Reunion
“… Whose voice was that?”
After the meal, Mia moved to the salon in the Aerial Observatory. Even though it’s an aerial garden, it doesn’t really float. It is built on the roof of Whitemoon Palace, a little overhanging on the walls. The garden, which was created by collecting various beautiful flowers from within the country, was a magnificent place that is a perfect place for entertaining royalties from other kingdoms.
She walked around the garden for a while and enjoyed the beautiful scent of flowers, but the thoughts in Mia’s head did not clear up. There’s something she really have to remember… but that precious memory seems to be clouded by a veil of fog and she can’t reach it no matter how hard she tries.
“…I know what the problem is. I haven’t had sweets. Maids! Bring me some sweets, will you?”
Mia clapped her hands as she expected the sweets that were denied to her earlier. She sat at the table seat near the corner of the garden and waited for awhile. Then she saw a young maid coming. Seeing what she was carrying, Mia’s eyes went wide with anticipation.
Gracious moons! Could that be…
A cake! It was a cake. An ordinary shortcake with plenty of cream and plenty of strawberries on top.
It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten cakes, cakes, and cakes!
It wasn’t only after she was captured and spent her days in the dungeon, but even by the time that the empire’s finances deteriorated, she was no longer able to eat cakes. Naturally, the sight of one sent her to excitement.
In front of Mia…
“Oh, I’m sorry to have kept you waitiiiiiiiii-eeeek!”
Before her eyes, Mia saw the maid flew! Of course, the cake flew together with her. As if in slow motion, the cake passes in front of Mia, who could do nothing to stop it…
Splat!
The cake crashes into the floor. It somehow retained abit of its shape. But the real catastrophe was just coming… the maid falls on top of it, and completely crushed the cake!
Mia was at a loss for words.
“Hey, Anne, what are you doing!”
An elder maid, who watched the whole scene from the sidelines, rushed in uproar.
“I’m deeply sorry, Your Highness. Are you injured?”
ia was shocked and stunned, but soon she regained her calm and smiled.
“Yes. I am fine. Thank you.”
Normally, the old Mia would have raged and screamed curses at the maid. However, after experiencing a painful life in a prison, Mia’s kindness was now deeper than a cake plate and her heart was broader than a teacup. In other words, she now has the patience enough not to be called selfish, but maybe not deep enough for an average person.
Still, this was a big growth. Yes, people do grow up. Even if it’s slower than a turtle…, no, a snail. Mia is growing! So even now, Mia wore a smile, although a bit strained.
“It doesn’t matter much. Just bring me another cake.” Mia said but added more to ease her mood, “More importantly, is that poor girl okay?”
She has grown much to the point that she can now afford to care for her maids. Besides, there’s not really a problem if they can just bring her a replacement cake.
“I’m terribly sorry, Your Highness. That was the only cake we had for today…”
“You! Come! Kneel on the spot!”
And just like that, she snapped! Before a ruined cake, Mia’s tolerance was as light as a dead lead that would fly if blown.
After all, cake business is serious. She hasn’t had one for so many many years. So between common sense and cake, the cake will always win.
“My cake… how dare you do this to me? You! Look at me!”
“Eeek!”
The young maid trembled before Mia who was stomping her foot. Before Mia was girl in her mid-teens, probably few years older than Mia. She has red hair that was covered with fresh cream. Thin freckles dotted the tip of her nose and her blue round eyes glistened with tears.
It was a face that was more cute than beautiful. Regardless, she lacked the dignified aura of nobility. She was more like a simple cute girl that was common in villages.
“…you”
When Mia saw her face, a vivid memory came back to her. It was a memory from the worst day of her life, her execution day. At that time, she had been alone in her dungeon, waiting for her inevitable fate to come.
