing. He's sending away those teachers because he's bored, which means that he's either learnt what they are teaching him or he has no interest in what they were teaching him. The same thing that Heri is doing, he will as well. Any objections?"
"None, your highness." I nod.