Chapter 44: A Subtle Misunderstanding

Having prior experience in horseback riding, Abel was the first to regain his composure.

"Come on, Princess Mia, open your eyes and take a look around. The view from up here is quite something."

"I-I suppose I shall. All right... Here I go."

Mia took a deep breath, steeled her nerves, and forced her eyes open. The perspective felt completely new. Unlike the panoramic view from atop a castle, it was just a little higher than usual, which imparted a sense of novelty to the scenery. A cool breeze brushed past her cheeks and lifted her hair. The rhythmic sway of the horse's steps, which had been nothing short of terrifying at first, were also starting to grow on her.

How strange. For some reason, I'm starting to feel a little sleepy...

She gently rested her head against Abel's back and closed her eyes.

"Wh-Whoa, P-Princess? Wh-What are you— Oh, look over there! It's her! Your, uh, attendant!"

"Hm? My, you're right! Hey, Anne!"

Mia threw her hands in the air and waved enthusiastically at Anne. Hands. And waved them enthusiastically. Alas, familiarity breeds complacency, and complacency leads to carelessness.

"Wait, don't let go— No!"

"Eh?" Mia's view suddenly swiveled in an arc. "Hyaaaaaah!"

She screamed as she tumbled off the horse and landed on the ground with a heavy thud.

"Mmm.... Hm? How odd."

For some reason, the impact didn't feel as bad as it had sounded.

"Ow, ow, ow..."

She heard Abel's voice next to her ears. Apprehensively, she opened one eye for a peek.

"P-Prince Abel?! What are you..."

That was when she realized that she was in his arms. Rather, in his embrace! Abel had dove off with her to get his arms around her and break her fall!

"Wha— B-But— Huh?!"

Her voice cracked, and she stammered incoherently. She could hardly hear herself over the pounding of her own heart.

Wh-What in the moons am I getting so flustered for? This is just a hug. I'm simply being hugged by Prince Abel, that's all. There's no reason to get all worked up. Besides, this isn't even the first time. I'm experienced in being hugged. I was hugged at the dance. I'm a master of being hugged... thought Mia to herself in a desperate attempt to calm the wild throbbing in her chest. A-And, not to mention, Prince Abel is just a kid. That's right. He's eight years younger than me—

"Are you okay, Princess Mia? Did you hurt anything?"

She glanced up to find him looking at her, expression full of concern. Their eyes met. The intensity of his gaze bore through her chest and pierced her heart.

N-No! Don't look at me like that! Not with those eyes!

Mia quickly looked away, but not before her cheeks filled with color.

"I-I'm fine, Prince Abel. Quite fine, actually, so if you don't mind... Could you, um, let me go?"

"U-Uh, right. Of course. My apologies."

He hastily pulled away from her, his expression unmistakably crestfallen.

"Ah, please don't get the wrong idea," said Mia in a hurry. "I didn't mind being held by you or anything. It's not that."

"Yes, of course. I know..."

Contrary to his words, Abel's face did not brighten. He looked disappointed... almost desolate. Something about his expression made Mia feel uneasy.

Oh I see now. This is how the cookie crumbles, isn't it? He stops liking me, and when I need reinforcements from him in the future, he won't send them anymore...

There was just a shadow of a doubt in the back of her mind — a whisper asking if something like this could possibly cause him to despise her. She decided to dismiss the thought and focus on how to remedy the situation.

What can I do to... Ah-hah! I know!

She stepped closer to him and took his hands in hers.

"Huh? What?"

"Thank you very much for saving me earlier, Prince Abel!" she said before bringing her face right up against his. Then, she turned her head up and looked him right in the eye.

When someone gets too close, the natural reaction is to back away. I just have to make him experience that process for himself. My, how terribly clever I am!

"A-Ah, hey, um... Okay, I get it already, so could you just... not get so close?"

Unable to hold her gaze, he blushed and turned away.

"See? You looked away too, didn't you? Would you care to explain why you did so, hm?"

Mia put on a victorious grin.

"Why...?"

"How you feel now, Prince Abel, is the same as how I felt earlier."

"Wha—?!"

You see, as a person of very delicate sensibilities, I get nervous when people come too close. That's all it is.

"B-But, I think... I probably feel that way more strongly than you do."

"My, is that a sore loser I hear?"

There was an endearing, child-like quality to the way Abel got so competitive over something so trivial, and she couldn't resist a giggle.

I do wonder if he's trying to say he's even more delicate than I am?

What Mia didn't realize was that they had slightly different interpretations of how they felt. Whereas she assumed it was a reaction to "having someone get too close to you," he took it to mean "being approached by the girl you like."

What she also didn't realize was that there was another layer to her own reaction that, unbeknownst to her, was rather similar to Abel's.