Chapter 20: One Does Not Simply Evade the Great Sage of the Empire

“So that’s the Great Sage of the Empire, Mia Luna Tearmoon...”

The King of Perujin, Yuhal Tafrif Perujin, watched as Mia made her way up the golden slope, his people erupting in cheers. The sincerity of their emotions was evident to him. People who’d begrudgingly complied with his instruction to gather for the Tearmoon princess’s reception were now welcoming her with all their heart.

“A most shrewd way to sway the will of the people... Impressive indeed. I see that the Great Sage of the Empire is not bound by the worthless customs of nobility. A pragmatist, then, with an eye for utility.”

Her unreserved willingness to discard the sensibilities of polite society in order to manipulate hearts bore a striking resemblance to the method of merchants. Yuhal snorted in disgust.

“She looks down on us with her heart, but up at us with her eyes. What a wily girl...”

He knew that the nobility was not a monolith. Among the mindless glory-chasers, there existed those who were relentlessly rational and lived by the principle of “pride is worth nothing compared to material gain.” In his eyes, Princess Mia was clearly one of those rare breeds. He deemed her a realist who would choose profit over ego.

“But does she know about the properties of our wheat?”

Normal wheat was prickly and painful when handled with bare skin, which often remained itchy for some time afterward. Perujin wheat had lost most of its irritating thorns through selective breeding, but that should not be obvious to the untrained eye. If she’d trodden upon them knowing them to be safe, then the acuity of her wit and perception was something to be wary of, if not feared.

“Or, perhaps...she didn’t care either way?”

His brows twitched at a realization. Had she stepped on the wheat and injured her feet, she could have used that as leverage for extortion. Perhaps that had been her intention all along. She surely hadn’t expected Perujin to be imprudent in their preparation, but if they were, she’d be fine with that too.

“Either she had prior knowledge of our wheat, or she trusted the extent of our consideration for our guests...or she knew she could play either hand, thorns or not.”

Whatever her reasoning, her actions had to be the result of calculation. He couldn’t see it being anything else.

Perhaps because he didn’t want to see it being anything else. The princess of the empire against which he’d sworn eventual retaliation needed to be a menacing figure. A looming, powerful enemy with ice in her heart. She needed to be a merciless opponent who’d trample his people at the slightest opportunity, or someone who faked her benevolence toward the masses until circumstances favored her inner cruelty. He needed her to be. Because otherwise, what would it make of him? And the risks he’d taken? The risks he was about to take?

He would fight for his payback. It was time to even the age-old score.

Yuhal saw what he wanted to see. Believed what he wanted to believe. His world was a fabricated one that stood on convenient falsehoods.

“Still, who would have thought that the first time a member of Tearmoon’s imperial family comes to Auro Ardea, she would walk up the slope herself. Some things simply defy prediction...”

As he spoke those words, he felt an odd ripple in his mind. Less thought than sensation, it caused an old memory to resurface.

“No, it can’t be... Her mother... The empress consort... Didn’t she come here before? Wait, or is that a dream I’m remembering?”

Ethereal fragments bubbled gently to the surface in his pool of his mind, too faint to determine whether they were fact or fiction. Yuhal frowned at the odd vagueness of this memory. Eventually, he shook his head in dismissal.

“Mixing dreams with reality now, am I? Age takes its toll on memory, I see.” He chuckled wryly in a dry, gravelly voice.

“We are most honored by your willingness to make the long journey here personally, Princess Mia.” Yuhal stepped out to greet Mia just as she reached the top of the golden slope. “I am Yuhal Tafrif Perujin, King of Perujin. It is my utmost pleasure to meet you.”

Then, he lowered himself to one knee. This was unthinkable behavior for a king, even if he was in the presence of the princess of Tearmoon. Yuhal, however, was also one who could sacrifice pride in service of necessity. A greeting from the king of a vassal state was best performed with excessive humility, especially when said king had to divert attention away from the sinister plans he harbored.

“My, Your Majesty, how exceedingly courteous of you. My name is Mia Luna Tearmoon, and it’s a pleasure to meet you as well.” She returned a curtsy.

“I am aware that you have been most kind to my daughters. I regret not expressing my gratitude in person earlier. Though it is little recompense, we have arranged a welcoming feast tonight in your honor. If you are not overly exhausted from the journey, your attendance would be most appreciated.”

“My, that sounds wonderful. I will certainly be attending this feast. No matter how tired I am, or how full my stomach, I will never turn away an opportunity to try more Perujin cuisine. The food here is simply sublime! I am looking forward to enjoying myself tonight.”

After trading the usual flattering formalities, Mia put a curious finger to her chin.

“On that note, I do have one request.”

“A request? What might it be?”

“This welcome feast for me... Could I ask that Shalloak Cornrogue be invited to attend as well?”

“Oh?”

The sudden appearance of the hitherto unmentioned name took Yuhal by surprise. He glanced at Rania, who pointedly resisted making eye contact, and held back a sigh. So that’s how it leaked... I hadn’t expected my own daughter to betray me.

Keeping his expression entirely unchanged, he said, “But he is nothing more than an ordinary merchant. I cannot see how he would be a fitting addition to your evening banquet. What is it about him that interests you?”

Though not stated explicitly, the nuance was clear: Inviting a mere merchant to a banquet meant to welcome the princess of Tearmoon was entirely inappropriate. Mia, however, smiled and said, “As a matter of fact...”

Her reply was interrupted by the arrival of her carriage. Two girls of similar age to her stepped out, followed by a maid and a young bespectacled man. Mia turned toward them and repeated herself.

“As a matter of fact,” she continued, “my friend Tatiana feels a great deal of gratitude toward this Shalloak fellow and would love to meet him and thank him in person.”

As her gaze fell on Tatiana, the girl stiffened nervously at the sudden attention.

I see. She’s already prepared the pretext. Hm, to be expected, I suppose, for someone of her caliber...

Yuhal regarded Mia, a girl younger than his own daughters, and resolved to double his wariness in dealing with her.

“Oho ho,” Mia chuckled. “I’ve heard he’s a very kind man, and I’m looking forward to hearing stories about all he’s done for her.”

He nodded cautiously, noticing an eeriness to the way she smiled.

“Is that so? Well... I shall arrange for it then.”

Finding that he had no way of evading the request, he resisted the urge to grimace and complied.