Chapter 2: Princess Mia Experiences Romance Overload!

After hopping off her bed, Mia immediately got down to business. Her first destination was... the bath, of course.

"Ahhhh, it really is wonderful to be able to take a bath whenever I want!"

For those who are interested, as a bath aficionado, Mia's morning routine began with a beeline to the tub. Taking a hot bath after waking certainly had the effect of improving circulation, and it was a habit that enjoyed widespread approval in Saint-Noel, but Mia's baths were something else.

"Mmmmm... I can feel the heat soaking into me... It's making me sort of sleepy..." she mumbled as she considered returning to her bed for a second wind — of napping, that is.

Mia's baths were not just baths; they were exercises in hedonism.

Ultimately, she abandoned the notion and quickly dried herself off. Despite a truncated application of her usual treatment routine, her skin and hair had retained their usual luster. After donning a freshly-cleaned dress and accessorizing to maximize her charm, she made her way to Rafina's chamber.

"Ah, Mia, you're here."

"Greetings, Miss Rafina. Thank you for inviting me to this tea party."

She tugged at her skirt and performed an elegant curtsy at the door before stepping into the room.

"Hey, Mia. I've been looking forward to seeing you."

"My! Abel, you're already here!"

"I just got here, actually. And you... are especially beautiful today," he said with a bright smile that immediately reddened her cheeks.

"M-M-My! Abel! When did you become such a smooth talker? You shouldn't say things like that to girls too often, you know? It'll make you look like a womanizer!" she replied, trying her best to keep her cool.

Abel, however, looked hurt.

"I... didn't think you saw me that way. I wouldn't say that to anyone else. Only you, because I honestly think so."

This, while ostensibly a reasonable clarification of his intent, was effectively the follow-up right hook to his opening left jab, and it knocked the sense right out of her for a good few seconds. She stared at him in a daze as an amorous sigh escaped her lips. Inside her head, she was experiencing full-on romance overload, and her overheated brain struggled to string simple thoughts together.

Wh-Wh-What is his deal? Sweet moons, Abel! A-Are you innocent or an imbecile? You can't just say stuff like that in public!

She was brought back to her senses by the sound of someone politely clearing his throat.

"Ahem. Princess Mia... I would greatly appreciate it if you would refrain from overtly ignoring my master."

"Keithwood! You came as well? Then... Oh, Sion, you're here too."

Sion's shoulders visibly sagged at her remark. He turned to his attendant.

"...Keithwood, I've never had any desire to win the affections of women. If anything, they were always the ones to approach me, and I always found their advances a tad vexing. But tell me... was that the folly of a young man, blind to his own privilege? I thought myself a decent person, but strip away the fame and fortune, and what remains? Is it but a sad creature deserving of such scorn?"

The sight of the crestfallen Sion was too much for her guilty conscience to bear, and she hurried to comfort him.

"O-Oh, please, Sion. Don't take it so seriously. It was just a joke. Of course I wanted to see you too. I'm glad that you're doing well."

At that, Sion immediately looked up, his despondent frown replaced by a smug grin.

"Ah, good. Because I was joking as well."

"Wha—?!"

"It's good to know that we were mutually facetious. I wished to see you too, and I'm equally glad that you're doing well. Also..." His grin deepened. "I see that you're still as gullible— Ahem, good-natured as ever, Mia."

"What?!"

Mia's face reddened again, but this time, it was in anger overload.

Th-This little brat! I swear he's gotten even meaner than before! Is it because of the kick? I bet it is! He's still holding a grudge against me for kicking his smug little butt!

She was about to fiercely rebuke him when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking over, she found Abel wearing a thoroughly puzzled frown.

"What do you mean, Prince Sion? That good-naturedness is exactly why she's so beautiful."

"...Eh?"

Abel's sweet words hit her like an uppercut and robbed her of her voice again. Her cheeks grew redder than they'd ever been, and she let out another long, amorous sigh as she indulged in another moment of romance overload.

Slightly inebriated by the thick scent of romcom in the air, her senses were dulled and she let down her guard. The bloody diary had vanished, and she'd been freed from the terror of the guillotine blade. Furthermore, she'd managed to escape from the perilous situation in Remno without so much as a scratch. Her string of successes had dulled her sense of danger. Like a bear deep in hibernation, she was oblivious to the new perils creeping up on her.

"Excuse me. Huh? Princess Mia?"

The next people to step into the room were Tiona Rudolvon and her attendant, Liora Lulu.

"My, the two of you were invited too? How's Cyril doing?"

"Ah, he's doing quite well, Your Highness. He's studying hard and looking forward to attending classes at the school you're building."

"I see. I'm very glad to hear tha— Hm?"

At last, her survival instincts kicked in, sending a chill up her spine.

Wait a minute... Something about this seems off... The people here, they're...

Sion and Abel, and now Tiona... These were all the accomplices who'd followed her into Remno. The fact that they were all gathered here made her uneasy. Alas, it had taken too long for her sense of danger to reawaken, and she'd lost her chance to escape.

"It would appear that the whole cast has been assembled. Let us begin the tea party then," said a delighted Rafina.

Something about her smile told Mia that new dangers were right around the corner, and she was about to be sucked into them.