One morning, I woke up to find my parents in the middle of a conversation.

"Oh, Tia, good timing," my mother said as she noticed me.

"What's going on?" I asked as I sat on an armchair.

"It's about time for me to return to our territory. I was wondering if you would like to come with me."

The Bracklin fief, huh. I hadn't been there ever since I regained the memories of my past life. It would be nice to observe it again and see what could be done.

"How long would we stay there for?" I asked.

"I would probably stay for half a year or so, but you could come back whenever you want. I just thought it'd be a nice vacation for you."

"Could I bring Marina with me? She doesn't really have any family, so if I'm gone then she'll be all alone."

Mother raised her eyebrows for a bit then smiled. "Of course."

I turned to father. "Will you be able to run the country without me?" I smirked.

"Just what do you think of me?" He leaned forward and grinned. "No matter what you do, I'm still the real prime minister."

I gave him a bright smile. "It's admirable that you think that way. Ufufu~"

"Hehehe."

"Kukuku."

"Hahaha!"

Mother looked between us as we stared each other down and shook her head.

"You're going back to the Bracklin duchy?" asked Lux. I had come to her office as soon as I reached the castle grounds.

"Is it okay for me to?" I asked. "If you want me to stay here to continue training or help out with the department..."

Lux shrugged. "It should be okay if it's a few months. You already have good control over your magic. Treat it as a learning experience too, observe the regional herbs and alchemists and write a report on it."

"I have to write a report?" I sighed and hunched my shoulders.

"Well, you don't have to, but if you want to keep learning while you're gone I suggest you do so."

"Can I bring Marina with me?"

"Weh?!" Marina yelped as she heard her name. As always, she was by my side.

"Do you not want to?" I asked.

Marina shook her head. "It's not that... I'm just surprised."

Lux sat back and crossed her arms. "I don't want to let a dark magic user go off unsupervised like that... but Tia is strong enough to cancel the magic out if it goes out of control." She nodded. "I approve. Just keep it a secret that you can use dark magic. You don't want to draw unnecessary trouble."

"Thank you." I bowed, and Marina quickly followed suit.

Lux got up from her seat and took some books from her shelves. "I was going to teach you this later, but try reading up on it while you're gone. It covers the other kinds of magic you could use through alchemy and magical tools."

"Thanks." We took the books and left.

On the way out I stopped by the workshop to take the magical tools I had been working on, and tried to stuff it into my Infinite Arsenal. It seems that for complicated weapons the Arsenal can't produce, if I can get a hold of them physically then I can use the Arsenal as storage magic. I wasn't sure if I could do this before; maybe IA was evolving?

And with that, our business with the mage department was done.

"I guess now it's time to tell Lumina and Chrom…" I sighed.

"They're not going to be happy about it," said Marina.

"Not at all."

We asked around for the royal twins, and were eventually led to one of the castle's gardens. Chrom and Luminaria were reading books and having tea, accompanied by their usual attendants.

"Tia!" Luminaria's eyes brightened as she saw me. "Have a seat. Marina too."

I pulled out a chair and sat down, then accepted tea from one of the servants.

"I thought you were busy," said Chrom.

"Well..." I looked at Marina for comfort before turning back to them. "I'll be visiting my fief for a few months."

"What?!" Chrom and Luminaria both stood up and slammed their hands on the table.

"Why are you leaving?" asked Chrom.

Luminaria looked at Marina. "You're okay with this?"

"Well." Marina blushed. "I'm going too."

"Guuuu!" Luminaria grit her teeth.

"You avoided me for a long time before, what's with a few months now?" I asked.

Luminaria pouted at me and sat down. "It's... different."

I pat her head.

"I guess I can't really ask to go along?" asked Chrom. He returned to his seat.

"You're a young prince that doesn't know how the world works yet, there's no way they'll let you travel on short notice," I said.

"How will I know the world works if I don't go out to see it?"

"You say that now, but you were only thinking of following me just now, weren't you."

"Guh…"

I nibbled on a cookie. "I do think it'll be good for both of you to go out more often, provided you get permission and have the appropriate guards. Your stupid brother too."

"Who are you calling a stupid brother?" asked a voice behind me.

I turned around to see a pissed-off Roy scowling at me. "Why, good afternoon, Your Highness, would you like to join us?"

"Hmph." Roy pulled out a chair next to me and plopped down on it. He sat with his body sprawled out while leaning on his elbow. Like he was trying to be a gangster or some shit. "You."

I flashed him an exaggerated smile. "Your Highness, one mustn't address a lady so brusquely."

"Who said I have to listen to you?"

"Your parents did?"

"Tch." Roy ground his teeth and turned away. When he turned back, his lips were pursed as if he had to push each word out painfully. "Lady Tiana. Are you travelling somewhere?"

"Indeed. I am returning to inspect my territory for a few months."

"But you're not in charge of your territory yet."

"One day I will be. And even as I am now, there are things that I can do to improve the lives of my people." I sipped my tea. "There are many things I want to do, but before that I need to personally see the state of affairs for myself."

Roy briefly looked away and flashed his eyes back again. "Ta... take care."

I raised my eyebrows. "Thank you, Your Highness."

"Be careful, Tia. I'll rush over if anything happens." Chrom scrambled to give his blessings after Roy did.

"I'm going to miss both of you. Write me letters, okay?" said Luminaria.

I sighed. "You're all acting as if I'll be going across the ocean for a few years."

"Because knowing you, you might actually do that while we're not watching!"

We left at dawn a few days later. Marina, my mother, and I sat together in the lead carriage, while a few servants and luggage followed in another. A few guards escorted us on horseback. Our destination lay west.

I looked at the rolling hills outside as we exited the castle city. "What are the chances that Chrom and Lumina will "coincidentally" visit the Bracklin duchy while we're there?"

"Pretty high," said Marina, a book opened on her lap.

"Probably, yeah." I snickered.