CH 209

Celebration with a Rabbit Stew

It was the third time that Mia was visiting the tent of the Wandering Sage. She walked calmly along the familiar path. As she came closer, she noticed something unusual.

“That is…”

She saw an old man standing in front of the tent. His hair and beard were gray but he exuded the aura of a forest sage.

I see. So that must be Ludwig’s master. What a shame. If only he had waited one more day, the leverage I would have would be truly decisive.

Mia was a little disappointed. But she still readies herself.

But it’s already too late. You have given me too much to attack you with. I can now use your flaws. I won’t leave you any openings that you can use against me.

With the air of a warrior, Mia walks up to the Wandering Sage.

“Greetings, the Wandering Sage. I am Mia Runya…”

She bit her tongue! What a blunder. In a battle of decorum, it was like falling face first. To think she inwardly announced that he won’t leave him any openings.

Gah! Why? Out of all times… such a failure!

Before she started panicking, she quickly changed her mind.

I’m fine, I’m fine… That was a tiny slip up. It doesn’t count. Besides, what he did was worse. I still have the advantage.

Raising her head, Mia proudly puffed her chest and declared…

“I am Mia Luna Tearmoon. I am the Princess of the Tearmoon Empire. It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Your Highness. My name is Galvanus Arminios. It is a great honor to meet you.”

The old man looked upon her with a pair of deep intelligent eyes. There was a quiet intensity to his gaze that Mia almost took a step back before she even realized it. She caught herself on time, and so avoided another embarrassment.

Regaining her composure, she turned her attention to the old man’s clothes. He was well dressed… in fact, too well dressed. His formal clothes would be something that is presentable before the Emperor. Mia then realizes her failure.

She was currently dressed with a fluffy fur clothing that she got from the Lulu tribe. It was very comfortable to the touch and the perfect fluffiness to wear to bed, or when lounging in the bedroom. But it was definitely not appropriate when meeting such an important person.

Gah! I should have come here waring proper clothes. Ludwig never told me that he would be waiting here in the woods with such a formal clothing. That damn four-eyes!

Mia managed to smile while muttering resentment in her chest.

“Hmm… Your attire is rather striking. I had heard from Ludwig that you are in favor of dressing practically. Right clothes for the right occasion. Was he wrong?”

“Not at all, Your Highness. This is the most suitable clothes to wear for appearing before Your Highness. Now that you are here, I must beg forgiveness for my previous insolence.”

Saying so, he kneels on the spot and lowers his head to the ground.

Mia was confused with this unexpected development. But only for a moment.

“My forgiveness? Never. We are the ones who have come to ask a favor. It is only natural that we wait for you to make time.”

Then she gave a gentle smile.

Ohoho, I have you now! Forgive you just like that? Think again. What you did was very rude, so you’d better accept our terms.

On the outside, Mia just kept smiling.

“It is nice to finally meet you. Your reputation precedes you, and we have come with a request.”

“Absolutely, Your Highness. Your wish is my command.”

“Huh?”

Mia blinked her eyes in astonishment at the instant counterattack.

“Eh, well, I haven’t even said what I’m asking for yet…”

“I will accept whatever order you may give me. If you want me to acquire intelligence from other nations, then I will infiltrate them. If you want me to go to war, so I will get my spear.” The old man looked up at Mia with quiet eyes. “Now, please this servant what Her Highness wants.”

What in the moons is happening?!

Mia was confused. But she regained her composure immediately. For unknown reasons, the person in front of her just offered her a direct path to victory. She clearly is winning this negotiation. Then she felt a feeling that she hasn’t felt for a long time.  It was the sensation of a cresting wave under her feet – the kind that would push her up and over her immediate hurdles. Being a veteran surfer of figurative waves, she wasn’t about to let this one go. In fact, she hopped on it before it changes its mind. She promptly explained her request.

“I would like you to be the headmaster of the school I am building.”

“A school, you say?”

“Yes. Princess Town is currently built in Viscount Berman’s domain. I plan to turn it into an academic city. I will gather the gifted children from across the empire and bring them there.”

“When you say excellent children, how exactly…”

“Master, regarding that. Princess Mia has already acquired the cooperation of the Central Orthodox Church. She intends to have the gifted children from the orphanage sent to the school, where they will be enrolled for free.”

“I see. It is certainly true that intelligence and wisdom has nothing to do with wealth or status. As expected of Your Highness, you have a keen eye. Very impressive.”

The old man raises his voice in admiration at Ludwig’s words. He looked at Mia full of admiration. Mia, on the other hand…

Fufufu! That’s right. I am impressive! It is okay if you want to praise me more, old man.

Mia was not the kind of person who would pass up gloating, even if it is only in her head.

“Master… that’s not all. Her Highness Princess Mia intends to use the children, as the leaders of the next generation of the empire. They will be positioned in places that can fundamentally reform the evil anti-agricultural ideology that has taken root in this empire.”

“Ludwig… are you serious! That’s…”

The old man gasped in shock at Ludwig’s words. He gives Mia double the look of admiration from the one before.

On the other hand, Mia…

Eh? What was that now?

She raised her eyebrow unconsciously. Her primary purposed of creating Saint Mia Academy was to make sure that Cyril Rudolvon will successfully develop that new strain of wheat. What evil anti-agriculturist ideology? She neither cared nor understood what it was. Not that it mattered of course…

Well, I have no idea what Ludwig is saying. But since it is coming from him, I might as well as just get on board. Besides, his master seems to be impressed as well.

In an instant judgment, she chose to ride the wave! Yes, Mia is a skilled surfer!

“That’s exactly right.”

She once again puffed out her chest.

“For that reason, Her Highness is already thinking of hiring a Perujin Princess as a lecturer.”

“I see… the Perujin Agricultural Country… Certainly, the country’s agricultural technology is very beneficial to the empire. If this is realized, this will be a great achievement that will change history.”

And so, the Wandering Sage stared at Mia with slightly wet eyes. He was full of emotions.

“To think that this old bone, who was about to die, would be given the opportunity to participate in such glorious undertaking…”

Dark moons! I don’t really understand what they are going on about. But…

Mia had no clue what these two men were getting excited about. Feeling lost, she figured she would at least make sure her original objective would be fulfilled.

“Then, again, Wandering Sage…”

“Please, Your Highness. You are the true Sage, the Wisdom of the Empire. As your vassal, I do not deserve to be called a sage. Please call me Galv.”

“Is that so? Well then, Galv-dono… I’d like to ask you again. Please, can you be the head of my school?”

In response to Mia’s question, the Wandering Sage Galv bowed deeply,

“I respectfully accept your order. It is my absolute honor.”

Mia looked down at Galv bowing…

Hah! Like I thought! He is a total pushover.

She beamed with an intense satisfaction that a smug painted her face.

“Ah, that’s right. Would you like to have dinner with us today? To commemorate our meeting, we can have a modest feast.”

—

That night, a large banquet was held in the village of the Lulu tribe with the Wandering Sage. The menu for that day was the rabbit stew that Mia had requested.

“To think that you would prepare a rabbit stew, my favorite food…”

The wandering sage, moved by the hospitality, once again pledged his loyalty to Mia with all his heart and soul.