Chapter 31: Princess Mia... Appears in All Her Glory

Abel Remno knew he was a loser.

Likewise, he knew Remno was a second-rate kingdom. It possessed neither the rich history and tradition of Sunkland nor the sheer might of Tearmoon. Outmatched by even Belluga in influence and authority, it failed to garner any real respect from its neighbors. The only way it managed to hold its own among its first-rate neighbors was by strengthening its military. As a result, swordsmanship was exceptionally valued in the kingdom, and its young men spent much of their time honing their skill with the sword and competing with one another.

As royalty, Abel had been subjected to an intense regimen of training since childhood. Day after day, he practiced. Day after day, he was told to practice more. So long as the King's blood ran in his veins, his goal should be to become the best swordsman in the kingdom. However, never — not even once — had he bested his older brother, the First Prince. Nevertheless, he kept trying. He put in the work, enduring endless grueling training sessions in the hopes of one day beating his brother at swordplay.

But one day he'd been forced to face the cold, hard truth: in this world, there existed some talent so sublime — so utterly unequaled — that no amount of hard work could ever hope to reach its heights. It was the day he traveled to the Sunkland Empire and witnessed the swordsmanship of Sion Sol Sunkland. It was a terrifying sight. His skill with the sword was so overwhelming that not even the experienced knights could equal him. The deftness of his blade defied logic; he bested one opponent after another — all full-grown adults and all with far superior weight and reach.

As he watched, Abel felt something waver inside him. The level of mastery on display was incomparable to even the brother he could never beat. He was witnessing a true genius at work — a true genius who was the same age as him. And, when he discovered that this boy was First Prince of a first-rate kingdom, that something inside him snapped.

There were those, he realized, who were favored by God. They were chosen to be superior... and he wasn't one of them. No matter how hard he tried, he'd never stand shoulder to shoulder.

The most I'll ever be is second-rate...

Once that thought took root in his mind, everything — the hard work, the practice, all of it — suddenly lost all meaning. What was even the point? Why suffer the hardship? Why endure the pain? There was no need. Fortunately, he was blessed with his mother's looks, and here in Remno, whose society skewed toward male chauvinism, he only had to display a little bit of kindness to receive the adorations of women. His maids, for example, loved him to bits. And so he would go on to become known as a second-rate prince, indulging in many dozens of mistresses over his lifetime and ultimately leaving his mark upon history as no more than an unprecedented playboy.

Or so he should have, had she not appeared before him in all her glory. Her name was Mia Luna Tearmoon, Princess of the mighty Tearmoon Empire. Known to some as a saint of profound wisdom, the young girl stepped in front of Abel and, with nothing more than a few dozen words, smashed his future of decadent flippancy to pieces. In a bright voice that carried to every student in the courtyard, she declared him to be her dance partner.

"And that is why," she continued, "Prince Sion, it is with the utmost regret that I must inform you, I cannot accept your generous invitation to the dance."

Abel could hardly believe his ears. The man chosen by God to be first-rate royalty in every sense, Sion Sol Sunkland, had asked her to the dance. And she'd turned him down, just like that.

S-Son of a swordseller! This is insane!

Abel panicked. This couldn't — shouldn't — be happening. No matter how generous an opinion one held of him, he was not a suitable match for Princess Mia. This was obvious to everyone, especially him. So, after the commotion settled, he hurried over to Mia.

"Princess Mia! I know you saved me back there, and I'm deeply grateful for that, but that was enough. Please, take Prince Sion as your partner to the dance."

"My, what's this? Do you wish to embarrass me in front of my peers by rejecting me?"

"No, not at all! But what's the point of dancing with me? With all due respect, Your Highness, we're a terrible match. I'm not good enough for you."

"Improve, then. Better yourself so that you are."

"Huh? B-But..."

Words failed him. For a few seconds, he simply stood there with his mouth open. Then...

"I... I can't. I'm sorry, Princess Mia. I don't have the talent," he finally said. His expression grew pained. "It doesn't matter how hard I try. I'll never be as good as Prince Sion. I doubt I'd stand a chance against even my own brother..." Long-repressed emotions — frustration, disappointment, grief — spilled into his voice. They were the true feelings that he kept hidden from everyone.

Everyone except himself.

How could he? Who but him would know his own anguish? The dark despair of trying, and trying, and trying, only to fail?

Yet faced with his dejection, Mia chose to smile.

"Prince Abel, all you know is now. You don't stand a chance against them now. Am I wrong?"

"...Huh?"

"Perhaps you feel unworthy of me today, and perhaps that is true. Then what about tomorrow? And if not tomorrow, the day after? The road of betterment is paved day by day, and who knows for certain where it leads? On the day when you draw your final breath, who is to say that you shall not stand above Prince Sion? No one knows what the future holds, Prince Abel. Not you, not him, and... certainly not me." Mia paused for a beat. Slowly, she closed her eyes. "If you cannot trust my words, then allow me to offer you some assurance. I chose you as my dance partner. There is not the slightest possibility that you cannot triumph over Prince Sion, much less your brother. I, Mia Luna Tearmoon, guarantee it."

Her words, almost prophetic in their certainty, pierced Abel's heart.

Well, that should do it for the pep talk. Prince Abel had better start stepping it up. After all, it'd be a problem if I needed Remno's help one day and that stupid brother of his got in the way. With that said... I can't believe how good it felt to reject Prince Sion in public! That was simply sublime! Oh ho ho!

As usual, Her Highness was as petty as ever on the inside. Her actions, however, had thrown a massive wrench into the cogs of fate. From this day forth, the life of Abel Remno began to proceed down a very different path.