"Tiana-sama, here is the report you requested."

"Good work. Please continue as planned."

"Tiana-sama, this proposal-"

"That isn't the right form format. Redo it according to my guidelines."

"Tiana-sama, could you please double check and approve this?"

"Everything checks out."

"Ahem." My father cleared his throat. "Have we all forgotten that it is, in fact, I, who is the prime minister?"

The government workers flocking in and out of his office made cautious embarrassed smiles.

I turned to my father and gave him the brightest smile I could muster. "Don't worry, Father, when things fall apart I'll make sure that all of the responsibility falls on your shoulders. By the way, please sign these." I handed him a stack of documents from my desk next to his.

My father sighed and signed the sheets. "I knew that you were a prodigy, but how did it turn out like this..."

"I wish I knew the answer to that question." I didn't plan for it, but I suppose it helped give me a closer look into the turning gears that run this country.

Father waited for the room to be left with just the two of us, then continued. "By the way, apparently the princess says that she refuses to get engaged or married to anyone until she graduates from Morgenreit Academy. Was that your doing?"

"I wonder." I sipped my tea.

"Is that why you've been looking into Bosmarken lately?"

I summoned a soundproofing wind barrier around us. "What's the best way to keep her from being sent there?"

My father laughed dryly. "'Best way', huh. You're not even asking if there is a way, you're already assuming that there are several."

"If nothing else, there's killing everyone involved and running away with Lumina in the middle of the night."

Father choked. "If you weren't my daughter, I'd have you tried for treason for saying that."

I smiled. "Luckily I am your precious daughter, right Papa?"

He sighed. "When Bosmarken really wants something, there's not much we can do to resist."

"Maybe not right now, but we can strengthen our economy, overcome their military's sheer numbers with technology, and so forth."

"I really worry about what goes around in your head sometimes. I'm guessing you already have plans for those measures?"

"Perhaps." I smiled again. "Also, if we can't stop them from outside, we could destabilize them enough from within. Inciting an uprising or scheming with some of their nobles and the like. But I don't have information."

"What makes you think I do?"

"There's no way that Edelgard isn't collecting intelligence about its surrounding countries. And as the real prime minister, you would have access to that." I stared directly into his eyes.

Silence passed between us for a while.

"Belka," he said. "That's the only hint I'm giving you."

"Thank you, Papa!" I skipped over and hugged him. "Papa, if the whole world stands against me, will you still be my ally?"

Father rolled in his lips. "Can a father ever say no to that question?" He pat my head. "I will always be on your side no matter what. But do try not to get yourself into too much trouble."

"Hehehe." I kissed him on the cheek. "Well, it's almost time for my lessons again, so I'll take my leave. And I think I'll shakedown the agricultural department on my way." I dispersed the barrier and headed to the door.

"Be careful, Tia."

"Of course, Papa."

I skipped and hummed through the grounds of the castle. Workers and knights bowed or saluted me as I walked past. When I reached the agricultural department, I took out my fan and tapped it loudly against my palm as I walked in.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Frightened eyes stared at me as I walked down the hallways.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

There was a yelp up ahead as the agricultural minister's secretary skidded out of a room and ran towards me. "Tiana-sama! My sincerest apologies, the budget proposal has been fixed!" He handed me a stack of sheets.

I hummed as I looked through them then handed the stack back. "Very good. Please deliver them to the prime minister as soon as possible."

He blinked and tilted his head. "But you are the... Oh, you meant Duke Bracklin. I'll take it to him right now!" He ran off again.

I snickered and left the department, making my way to the knights' training grounds.

The most unusual sight awaited me.

My jaw dropped. "Marina? And Lumina?!"

Marina and Luminaria were swinging practice swords in motion with the rest of the knights. They waved when they saw me.

Chrom appeared by my side. "My sister suddenly insisted on learning swordsmanship." He sighed and crossed his arms.

Dan let the two girls take a break, and they came running up towards me.

"Tia!" they cried in unison then glared at each other.

"What are you two doing here?!" I asked.

Luminaria pumped her fists. "I decided that I have to try my best in everything! I can't just sit back and be a lazy princess that everyone else has to take care of!"

"I..." Marina bent over and gasped. "I saw her... doing it... so... I, tried to, too." She fell to the grass and lay on her back.

"Maybe you're more suited for magic." I sat beside her and pat her head, using my light magic to cure her fatigue. "Don't force yourself."

"But you can do both things." Marina pouted.

I snorted. "That's just because I have some weird cheating abilities. It's not really my own power."

"Whatever it is, it's still a part of you," said Chrom as he crouched down.

Luminaria sat down with us. "They said I did well though, so praise me, Tia!" Her smile was bright and innocent.

It's probably because they couldn't possibly say something bad about their princess.

"Good job, Lumina." I pat Luminaria's head too. "You're still kids though... you should having fun and enjoying your youth more. You'll eventually be adults forever, so don't try to grow up too fast."

"You're the last one we want to hear that from!" All three of them shouted at me simultaneously.

I blinked. And laughed. "You're right. I got this second chance after all."

"Second chance?" asked Chrom.

"Nothing." I turned and looked away into the distance. In my previous life, I would often miss being young. A time when you're allowed to have fun, a time when you didn't have as many responsibilities. A time when you're allowed to be weak. Where people didn't expect as many things from you. Past me was a very weak and useless person, and felt that being an adult was one of the worst things that happened to me.

Dan approached us. "Would you rather take a break today, Tiana?"

I stood up. "I'll do a bit of sparring first."

Dan grinned. "I have some new recruits who don't believe in the Angel of Swords yet. Want to break them in for me?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Should I really?"

"Yeah, they're a little too cocky right now. Someone needs to put them in their place, and it'll be funny if it's you."

"If you say so..." I followed Dan into the sparring area and faced a young recruit. He had freckles all over his face and gave everyone around him patronizing looks.

"I'm the son of a viscount, why do I have to spar with this puny brat?" he spat. "That useless little girl won't even be a warm up! This is an insult!"

My lips curled up into a smile. I circulated light magic through my body. "Strength up. Speed up. Agility up." I cackled loudly as I felt my powers rise. I shot forward with wind magic and kneed him in the dick.

"You really are a piece of work," Chrom said to me as we had a little picnic under a tree.

"I'm not denying it." I had thoroughly trashed a handful of new recruits, all of which had received dick injuries one way or another. The first one was because the guy pissed me off, but after that I couldn't help but feel like I had to complete the set. It just wouldn't do to break the combo, you know?

"Each time you did it I could feel my own crotch hurt." He whimpered.

Luminaria laughed. "If you let Tia do it to you and stop being a man, your love might become requited."

Chrom's hands shot down to guard his crotch. "I refuse!"

I scratched my chin and studied Chrom's face. "You would look pretty cute as a girl."

"That's not something I ever want to hear!" Chrom yelled.

"That's right, Chrom-sama should stay as a boy." Marina sipped her tea. "It reduces the amount of rivals I have to deal with."

"Gununu…" Chrom bit his lip. "Don't talk so high and mighty."

Marina scooted over to sit against me and wrapped an arm around mine. "Tia, try some of this~ say aaah~" She held a cookie up to my mouth.

I looked at Chrom and Luminaria, who were both blushing furiously. I felt embarrassed to do it in front of them but I didn't want to reject Marina's gesture either. "Ah, aaah…"

Marina stuck the cookie in my mouth, and when I bit down on it my lips brushed against her fingers. "Tia, you're so bold!" Marina squealed and held her hands to her cheeks.

Chrom could only stare with his mouth open, while Luminaria was grinding her teeth at Marina.

I blushed and covered my face with my hands.

Luminaria stuck to my other side and fed me cake. "Here, Tia, have some of this."

"Your Highness, as someone who rejected Tia, shouldn't you be doing that with a man instead?" Marina asked.

"Hmph. Tia and I have been friends since we were born, it's natural for our bond to be the strongest, right Tia?" Luminaria cuddled up against my shoulder.

"Your bond should be strongest with me, right?" Marina tugged on my arm.

I could only melt into bliss. "Being sandwiched between two cute girls is the beeeest~"

Chrom hung his head and pound his fists into the ground. "Dammit I feel so left out!"