The Enlistment Order
"Arselia Rosenhardt."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
My father's voice echoed grandly through the hall. I bowed deeply amid the solemn atmosphere. Sure, he was the emperor, but he wasn't all that strict. He was just putting on the act because of all the ministers lined up on either side. And I was simply playing my part, matching the time and place.
"You've graduated second in your class from the Imperial Academy, I hear."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Excellent."
Praise always felt good, no matter when you got it. I nearly burst into a grin, but the mood was too serious—I held it back with everything I had. Good thing my head was bowed. Otherwise, someone might've caught my lips twitching.
Dad wasn't the type to only remember number one. Yeah, second place was pretty damn good too, right? I was reveling in that inwardly when—
"Arselia."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I hereby command you."
"Please give your order."
"Take a week of rest, then enlist in the Silver Eagle Corps."
"I shall obey... wait, what?"
For a second, my ears must've glitched. I figured I'd misheard.
"Did I hear that wrong?"
"Take a week of rest, then enlist in the Silver Eagle Corps."
Shit. What the hell was this?
I glanced sideways at the ministers, just in case. They looked just as stunned, eyes darting around. I blinked a few times, then turned back to Dad and blurted out the question bubbling up from deep in my chest.
"...Why?"
"Why? Mind your manners in front of the ministers, girl."
The tone shifted to casual in an instant, prompting coughs and awkward chuckles from the crowd. But that wasn't what mattered to me right now.
I'd just finished three years at the academy and graduated. As the empire's youngest imperial princess, it was time for my legally sanctioned life of luxury unemployment!
"Sending your cute little youngest daughter off to the army? That's taking the joke too far."
"Joke? Have you forgotten our empire's traditions?"
"...Huh?"
The empire had plenty of traditions, but I knew which one Dad meant.
The imperial heirs must fulfill their duty to national defense!
It was meant to build leadership skills, teach us to read battlefields, remind us that every soldier was an imperial subject—and through them, that life wasn't cheap. I got the intent. I knew how crucial it was for rulers to value their troops.
But.
"W-Why me as an heir? You've got my brothers for that!"
This was weird. I had two older brothers—ten and eight years my senior. Obviously, one of them should inherit the throne.
Dad answered my frantic question with a serious look.
"I'm not like my predecessors. I won't discriminate based on gender when choosing successors."
Nooo! Why are you so woke in this medieval fantasy world?!
"Arselia, don't worry too much. Unlike your brothers, you're going to a rear-guard post."
Mom's kind face offered comfort, but it didn't really land. My mind was already swirling with memories of military life.
I'd been a soldier in my past life. Not that I'd planned on it from the start. After finishing my mandatory 18 months of national service as every Korean guy does, the timing for reenrolling in school was off. Going home meant dealing with deadbeat parents who drowned in booze and gambling every day. Better to stay in the army and save more cash, so I signed on for six months as a specialist sergeant.
Then, on leave, a car accident ended it all. Nothing special about that life.
Anyway, the military had taken up a big chunk of my previous existence. I'd seen it all there—some vaguely fond memories, plenty of shitty ones for sure. In this life, reborn as a girl—and an imperial princess, no less—I'd figured the army was someone else's problem...
Until now.
"Arselia?"
"Ah, yes."
"Was it that shocking? I called you so many times."
I looked up to see Mom's face etched with worry. I scratched my head sheepishly.
These parents I'd been reborn to were nothing like those losers from before. No airs despite being royalty, just genuine love for their kids.
Sigh... Fine. Things had turned out this way, so I should repay their affection.
"I'm okay. Just lost in thought for a bit."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I never knew Dad saw me as one of the successors."
"One of the successors... well, more like..."
"?"
"No, nothing."
Mom, what was that? Why'd you trail off?
"Anyway, don't stress too much. They'll give you every convenience as royalty, and since you're a woman, they'll set aside private quarters."
"Obviously."
"And if it gets too tough, just hand it off to the other knights and step back, right?"
Easier said than done, Mom. As an ex-soldier, that doesn't sit right with me. Plus, I know exactly what kind of side-eye a slacking female soldier gets.
...Of course, no one would dare show it to my face as a princess.
"I have to lead by example as an imperial."
"How... how can you be so admirable?"
Mom's voice brimmed with emotion. Her expression flipped so dramatically, it left me stunned. Hmm, I don't think it's that big a deal.
The second I got back to my room, I flung myself onto the bed. This plush, soft sensation... heaven. The Imperial Academy dorms were decent, but nothing compared to the palace. Military bases would be the same, so I had to savor it now.
"Princess, you should change first."
But there was an interrupter. My exclusive maid, Elina, charged at me.
"Too much hassle."
"No way!"
Elina grabbed me and hauled me up. Was this allowed? Wasn't she touching a royal body too freely? Guess after years as my exclusive maid and same-age friend, she didn't see me as princess material anymore.
She dragged me to the bathroom. Somehow, the tub was already filled with warm water.
"Hoo..."
I stripped and sank in, letting out a lazy sigh without realizing. The day's built-up fatigue and tension melted away.
Once I was settled, Elina lathered up her hands and started massaging me slowly. That smooth pressure on my skin felt so good.
"Kuhhh..."
"What was that? Sounding like some old guy?"
"Old guy, my ass..."
"...Princess, are you confused about your own gender?"
"Nah, no way."
I'd been thrown off when I first realized I'd reincarnated as a girl. But after nearly 20 years living as one, yelling "I'm a dude!" would've been weird.
Not that I was attracted to guys or anything. Didn't feel gay either. Maybe it was my princess status? Everyone my age kept their distance out of respect. Even at the academy. Elina, my closest confidante, drew that class line firm, so I did the same with others.
Never had much room for romance to sprout.
"Time to rinse the suds."
"Ah, yeah."
Apparently the massage was done while I spaced out. Fresh warm water washed it all away, leaving me refreshed head to toe.
I straightened up, left the bathroom, and dove back onto the bed. Elina shook her head at the sight, then hauled over a thick stack of documents.
"What's that?"
"Materials on the Silver Eagle Corps and info you'll need for service."
"Ugh... You had this ready like you knew?"
"According to the head maid, His Majesty ordered preparations half a year before your graduation."
"Aigoo, Dad..."
If the order came half a year ago, he'd been planning my enlistment way earlier. That half-swallowed comment from Mom...
Something told me a lot had gone down behind my back. Suddenly, I resented my brothers. What the hell had they been up to at the academy to land me in the successor pool?
I grumbled internally while flipping through Elina's docs. Skimming them, I noticed the empire's military had sneaky similarities to Korea's. Squad leaders, company commanders—the structure was close. Like ROTC or officer academy grads commissioning as officers, academy grads here became knights.
Of course, differences abounded: swordsmanship, archery, horsemanship from the era gap; magic, curses from the fantasy world. Endless stuff.
Honestly? This could be fun. Different from what I knew, rear-guard unit so low risk. Academy grad meant knight rank, not grunt. And as a princess? No one higher up could boss me around.
Being mostly free from hazing settled my nerves nicely.