Royal Intrigue

The Next Generation

As princess, Metori was expected to fulfill certain duties. To show up when there were ceremonies, to keep herself hidden and elusive when there were suitors, to attend to the needs of her mother the empress, and to teach the young in the palace the ways of the world. Royal families from the beginning of time were known as places to send your child and get back a well rounded individual who would be a credit to their family, and the first dynasties were no different. The older ladies in waiting were responsible for the education of the oldest children, but the princess worked with the younger children, taking the time to make sure that they were comfortable in the court and that they knew basic ettiquite before they would be expected to go out into the court and begin to make a name for their family.

Truth be told, it was one of the duties she minded the least. The children were always so filled with wonder, their voices loud and happy in the quiet of the court, and their joy was infectious. They were eager to learn, unlike the older children, and were easy to bribe with candy or the promise of walking in one of the nicer gardens. It was also easy at the younger ages to see what they might like, to learn which ones liked books, which ones would excell in flower arranging, and which would be good helpers for the various royals based upon their fashion and food preferences. These were traits she would keep in mind, recommending her young pupils when asked, ensuring that everyone was kept happy.

There were only a few children at a time in the court, the number kept low both by a desire to keep positons at the court more exclusive, and the amount of space available. The children stayed at the temple inside of the royal gardens, sleeping with the monks and learning humility and basic skills such as reading, writing, and speech. The temple floors were in turn kept clean by the young, and many would go on to be apprentices as they grew. The smaller number of children meant that Metori was able to form strong relationships with the children that established her as someone they could trust, that would take the time to get to know them individually, but who also was to be respected.

Today she was taking her ladies with her, laden with baskets filled with treats and some new bed clothes they had sewn, the old ones having been used and worn down by years of small children sleeping on them and washing them regularly. The steps to the temple were flanked by images of the gods, each of whom she stopped to greet and offer thanks to before moving along farther. She asked them to bless her and her endeavors, both for the strength they provided, but also to ensure that she appeared pious and dedicated. It was impossible to know where the spies of her enemies were located, and having her movements reported back could work againt her if even the smallest mistake was made.

She had come early in the morning, the baskets filled with warm bean cakes, still steaming in the cloths they had been wrapped in. The monks had been awake for hours, but the children were just beginning to awake. She made sure to give the biggest basket to the monks first, bowing to them and presenting them before receiving their blessing. Only then did she turn to the sleepy children who were lugging a basket of bed linens and cloths to the steps for the washing ladies to retrieve and ask how they had been.

"Kaoru, you've grown so tall. You have been eating well, have you been feeding your mind as well?"

The shy young girl in question was painfully shy, hiding her face behind one of the older children. While it was true that she had grown a small amount since their last visit, it was not enough to have merited the focused attention. Metori was simply trying to draw her out a bit. Barely in her 5th year, she had been sent by her family from one of the far provinces. The cold north where life was hard was where the child was born, but with luck she would spend her life in the palace, finding a fulfilling life that would bring honor to her family without causing any major issues. She would travel home many times in her life, but her family hoped that she would never again suffer through a long winter, cut off from the world, and worried about food.

None of that mattered to her now, all she knew was that she was in a new place, with people she didn't know, and that she was expected to bring pride to people around her, even if she wasn't quite sure what pride meant.

The older child she was hiding behind pushed her forward slightly, whispering in her ear to greet the princess. After a clumsy bow that was more adorable than respectable, she looked up at Metori and answered. "Yes my lady, we learn our characters and I am learning to clean. I took the covers off my sleeping mat all by myself today." She gestured happily to the basket, momentarily forgetting her shyness.

"That sounds lovely! I'm so proud of you Kaoru! You've grown so much, but I think you can grow a little more. Here, all of you come gather around, we can take the baskets out for you, these cakes will get cold if you don't eat them now!" The ladies took that as their que to come forward, opening the baskets to reveal the warm cakes, spiced drinks, and even some sweet rice for the children. WIth small hands and big eyes they happily took the baskets, dragging them to their eating area and bowing low to the monks before digging in.

With glee in her heart, Metori helped carry the baskets of laundry out, taking the time with her ladies to switch out the old bedding with the new, filling the shelves with it as well. With the children distracted it would be a welcome surprise at the end of the night. Into each bed she tucked a small doll that had been stuffed with straw. A comfort in the long nights ahead.