Chapter 37: Princess Mia... Declares Her Resolve

In a particularly large and luxurious guest room in the mayor's manor, a pint-sized princess was currently indulging in a rather excessive amount of shut-eye. The room was furnished with a bed so big that even Mia — a bit of a kicker in her sleep — didn't have to worry about falling off. As soon as she'd had the chance, she'd rolled herself up in a soft, down-filled comforter and surrendered herself to its tender embrace.

You can't really blame her.

It had, after all, been a while since she'd slept in a bed. Furthermore, the plan was to leave the next day to meet up with Keithwood and Tiona, and the thought of abandoning her newfound nest was having a negative impact on her motivation to get up. Sion, worried about being attacked at night, didn't actually get much sleep, but such concerns were beneath Mia. They were so far beneath her that she never even considered the possibility. As it turns out, ignorance isn't just bliss; it's also a great sedative. So she managed to sleep soundly, mumbling something about delicious mushroom stew while making slurping noises. Her lips curled up into a gluttonous grin as she continued to gorge herself in her dreams. Sadly, her scrumptious fantasy was shattered by a noise coming from the hallway.

"Mmm?" She woke up with a yawn. "How terribly loud... What is the matter?"

She dangled her legs over the side of the bed and rubbed her eyes. Once the heavy haze of sleep had cleared from her mind, she stood up, feeling the soft sensation of thick carpet under her bare feet. She made her way to the door, put her shoes on, and walked outside into the hallway, down which Sion just happened to be walking.

"Ah, Sion. Good timing. What's going on?"

"Well, the— Uh, Mia, maybe you should go change first."

"Huh?"

After a few puzzled blinks, she looked down at herself, at which point she nodded.

"Oh. I think you're right."

Currently, Mia's attire consisted of a big, puffy nightgown made with a generous amount of wool, a nightcap that resembled a floppy witch's hat, and her shoes. It wasn't her most fashionable moment. Also, there was probably something to be said about appearing in public in a nightgown as well, but the clashing styles of her outfit took the spotlight for now.

"Anne would indeed give me an earful if she saw me like this. I suppose I'll have to change then."

She retreated inside her room and quickly put on something more presentable, after which she followed Sion to the mayor's office.

As soon as they entered the room, they heard Lambert's voice.

"There's no way... They can't possibly have sent the army here this fast..."

"But the fact is they just sent a messenger demanding our surrender."

"What is going on?" asked Sion.

Lambert turned to them, his face slightly paler than usual.

"I just received a report from our comrades that the royal army has taken up position in the streets, and leading them is the second prince, Abel Remno."

"My! Prince Abel!" Mia exclaimed, sheer delight bubbling up at the unexpectedly welcome development.

That's right. Some of you may have forgotten, but Mia was a few parts "lovestruck maiden." The rest of her was composed of decidedly unmaidenly qualities like staring with a creepy grin at the body of a handsome boy and getting cheeky at a couple of young delinquents... but in any case, her inner girl-on-a-first-date woke from her long slumber and up went her heart rate.

Oh thank the moons I took a bath last night!

But her delight was cut short by Sion's response.

"The only reason a member of the royal family would personally lead an army here is to rouse the troops for battle," he said with a bitter grimace. "The Diamond Legion is already in position, which means he's bringing two things: reinforcements and the king's command." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "So that is the path you have chosen to walk, Prince Abel..."

There was a moment of silence. Then he turned to Lambert.

"Tell me exactly what the messenger said. Also, I'd like to know where the national army is currently deployed."

"What? But—"

"If you want the support of my kingdom, then I suggest you obey."

For a second, Lambert pursed his lips in thought, but he soon nodded and directed his subordinate to comply. Sion then turned to Mia.

"Mia, I assume you want to be there?"

"Huh? Uh, but..."

She thought she'd say yes, but the word caught in her throat. She'd be heading, she realized, to what could very well become a battlefield. There would be real, imminent danger. It was hardly the kind of place she should casually be strolling into.

"Of course, even if you don't go, I will. In that sense... it might actually be easier if you don't come with me."

"What? Why?"

"Things have changed, and I now have a question for Prince Abel that must be answered. And depending on that answer..." He trailed off, but his hand moved to the sword at his waist and his eyes narrowed. "What I said to you that night... It's time to put my words to the test. I can't stand by and watch innocent people be slaughtered."

"Are you... going to kill him?" she heard a trembling voice say. It was her own.

"I hope I don't... I hope I won't have to."

Upon hearing that, something hardened in her heart. Tenderness turned to resolve, and she made up her mind. It was the hardest decision she'd ever made, and it took every ounce of determination she possessed.

Mia didn't want Abel to die.

As for Sion... she didn't want to see him perish this way either. Though she had no idea what she could do, she couldn't bear the thought of being left behind while the two of them went off somewhere to kill each other. At the very least she wanted to be there. She drew in a breath and let it back out, steeling her timid heart...

"Prince Sion, I... I will go with yo—!"

...And accidentally bit her tongue in the middle of her rousing declaration of resolve, hard.

The moral of this story, then, is to stay within your means, because overreaching will lead to pain and failure.

Nevertheless, she fixed Sion with a look of determination. The determination, that is, to hide the fact that her tongue hurt so much she was nearly in tears.