Chapter 31: The People Mia Dragged into Her Plans

“So this is what Agricultural Country Perujin looks like...”

Chloe Forkroad gazed out the window of her carriage as it rolled past a vast expanse of farmland.

“I can’t believe it. It’s endless. Nothing but fields upon fields.”

“‘Not an acre of our land left untilled’ is their national motto, after all,” added Marco.

“The fields are so big, and there are so many of them. I’ve never seen anything like this...”

Throughout her childhood, Chloe had followed her father on business trips that took them to numerous nations. Perujin, however, was a first for her.

Marco had always considered Perujin a rather boring country to visit. Personally, he found their agricultural technology fascinating and could spend hours just watching them work, but assuming a child would soon lose interest, he’d never brought Chloe with him. This trip, however, was Chloe’s idea, and she’d insisted on coming with him. Considering he’d recently collapsed from overwork, she probably wanted to make sure he wouldn’t push himself too hard again.

“I wasn’t planning on working myself back into a hospital bed, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer,” he murmured to himself.

He was coming to attend the Thanksharvest Festival, which meant most of his time would be spent meeting and greeting people. If he came across some good crops, he’d certainly pick up a few crates, but overall, he was going to take it easy. It was more of a vacation than a work trip. Nevertheless, he readily agreed to having her accompany him.

Was it because he didn’t want to discourage his daughter when she was looking out for his health? As a matter of fact, it wasn’t. He’d brought her along because he sensed that change was afoot. He felt it in the air, like a rumbling that signaled the approach of a massive current. If Chloe was going to be dragged into this current and involve herself with Princess Mia’s grand vision of a new world order for the distribution of food, then committing supply routes to memory could only help her down the road.

Besides, networking is crucial for business, and if I plan to hand over Forkroad & Co. to her someday, I need her to start building her own connections. Fortunately, King Yuhal of Perujin is a mild-mannered man. He doesn’t look down on commoners, so I can probably get an audience with him. It’ll be a good opportunity to introduce him to Chloe—

“I can’t wait to see Princess Rania dance... I wonder if she’s practicing? Hee hee...”

“...Hm?”

Marco did a double take. Chloe had said the princess’s name so casually, he almost took it for the name of a friend.

“What was that?”

“I said I can’t wait to see Princess Rania’s performance. I met her at Saint-Noel, and we’re pretty good friends now. She’s going to do the Thanksharvest Dance during the festival, and I promised I’d go watch.”

Chloe giggled.

Marco simply stared, trying to wrap his head around the fact that his daughter was not only friends with the third princess of Perujin but close enough to be making private promises to see each other. Then again, maybe he shouldn’t be so surprised. From Mia and Rafina to the princes in the student council, Chloe mingled with aristocratic heavyweights on a regular basis. Her friend circle was filled with people he’d have great difficulty catching a glimpse of, never mind talking to. In that sense, the fact that Chloe was friends with a Perujin princess was perhaps not worthy of comment. What astonished Marco, however, was the sheer breadth of her connections. She had probably gotten to know all these people through Mia, but Chloe didn’t allow them to remain second-degree acquaintances—she took it a step further and established proper friendships with them. Her promise to come watch the dance was proof.

Marco found himself surprised by her initiative. Chloe had always been a shy, introverted girl. He’d lost count of the number of times he’d asked her to greet someone, only to have her hide behind his back. The first couple of times she’d come home from Saint-Noel, he felt like she was still the same person. But now...

I see. You’ve changed, haven’t you? You’ve...grown up.

Behind his daughter’s metamorphosis was likely the influence of the Great Sage of the Empire.

I get the feeling that Princess Mia is pulling Chloe along with her, and she’s going to take my daughter to places beyond my wildest imaginations...

Children are to parents as fledglings are to nests—they leave to fly even higher. Marco knew this. Knowledge, however, was no shield. A creeping loneliness still gnawed at his heart.

“Father? What’s the matter? Oh no, are you feeling sick again?”

Roused from his thoughts, he looked up to find Chloe’s worried face.

“No, no, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”

He was hardly going to admit that seeing how much his daughter had grown was making him feel a little lonely. Unfortunately, his evasive response only deepened her concern.

“Listen, father. I know you’ll want to talk business, but please keep it to a minimum, okay? If necessary, I can step in...”

She spoke with the natural authority that came with maturity and competence. Already feeling sentimental, he was extra vulnerable to this emotional roundhouse. It took an effort of will not to tear up.

“F-Father?”

“Ah, don’t mind me. It’s nothing. You’re, uh, right, though... I can’t exactly sit them out completely, but letting you get some hands-on experience with business talks is probably worthwhile...” he said, nodding thoughtfully to himself.

After a while, he smiled.

“Is school fun, Chloe?”

“Huh? Well...yes. The days I spend there are very fulfilling.”

“So I see...”

As he regarded the heartfelt joy that appeared on her face at the mention of her school, he finally decided to throw in the proverbial towel.

I think it’s time I started thinking seriously about retirement...

Unbeknownst to Marco, he would end up having to pick the proverbial towel back up, for he’d made one crucial mistake. He thought himself a spectator, but the current he felt was far larger than he knew. It would swallow up everyone near Mia, him included, dragging all of them into her plans.

The seeds Mia had sown throughout the lands had sprouted...and one was about to bear fruit.

Dawn was breaking over Perujin’s night.

Part 3: A New Oath Between the Moon and Stars III Fin

To Be Continued in Part 4: To the Moon-Led Morrow II