Chapter 5: Princess Mia... Acts in a Considerate Manner

The day after her conversation with Ludwig, Mia made her way to the Newmoon District with Bel and the others in tow. Apparently Ludwig’s master was a bit of a hermit and didn’t subscribe to such mundane beliefs as “having an address” and “being locatable.” Since nobody knew where to find the man, they decided to leave the issue of the headmaster for later and search for other teachers first.

As for what exactly that conversation entailed, allow us to rewind the clock a tad...

“It seems easier said than done though, this finding other teachers thing...” said Mia with a frown.

“Indeed...” agreed Ludwig. “Might I propose a talk with the priest in the Newmoon District?”

“The priest?” Her momentary expression of surprise quickly changed to comprehension. “Ah... I see what you mean.”

Among the educated, it was true that those of the Central Orthodox Church were significantly less susceptible to influence from the nobility. They were definitely worth considering.

“The Church already runs schools here and there, so they’d also be able to put their existing know-how to good use...” Mia said to herself contemplatively. “And, since we’re planning to open the academy to the masses, maybe we can take in some children from that church orphanage...”

Doing so would give her an avenue to approach the Central Orthodox Church for financial support, potentially creating a second source of funding aside from the nobility. With that kind of money, she could then...

Her unhatched-chicken-counting was cut short by a grimace from Ludwig.

“Granted, I wouldn’t place too much hope on it working out.”

“Huh? How come? I’m pretty sure the priest there will be more than happy to help us out.”

“In order to realize Your Highness’s plan, I’ve spoken to many noble families and tried to explain its merits to them. To make things easier to understand, I’ve always used Saint-Noel as an example, asking them to imagine if an academy city that rivaled it in size and prestige were to exist within the empire.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that.”

Mia had already been informed about how Ludwig was framing his sales pitch, and she understood its necessity. When persuading nobles, patriotism tended to be a direct channel to their hearts, resulting in more generous pledges. The method worked well, and as a result, the academy city project was on firm financial ground.

“At the time, I’d thought that to be the optimal approach. However, Saint-Noel Academy is, for all intents and purposes, the Central Orthodox Church’s Holy Land. It’s more than a school; it’s a symbol of Belluga’s influence and authority. That alone would make the existence of a rival problematic, but Your Highness has also defeated Rafina in the student council election, effectively ousting their Holy Lady to become president yourself. With these factors combined, I can’t help but think that acquiring their church’s help in this matter will be...more than a little difficult.”

“Ah. Well...”

Only then did Mia realize that in hindsight, she’d actually done quite a lot of things that the priest probably didn’t appreciate.

Also, wasn’t that fellow a rabid fan of Rafina’s? That...doesn’t bode well...

She briefly considered bypassing the priest and speaking directly to Rafina before dismissing the thought. Under the current circumstances, such an act could easily be construed by other nobles as begging Rafina for help, which would then make the orphanage’s children seem like bargaining chips. The spots saved for them in the academy would be framed as an arrangement forced on the empire by Rafina in exchange for her assistance. It would give those opposed to the academy city project plenty of fodder for political attacks, such as claiming the empire caved to foreign pressure. With her actions having inflamed a sense of competition between Tearmoon and Belluga, the only religious organizations she could appeal to for help were those inside the empire. Rafina was now off-limits.

Ludwig’s grimace showed he was also aware of the subtle dynamics at play. It was the kind of thing that Mia found incredibly exasperating, but complaining about it wasn’t going to do her any good. Viscount Berman might have been a somewhat extreme example, but on some level, all nobles were creatures of pride. Having appealed to that pride to loosen their purse strings, she could no longer remove it from the equation. With that said...

Still, this isn’t nearly as stressful as staring down Rafina in that election. That was the stuff of nightmares... I’ll just do what I can, and things will probably work out in the end.

As a seasoned survivor of hopeless situations and certain death, Mia was hardly going to be shaken by such a minor problem. She was so unshaken, in fact, that she proceeded to spend the rest of the day not thinking about it at all! Nor did she devote any brainpower to it during the night. The next morning, having lost no sleep on it whatsoever, she was chewing on her breakfast, eyelids still droopy with slumber, when inspiration suddenly struck.

“That’s it! I remember now! That priest who’s infatuated with Miss Rafina... There’s a thing that he really really wanted! If I get it for him, he’ll be so happy that he might just agree to help!”

She wanted to give her past self a medal for remembering the priest’s request. Heck, she deserved two medals, because not only had her past self remembered the request, she’d gone above and beyond the call of duty to acquire something extra. Mia, in her opinion at least, was a thoughtful person who looked out for others.

Good job, past me! And good job, present me for remembering what past me did! Ah, I’m so good at this. So this is what it feels like to be an accomplished woman who knows what she’s doing.

Having figured out the perfect plan, she rounded up the Princess Guard and headed off toward Anne’s home. Along the way, she just so happened to glance up at one of the guards walking beside her.

“Oh my.” She recognized the man. “Aren’t you...the vice-captain who was with Sir Dion?”

“Hey, so you remember me.” The bear-sized guard grinned and scratched his head with a hint of bashfulness. “I’m here because that Ludwig fellow of yours was strengthening the Princess Guard. You remember the guys from our squad back then? Most of ’em got folded into the guard.”

“My, is that so? I had no idea.”

“Didn’t think it’d really happen, to be honest. I mean, a bunch of thugs like us in the Princess Guard? Thought he was messin’ with us, honestly.” That was when he leaned toward her and lowered his voice. “I don’t blame him for wanting some extra muscle though. Based on what I heard, it seems like you picked a fight with some pretty bad folk. Keep your eyes open, eh? Assassinations can be surprisingly hard to defend against, even for us.”

“I see. So that’s why...”

“Yeah. So my apologies, Your Highness, but you’re gonna have to bear with us big, sweaty men lumbering around you for a while.”

“Nonsense. If anything, I should be thanking you for being so diligent, Vice-Captain.”

“Hah. Gotta say, that attitude of yours is like a fresh breeze in an outhouse! Feels good to deal with someone so down to earth. Also, I’m no vice-captain anymore, so please call me Vanos, Your Highness.”

“Certainly. I leave my safety in your hands then, Vanos.”

She performed a cheerful curtsy that earned her another grin. Big men and Mia tended to get along well.

“Ah, Your Highness!”

Upon arriving at Anne’s, Mia was greeted by her maid’s numerous younger siblings. An army of smiling faces, chest high at best, quickly surrounded her. She looked around at them, their eyes wide with wonder, and waved her hands downward in a pacifying manner. Her mouth said, “There, there. It’s just me. Nothing to get so excited about,” but her pleased expression suggested she quite enjoyed the attention.

“Ah, Elise,” she said, noticing the girl approaching. “It’s been so long. I’ve been reading your stories. They’re ever so enjoyable.”

“He he he, thank you very much, Your Highness.” Elise beamed at the compliment. Then, with a sudden intensity to her eyes, she asked, “U-Um, about the wing— Wait, that’s supposed to be a secret, isn’t it? About, uh...that special horse... Is it really true that you can ride it?”

“‘That special horse’?” She lifted an eyebrow. “Well... I suppose it’s true that I’ve ridden some pretty special horses before.”

Saint-Noel’s horsemanship club kept a number of horses. Most of them were large stallions meant for riding into battle, but some were bred for speed, their superior stamina making them better-suited to delivering messages. There were even some smaller breeds that looked like foals at a glance. They were called ponies, she recalled.

Even I hadn’t seen such tiny little horses before, so I guess they are pretty special. Ah, they were so adorable...

While she was reminiscing about when she’d met the ponies, the glimmer in Elise’s eyes shifted from curiosity to awe.

“So it really is true... Wow...”

To Mia’s surprise, she pressed her hands together and lowered her head.

“Um, Your Highness, I know you’re very busy and this is asking a lot, but when you have time, can you tell me some stories about the times when you rode that special horse?”

“Huh. Well, sure, but what is it for?”

“For reference, of course!”

Ah, now that I think about it, she does write a lot of horse-riding princes into her stories... I suppose she wants to know what that’s actually like. She nodded to herself, finding the request perfectly sensible. In that case, just describing what it’s like to ride a horse normally probably won’t be interesting for her. I should focus on the speed... When you’re galloping across a vast grassy plain, and the horse is going so fast you feel like you’re flying... Yes, that sense of speed is the best part! Hm... She probably won’t mind if I exaggerate things a little. It has more impact that way.

And so Mia, being a thoughtful person who looks out for others, decided to do Elise’s stories a favor and provide her with plenty of high impact but dubiously authentic details about her horse riding.

...Thus, the great work of biographical fiction that was the Princess Mia Chronicles took another step toward completion.

After Mia and her guards picked up Bel’s group, they all set out together for the Newmoon District. Upon entering, Mia grew a little worried as she watched Bel happily skipping and humming her way down the path.

“Bel, could you come here for a minute?”

“Hm? What is it, Miss Mia?”

Bel skipped over to her with a curious look. Mia lowered her voice to a whisper.

“Actually, we’re going to the Newmoon District’s church, where we’ll be meeting up with Ludwig.”

“Really?! I’ll get to see Mr. Ludwig?!”

Bel’s already bright expression somehow brightened even further.

“Yes, but let me warn you not to be careless about what you say. Think before you speak.”

“Careless? What exactly do you mean?”

“For example, don’t say anything about the future.”

That drew a laugh from her.

“Oh, Miss Mia, you don’t have to warn me about that. That goes without saying. I won’t mention anything that might cause problems for you!” she declared with absolute confidence.

Considering her talk with Elise the previous night, said confidence seemed rather misplaced, but such details had long since drifted past the distant horizon of her memory. Like grandmother, like granddaughter. The horizon of Bel’s memory was never more than a stone’s throw away.

“Very well. I approve of your prudence,” said Mia with a haughty nod before looking around at their surroundings and puckering her lips thoughtfully. “I must say, this place is certainly a lot livelier than before. I barely even recognize it.”

The district had certainly improved, but until very recently, it was still just a less filthy version of the same slum it had always been. Now, stores and stalls lined the roads, and there was a bustle she’d never felt before. Many of the products on display were...less than desirable, but the crude air and unregulated nature of the place had a raw charm unlike any other district in the empire, which may have actually contributed to its revitalization.

“Interesting place, eh?” quipped Vanos as they walked. “I heard that Ludwig fellow designated this place as some sort of special jurisdiction. Something ’bout letting people do business here for cheap, so merchants are flocking in.”

The big man wore a wide grin as he explained these recent developments.

“Special...jurisdiction?” Bel perked up at the term. “Oh, does that mean this is where Mia Main Street is?”

“...Mia Main Street?” The eyes of the eponymous princess narrowed. She didn’t like where this was going. Hastily, she whispered into Bel’s ear. “What is that supposed to be?”

“Oh, it was apparently a famous place in the imperial capital. Something like a tourist attraction. I heard a lot of festivals were hosted there, and they were famous for how everyone would eat Miacakes, which were these sweet pastries made to look like you.”

“...Miacakes.”

Mia had a brief vision of herself coated in batter while cooking above a flame. She hastily shook the unnerving thought out of her mind.

“There was more cream in the head, so people would argue over the best way to eat it. You had the people who would bite off the head first and the people who would save the head for last. That’s what Moth— Uh, Elise told me.”

“Bite off the head first...”

Mia had another brief vision of herself without a head, followed by a third vision of herself, this time with nothing remaining but her head.

Maybe it’s just me, but this is starting to feel a little too...guillotine-y for my comfort. I’d better tell Ludwig to ban this in advance...

“Ehe he, I only ever got to try it once, but it was really good. It had this unique aroma that went really well with the sweet cream inside.”

“I-It’s...really good?”

“Yes. It’s really really good. Like, this good,” said Bel, making a big circular motion with her arms.

Mia paused for a moment, lips puckered in contemplation.

Well, on second thought, people did seem to like it a lot. I suppose it’d be somewhat boorish of me to rob the masses of such a popular pleasure. All right, I’ve decided! This particular affront I shall overlook for now!

It was a display of profound magnanimity that definitely had nothing to do with a desire to try some for herself. Any claims of such nature would be the highest degree of slander.

“So, tell me, Bel. This...‘Miacake’ thing... When exactly did they come up with it?”

...Again, slander to the greatest degree. You know who you are.

The merry party soon found themselves at the door to the church, where they were supposed to meet up with Ludwig.

“Ludwig did say he’d be a bit late, so maybe we should go speak with the father first...” said Mia before glancing at Bel.

Hm. Like it or not, Bel is going to be seen to be closely involved with the imperial family. She’ll need to learn a little about politics. For her sake... thought Mia.

The sight of her somewhat clueless-looking granddaughter staring wide-eyed at her surroundings made her inner grandmother stir, and she couldn’t help but worry for the younger girl.

“Bel, there’s something I’d like you to remember.”

“Yes? What is it, Grand— Miss Mia?”

Mia ignored the verbal slip. Her increasing competence at performing reflexive mental acrobatics—developed through sheer necessity—made her surprisingly resilient against such faux pas. In this case, her ears heard “grand” and her brain immediately went: Oh, I am pretty grand, I guess. I must project such an aura of dignity and grandeur that she simply had to comment.

“We are about to ask the father here for a favor,” she explained, “and in general, when you’re asking someone for a favor, bringing a gift will make things go more smoothly.”

Lo and behold, her master plan to win the favor of the priest was...good old bribery. Or gift-giving, as she’d put it. It was one of the oldest tricks in the book, but she spoke with such pretension that you’d think she’d written the book herself.

“Listen up, Bel, and remember this well. There’s no such thing as clean politics. The way I see it, if a gift or two can make for smoother negotiations, then by the moons, you should be doling them out like candy.”

“Wow! So that’s how politics works! I learned something today! Thank you, Miss Mia!” Bel looked up at her with eyes full of awe and admiration. Mia nodded in smug satisfaction.

“So, that thing that soldier is carrying...” said Bel, pointing at a rectangular bundle wrapped in cloth. “Is that the bribe then?”

“Good Lord, Your Highness. It’s been so long since you’ve graced our humble abode.”

The priest, having seen them arrive, came out of the church to greet them. He appeared with the same gentle smile as before, and Mia felt a small rush of nostalgia.

“Yes, it really has, hasn’t it? This certainly brings back memories.”

She performed a curtsy, then introduced Bel to the priest.

“Ah, so she’s of Your Highness’s blood. Yes, I do see a bit of you in her.” He knelt down beside Bel. “Nice to meet you.”

“N-Nice to meet you too.”

Bel inclined her head, the motion a tad stiff. Then she proceeded to stare silently at the priest for a few seconds before shuffling toward Mia and whispering in her ear, “Um, Miss Mia...”

“Hm? What’s the matter?”

“This man...doesn’t really seem like the kind of person who falls for bribes...”

If anything, the inverse seemed far more likely; trying to bribe the man might instead sour his impression of them. Mia, however, wasn’t bothered in the least. Instead, she smiled boldly in the face of Bel’s ostensibly very legitimate concern, for she knew that though there existed men of principle and moral discipline...

“Oho ho, worry not, Bel. The father is a good man, but he is undoubtedly still a man. And a man’s heart can be moved, so long as you hold the right lure. Also, phrasing. It’s not a bribe. It’s a gift.”

Then, in true villainess fashion, she let out a hushed but undeniably evil laugh—the kind that tended to follow such trite instances of villainous euphemism—before continuing.

“If you take away anything from today, Bel, let it be this. When it comes to these kinds of things, the talk is just for show; by the time we sit down at the table, the result has already been decided. It’s all about who can find out more information about the other beforehand. That’s where the real battle lies.”

She turned to the priest.

“Father, we come today in the hopes that you’ll do us a favor.”

“My goodness, that’s what you’ve come all this way for? Well, do come in then. My office is just inside. Let us discuss it there.”

At his bidding, they followed the priest into the orphanage.

“By the way, is that boy doing well? The boy from the Lulu tribe...” She brushed her hand over her hair where an item twinkled. The motion was, perhaps, not entirely unconscious. “The one who gave me this hairpin.”

A hairpin, faintly iridescent, adorned her hair. The keepsake of the Lulu chieftain’s daughter it was not. That particular hairpin had already been returned to the chieftain. This was actually a new one Mia had recently received as a gift. Apparently, the young Lulu boy had carved it himself, and it was his first time making something like it. By putting it on, she’d score points with not only the boy but likely the priest as well. Conversely, if she didn’t put it on and ended up running into the boy, it would make for a very awkward conversation. In other words, it wasn’t even a choice! Of course she was going to put it on! Mia’s fashion sense was just an exercise in risk management!

“He is indeed. In fact, he visited us just the other day. With a whole bundle of fruits he’d picked from the forest...” The priest chuckled fondly. “I’m glad to see that his hairpin is well-received. He’ll be overjoyed to hear that Your Highness is still wearing it on her person.”

“It’s a shame I missed him. I wanted to thank him in person. Do pass on my regards.”

“I certainly will.”

Just then they stepped through a doorway, and the scene before her caused Mia to freeze in her tracks. They were in a large room, and the rows of desks that lined it were brand new and filled with children. On each occupied desk lay paper and writing utensils. Some remained untouched, their assigned user fidgeting in their seat in boredom. Most of the children, however, were obediently listening to the lecturing nun.

“She’s teaching them to write, Your Highness,” came the priest’s voice from behind.

“My... The Central Orthodox Church is putting a lot of effort into improving literacy.”

“We are indeed. By learning to read and write, as well as perform some basic calculations, many avenues of work open up to them. It will also allow them to read the Holy Book themselves.”

The Central Orthodox Church had a long history of pushing for universal literacy throughout the continent. At the core of their endeavor was their desire to give every person access to God’s teachings, not only through priests but also through their own ability to read the Holy Book.

Hm, it’s just as I thought. This priest is also passionate about teaching children. Once he’s not scrambling for food and clothing anymore, the first thing he starts spending money on is their education.

Mia glanced from the brand new desks to the fraying seams of the priest’s clothing...and grinned.

I think the academy city project just found its newest supporter. As long as my gift wins him over...

Once they entered his office and she lowered her delicate rear onto a chair that definitely could use some extra padding, she clapped her hands together in a feigned display of remembrance.

“Oh, that reminds me! I almost forgot to give you this.”

She produced the gift and placed it before the priest. As the one asking the favor, such acts of goodwill were indispensable. While she could maybe manage without it, a lubricating offering would ensure the gears of their conversation turned even more smoothly.

“I brought you the items you requested last time.”

The priest’s smiling, crescent eyes snapped open at her words.

“Y-You mean... Are those really...?!”

With trembling hands, he parted the cloth and held up the enclosed painting. It was a portrait.

“It’s a portrait of Miss Rafina,” Mia explained. “I had her sign it as you requested.”

“Dear Lord high above, it’s... Words cannot— Thank you, Your Highness. It was only wishful thinking... The fanciful dream of a man who forgot his place, and yet...” he said, voice unsteady with emotion.

Mia, however, wasn’t done. With the knife of bribery planted firmly in the priest’s heart, she proceeded to give it a twist.

“Oho ho, that’s not all, you know? I actually have another.”

“...Another?”

He gave her a puzzled look, to which she responded with a satisfied smile.

“Yes, another. Behold!”

With a literal “ta-daaaa!” she whipped out the item she’d been hiding behind her back and held it out. It was none other than...

“I found it at a vendor in Saint-Noel Academy the other day, so I picked it up and asked Miss Rafina to sign it. What do you think? I figured it must be some sort of rare item.”

She smiled with self-satisfaction, only to receive no reaction. At first, she was taken aback, but on closer inspection, she discovered that the priest was not, in fact, completely still but rather appeared to be having some sort of minor fit. The microscopic tremors gradually grew in amplitude as a low rumbling moan escaped his throat, its trembling pitch increasing in step with the frequency of his shaking.

“Oooooooh... Oooooooooh!” He exclaimed in a Doppler-ing bellow. “That’s... That’s— But...it can’t be! But it is!”

His fingers closed like vises around the second portrait.

“It’s the Student Council President Election version! This is a Super Legend Rare! I can’t believe you got this! It was limited edition! And not sold anywhere! Not even in most of Belluga! It was only available in Saint-Noel!”

His protruding eyes almost popped out of their sockets when he discovered the line of words at the bottom of the portrait between his own name and Rafina’s signature.

My deepest gratitude to all your hard work. May the grace of God be with you.

He let out a shrill yelp at the message of appreciation, eyes shut, brows furrowed, and lips trembling. It looked like he was about to cry. Which, given the circumstances, was honestly a little scary, and Mia shifted ever so slightly away from him in her seat.

“‘S-Super Legend Rare’? R-Really.... Frankly, I’m not too familiar with the details...” she said, struggling to keep herself from grimacing at the priest’s, uh...enthusiasm. Still, he was clearly delighted by the portraits, and the thought that her plan was working helped her recompose herself.

“A-Anyway. So, the reason I came today is—”

“Ah, yes, of course. I heard from Ludwig already. I told him I’d need some time to work out the details, but I’d be more than happy to give you as much help as I can. You have my word!”

“I... What?”

Mia’s mind blanked at the unexpected development. She stared wide-eyed at the priest. Bel stared wide-eyed too, albeit for a different reason.

“W-Wow... So this is the power of bribery...” whispered the younger girl with a gulp of awe, for she had just borne witness to the lubricating power of a well-selected gift—so lubricating, in fact, that it apparently removed the need for conversation altogether and settled the matter before it even began!

C-Could it be that... I didn’t even need to bring a brib— I mean gift in the first place?

The whole scheme suddenly seemed a lot less indispensable, but nonetheless, the priest was happy and that was what mattered.

I suppose he does deserve to reap a few rewards from time to time for all that sowing he’s done.

She glanced up, willing a silent thanks to Rafina for readily agreeing to sign the things.

“I... I’ll put these up in my bedroom!” exclaimed the priest.

“Sure... Feel free to do whatever you want with them...”

“There’s a lot of talk about these in my circles. It’s said that if you place them on the ceiling above your bed, you’ll have lots of good dreams...”

“...Right, I think I’ve heard more than enough. Let’s move on to a different topic before I start losing my respect for you.”

She shook her head, profoundly unimpressed by what she’d just witnessed. Rafina, she decided, would be better served not knowing about how her portraits were being used. Against all odds, in that moment, Mia had become the only sensible one in the room. It was all very strange.