Published: January 4, 2026
In the morning, I got up as usual, got out of bed, let the maid squad handle my dressing, and moved to the great dining hall for breakfast.
Several maids were already waiting in the dining hall, and almost as soon as I appeared, they all bowed their heads in unison.
One of the maids pulled out a chair for me, and then the serving began.
Young maids brought dishes from the kitchen, and Zoe, the maid, received them and placed them in front of me.
The drinks too. A young maid brought them, Zoe received them, and poured them into my glass.
There is a hierarchy even among the maids.
Zoe has served me for many years, so she holds a considerable position among the maids.
I am the prince wise.
To attend directly, one must have climbed somewhat within the maid hierarchy—this is, more or less, an unspoken rule among the nobility.
As I took bites of the familiar breakfast, I noticed a restless young—no, rather, still very young—maid fidgeting.
The maid was probably just a little younger than me, now twelve years old, and she kept glancing nervously out the window.
"Hey there—what's your name again?"
"My name is Jiji."
Zoe answered my question on her behalf.
"I see. Jiji, is there something wrong with the window?"
"Well... outside, the line is really long, and, um..."
"A line?"
I looked toward Zoe, wondering what she meant.
"You see, Your Highness will soon celebrate your twelfth birthday, right? So people from all over have come to deliver gifts, and they have formed a queue."
"I understand. Haven't you seen something like this before?"
This time I asked Jiji.
"Well, that's true, but the line has been going on for three days now, and it never seems to end."
"That's normal. Receiving the gifts isn't just 'accept and done.' They must be received, checked, and recorded. Because this is done thoroughly, the line takes a long time to clear. Last year, if I recall correctly..."
I looked at Zoe again.
For matters regarding the household, you have to ask the servants to understand.
"It continued for about a week."
"Wow... that's amazing. So many birthday presents come in..."
Jiji, who was probably from some rural village, widened her eyes even more, but after a slight scolding from Zoe, she hurried back to her duties.
☆
After breakfast, I left the mansion.
The gift line was redirected to the back gate, where people were lined up, but since the long line lasted about a week and continued to grow until it was completely over, even when leaving from the main gate, the lively scene was visible.
I ignored this symbolic scene of being the prince wise and boarded a carriage towards my destination.
The Ministry of Military Affairs, located on the eastern side of the capital, was my current workplace.
Entering the Ministry grounds, I got off the carriage and went into the building.
"Where is older brother?"
I asked the middle-aged official who greeted me.
"He is in the minister's office. He is talking with the knight. He said to come immediately once Your Highness arrived."
"Understood."
I strode ahead straight to the minister's office.
Standing before the most formal door in the building, I knocked.
"This is Noah."
"Yes, enter."
I waited for the two guards to open the double doors and then went inside.
Inside the equally formal room were two men.
One was the head of this building—actually the head of the Ministry of Military Affairs.
Henry Alarate, Prince Wise Minister of Military Affairs.
Since the Almeria incident, Brother Henry has been entrusted with the Ministry by Your Majesty.
The other face was familiar too.
A rugged-looking military type, Brother Henry’s knight, Rice Cake.
"You’re late, Noah."
"Sorry, Brother Henry."
"Good morning, prince wise your highness."
"Hmm."
I only glared briefly at Rice and took a few steps forward to speak to Brother Henry.
"Is there something you needed me for as soon as I arrived, Brother Henry?"
"I wanted to hear your opinion as well. Yesterday, Your Majesty issued an imperial edict. Rice is to lead the second army to suppress the rebellion on the southern frontier."