Part 2

The night wind blows the frozen air. The throne of the sun was shifted by the full moon and hung high in the sky, looking as if it was standing above city life. The white world slowly turned black and dense. The beautiful white swan that was moving in the distance for some time had already been in front of the crouching Asura. The man watched how the tiny half-footed white shoe arrived before him, filling his view.

Asura smiled, a cheesy smile that didn't reach his eyes, before he looked up and met the eyes of the Hereditary Princess' gentle face. He said, "It seems I don't need someone to protect this body from the blizzard." After previously they had a harmonious relationship while on horseback, now one would feel Asura's bad sentiments towards the Hereditary Princess with just that one sentence.

Playing dumb, the Hereditary Princess looked shocked and saddened. "Prince, an eye for an eye. This is just a small favor to repay your kindness the other day."

"That's not what I wanted in return. There's no need to trouble yourself with anything burdensome. You can leave now." Asura was clearly enjoying the freezing weather while feeling how the cold weather could make his pale skin turn red. There was no reason for this woman to disturb his comfort.

The Hereditary Princess raised her eyebrows half high and said "Oh, what a shame." but she didn't move. Her small figure resisted the wind and snow from reaching Asura. The Hereditary Princess bent down and a hand with slender fingers rested on Asura's shoulder, brushing off the snow that had accumulated there. "Prince, you better come in. The weather isn't that great today."

"What is it, Princess? You want to accompany me?"

"Sure if you ask." The Hereditary Princess said so, as she shifted and took the same crouching position next to Asura. In contrast to Asura who seemed quite capable of dispelling the cold, the Hereditary Princess herself was already half-frozen. Her tiny nose was red and the corners of her eyes were burning. Asura glanced at her briefly before commenting.

"I think the winter weather at the border isn't as bad as here huh?"

"Actually, not really. Winter anywhere would be just as cold I guess."

"That means you just can't stand the winter."

The beautiful Vaishravana laughed in a soft and gentle voice. "You are very considerate. That's right. Compared to other seasons, I really like hot summers."

Asura fiddled with his ivory pipe in a graceful motion, twisting it between his fingers, moving it so neatly that it looked as if the ivory pipe was moving on its own in his hand. Vaishravana watched quietly, looking bewitched for a moment. He said, "Are you bored, Prince?"

"Yes. A fool like me wouldn't suit an intellectual banquet like this. Let those in charge do their job. I am a cow that needs to be poked to make a move."

Vaishravana laughed again. "Then I am a horse that needs to be whipped to make it move."

Asura glanced at her, staring out of the corner of his eye. The gleam of his bright blue beads looked as frosty as the weather today. He commented, "You don't look like that."

Vaishravana replied, "Glad to hear that."

Asura stood up, feeling quite sore. His sudden movement caused his vision to darken for a while. He massaged his forehead for a moment, feeling a tingling sensation run down his leg. He then turned to the Hereditary Princess who was also already standing next to him, saying, "Looks like all the guests have already arrived. Come on in."

"Yes."

Asura led the way and entered through the double doors that would make a rattling sound when the doors moved. He entered followed by the Hereditary Princess who walked silently behind him. You won't notice that someone is walking behind you if you don't take a peek. This more or less gave a feeling of anxiety to the person standing in front of her.

They walked to the VIP booth on the 3rd floor and soon found a group of great people in the country having small talk. As soon as they arrived, the people immediately stopped.

The Minister of Rites immediately realized that the two of them were frozen when he saw the tips of their noses and cheeks turning red like they were burning. "Gosh, the weather is very bad today. Your Majesty the Prince, the Hereditary Princess, please have a seat. Waiter, bring two warm teas for these two distinguished guests." His hand waved vigorously, calling out to the old gentleman who was hastily carrying his order. Hot water, especially hot tea, is always available in any restaurant during winter, so customers don't have to wait long when ordering it.

Their VIP booth is spacious with a floor of succulent wood. Everyone sits without using a chair, and their bottoms are covered with super soft, dark purple cushions covered in golden tendrils. There was a circular table in the middle, with a small heating stove to keep the food warm. Charcoal burning at the bottom will be a natural space heater. The firewood uses half ordinary firewood and a little agarwood as aromatherapy incense. The main dish this time was a hot pot filled with beef and several types of vegetables. There are also raw vegetables served, along with several types of sea fish in several types of dishes. Now that everyone had gathered, the chatter was immediately stopped and everyone started filling their bowls.

Asura took all kinds of vegetables and a small piece of meat from the hot pot which was spicy and hot, not touching fish and other kinds of seafood. The Supreme Commander of the Regalia Guard, Zachkiel, asked curiously, "Your Majesty, are you allergic to seafood?"

Zachkiel lifted his gaze from his bowl and smiled sheepishly. "Yes, Young Master."

Some people started to get up-in-arm when they heard it. Some commented, "My goodness, why didn't you say so earlier, Your Majesty? We can change it right away to your liking. What do you want, Your Majesty?"

Asura waved his hand. "No need to bother, sir. I am satisfied with these vegetables."

They then chat briefly about trivial things to fill the void while chewing their food.

The Hereditary Princess was munching on her beef when one of the officials spoke to her.

"The Hereditary Princess, you haven't visited the Capital in a long time, have you? How, is the Capital pleasant enough for you?"

Vaishravana listed him as one of the people under the Ministry of Household Affairs. An official who manages the Emperor's meals while in the Palace, especially those who have authority over the Imperial Palace's kitchen. Even though he wasn't one of the 9 ministers, his division was almost at the level of the Minister of Household Affairs, along with the Staff of the Heirs and Staff of the Imperial Clans. The task of the Steward Division sometimes collides with the Minister of Rites in several ways. This person is Rohan Bardhyl Heidrun. A man with a distended stomach and always sweating even in freezing cold weather. As he spoke, he continued to wipe his wet forehead with his wife's knotted handkerchief.

Vaishravana smiled politely and sweetly, replying, "The Capital is really beyond my expectations. So far I can only do menial jobs, so don't know how to say anything well. However, the Capital is so charming that I even want to live here."

Rohan replies, "Your Hereditary Princess is too self-deprecating. You are very talented and charming. The capital is not a difficult thing for you."

Vaishravana smiled sweetly and thanked him politely.

"Princess, would you like a toast?" From next to her, a cup of wine was offered. No one at this table dared to offer wine to the Grand Marshal's underage daughter, unless that person was deliberately looking for trouble. That person was Asura. The man smiled charmingly, still so sane despite his senseless actions. People were a little anxious, but didn't dare stop. The 6th prince was the only person here who didn't have an official title and a post of duty. Nonetheless, he was the Emperor's brother whom the Emperor bestowed full attention on. Obviously they wouldn't dare.

Vaishravana turned and smiled. "Sorry, Your Majesty. Imperial law says that teenagers under the age of maturity may not drink wine."

Asura looked taken aback, withdrawing the thrust of his glass at once. He said, "Princess Hereditary, forgive my mistake. I didn't remember that you were just a 15-year-old girl. How reckless I was." after Asura finished speaking, people held their breath for some reason.

These guys... Weren't the two of them on good terms the other day? Or is it just an illusion? Who were the two passionate people who rode a horse yesterday?

"Surely no problem, Your Majesty." Vaishravana did not bite the bait and acted casually as if the person being offended was not her.

The meal continued naturally, and only then did the talk about work begin.

The Minister of Rites several times confirmed things with the Minister of Household Affairs while the others listened. They discussed the types of side meals and knick-knacks needed, while the Minister of Finance would occasionally rebut some things that were unnecessary and could not be issued by his service.

As they talked, a troupe of artists came in regularly, reciting poems filled with song and dance. Various girls in beautiful clothes let out their soft voices, reciting verses of famous poems composed by scholars of the imperial academy without using scripts and relying solely on their memories. They are 4 people. Two people read the stanzas, and the other two replied with different verses, but still from the same poet. 4 people danced in wide dresses and their jet black hair was tied up high showing a slender neck. Transparent shawls of myriad colors were tied around their waists and looked like fairy wings every time they weaved into dance.

Meanwhile, 2 girls with gold finger rings played the chordophone. One played the zither while the other played the harp.

Vaishravana looked stunned at how they played the stringed instrument, reminding her of something bad so she immediately lowered her head and fiddled with the spoon in her cooling teacup. While pondering, she heard and recorded all the conversations around her. Her eyes seemed unfocused but her hearing was so active.

Zachkiel across from her said, "I will be by the Emperor's side during the banquet. Better discuss it with the Hereditary Princess."

Hearing herself being mentioned, Vaishravana immediately raised her head. The Minister of Household Affairs, Adriel Declan Heidron, a man in his mid-40s with the neat and clean appearance of a scholar, said as he looked at Vaishravana with a smile. "The Ministry of Households, especially the Steward Division, always cooperates with the Regalia Guard to ensure the safety of the kitchen and dishes in the Palace. Actually, they can go in and out freely, but there must still be one person in charge. Are you willing, Princess Hereditary? two Company Commanders under you. Each patrol will later be reported to your desk."

Vaishravana may seem so young and clueless, like a teabag freshly put in a glass of hot water. Who knew that since she was 4 years old, she likes to sneak into the Grand Marshal's private library to steal books on geopolitics and the imperial government system to study? After all, in the first place she was not an ordinary person who grew and matured through the mentality of normal children. Vaishravana nodded, answering, "Of course I am aware and ready, Your Majesty. I will try my best."

"Don't be shy if you have questions or things you don't understand," Zachkiel answered from the left side of the Minister of Household Affairs.

Vaishravana smiled and nodded. She then said, "I might trouble you to borrow the Regalia Guard ledger to audit a few things. Especially regarding the troops I will be under."

Zachkiel raised his eyebrows, just like everyone else, wanting to know the reason. Normally, The General Ledger of an institution cannot be shown to just anyone, especially those who are not from the archives or official audit teams such as the Imperial Secretary and Censor. Vaishravana realized the doubt so she immediately continued, "I just wanted to make sure that I know my subordinates well, and ensure that everything will be under control until the end. I know you did everything well, Young Master. The troops you are under are really neat and convincing. I don't have any doubts about that either. But to be on guard is to be on guard. Anything can happen. You don't have to worry, I just want to 'get to know' them. After all, doesn't my authority waist tablet being suspended? That means when I'm on duty later, the authority waist tablet I'll be wearing belongs to the Regalia Guards, not Livia's Armored Cavalry. That means I have the right to access the ledger during that time right?"

What Vaishravana said is so well-founded and logical, that it leaves no room for refutation. Zachkiel knew that he couldn't refuse. After all, from the start he had no intention of refusing. He just needed certainty about her objective. Now that he had it, he wouldn't say much other than "Of course. No big deal."

Vaishravana thanks him. Then after she was done with the Supreme Commander, she turned to the two Ministers next to Zachkiel. "Your Majesty, I will also request a list of the staff who work in the imperial kitchen along with the names of the minor treasurers staff," she spoke to the Minister of Household Affairs, who did not answer immediately. Just like Zachkiel before, Adriel clearly needs reassurance. Vaishravana didn't even wait to be asked before she quickly explained, "With the staff list book in hand, it will be easier to organize and conduct searches once something happens unexpectedly. The Regalia Guard's waist tablet of authority can penetrate that authority, can't it? "

Adriel laughed softly and politely as he nodded. "You are so wise, Hereditary Princess. There is nothing wrong with you being the Grand Marshal's daughter. Certainly no big deal. Whatever you need, just say so."

Vaishravana smiled and said many thanks. In the silence in everyone's mind, everyone began to believe that the Marshal was not kidding when he was raising his daughter. They thought maybe when the Hereditary Princess was a child, not a fairy tale read to her when she went to sleep, but a book about the art of war and the geopolitics of the latest empire.

Later, the two troop companies of the Regalia Guard would become a detachment that would be active during the time of the Divine Communion and until the event was decided to end. As the Regalia Guard's waist tablet covered almost the entire court area, Vaishravana would have almost complete authority to enter and interfere in several institutions, including the Steward Division under the Ministry of Domestic Affairs and the Charioteer Division under the Ministry of Rites which was responsible for all horse-drawn carriages and the animals in the palace, including and not least the animals that will bring the carriage and appear as entertainment, such as horses, elephants, and several other animals. The only stables not under the authority of the Charioteer Division were the horses of the Imperial Army and Regalia Guard, whose stables were administered by the Major Training Division of the Ministry of War. Usually, the horses in that place were sent from the best warhorse-producing areas, such as from Livia, Solon, and Kirsi. Since they were not under the Charioteer Division, maintenance such as cleaning the cages and feeding would be carried out by those who were serving in the military and those who had only joined for a few months.

Now that the duties of the Hereditary Princess had been confirmed and decided, people were starting to get confused about what duties to assign to this idle Prince-like Asura. They also did not dare to give him the task carelessly. Wrongly, their heads will be at stake.