Chapter 32: Saint, Schemer, or Seductress?

"My oh my, she sure turned you down good, milord," said Keithwood as he approached Sion, who now stood alone following the departure of Mia and Abel. "Have to say, though, sure didn't see that one coming. Rejecting you, huh. She's got some grit, that one. A shame that you missed out on this opportunity to acquaint yourself with the princess. Still, this is hardly the only chance you'll have. No reason for upset... Oh? Well, what's this?"

Keithwood cocked an eyebrow, for he just saw an extremely uncommon sight. Sion — his lord and master, who had been trained since childhood to maintain the composure and disposition of royalty — had displeasure written all over his face. In fact, it wasn't just displeasure. It almost seemed like...sulking.

"Now don't tell me you're in a bad mood just because a girl's not going to a dance with you."

"Of course not," Sion responded, forcing the corners of his lips up. He might have meant it as a smile, but it definitely did not involve enough muscles. "The actions she took were exemplary, resulting in both resolution of the conflict and minimal damage to Prince Abel's reputation. Remno's First Prince does seem to have a rather disagreeable personality, so it's fully understandable that she'd want to defend Prince Abel."

Good points, good points. Now if only it didn't sound like you were primarily trying to convince yourself.

Keithwood was older than Sion by four years. Their relationship was not a simple one, and due to its many facets, he harbored a variety of different emotions and attitudes toward his prince. While he loved and respected Sion as a principled lord, he also felt an obligation to mentor the dear son of the King he owed so much. Furthermore, having grown up together, they would always share the innocent camaraderie of childhood friends. There were also times — like now — when he couldn't help but feel like an older brother who happened upon the perfect chance to poke some fun at his younger sibling.

"Besides, I was the one who asked. I'm well aware that the other party has the right to both accept and deny my invitation."

"But for some reason, you can't help but sulk about it?"

"I'm not sulking!" snarled Sion in a childish rebuttal that caught Keithwood off guard. "I'm just... a tad disappointed. But I'm not upset about it."

Keithwood, both eyebrows now fully raised, regarded the pout on his prince's face.

Huh. It's not every day you see Sion get so worked up, he mused. Normally, Sion would calmly brush off his teasing. I wonder if we're past the stage of dispassionate interest... Perhaps Sion has some genuine feelings for this girl...

The truth was that Keithwood had correctly identified the source of Sion's petulance before even Sion himself. The prince's current feelings very closely resembled those of a boy who'd gotten the cold shoulder from the girl he liked.

Princess Mia, huh.

Admittedly, Mia's reply came as a surprise for him as well. Though he wouldn't say it out loud, in Keithwood's personal opinion, Sion had Abel beat flat. There wasn't a single aspect in which Abel held the upper hand. Granted, now that he'd gotten a look at him, he could see that the second Remno Prince was indeed an attractive lad. He wasn't just handsome, he also carried himself with an air of grace. Once school started, he was probably the type who'd become rather popular.

...But that was it. In Keithwood's eyes, Abel truly conformed to the old adage — beauty is only skin deep. His charm was extremely superficial. Those who found the likes of him appealing were hardly worthy of consideration.

Under normal circumstances, anyway. The problem is that in this case, he's up against Sion.

Put side by side, Abel's everyday good looks paled in comparison. The superior of the two in terms of both inner and outer appeal, Sion was overwhelmingly the more attractive option. Indeed, whether one delighted in the frivolity of the face or sought the substance of the mind, the Crown Prince of Sunkland had it all. He charmed schoolgirl and sage alike.

And yet Mia chose Abel to be her dance partner, turning down an offer from Sion in order to do so. She passed up a chance to tread the ballroom floor with Sion and ignored Abel's fervent plea that she reconsider.

To protect Prince Abel's reputation...? I suppose that makes sense, but...

Keithwood had a creeping suspicion there was more to it than that. There had to be some other reason. Something about what she'd said to him... It almost sounded like she was trying to motivate him.

Does she see something else in Prince Abel? Some hidden talent that eludes me?

She was, after all, the much-lauded Great Sage of the Empire. It would be prudent to assume some deeper motive.

So, princess, what are you? A benevolent saint concerned with the social well-being of others, or a careful schemer whose every move is meticulously calculated?

Just then, a thought occurred to him that made him smile wryly.

Or maybe... she was just teasing him? That smile of hers was less saint and more... young seductress, if you ask me. Who'd have thought? Clever as Sion is, there might be a girl who's playing him like a fiddle.

It would be some time before Keithwood would learn of — what he would think were — Mia's "true" intentions. The experience would shake him to the core, for he would witness first-hand — again, what he thought was — the reason Mia was known as the Great Sage of the Empire.

That, however, comes later. For now, only one thing was for certain: unbeknownst to her, Mia had gained another title — the young seductress.