Land of Snow.
A country perpetually covered in snow and ice, even before winter, the air has already become quite cold, and snowflakes have begun to drift from the sky.
In the Royal Palace of Kazahana City, Kazahana Koyuki, now the Monarch of the Land of Snow, sits rather bored in a room, listening to a teacher lecture.
That's right, it's a lecture.
Even though she has become the Monarch, Koyuki is essentially still a minor who needs to study to better govern the Land of Snow.
Currently, the Land of Snow relies entirely on confidant Asama Sandayu for management. Koyuki does not know specifically how to govern the country, so Sandayu arranged for her to be here, studying courses for over six hours each day and handling more than three hours of governmental affairs afterward.
"Devil... Sandayu is truly a devil..."
Koyuki painfully lowers her head, looking at the textbook in front of her, feeling an urge to tear it apart.
The days of being Monarch are not as wonderful as imagined.
When her father Kazahana Sosetsu was still around, studying in the Royal Palace only took two hours every day.
Now spending nine hours a day immersed in textbooks and governmental affairs is simply torturous, as if she has fallen into Hell.
Is there any method out there that doesn't require studying, where one can learn everything through just eating, drinking, and playing every day? Koyuki starts daydreaming during the lesson.
The teacher responsible for teaching Koyuki can only helplessly turn a blind eye, allowing Koyuki to drift off during class.
If in a good mood, Koyuki might listen to some of it; in a bad mood, even if she burns the textbooks in class, this teacher wouldn't be able to say a word against it.
Even with the monthly teaching paycheck, he finds no dissatisfaction with this job.
As a teacher, he does wish for Koyuki, the Monarch, to be somewhat serious in class, to learn useful knowledge and become a wise queen soon.
However... seeing Koyuki's lackluster appearance, he knows she has no interest in studying.
It's understandable; even though Koyuki is the Monarch of the Land of Snow, she is inherently a young girl who hasn't completely grown up. Studying such tedious things naturally isn't intriguing to her.
Just then, someone knocks on the door.
"Come in."
Koyuki says this towards the door.
The door is pushed open from outside, where a maid stands, slightly bowing to Koyuki, respectfully saying:
"Pardon me, Your Highness."
"What is it?"
Koyuki adjusts her sitting posture into a position of serious listening.
"Minister Sandayu requests your presence, saying there's a distinguished guest visiting."
"I understand. Then today's lesson ends here."
Koyuki nods, deciding the matter with one word.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Given that a distinguished guest has arrived and requires Koyuki, the Monarch, to personally attend, the guest must be someone of significant importance. As a responsible teacher, he knows when to prioritize.
Koyuki leaves the room, led by the maid in front, while she follows behind.
Who could the guest be? Koyuki, following the maid, speculates about the identity of Sandayu's 'distinguished guest.'
Since taking the role as Monarch of the Land of Snow, she indeed has personally received many important figures from abroad, but those visits were merely symbolic gestures, just a formality.
After the greetings, there are never a second visit.
Hence, she is very curious about the identity of Sandayu's 'distinguished guest.'
Could it be an envoy from the Five Great Nations?
Yet, the Land of Snow doesn't have much interaction with the Five Great Nations, even if there is, it's only for commissioning tasks, so it shouldn't be the case.
Passing through the magnificent and spacious third-floor hallway of the Royal Palace, the maid stops before a door, and Koyuki says, "You can leave, I'll go in myself."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The maid bows and retreats.
Koyuki tidies up her clothes, then reaches out to push the door, entering the room.
Inside, Sandayu and a young man are warmly chatting about something. Seeing Koyuki come in, Sandayu stands up from the sofa.
"Your Highness Koyuki, look who's here."
Sandayu points to the young man beside him.
"Long time no see, Koyuki."
The young man, none other than Hakushi who hurried from the Land of Demons, smiles kindly at Koyuki.
"Father!"
Koyuki also reveals a joyful expression, quickly stepping over to Hakushi and embracing him, showing affection.
"Your Highness Koyuki, even in your excitement, you shouldn't be so casual. Acting like this greatly undermines your dignity."
Sandayu educates from the side on how to become a ruler with dignity.
Simultaneously, feeling a bit envious, as Koyuki always wears a distant expression with him, why is Hakushi, who only visits once every two or three months, so favored by Her Highness Koyuki?
"You're always like this, Sandayu. How come I never realized you were so long-winded before?"
Koyuki discontentedly glares at Sandayu.
This devil, incessantly arranging such heavy studies and governmental affairs for her, leaving her no time for fun, is clearly inhuman!
A devil!
"I'm only doing this for your sake, Your Highness. You are already the Monarch of the Land of Snow, you should learn to become a ruler beloved by the people like Sosetsu, so that the people will, in turn, love you."