Fair and Square
“So when you win the election, save me a seat in the Student Council.”
Sapphias said smugly while still unaware of Mia’s intentions.
“Just so you know, you are not fooling anyone.”
Mia wanted to say that she has seen through his act and his schemes. Sapphias was taken aback at first but quickly recovered.
“Fufu, Your Highness, you’re too cautious. Rafina Orca Belluga isn’t that formidable.”
He said with a frivolous smile. The words were perfectly in line with Mia’s expectations.
So that’s your excuse. You will raise me up and pull Rafina down. By downplaying her, you assert that opposing her isn’t a big deal. But if she’s so easy, why would you spend so much time scheming against someone who matters so little?
A stupider princess might have taken him at his word if told that she was better than Rafina.
Unfortunately, I’m not that stupid!
Mia felt good about herself knowing that she had seen through her opponent’s scheme.
“Dear Sapphias. I’m afraid I cannot take part of your cunning plot.”
A cunning attempt to make me and Rafina fight against each other? Think again!
“You will regret not taking this brilliant plot of mine!”
Sapphias leaves the room. Mia watched him go, her face fully refreshed.
Underhanded tactics are definitely out of the table. But I still have to get the Four Dukes to out together votes for me. I better follow up on that tomorrow.
Mia was thinking about that but the situation would begin to roll in a way that is against her favor.
“Damn, I’m telling her that she can win. The idiot princess with a cowardly heart…”
In a state of anger, Sapphias was about to kick the wall in the corridor… but stopped as he realized that it might hurt his foot.
“Just so you know, you’re not fooling anyone.” Mia’s words resonate in his head. “My plan is perfect… it cannot be… how can she know? How can Rafina be possibly be on to me. She thinks too highly of Rafina. It’s not being cautious but more of being spineless. Isn’t all’s fair in love and war?”
Sapphias leaves the place while complaining. But he was stopped by a voice.
“Lord Sapphias”
Reflexively turning around, he saw a girl in front of him.
“Yeah? Ah …, the daughter of a poor country noble. Does being friends with Princess Mia get to your head that you feel like you have the permission to talk to me?”
It was Tiona Rudolvon. Sapphias snaps at her, venting his frustrations at the daughter of the Outcount. He is, after all, the heir of the Bluemoon family. A top noble of the central aristocracy.
Tiona takes a step back, frightened for a moment… Then she clenches her fist and stood her ground. Then she met Sapphias gaze and glared at him.
“Please don’t disturb Princess Mia.” Tiona said in a quivering voice. “Her Highness is different from you. She hates dirty tricks.”
For a moment, Sapphias wasn’t sure what was happening. Then he realized that he was being lectured by someone that is lesser to him in age and status. He smiled a disdainful grin.
“So you were eavesdropping on our conversation? How fitting coming from a lowly house.”
“Yes, I’m the daughter of an Outcount, but Princess Mia is a person who doesn’t discriminate according to social status.”
Hearing her reply, Sapphias’ grimaced.
“You’re cheeky for a daughter of an Outcount. Maybe this requires a little punishment…”
Sapphias approaches Tiona to threaten her. He barely stepped forward when he heard another voice…
“You would dare to do that?” It was Abel who appeared behind Tiona. “I think it’s a bad image to be threatening ladies.”
“Abel Remno? Is the second prince of a second-class kingdom going against me who is one of the Four Dukes?” With a disdainful attitude, Sapphias glared at Tiona and Abel.
“Well, diplomatically that might be bad. The empire and the Kingdom of Remno may have different national powers …” Abel shrugged with a smile. “However, if keep silent here, Her Highness will surely get angry at me. So can you please refrain from violence towards ladies?”
Unfazed with Sapphias taunting, Abel wore a smile that warned his enemy not to test his patience. Sapphias who saw it was scared.
Sapphias Etoile Bluemoon. He, who is also related to Mia, had the same virtues as Mia. He… doesn’t like to get hurt. No, he cannot even stand blood. If he sees it, he would faint. From his experience, just scraping his knee is enough to make him light-headed.
Because of such, even if he punishes his servant, the best he can do is hit him with the flat of his hand. And because his hand will hurt, he rarely does it. He might be able to let his subordinate do the punishment, but he is afraid that if they use too much strength, the punishment might end up with blood. Then he will pass out.
That’s why he’s a person with strong aversion to violence.
Of course, this means that he didn’t participate in the swordsmanship tournament, nor even trained for it. Tiona might even be better to him when it comes to swords. Without his political power, he really doesn’t have any power. Literally.
On the other hand, Abel is a member of the royal family of another country. Although inferior to Tearmoon, he is a favorite of Princess Mia. In case of a confrontation, Sapphias would be at a disadvantage. Sapphias quickly analyzed the current situation in his head.
“Hmm. Don’t get too full of yourself. There are many nobles under the Bluemoon’s influence. I am going to talk to the rest of the Four Dukes. Don’t think you can get any cooperation from us.”
“Go ahead then! Even without their help, Her Highness will be okay. We will show you that she can beat Rafina fair and square.” Tiona proudly tells Sapphias. “She will be fine. I know she will.”
It wasn’t until the next day that Mia heard about this exchange. And this was just before she was to head out to meet the Four Dukes to ask for their votes.
What?! What is with this girl? What is she trying to do?! She really is my archnemesis!
Eventhough she was frustrated, she could not throw a tantrum with Abel being there. Moreover, he had taken Tiona’s side, leaving Mia with no choice but to play along.
“Uh, uh, I’m sure that was a pain, Tiona. Thank you for giving him a piece of my mind. You told him what I wanted to say instead.”
“I am honored by your compliment, Your Highness.”
I’m not complimenting you! I don’t approve of what you did after all!
Thus, Mia lost the sure votes of the imperial nobles. What Mia doesn’t know is the end results of Tiona’s courage…
