Plenty of sugar with a Drops of Tears on the Black tea
“Me? You want me? To persuade him?”
“Yes.”
Ludwig stared straight at Mia. It didn’t seem like he was joking.
Well, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ludwig make a joke anyway. So he really must be serious.
Her brain couldn’t keep up with the sudden development.
“Uh, well, Ludwig, I’d like to hear more about your master if possible.”
She decided to buy herself some time for the time being.
“Of course. Let me see…” At Mia’s request, Ludwig folded his arms, nodding as if it was “reasonable.” “Well, my master… is a strict person. Some people came to him wanting to be disciples, but on the first day he broke their hearts and their wills, and they went back to their hometowns. I was also scolded to the point that I couldn’t eat for three days and three nights. There was a time…”
… you have got to be kidding me.
Just listening to this first part, Mia’s motivation decreased by 80%.
“He is well versed in all forms of knowledge. If he wants to learn about martial arts, he goes to the battlefield and run around with a spear. When he wanted to know the effects of poison, he ate diluted poison and collapsed. He is a free spirit. He believes that knowledge is acquired through the senses. So he goes out to see, hear, touch, and makes them his knowledge. People usually call him the Wandering Sage.”
Eeek! This guy sounds a real weirdo! I don’t think I can convince him at all!
Mia’s motivation has further decreased by another 80%.
To be honest, I absolutely don’t want to persuade him, and I don’t even want to meet him.
However, Mia kept up her smile and commented…
“…hmmm… he seems to be a really smart person.”
“Yes. You could say that his amount of knowledge is the best in the empire. Besides, he is a very good teacher to train people. Sometimes he was strict, sometimes he was gentle, he taught us and admonished us, all for the goal of raising us.”
I see…Sometimes harsh, sometimes gentle. I see. So he uses this whole carrot-and-stick thing. He keeps switching between carrot and stick so the suffering stays fresh.
Mia considers this kind of sadistic torture to be something that will leave a permanent trauma. Needless to say, Mia’s motivation was already completely gone by this point. Mia, who lost motivation far beyond her total motivation, no longer wanted to see Ludwig’s master from the bottom of her heart.
Therefore, Mia voiced a dissenting opinion in the guise of a concern.
“Well, should a man like him be fine as a headmaster?” Mia asked Ludwig that asks him to think about the children.
Ludwig showed a gentle smile as if to reassure Mia.
“Her Highness’s concerns are legitimate. But it’s fine. Master is strict, but there’s always a reason for that. For example, when you neglect your efforts, you will be mercilessly reprimanded.”
Ah, I see now… he really is Ludwig’s master. No wonder. Like master, like disciple.
Mia stared at Ludwig’s face with dead eyes.
It may have worked for you. But each person is different. It might not work for most people. They might despair before they learn. Damn our-eyes. Don’t you know that most people get hurt when you insult them?
Ludwig smiles wryly when he sees Mia’s grim face.
“Don’t worry. If it’s Her Highness Princess Mia, I’m sure she’ll be able to keep up with her master’s attitude. Rather, he might be the only one who can have a proper discussion with you, Princess Mia. As the Wisdom of the Empire, you might be able to connect with him on an intellectual level.”
Well, I don’t need that kind of whackjob! I don’t want to talk to someone smarter than Ludwig! No matter how I think about it, I won’t be able to keep up… Besides, it’s tough, it’s scary… I really don’t want to see him! I don’t want to meet him!
Mia was starting to have second thoughts about this idea. Then third thoughts… then fourth thoughts…. After all, even if she succeeds in persuading this man to be a headmaster, it won’t end there. As a headmaster, he would have to consult and discuss things with Mia on a constant basis. Ludwig was bad enough, and this man seems to be more Ludwig than Ludwig. It seems like a scenario of a horror story.
“Ah, but you said he disliked nobles, so isn’t it useless for me to meet him?”
“No. Master hates disrespectful and arrogant aristocrats. Moreover, he hates stubborn nobles who doesn’t want to take a step outside of existing concepts. But Princess Mia, you are clearly different from all of them.”
“No, no, I’m pretty hard-headed too, you know?”
Mia gave her head a soft blow to prove her point.
“Haha, you are so humble.”
Thinking it was a joke, Ludwig laughed. Led by that, Bel and the priest also laughed. Anne was also watching over Mia with kind eyes. The atmosphere was peaceful!
No! This is no laughing matter! Stop laughing.
Only Mia was desperate. In her heart she was screaming.
These guys are laughing with a carefree face without caring for my feeling.
But Mia had already guessed. This is a trend that she must face. She felt like a lamb being led to the slaughter.
Ah, this is… even if I resist… it’s useless, isn’t it?
In that case, Mia surrenders herself to resignation, as if not to use useless effort.
A cup of black tea was suddenly presented to Mia who sat weakly on the chair.
“Your Highness, have this tea. It is sweet and very delicious.”
“Ah… Oh, that’s true. Sip. it’s really, really delicious…”
Gradually, the sweet taste spreads on her mouth… but for some reason it was also a little salty.
“If you’ll excuse me”
It was at that time that the pretty voice of a girl was registered in Mia’s ears. A voice unlike any other in the room.
Come to think of it, who brought me this tea?
Quickly raising her head, Mia looked around and found a girl who was about to open the door and leave the room. A little younger than Mia, probably a girl who is being looked after at this orphanage…
There, Mia places a ray of hope.
“Hey, hey, you over there… Could you come here for a minute?”
“Yes? Me?”
Mia put on a gentle smile to the girl who approached her.
