Chapter 12: Princess Mia, Charmer of Young Boys

Upon arriving at the Lulu village, Mia received an enthusiastic welcome. After receiving preemptive notice from Ludwig about her impending visit, the chieftain had arranged for a reception feast of sorts to be held in the village square. The men went out to hunt and came back with a gigantic fullmoon boar, which was roasted whole to serve as the feast’s main dish. In the middle of the square was a massive bonfire, encircled by a crowd so large it had to represent the entirety of the village. The sheer scale of this gesture left Mia genuinely astonished.

“This is such an incredible welcome, and on such short notice too...”

“The whole village was thrilled to hear that Your Highness would be visiting. I told them a modest reception would be more than sufficient, but...” explained Ludwig with a helpless shake of his head. He’d come early to help with the preparations. “I suppose the regard in which they hold you is simply too high to comply with such a request.”

The tone of his statement was joking, but its content rang true. The Lulu had always valued the principle of reciprocity. Mia, as benefactor of the chieftain’s grandson and arguably savior of their entire tribe, would inevitably enjoy their unqualified gratitude. Whether she’d be appreciated was never in doubt. It was the degree of appreciation that took both her and Ludwig by surprise.

The Mia fever was not limited to the village; it had also overtaken tribespeople like Liora who’d journeyed out of the village in search of work. In other words, she’d effectively acquired a fanbase of highly skilled archers whose members dotted the whole of the empire. So formidable was the combined prowess of this latent quasi-militia that were she to make an actual attempt to flee, she’d probably do so quite easily with their help alone.

Mia was oblivious to this fact and unlikely to grow any more enlightened, considering all her attention was currently focused on the rotund form over the fire that was in the process of completing its transformation from swine to supper, one sizzle at a time.

“Was that boar caught in this forest?”

“Yes... It was... Your Highness! I went with them... And watched them hunt it!” explained the enthusiastic young boy to her side. He was the chieftain’s grandson, whom she’d previously rescued in the Newmoon District.

“Did you now? My, how brave of you... Oh, that reminds me.” She hammered one hand with the other and turned to face the boy. “I don’t believe we were ever formally introduced. Let’s do that now.” She performed an exemplary curtsy for him. “My name is Mia Luna Tearmoon, Princess of the Tearmoon Empire. What’s your name?”

The boy stared at her for a few seconds, mesmerized. Then his face reddened, and he quickly dropped to his knees.

“I’m Wagul. Thank you very much... For saving me that time... I’ll never forget it, Your Highness.”

He looked back up at her, his eyes brimming with the beauty of innocence. She couldn’t help but tease him a little.

“My, never is a long time, you know? Are you sure you can remember for that long?”

“I, uh...”

“Oh, but I suppose that’s nothing to worry about. After all, the wonderful gift I received is proof of your thanks, and that won’t fade any time soon.”

Her ensuing smile turned his face a few shades redder. Mia, as it turns out, was quite the boy-killer, so to speak.

“Greetings, Your Highness... It is my pleasure... To have you here.”

The chieftain approached her and inclined his head.

“The pleasure is mutual, Chieftain. I see that you’re getting along quite well with Wagul.”

He scratched his head sheepishly and grinned.

“Thanks to Your Highness...”

“Hardly, but I’m glad for you nonetheless. Also, I can’t help but notice that you’ve become more fluent in the imperial tongue,” she said with a curious gaze at the chieftain, who scratched his head again.

“The Wandering Wiseman gave lessons... And I practiced a little myself... It is also easier... To talk to Wagul in the... Imperial language.”

“Oh? You’ve met the Wandering Wiseman?”

“He comes to the village often... Has Your Highness not spoken to him yet?”

“No. We tried to meet with him, but apparently he was caught up in some sort of thought marathon and never got back to us,” she said in a conversational tone as her hands busied themselves with the meatier task of delivering a fine cut of roasted boar goodness into her waiting mouth.

She enveloped the sizable piece with the whole of her cheeks and chewed on it. Each time she bit down, savory juices spilled out of its tender tissue, coating her tongue in rich flavor.

Aaaaah, this is so exquisitely good! Moons, am I glad Ludwig’s master never showed up. I’d have missed this... And he was nice enough to give me plenty of fodder to attack him with. Honestly, all that talk about him is really starting to seem overblown. I think he might turn out to be a pushover.

The comforting thought manifested itself as a pleased smile, which was juxtaposed against a rather furious Wagul. The young boy at her side was practically shaking with anger.

“Ignoring Your Highness? That’s... Unforgivable!”

“My, Wagul, are you getting mad on my behalf? I certainly appreciate the sentiment, but it’s quite fine. I’m not bothered at all. In fact, I believe it all turned out for the best.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Well...” She gave the boy a wink and a grin. “If he showed up, I wouldn’t have been able to come to the Lulu village and enjoy your delightful presence now, would I?”

Then she gently lifted her hand and brought it to his face. He froze, tracking her motion only with his eyes, whereupon she picked a speck of meat off his cheek. Said cheek, along with its partner, reddened immediately, and he looked down, unable to meet her eyes.

Mia, Charmer of Young Boys, strikes again!

“Ludwig,” she said, turning toward her loyal subject, “it would be remiss of me not to thank you as well. Your preparatory efforts here were nothing short of excellent.”

“I’m honored, Your Highness, but more importantly, allow me to apologize on my master’s behalf. I’m terribly sorry that you have had to make an unscheduled overnight stop outside the manor.”

She chuckled at his penitent attitude.

“Please, this is hardly worth an apology. I’m more than capable of handling a setback or two. It’s all a necessary part of the process, right? If we want to get a word in with the man, then we’ll just have to play this game.”

“Play this game, you say...” echoed Ludwig, his brows rising in surprise. “I see. So you’ve already realized.”

“Of course I have.”

So he understands what we’re doing too. Good. This is going to be a game of leverage, and we’re stocking up for the big showdown.

She huffed a pugnacious breath out her nose before tossing another piece of juicy meat into her mouth.

I can’t wait for him to ignore me again tomorrow! Come on, wiseman. Just keep handing me that fodder!

After the feast’s conclusion, Mia spent the night in the village. She and Anne shared a cabin with an elderly woman. Though frugal in furnishing, its cleanliness made for a comfortable stay. Mia, by the way, was the type to sleep perfectly well without a bed—another skill she’d picked up during her dungeon days. Back then, her amenities consisted of a filthy blanket and a cold, stone floor. Sleep had eluded her at first—lying down on her granitic bed proved rather painful—but the adrenaline of discomfort could only last so long; a fortnight later, exhaustion served as her mattress. Compared to that...

“Mmm... Not bad at all.”

Waking comfortably to the chirping of birds in the morning, she gave her bedding a few investigative pats.

“I wonder what’s in these. Feels like some sort of...down? It’s soft to the touch, rolls easily, and is wonderfully warm to wrap yourself in. Everything about it is excellent. I’ve never paid much attention to my bedding before, but... Hm, now that I think about it, I do spend a good chunk of my life in bed, so it might be wise to be a little more choosy...” she muttered, sounding like some sort of drunk mattress merchant who’d mistaken herself as her own client.

Her blanket-enveloped body felt a little sweaty, and there was a lingering smell of smoke on her, probably from the bonfire last night. She frowned and got up.

“I could really use a bath right now...”

Just as she began discussing with Anne about how she longed for a big tub of water, her prayers were answered by their host. Having walked in on this mild grievance, the elderly lady arranged for the women of the village to take her to a nearby river where she could bathe. After cleansing herself, they even provided her with a change of clothes, and Mia returned in a brisk mood, refreshed in both body and soul.

“Lulu fashion isn’t half bad either. These clothes of theirs are quite nice,” she said, examining the fluffy attire she had put on.

It was made from some sort of animal hide covered in a thick layer of fur. It was pleasant to the touch. She ran her hands over it and giggled in glee.

“I’m really going to blend in with the locals now, aren’t I?”

The chieftain approached her and inclined his head respectfully.

“Your Highness is... Always welcome in our village... Come by whenever you would like... We would be... More than happy to accommodate you again.”

“My, do you mean it? I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“We love to see you back here... My grandson, especially...”

“Is that so? Well, in that case, could I ask your permission to stay here until I manage to meet the Wandering Wiseman?”

“Permission? Your Highness, please... You are our savior... Treat this village as your own.” The chieftain then paused, as if an idea had just come to him. “That reminds me... Are there any foods... Your Highness wishes to try? If so... We will do what we can... To find them...”

“Foods, you say? Sweets, I suppose, though I had plenty of fruits yesterday already... Maybe honey or something? Hm... Oh, I know!” She pounded her palm with her fist as she recalled her conversation with Ludwig the day before. “Hare stew! I’d love to have some hare stew again!”

“Hm... Hare stew...”

After Mia described the traits of the hare she’d once had, the chieftain nodded.

“Understood... I will tell the villagers... We will try our best to find one...”

“Most obliged, Chieftain.”

With another scrumptious dinner all but guaranteed, Mia merrily departed for her second attempt to meet the Wandering Wiseman.

After arriving back at the small tent, Mia greeted its elusive inhabitant yet again.

“Good morning, Wandering Wiseman,” she announced in what was decidedly an indoor voice. “Are you home?”

Given her volume, it was quite possible that her voice didn’t even reach the man inside. Which was, of course, the point.

I’d rather you don’t show up, so if you really are in there, could you just, like...pretend you’re not?

She waited, hoping the tent’s opening would remain shut. Silence ensued...and ultimately endured. Her lips parted in a sly grin.

“In that case, let’s wait here a while.”

In a repeat of the previous day, she straightened her posture and effectively stood at attention before the tent.

“Your Highness, please have a seat.” Ludwig promptly removed his coat and laid it on the ground beside her for a cushion. “Go ahead.”

Mia glanced at the coat, gently bent down, picked it up, and patted away a few errant blades of grass that stuck to it.

“No need, Ludwig. If I am to wait, I shall do it standing, with the form and propriety that befits my position. As the one who seeks a favor, I should be displaying the utmost respect, no?”

“Well, I— But...” stammered an increasingly flustered Ludwig. “I suppose that’s true, but even my master would not expect you to go that far. Please reconsider—”

She refuted him with a quiet shake of her head.

“That, Ludwig, is up to your master to decide. Am I wrong?”

Mia was of the opinion that when it came to finding fault with a person, the hurdle was never the actual finding of the fault. After all, no self-respecting disparager would allow themselves to be deterred by their target’s integrity. The way she saw it, the more unfavorable one’s position, the more desperately they dissected their opponent’s imperfections. It was simple human nature. Well, it was her nature, at least. If she was in a tight spot, she certainly wouldn’t hesitate to take someone to task to save herself—just like she was doing right now.

Having visitors arrive and refusing to receive them was rudeness of the highest order. The wiseman had disrespected her. That was going to be her bargaining chip heading into the eventual negotiation, and she was going to hammer the point all the way to victory.

This was, however, a game at which two could play, and she had to make sure that he never got a turn. To that end, she had to be faultless. Beyond approach. She had to become the perfect guest, waiting for her host with the utmost courtesy. With her own backcourt secured, she could then fully focus on her offensive.

Oho ho, you don’t stand a chance, because I’m going to hold all the cards, and I’m going to bury you with them.

She let out a short, triumphant laugh and fixed Ludwig with a look of purpose.

“I stand here, Ludwig, because it is necessary for me to do so. That is all. Therefore, while I appreciate the sentiment, I can accept nothing more.” Her gaze drifted skyward, and her eyes grew distant. “I stand here...because it’s worth it.”

Because it’s worth it...

Ludwig closed his eyes. A subtle wave of emotion rose into his throat. He let it out in an unsteady breath. Through those four simple words, Mia had conveyed the depth of her trust in him. She was not personally acquainted with his master. Everything she knew about the man, she’d heard through him.

And yet, here she is, putting all this effort into persuading this perfect stranger to become her headmaster. A man she decided was worth the trouble. Because he, Ludwig, had said so, and she trusted him.

A second wave, hotter and stronger than the last, surged up through his chest and flooded his head. He felt it behind his eyes. It brought him intense joy, along with a burning desire to do everything in his power to realize Mia’s goals.