Tea Party
This day, Mia came to a tea party at the invitation of Esmeralda Etoile Greenmoon, the daughter of a Grand Duke of the Tearmoon Empire. For noble children, tea party is a status symbol. The more prestigious guest they can invite to attend, the more influence they held. In that sense, Princess Mia was always in high demand.
The tea party was held in a corner of a vast garden, where many daughters of noble houses were gathered.
“Mia-sama, what you did was very bold.” Asked Esmeralda, the organizer of the tea party, while waving her blue hair.
“Oh? What do you mean?” Mia took a sip of her tea while giving Esmeralda a curious look.
“I’m talking about what you did in the slums the other day.” The Duke’s daughter laughed and continued, “But why did you do such a wasteful thing? You gave away your treasured hairpin for the common people. Even my Father cannot get his head around the news.”
“Oh, that’s what you mean…”
“I thought it was just a whim, but I’ve also thought that it might have had a deeper meaning because it was Mia-sama. But I just couldn’t think of a reason…” Esmeralda leans forward.
To be honest, Mia didn’t like her. After all, she was the one who betrayed the most as soon as the revolution happened, even though she kept on claiming that Mia was her best friend.
Mia didn’t want to come to the tea party, but she can’t easily refuse. After all, Esmeralda was the daughter of a noble house with the emperor’s blood. So, today’s goal was for Mia to spend as little effort as possible.
And so…
“There is no deeper meaning to it. I just acted as my heart wanted.”
Which was a diplomatic was of saying, “I did it because I wanted to. You’ve got a problem with that, punk?”
If it was Ludwig, then she needs to be more careful about her answer, but for these noble daughters, this level of answer is more than enough.
“That’s so wonderful, Mia-sama. You have such a big heart.”
“To care even for common people… such benevolence, we can’t hope to imitate.”
While listening to the praises of the noble daughters around her, Mia…
Ah, I wonder if this will end soon…
Mia was sighing inside.
“You have worked hard, Mia-sama” Anne said to her as soon as she got into the carriage heading home.
“Indeed. My shoulders feel stiff.”
Anne looked at her with sympathetic eyes. She then proceeded to twist her neck and crack her joints.
“I figured Mia-sama wouldn’t feel at home with that kind of atmosphere.”
It wasn’t that Mia wasn’t at home with that kind of atmosphere. Rather, she grew up in that kind of atmosphere. So, she was curious about Anne’s words.
“What made you think so?” Mia asked while checking the various souvenirs she has been given.
“Because Mia-sama and those people are different.”
Oh, it’s an ice cream. This is delicious!
While thinking about something frivolous, Anne’s narration continues.
“They never have gone to where the poor people lived, nor had they given any of their belongings for charity. They are totally nothing like you, Mia-sama.”
“Oh… is that so?” Mia was unable to look at Anne’s glittering eyes.
After all, she has never acted in good faith. In fact, not a single thing she had ever done was out of pure good will. There was something terribly uncomfortable about being praised for something that she didn’t do. Anne’s pure trust in her, shook Mia’s conscience. As a result, she wanted to do something nice to erase the guilt.
“…Well, since I am a generous Princess, I decided to bestow this gift to you.”
Mia gave Anne her ice-cream souvenir.
“Really? Will that be okay? It looks so luxurious!”
“I’s fine. They’re not that rare…”
“Wow, thank you so much” Anne cheered happily… and then suddenly fell silent.
“What’s the matter?”
“Oh. It’s just that I want my siblings to taste this too.”
“Good point. Then why don’t we visit your home right now?”
“…Huh? Huh!”
“It’s an ice-cream, so if you don’t eat it right away, it will melt. If you want your siblings to taste it, we better hurry up.”
“Wait a minute. Mia-sama, that kind of thing… Will they allow you to go into a commoner’s house?”
“Oh, I thought you already knew? I’m the selfish Princess, right?”
With that, Mia turned to the driver, while Anne was at a complete loss for words.
