An Invitation (Deathtrap) from the Heir of the Bluemoon
In the library, Mia managed to complete her election pledges referring to what Abel brought to her. Of course, Abel helped her and she was even able to rope in Sion. “I’m neutral, so I can’t be on Mia’s side.” Sion helped her somehow while mumbling. Mia thought that Sion’s disposition was gentler nowadays.
After finishing all the work, steam figuratively blows out from Mia’s head. She was ready to collapse from all the hard work.
“Sorry, Mia”
“…Huh? What are you talking about?” Mia asked Sion with a blank stare.
“About the Four Dukes. I can tell how shocked you were. I did not see your usual wisdom throughout this afternoon while writing the pledges. I should have picked a better time.”
It may be that Sion was being considerate, but it did undermine Mia’s entirety of work. And to think that she used up all her brain for it.
What? I worked so hard to come up with these too…
Mia would usually put on an angry cheek puff, but she doesn’t have the energy for it anymore. Also, he did help her a lot with the pledges, so being a responsible adult, Mia tolerated Sion.
After returning to her room, Mia fell on the bed and fell asleep like a rock.
The next day, in the classroom that they were using as an election headquarters, Mia was planning election strategies with her faction. It was then that Sapphias Etoile Bluemoon came in for a visit.
“Hello Your Highness. A good day to you.”
“Oh, good morning, Sapphias. Is your father doing well?”
“Quite well. In fact he is better than ever with the patronage of His Majesty the Emperor. And gracious moons, Your Highness, you are looking beautiful as always. I always find myself fascinated by your charms.”
“Well, you’re really good at flattery…. Ohoho.”
Unlike the friendly superfluous greetings they exchanged, Mia’s inner monologue was far less friendly.
You’re finally here.
The second she heard Sapphias had requested an audience, she immediately made the connection with what she had heard from Sion.
Chaos Serpents… If you think you can snare me with your schemes, then you’d better think again! I’m going to turn this around, catch you in the act, and walk you straight off to Rafina! She hmphed with a swagger. The trapper… has become the trapped!
“Now then, Your Highness… May I ask that the room be cleared?”
Sapphias glanced around the room. That alone was enough to send a few students scurrying for the door. As one of the heirs of the Four Dukes, his influence easily overshadowed that of even royalty from smaller kingdoms.
“Mia…”
It was Abel who gave Mia a look of caution.
“It’s okay, Abel. Could you see to it that our friends find another room to work in?”
With that said, Mia nodded to Tiona who left with Abel. Mia really wanted the two who were proficient with swords next to her, but at the moment it can’t be helped.
Sapphias smiled upon seeing the people leave the classroom, but raised his eyebrow upon looking past Mia.
“Ah, perhaps you didn’t hear me. You, the maid over there, you were instructed to leave.”
Anne winced at his glare and began to shrink back, but Mia took a step forward to protect her.
“This person is my exclusive maid. She is my limbs. Would you dare cut off any of my limbs?” Mia said while glaring at Sapphias.
“No, I don’t mean that. If Your Highness says so, I will happily abide her presence.”
Seeing Sapphias bowing reverently, Mia sighed.
Being alone with a member of the Chaos Serpent is far too dangerous! I’m not stupid enough to let that happen!
“Milady…”
Anne was staring at Mia full of heartfelt emotions.
“So what is it that you want?”
Sapphias smiled amiably and answered, “I’m here to inform you Your Highness that my Bluemoon family fully supports you in your running as President of the Student Council.”
“Well, that’s a very good news. Did you come all the way just to tell me that?”
“No, that’s not all. I’ve prepared a plan to beat Rafina-sama.”
“Really?” Mia leaned forward a little. After all, she currently has no plans on how to beat Rafina. “You have such a plan?”
“Yes, it’s quite easy. Find Rafina-sama’s shortcomings and weaknesses, then use it to attack her.”
“Her shortcomings, huh?”
It’s a so-called negative campaign. Instead of promoting the goodness of your own policy, look for the other party’s fault and use it as a material for attack. It may be an effective method, but…
“That may be possible against a normal noble, but does Rafina-sama actually possess any shortcomings?”
“Well, if she hasn’t, then we can just invent one.”
“What?”
“Rafina Orca Belluga is a noble saint. Therefore, any slight flaw we make, will be a huge blow on her reputation. It’s an easy task. If it pleases you, Your Highness, I would be willing to do this task personally.” Sapphias said with a cunning smile.
Hearing that, Mia…
Heavenly moons, I haven’t thought of that!
She was honestly impressed.
For Mia, who knows of Rafina’s flawlessness of policy, it is truly eye-opener that she can just make-up flaws and defects about it.
But when I think back about it, I am pretty sure they have done this countless of times to me during the revolution… Four out five rumors about me were not true.
… It’s a big lie. At least over 60% of the criticisms were true. However… certainly not all of them were true…
What made them difficult was that even if I claim them to be false, people would not believe me.
Sapphias’s plot seemed really reasonable to Mia’s eyes. Mia’s heart shakes for a moment. But something in Mia was issuing a warning. That is…
It made me really angry when it was done to me.
Insulting someone for something they did not do will not only make them angry but is also a sure way of earning someone’s grudge for a long time.
Even I, who is known to be mild-mannered and tolerant, got angry. So, there is no doubt that this will blow Rafina’s top off.
Mia imagined Rafina staring at her with a cold, angry expression… The road leading to the guillotine was suddenly visible to Mia.
Eeek! No way I’m going to do that! It will lead to my head rolling off even before I know what hit me.
Yes… Mia now has a lot of experience, regardless of what those experiences were.
You have to reap the seeds you sow yourself. And the seeds that Sapphias is trying to sow are bitter and poisonous, even if they temporarily bloom beautiful flowers.
“A daughter of a small country duke is nothing against the might of us proud mighty Tearmoon nobles. We’ll snap her like a twig. Just you watch. Hahaha.”
Mia watched as Sapphias laughed with such smugness that he started bending over backward. And then it suddenly hit her…
I see! Now I understand! This is what the Chaos Serpents are planning now. They plan to drive a wedge between me and Rafina. Too bad for you. I’m not going to let that happen!
