Bonus Short Story: Mia’s Delicious Visitation

There is an artifact known as the Mia Pot.

Tucked away in a remote forest near the border of the Kingdom of Remno was a small settlement called Doni Village. One family of hunters in the village owned a pot that had been passed down for generations. They referred to it as the "pot of miracles," and there were a number of stories surrounding it.

The most famous of these claimed the pot once saved the people of the area from a cruel ruler. As the tale went, the ruler was once a gentle person, but when his whole family was nearly killed by poison he was left traumatized. Ever since that day his mild disposition had turned to cruelty. He stopped trusting others, subjected his people to heavy taxes, and sentenced those who couldn't pay to imprisonment and lashings.

One day, he went alone to the forest to hunt, bringing not even a single attendant with him due to his distrust of others. His solitary nature came back to bite him as he ended up lost in the forest. After much wandering, he happened upon Doni Village. The villagers treated him to an exquisite pot of hare stew so delectable that it thawed his frozen heart. He would go on to reverse both his behavior and his policies, and was remembered as a benevolent ruler.

The pot that had been used during his stay was, of course, the aforementioned Mia Pot. It was an expensive item, crafted through techniques unknown to Remno at the time, that had been gifted by the then-Princess of the Tearmoon Empire, Mia Luna Tearmoon.

Long ago, when the Kingdom of Remno had been gripped in the throes of an imminent revolution, Princess Mia had personally marched into the camp of the revolutionary army and resolved the situation without spilling a single drop of blood. The episode had become the stuff of legend within Remno, told and retold by its people.

When Princess Mia entered Remno to calm the unrest, there was a hunter whose hospitality she'd enjoyed. A similarly famous story told of the time she'd returned to the kingdom to bestow upon the hunter the gift of the pot in return for his generosity. Upon hearing the story for the first time, many would frown at this detail, wondering why she'd chosen a pot as a present. Those who knew Mia's ways, however, would without fail express understanding at her choice. Rather than a gift of money, she picked that which would best suit the recipient. When selecting gifts, the Great Sage of the Empire took into consideration not just the inherent qualities of the item gifted, but the sentiments of the person who would receive it.

The following, then, is the story of Mia and the exceptional pot she gave as a gift.

One day, in the White Night Dining Hall of the Whitemoon Palace, Mia was smacking her lips expectantly at a special menu prepared by the head chef.

"The main dish today shall be ambermoon tomato stew."

A soup dish was placed on the table before her. Steam rose from it, carrying the fragrance of fresh vegetables. The tartness of ambermoon tomatoes, mixed with the rich aroma of baked solanum tubers and the sweet fragrance of Perujin carrots, was further enhanced by a blend of spices, producing what could only be described as a revel for the senses.

"My! Mmhmhm, this is one of my favorite dishes. I've been thinking about this all day!"

She gazed covetously at the bowl of liquid joy and promptly spooned some into her mouth. A hot chunk of tuber rolled across her tongue, followed by a piece of stew-steeped carrot, and she went wide-eyed as her taste buds sprang to life.

"This... tastes even better than before..."

"Ohhh! So Your Highness has noticed."

The head chef beamed at Mia's comment. He proceeded to retreat back into the kitchen before reappearing with a trolley, atop which sat a large pot.

"As a matter of fact, the stew today was cooked using a new pot."

"Oh? A new pot, you say?"

Mia regarded the pot with curiosity.

"Indeed," said the head chef with a pleased smile. "The heart of a stew begins in its pot. Truly, the quality of the vessel plays a significant role in determining the resulting flavor."

Then, with all the bright-eyed enthusiasm of a child who'd received a new toy, he began humming as he explained the ins and outs of his new pot.

"This pot was made with state-of-the-art technology. Look here. Do you see the slight indentations on the surface? Such fine craftsmanship... It's made from premium-quality materials that ensures an even transfer of heat throughout..."

"Hm, hm, I see. So those qualities you mention are what affect the taste... By the way, how much did this pot cost?"

"Cost? About a crescent gold, more or less..."

"My! That much? Well then. How glad I am to have learned that!" she exclaimed before eagerly requesting for Ludwig to see her as soon as possible.

Lately, Mia had been grappling with a certain problem. She'd been trying to think of a proper show of appreciation for Muzic of Doni Village, whose hospitality she'd enjoyed when she'd been caught up in the mayhem in Remno. The old hunter had been a veritable lifesaver, coming to her aid when she'd woken up completely lost after nearly drowning in a river. It went without saying that some sort of thank you gift was in order, but...

"I wonder what I should send him..."

That was where things got tricky. The simplest gift was money. It had a clear, defined value, and it was quick and easy to give. She could simply hand him a nice bag of cash as a reward and be done with it. There was one problem with this idea; its value was too defined. For example, if she gave him one gold coin, it would represent exactly one gold coin's worth of appreciation. Considering this was the Princess of Tearmoon thanking the man who'd saved her life, one gold coin seemed more than a little miserly. If others were to find out, it would stain the Empire's reputation. Worse still would be the scenario where Sion ended up giving ten gold, which would paint Mia as a stingy wretch.

She couldn't just shower the man with money either. The guillotine may no longer be on her horizon, but Tearmoon's finances were barely in better shape. There was absolutely no place for imprudent spending. All things considered, expressing her thanks in the form of money was very likely to end up costing her more than she'd like.

Her best option, then, was a valuable object. Just like how exceptional knights received high-quality swords as rewards, and royally-appointed merchants who did well were given regal clothing, presenting people with expensive items as tokens of appreciation was a widespread practice. This method did still come with the problem of cost. Be it gems, clothes, or fancy swords, the wallet was going to suffer. Skimping on quality was too risky; the last thing she wanted was for it to be revealed that her supposedly stately present had fallen apart during transport or something. She'd never live down an incident like that. What it came down to was balance.

"The million-coin question, then, is how to obtain a high-quality item while keeping costs down..."

For three whole days, she pondered this problem. Then, in a flash of inspiration, she found her answer — in the head chef's pot! Rather, it was the pot!

"That's it! I just have to take something that's normally cheap and make it in an expensive fashion!"

Take, for example, a dress that's moderately expensive. Because it's moderately expensive, it should also be of moderately good quality. As a present, it'll likely be received with moderate enthusiasm which, in the grand scheme of things, isn't terribly impressive. "Moderate" lacks punch. However, what if you took the money that you would have spent on that dress, and bought a handkerchief with it instead? It's bound to be a handkerchief of the finest quality, and when you give it to someone as a present, what do you think their reaction will be? Doubtless, it'll be something along the lines of "What an expensive handkerchief!" or "Now that's a quality handkerchief!" In other words, using a moderate sum of money to acquire a normally inexpensive item at very high quality is how you create that premium feeling without breaking the bank.

In fact, when the head chef told Mia how much the pot had cost, the first thing she thought was, "My, you can make such delicious stew with something so cheap?" A gold coin was a lot of money for a regular person, but it paled in comparison to the cost of precious gems and premium dresses. She knew this for a fact, because she'd spent the past few days researching all sorts of potential gifts. Then the head chef showed up with a proud grin and the answer she'd been searching for: a premium pot made with state-of-the-art technology.

"On top of that, the fact that it's a pot makes it a more meaningful present, too!"

In fact, considering the man's circumstances, giving him something like jewelry was exactly the kind of move that would make it seem like she'd put very little thought into her gift. A pot, meanwhile, would have great utility for a hunter like him. At last, Mia had happened upon the answer to her problem.

"Well then, there's no point in waiting around. I'll get Ludwig to send it immediately," she said, humming happily to herself as she fondly recalled the events in Doni Village. "I do hope he likes it... But, huh. The more I think about it, the more I miss that delicious hare stew... It was so good... I bet it'll taste even better if it's made with a premium pot... Mmph..."

She wiped away some drool. Then, an idea came to her.

"Huh, you know what..."

Her grin took on a devious air.

"My goodness. Come in, come in. That must have been quite the long journey," said the Remno chancellor, Dasayev Donovan, as he greeted the group stepping in through his door.

His genial smile didn't fully hide the apprehension in his expression. While his manor was as luxurious as one would expect of the residence of a Remno noble, he still couldn't help but worry it might be inadequate to properly welcome guests of such high standing. Walking at the forefront of the group was regality incarnate — the daughter of the Emperor of Tearmoon, who reigned over one of the two strongest nations on the continent. With a smile surprisingly devoid of arrogance, Mia Luna Tearmoon raised her skirt slightly in a respectful curtsy.

"Thank you very much for arranging to help us on such short notice, Lord Donovan."

I see. So this is the Great Sage of the Empire... The girl who changed Prince Abel...

A breath of admiration escaped his lips as he beheld the charming young princess.

"You're very welcome. Please, excuse my modest quarters and make yourselves at home. Shall I bring out sweets?"

"My! How thoughtful of you, Lord Donovan!"

Her face bloomed into a bright smile. Considering her status, Donovan had no doubt she had more than her fill of sweets on a day-to-day basis, yet she still made sure to show earnest appreciation when they were offered as refreshment. That alone gave him a very good impression of the girl. To his added astonishment, she backed up her words with actions, leaving not a morsel of cake or a drop of tea behind. Throughout the whole process, she never once appeared to not enjoy it. This cemented his positive opinion of her.

Discretion and modesty, generally considered to be virtues, were ultimately situational. Using this very exchange as an example, had she practiced social modesty and avoided consuming the refreshments offered, it could be taken as a sign of suspicion. Maybe, it would be assumed, she was worried the food had been poisoned. If she wished to display trust, it would be necessary for her to take at least one bite. Presumably, she understood these social norms, which was why she chose to eat every last bit. How such a gesture would be received was dependent on the beholder, but Donovan found it endearing. He'd much rather see a hearty bite than a reserved nibble.

Had I a granddaughter... would she be like her? he thought, as a fond smile crept across his lips. He regarded her anew. So I see. This is the girl who changed Prince Abel...

Abel Remno was no stranger to him. As the chancellor, he had plenty of chances to see the boy. In fact, he'd been keeping a close eye on him. Though Abel seemed to be made of kinder stuff than the violent First Prince, Gain, his indecisiveness made the thought of leaving the kingdom in his care more than a little worrisome. That had always been Donovan's opinion of the Second Prince — a boy who fell short of his brother in leadership, decisiveness, martial prowess, and pretty much every other aspect in the makings of a ruler.

But... he's changed. I still remember it as if it were yesterday... The way he carried himself on the battlefield, and the deftness with which he pacified the town's unrest after rescuing me... The scrawny, unassertive child I once knew is now a veritable lion of a boy.

Though he knew not what transpired in Saint-Noel Academy to promote such transformative growth in Abel, it wasn't hard to imagine that the girl before him was closely involved.

Now then. Let us find out what business a girl like her has with the likes of me.

Dasayev Donovan took a deep breath to compose himself, and spoke.

"Please forgive my tardiness. I should have expressed my gratitude the day I was rescued. Thank you, for bothering with this old bag of bones... and more importantly, for preventing the bloodshed that the people might have otherwise suffered," said the old count in a tone of deep sincerity.

Mia gently shook her head.

"I shall accept your gratitude, but only on behalf of those who are more deserving. It was a concerted effort by everyone — including yourself, Lord Donovan, who I believe contributed a great deal to the cleanup afterwards."

Discretion and modesty, in Mia's opinion, were extremely important. The elderly count before her was the chancellor of Remno, whom even the Holy Lady, Rafina, recognized as a man of benevolence and integrity. She only stood to benefit from getting on his good side.

Abel's brother seems to hate me for some reason, and I have no idea if his sisters or parents will like me, so if I want a happy married life with Abel, I'm going to need friends in Remno!

In accordance with her unwavering Mia Firstness, she promptly engaged in extreme modesty signaling, dodging and deflecting all compliments sent her way to demonstrate her profound social discretion and restraint. Never once did it occur to her that the empty plate in front of her, devoid of its baked contents, somewhat marred the effect.

"In fact, that's why I've come back to Remno, so I can thank all the people who lent me their strength. There is one person in particular for whom I have a present I'd like to deliver in person."

"A present to be delivered in person?"

Donovan's eyes went wide.

"Of course." She nodded firmly. "This person saved my life."

The conversation between Donovan and Mia drew a sigh of wonder from Ludwig, who'd been watching them from the sidelines.

As always, Her Highness is a marvel to behold.

Mia had prepared a gift and carried it herself on their journey here. It was a small gesture, but one that renewed his faith in her.

Normally, someone in her position would simply hand the gift to a courier and send them off with her regards. She didn't do that.

She is the princess of a vast Empire, yet she is earnest in her appreciation and is willing to express it with her own two hands. That alone is sure to influence Lord Donovan's opinion of her.

It wasn't much. The gift itself was unchanged. The most she accomplished was to add candor to its message. Politics, however, were not practiced through emotions, and it was a faux-pas to insert one's feelings into diplomatic matters. It was imperative that nations grounded their decisions in the bedrock of logic.

How she was viewed by a minor foreign chancellor should be irrelevant. So long as negotiations between nations proceeded calmly and rationally, neither party should be unduly concerned with the feelings of the other.

...Or at least, that would be the outlook of a hardline rationalist. But the reality was different. You could preach the virtues of reasoned judgment in politics all you wanted, but at the end of the day, it was people behind those politics — people who were at the mercy of their hearts. Politicians had their biases, and whether they were friendly with or detested someone was clearly going to influence their decision making.

Such influences sometimes carried little weight. If a prince was fond of a princess, but her nation was on the brink of collapse, he couldn't just send her a bunch of troops unless there was something to gain. Similarly, if her nation was suffering from famine, passion alone could not permit him to offer food without compensation.

But that didn't mean it made no difference at all. It was like shopping; if the same product were being sold by multiple merchants at the same price and quality, you'd purchase it from the merchant with whom you have an established relationship. If anything, you might even be willing to pay a little more to buy from the person you liked. These were the kind of tiny differences that, though they carried little weight individually, could stack up until they were heavy enough to tip the scales.

Her Highness is truly a paragon of diligence. Not only is she ensuring that those who helped her are repaid, she's using this as a networking opportunity to strengthen the bonds between Tearmoon and Remno going forward. The lengths to which she goes for her nation is a marvel to behold!

Ludwig found himself moved almost to tears by the Great Sage who was so wise in her service to the Empire. While he was busy basking in his ever-escalating fantasies, Mia continued her explanation.

"He's a hunter named Muzic from a place called Doni Village, and I very much wish to hand this present to him myself. Would it be too much to ask for a guide?"

"Doni Village... The name does not ring a bell..."

"It's not far from the town where we rescued you. There's a village of hunters in the nearby forest."

"I see. If it's in that area, then... Asking the locals would be best. Perhaps someone from the Senia garrison could assist you..." Donovan got up and walked over to a cabinet from which he retrieved a piece of parchment.

"If you'll give me a moment, I'll gladly write you a letter of introduction to the mayor of Senia. I'll also have someone from my household accompany you as a guide on the way there."

"You have my gratitude, Lord Donovan," Mia said with a cheerful smile.

Things continued on smoothly after that, and Mia was soon enjoying the gentle sway of a well-sprung carriage, Dasayev Dononvan's letter of introduction held firmly in her hand.

Thinking back on it, asking the chancellor for help was definitely the correct choice... thought Ludwig. Considering the King of Remno's unfavorable opinion of Her Highness, going to him directly would have made things far more difficult.

He glanced at Mia, who was gazing cheerfully at the passing scenery. Her blitheness proved infectious, and he felt his own mood improving.

It's as if a heavy burden has been lifted from her shoulders. She must have been deeply troubled by having left such a debt unpaid, even though few, if any, would be upset or even surprised had she — the princess of a great nation — simply forgotten to acknowledge an act of kindness from a commoner... It warms my heart to know that Her Highness undoubtedly has the makings of a benevolent ruler.

He put his fingers to the bridge of his nose, as though adjusting his glasses, and sniffled a little.

...Those of you who happened to bring a knife may proceed with the cutting, because the irony is so thick that you can all have a piece for yourselves.

When they finally arrived at Doni Village, the Princess Guard was left speechless at the sight.

"You're telling me... she stayed in a place like this with Prince Sion?"

The soldiers traded astonished whispers and flabbergasted expressions. You couldn't blame them. Doni Village was a tiny settlement, and there was nothing about the place that suggested it would be even remotely suited to hosting royalty. Those familiar with Mia's character, such as Anne and Ludwig, might have expected as much, but the guards couldn't help but stare in disbelief. Mia regarded the sea of bewildered gazes and giggled with glee.

"Oh, stop it with those looks. The village might be small, but I'll have you know that it's quite pleasant, and it's graced by all sorts of wonders from the forest."

By which she meant hares. Or rather, what hares become after they've been left to stew in a pot for a few hours.

Mia made a beeline for Muzic's shack. As she walked up to the door, it occurred to her that he might be out hunting, but her concern was quickly dispelled when the old hunter appeared at her call.

"Well, bugger my bowstrings, if it ain't the little lady." He grinned at his unexpected guest. "Good to know you found your friends."

"I certainly did, and it's all thanks to the generous help you offered. In fact, I owe you my life, and you must allow me to express my gratitude." She offered him a warm smile and graciously bowed her head. "You see, I'm actually..."

She proceeded to disclose her true identity.

"Huuuuh, that so? I got word from your little buddy too. Never woulda thought you were a pair of royal types. Prince and princess, huh."

Apparently, Sion was one step ahead of her, having already dispatched an envoy.

He sure is diligent when it comes to these things. It looks like he beat me to the punch.

She grudgingly tipped her mental hat to Sion. Then she produced her present.

"I've come bearing a gift. Consider it a token of my appreciation."

Muzic held up his hands and took a step back.

"Nah, don't bother. I don't need no gifts. I helped you 'cause I wanted to. That's all. The prince offered me something too, and I refused him."

His gesture caused the accompanying Remno guide to draw in a sharp breath — and for good reason. The Princess of Tearmoon had gone to the trouble of making a personal visit to give him his gift, and he just responded with the equivalent of "Meh, no thanks." It was an outrageous affront, and no one there would have been the least bit surprised if Mia had, in a fit of anger, shouted, "Off with his head!"

She didn't though. There wasn't a single sign of anger on her face. Instead she frowned in gentle disappointment.

"My, that's rather unfortunate. I was hoping to ask you to use the pot I brought to make some more of that delicious hare stew," she said, crestfallen.

Everyone traded puzzled glances, wondering what the heck the deal with this stew was. Everyone except Muzic, who roared with laughter.

"Seriously? You came all this way just for a pot of hare stew?"

"I certainly did. I heard that cooking with this pot makes food even tastier, so I thought I simply must give it a try," she said as she, in a most unassuming fashion, pulled the pot out of its pouch. "Oh, I've been looking forward to this so very much."

"Well now. Gotta say, that's a real fancy pot."

"Yes, it was crafted by the Empire's finest artisans using the latest pot-making know-how. Apparently, it's really good at letting heat through, and it can really work some magic when you're stewing meat and stuff," she said, proudly showing off the pot as though she'd designed it herself. "Might I trouble you, then, to give it a go? Whatever you make, I'll pay for my share, of course. So by all means, please make some of that stew... And while you're at it, actually, could I trouble you to pick some edible mushrooms? Ones that are easy to cook preferably. I'd love to have some mushrooms too... Can you stew mushrooms?"

"Well yeah, sure, you can make mushroom stew... but didn't I tell you to stay away from the damn things?"

Ludwig watched the exchange between Mia and Muzic from the sidelines.

Truly, Her Highness is a marvel to behold.

He'd been having these same thoughts so often on this journey that he was starting to repeat himself, even in his head. In Ludwig Land, inflation had become the norm.

Despite the recipient turning down his reward, she nevertheless managed to place the gift in his hands. And it all felt so natural... To remove any lingering reservations, she refocused the issue on what was supposedly her own selfish desire for fine foods, making it seem like he'd be doing her a favor by accepting her gift...

It was a masterful display of social maneuvering. He led by saying he hadn't helped her for personal gain. She countered with the claim that he'd be doing her a favor. Faced with his tactically impenetrable modesty, she simply turned the tables. She wanted to eat, and she was the one doing the asking. The pot wasn't a gift; it was a tool to fulfill her request. It was a brilliant checkmate, and she'd come up with it on the spot.

Now all that was being asked of him was to provide a single meal. Since she was a guest from afar, propriety alone would require him to provide such, and the burden on him would be minimal so long as there was no famine. It was like witnessing art in motion — a calculated sequence devised and carried out to perfection. For the next little while, Ludwig's head was filled with little more than admiration for Mia.

It's beating a dead horse at this point, but obviously, Mia wasn't doing any social maneuvering. There was no calculating, no battle-of-wits subtext to their exchange. She'd meant every word she'd said. Literally. She was honestly just craving delicious hare stew. Which was fine, really. Nothing wrong with a bit of gluttony from time to time. Plus, good food was the basis for a good life. Why question a girl's pursuit of happiness?

And happiness she found, with plenty to go around. Everyone present, from Ludwig and Anne to the princess guard and her Remno guide... Everyone who had some of that delicious stew found themselves sharing in an air of warm mirth and laughter. A good meal was a source of bliss, and a few sips were enough — at least for a little while — to free them from their worries.

"I'll leave that pot in your care, Muzic. Should I have the chance to visit again, I'll be looking forward to another bowl of stew," said Mia as she gave the old hunter a sprightly wave of goodbye.

"You betcha. Come again any time. I'll treat you to the best pot o' stew you've ever had."

Muzic waved back and smiled as though he were sending off his own granddaughter.

Mia departed the village, unsure if she'd ever return. Her future was uncertain, and the path ahead was still shrouded in mist. So, she sowed seeds, scattering them to the winds of fate as she proceeded. One day, they would bloom, and maybe — just maybe — she would reap the fruits they bore.

Tearmoon's revolution is gone now... but I still need a backup plan in case something happens. Doni Village is a tiny place in the middle of a forest, which makes it perfect for times when I need to go into hiding. Plus, as long as they have that pot, I'll have all sorts of delicious food to eat, so I won't have to worry about going hungry.

The timid always sought refuge; no coward would go without a safehouse prepared. It hadn't been long since her diary had disappeared, and Mia was still carefully planning out her next steps. Knowing her, though, the diligence was unlikely to last. Pretty soon, she'd probably start slacking off...

Thus concluded Mia's visit of appreciation, during which everyone had a good time. Everyone, that is, except for the hares that were eaten. They didn't have a very good time.