The Shadow of Lunatear
Where there is light, there is always a shadow.
Lunatear, the glorious capital of Tearmoon Empire, also has a place that people choose not to look at. Near the walls was the slums, commonly known as the Newmoon District. This is the place where the poorest live, where there is not enough food, where the sick don’t get care and just get thrown away. It seems all semblance of civilization has left this place, except for a small church that hosts an orphanage. Indeed, the place was an abandoned district.
A young girl in a beautiful dress was walking along the streets of this forsaken district. It was no other than Mia Luna Tearmoon, the beloved daughter of the Tearmoon Emperor.
“Your Highness, please don’t walk too far ahead. In fact, please don’t walk in front of us…”
Around the girl were four armed guards, her exclusive maid Anne, and Ludwig, who was a recently added ally. In order to explain why such a conspicuous group is visiting such a place, it is important to go back a few hours…
“…After all, this problem is something that definitely needs to be solved…”
Mia’s head was surprisingly clear, probably because of the sweets Anne brought. After rereading the diary, Mia found an interesting description in it.
“The plague… I remember having eggs thrown at me because of this.”
A few years from now, a pandemic would devastate the capital. It was a terrible incident that even Ludwig wasn’t able to predict. It would kill 10% of the capital’s population. According to the rewritten diary, the empire’s finances that has improved due to Ludwig, deteriorated again because of the pandemic.
“Well, I know I can’t leave it alone… but how can I prevent the plague?”
As a rule, Mia hates hard work. She can stay in the large library if it needs be, but she won’t last long, and she hates studying and researching. Then what should she do…
“For now, I will just ask the things that I don’t understand.”
The answer is simple. Just ask someone and rely on them. Mia, after all, has now a convenient source of knowledge.
“Miss Anne, I’m going out.”
“Where are you going, Mia-sama”
“To see that stupid four-ey… I mean to see Ludwig.”
“Oh, the gentleman from the other day… then I have to fix your dress and make you look pretty.”
Anne’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm all of a sudden.
“Is that so? I think my dress at the moment is nice enough already…”
Mia was currently wearing a chic black dress which she often wear in her room. While it may be a little bland for a ball, it was more than suitable for casually meeting people.
“That won’t do at all! Don’t you want to be appealing to men? Now, off to the dressing room, Mia-sama.”
Mia was forcibly brought to the dressing room. Anne, with the help of another veteran maid, prepared Mia’s clothes. They decided to dress her in a blue dress with a relatively short skirt. It was designed to look cute and is easy to move around.
“My, I don’t think I’ve seen this dress before.”
Mia’s dresses can easily fill rooms. So of course, it wasn’t surpsiging that she couldn’t keep track of all of them. There are even some dresses that she outgrew without ever being worn.
“Fufu, you look good, Mia-sama”
With a smile, Anne began tending on Mia’s hair. After combing, her hair was shining platinum, and then Anne put on a hairpin that was adorned with rainbow-colored jewels.
“Oh? That’s …” Looking in the mirror, Mia looked at the hairpin and her eyes narrowed slightly.
“What’s the matter, Mia-sama?”
It wasn’t Mia who answered Anne’s question, but the other veteran maid.
“It was an offering gift to Mia last year. Mia likes it very much.”
Anne laughed happily when she heard the story of the veteran maid in charge of the dressing room.
“Is that right? It’s just perfect for the occasion then.”
“I suppose so…” Mia replied with a hint of sadness in her voice.
To be honest, I don’t really like this…
It wasn’t the design or ornaments that Mia disliked. Mia had another reason why she wasn’t happy with the hairpin.
But for going to see that stupid four-eyes, I guess this is enough?
In the end, Mia chose to say nothing.
