The Metallurgist finally came up with a plan. The Princess' servants were handpicked from those most suitable to serving her. The Bronze Statue had experience in serving the royal family and assisting the maids, and was thus refined enough to be part of her retainers. Usually, being bronze would mean he would never have such an esteemed position, but, the Metallurgist reasoned that if it was part of fixing him, and with his personal recommendation, there would be no problem. Statues were limited in number, so even the loss of a lowly one was detrimental to the Royal Family. And thus it was made so. The Metallurgists were special, bearing the power to make and maintain the Statues. Their position was so great, that one could easily meet with the King.
The Metallurgist made his case, and even had the Statue demonstrate it's abilities to serve. The tea it made was flawless. It's mannerisms fluid and smooth, despite the low quality of it's joints. It was one of the finest services the King had ever received. The Metallurgist's request was granted, and the Bronze Statue found himself in the very highest echelons of Royal Society. The Golden Princess was not pleased at this development. Why couldn't her father have given her another Gold Statue? The other statues, save for the Gold one, were all inquisitive of the new comer, but their duties quickly took precedent. The Bronze Statue overheard the Princess talking about a particular pearl she wanted, able to be obtained from that of a Divine Beast. The pearls, so to speak, weren't really pearls, but balls of pure gold.
The problem was that this beast was located in the middle of a poisonous swamp. No living being could ever hope to survive long within it, even with magic, and the Statues were far too valuable to be taken out to such a dangerous place. No one could grant the Princess her wish. The Bronze Statue, however, acknowledged this. It's chance soon came. When the Princess went on her routine tour of the southern lands, the Bronze Statue naturally accompanied her. Despite his finest efforts, she still had yet to even acknowledge his presence. In the night, It slipped away, making for the poisonous swamp. It quickly stormed in, ignoring the various deadly gases hovering in the air hazily.
It stormed through the viscous brackish water, its corrosive fluid doing little to stop Its advance. For It's weak position in society, Bronze was also resilient to rust and corrosion, just like Gold. The Bronze Statue's fist flew, slamming into a crocodile that dared step in It's way. Various other creatures stood in It's way, but It would not be stopped. The Bronze Statue eventually stepped into the center of the swamp, and laid eyes upon the divine creature, which had noticed this new comer. It's reptilian eyes regarded the Statue curiously, but it paid him no heed.
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The Divine Creature was not interested in eating metal at the moment. Scattered around it were small stones, that glimmered with a golden sheen. These must be the pearls, the Bronze Statue surmised. Whatever process the Divine Beast went through to produce them, they were perfectly spherical and polished to an almost supernatural degree. It scooped up a few and quickly made it's way back. The Bronze Statue quickly found a pond and began to clean itself vigorously, before entering the Inn the Princess was staying at. It quickly demanded It be brought to the Princess, but was denied. It's persistence, however, was finally acknowledged after It showed them what It had obtained. The Statue was brought before the Princess and fell to Its knees, offering the brilliant pearls. The Princess's face, however, did not show pleasure.
"What nonsense is this?" She asked, sneering in disgust. "An unsightly Statue of your position, bringing me something like this?" It was not the reaction It had expected. Her words cut deep, deeper than the claw of any beast. And yet.... her hand deftly reached out and took them. For once, something other than the Golden Statue had caught her eye. The Golden Statue, taking notice, turned to regard the pearls. It quickly shrugged and returned to preening itself. They were only pearls, after all. "Everyone, I want you to leave. Except Mr. Gold, of course." The Princess demanded. The staff and Statues filed out. The Bronze Statue looked over it's shoulder one last time, just a single, quick glance.
It's expressionless gaze fell upon the Princess, her hair glittering brilliantly in the moonlight. She was holding a pearl up, staring at it with a rather gentle expression. "...Why couldn't you have gotten me this, Mr. Gold?" she muttered softly, turning and glaring at the Golden Statue. "It should have been you, not that peasant of a Statue!" The door was closed then, and the night passed.
Statues did not need to sleep; they worked around the clock. The Bronze Statue carried out Its tasks with a particular zeal, such that the other staff were impressed and frightened. They didn't know why the Statue was so enthusiastic. The Statue was elated, and realized that this was true happiness. After all, for the first time in it's life, the Princess had finally stared at it, and acknowledged Its presence. It had been noticed, and at the time, it was the greatest sensation the Bronze Statue had ever experienced.