I Reincarnated as a Prince Who Revolutionized the Kingdom

January 1, 1696

The new year had arrived, but unlike the roaring celebrations of the previous night, the first morning of 1696 was quiet. The streets of Elysea were empty, save for a few early risers sweeping away the remnants of fireworks and confetti. The scent of burnt wood from the bonfire still lingered in the crisp winter air, mixing with the occasional aroma of freshly baked bread from the bakeries preparing for the day ahead.

Inside the Royal Palace, everything was unusually still. Most of the servants had been given the morning off after working tirelessly through the holiday season. Even the palace guards, though still on duty, moved with less urgency than usual.

King Bruno lay in bed, his body still exhausted from the previous day's activities. The warmth of the blankets and the faint crackling of the fireplace made it tempting to stay put. He turned his head slightly, glancing at Amélie, who was still fast asleep beside him, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

For a moment, Bruno allowed himself to simply enjoy the peace. There were no meetings, no pressing reports, no urgent matters demanding his attention—at least not yet.

He exhaled softly and closed his eyes again, deciding he could afford a little more rest.

By the time Bruno finally got out of bed, the sun had risen higher, casting golden light through the palace windows. He stretched, rolling his shoulders to shake off the grogginess before dressing in a comfortable tunic and trousers.

He made his way to the private dining hall, where Amélie was already seated, sipping from a cup of tea. She looked up as he entered and smirked.

"Look at that, the king is finally awake," she teased.

Bruno chuckled as he sat down across from her. "Even kings deserve a little extra sleep after a long day."

Amélie raised an eyebrow. "And yet, you're usually the first one awake, even after the longest nights."

Bruno poured himself a cup of coffee. "I suppose I wanted to savor the quiet."

A servant entered, carrying a tray of warm pastries, fresh fruit, and eggs. Bruno took a piece of buttered bread and leaned back in his chair, watching as Amélie cut a small piece of fruit with a delicate grace that never ceased to amuse him.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The morning was slow, unhurried—a rare luxury in their lives.

Finally, Amélie broke the silence. "What do you want to do today?"

Bruno raised an eyebrow. "Do I have a choice?"

She smirked. "Not really. I was thinking we should take a walk in the gardens, maybe visit the royal kitchens. The chefs have been experimenting with new recipes from the African colonies."

Bruno took a sip of his coffee. "And you want to be the first to taste them?"

"Obviously."

He chuckled. "Fine. A quiet day it is, then."

Despite the cold, the palace gardens still held their beauty. The evergreen trees stood tall, their leaves untouched by winter's grasp, while the stone paths were dusted with a light layer of snow.

Bruno and Amélie walked side by side, their steps slow and unhurried. Occasionally, a passing servant would bow before them, but otherwise, they were left alone.

"You know," Amélie mused, "it's strange seeing the city so still after the celebrations last night."

Bruno nodded. "Everyone's probably still in bed, recovering."

She smirked. "Including the king?"

He chuckled. "Almost."

They reached a small stone bench near the center of the garden, where a small pond, now partially frozen, reflected the pale blue sky. Bruno sat down, watching as a few birds fluttered around, searching for food.

Amélie sat beside him and sighed contentedly. "Sometimes I wonder how different things would be if we weren't… well, us."

Bruno glanced at her. "What do you mean?"

She gave a small smile. "If we weren't king and queen. If we were just an ordinary couple, living in the city, running a small shop or a bakery."

Bruno chuckled. "You would be terrible at running a shop."

Amélie gasped in mock offense. "Excuse me?"

"You'd drive away customers by giving them unsolicited advice about their personal lives."

She narrowed her eyes. "And you would be terrible at taking orders from customers."

Bruno smirked. "That's true."

They both laughed, the idea of an ordinary life amusing yet oddly comforting.

After a moment, Amélie leaned her head against Bruno's shoulder. "Still, as tiring as our roles are, I wouldn't trade this life for anything."

Bruno placed a hand over hers. "Neither would I."

After their walk, they made their way to the royal kitchens, where the head chef, Monsieur Lavigne, was overseeing the preparation of several dishes.

The moment he saw them enter, he bowed deeply. "Your Majesties! What an honor to have you here!"

Amélie smiled. "We heard you were trying new recipes."

Lavigne beamed with excitement. "Yes, indeed! With the recent expansion of trade, we've acquired new spices, particularly from the African colonies. Would Your Majesties like to try some samples?"

Bruno and Amélie exchanged a glance before nodding.

Within moments, a variety of small dishes were presented before them—a stew infused with fragrant spices, grilled meat seasoned with a rich blend of herbs, and a dessert made from tropical fruits.

Amélie took a bite of the dessert first and her eyes widened. "This is incredible!"

Bruno tried a piece of the grilled meat and nodded in approval. "You've outdone yourself, Lavigne."

The chef beamed with pride. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

They spent nearly an hour sampling different dishes, discussing which ones could be included in future royal feasts.

As night fell, Bruno and Amélie returned to their private quarters, where a warm fire was already crackling in the hearth. The day had been peaceful, refreshing even.

Bruno stretched as he sat on the couch, while Amélie curled up beside him, a book in her lap.

For a while, they simply enjoyed the quiet, the only sound being the soft flicker of the flames.

Then, Amélie turned to him. "I know you'll be back to work tomorrow."

Bruno sighed. "You know me too well."

She smirked. "Of course. Just promise me you won't overwork yourself."

Bruno smirked. "I'll try."

She playfully nudged him. "No, promise."

Bruno chuckled before wrapping an arm around her. "Fine. I promise."

Satisfied, Amélie leaned against him, and they sat there in comfortable silence, enjoying one last moment of peace before the responsibilities of the new year came rushing back.