Chapter 3: Princess Mia, Embodiment of Truth

“...Eh?”

Mia gaped at the girl. Her golden hair was soft and wavy. Every breeze that fluttered it sent a pleasing floral aroma wafting through the air. She regarded Mia with faintly rosy cheeks and a sparkling smile. Gradually, however, a shade of puzzlement began to enter her gray eyes. Which was understandable, considering Mia had been staring wordlessly at her for a while now.

Uh oh, bad move.

Coming back to her senses with a start, Mia hastily smiled back.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Mia Luna Tearmoon. I do hope we’ll get along well,” she said with a polite incline of her head. “I must say though, considering the Yellowmoons are our relatives, it’s an odd feeling to be meeting you for the first time only now.”

“Yes, and I apologize. It’s a very upsetting thing for Rina too. I was born in poor health and have been weak ever since... I couldn’t even attend Your Highness’s birthday parties.”

“My, I see. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

Citrina let out a dainty chuckle.

“Oh, you’re too considerate. It’s all ancient history now.”

She smiled. There was a sweetness to it, like a flower swaying in the wind, or a bird singing in the trees. It was a flawless expression from a flawless girl, who seemed in every way the ideal daughter of a powerful noble. She was endearing and affable and she smiled often. All smoothed edges and rounded corners, there was nothing pointed or grating about her. It was practically impossible to have a bad impression of her.

Which was why all the alarms in Mia’s head were going Vring! Vring! Vring!

After all this time, the daughter of Duke Yellowmoon decides to approach me? Th-This is super fishy! Actually, everything about them is suspicious! How come I don’t even know this girl?! What in the moons is going on?!

She had no memories of Citrina in either timeline. Never mind Citrina, she could barely recall anything significant about anyone from the Yellowmoon household. That stood in stark contrast against the other three Houses, all of whom she had indelible impressions of.

“After all, we’re only notable for the age of our line, and among the Four Dukes, we’re the weakest...”

At some point, she’d heard a self-effacing comment to that effect, but could remember little else. Information regarding the Yellowmoons was egregiously lacking. As an anxious Mia tried to figure out how she’d ended up in this situation, Bel eagerly continued the conversation.

“Rina— Uh, I mean, Miss Citrina and I met in the library, and we’ve been studying together ever since.”

“Ah, uh... W-Well, I see. How...nice of you to do that, Citrina. Thank you. I hope it hasn’t been any trouble.”

Mia eyed the young Yellowmoon, who bowed her head without a hint of guile.

“Not at all, Your Highness. You’re both very welcome. I only regret not introducing myself sooner. Please accept my sincerest apologies.”

“Uh, don’t worry. It didn’t really bother me.”

She continued to study Citrina.

It’s true that ever since she enrolled here, she hasn’t paid me a single visit. So why come now of all times? There has to be something behind this!

The revelation of the first emperor’s motives, along with the slimming down of the Princess Mia Chronicles...and now, the sudden appearance of someone from the House of Yellowmoon. Something told her this was all connected. She could almost feel the thread linking them...

This is definitely suspicious! It smells like a fish market in here right now!

Great Detective Mia had a hunch, and it was telling her that the girl standing in front her was the perp!

Maybe I should put my foot down and tell her to stay away...thought Mia, figuring close association with the girl was too risky. After some deliberation, she decided, No, if I push her away, she might just do things behind my back instead, and that’s even scarier. I might as well keep her where I can see her. And she’s giving me a chance to do that right now. If the enemy gives me an opening, I should just take it. I’ll establish a proper relationship with her so I can monitor her more easily.

It was the same logic she’d used when pulling Sapphias into the student council.

Also...

She looked at Bel, who was grinning ever so innocently. The sheer joy emanating from her granddaughter as she introduced her newfound friend was something Mia didn’t want to take away. Of course, she’d still probably put a cautious word in with Lynsha.

“Well then, Citrina, I certainly hope you’ll stay good friends with Bel.”

“Yes, of course. I’m happy to have made such a wonderful friend.”

And there it was again. The flawless, blooming-flower smile. It only made Mia warier.

Hmph, go ahead. Try something sneaky. If you do, I’ll catch you red-handed—

“Oh, by the way, is it true that Your Highness has some interest in herbs?”

Citrina’s abrupt question caught Mia off guard.

“Hm? My... I’m surprised you knew. Did Bel tell you?”

“No, it was just a rumor. Wild grasses and flowers fascinate Rina too. I used to go on foraging trips in the Yellowmoon domain, and I read books to learn more.”

“...Really!”

Mia looked at Citrina anew. She’d thought for sure the girl was one of those creepy types who stayed holed up in her room all day planning all sorts of shady schemes.

Hmm... I didn’t think she dabbled in the arts of survival as well. What a shame. If we weren’t enemies, we could be discussing how to survive in the event of a revolution. That sounds like so much fun too...

She found herself slightly disappointed by this realization.

“Oh,” added the girl, “and mushrooms too. They’re lots of fun, aren’t they?”

And, with that one word...

“My! Citrina, you like mushrooms?!”

Citrina had her hook, line, and sinker.

“Yes. As a matter of fact, I’ve been researching mushroom stews too, and I sometimes experiment with the mushrooms I pick. Stews are so wonderful.”

“My! ...My! I’ve always wanted to try stewing mushrooms myself! Could you show me some time?”

Citrina flicked up her rod, and Mia came flopping out of the water on the end of the line.

“Of course. Let’s go mushroom picking together then.”

A jolt of sheer excitement shot down Mia’s spine. Such a proposition was unheard of for her. Picking mushrooms in the wild was an inherently risky activity, and no one had ever dared invite her to do so. She all but beamed, and her friend-o-meter for Citrina shot to eleven.

You know what? Maybe Citrina’s actually just a really nice girl. Her dad, Duke Yellowmoon, might be a good-for-nothing conspiracy plotter, but she might not be involved in any of it...

Within seconds, her guard had been dropped so low that going down any further would require shovels.

People see that which they wish to see, and blind themselves to that which they do not, and Mia was the living embodiment of that truth.