A World of F.A.T.
Mia didn’t know what to say when Count Lampron suddenly spoke up.
“I’m sorry? Subject yourselves to me? As the leader of the organization? Please, that’s just about the last think I’d want to do. It would be so anno-arrogant of me.”
She oho-ho’d reflexively as a cold drop of sweat ran down her back.
Sweet moons, I almost said “annoying”… I need to get my act together now.
When she realized that the talk had taken a new turn, she tried to keep her mind on it and go with it.
My “arrogant” save covered me on the humility font, but that leaves me with responsibilities…
It was normal to think that the person who came up with the idea would be responsible for carrying it out. Since Mia came up with the idea for the organization, she may be responsible for running and leading it. That would be a lot of work, though! She needed an excuse to be free her from having to do such work.
It hit her then. With a smug smile she said, “I think the job should go to someone chosen by either Forkroad or Cornrogue.”
If I may say so myself, this is a great idea! Some people might be upset if I chose someone from my own kingdom, but no one can say I’m playing favoritism if the nomination comes from a merchant who is an expert in the field. Also, if the person does something wrong, it won’t be my fault.
“You would give the glory and prestige to someone else?” asked Count Lampron, shocked.
This question made her brows twitch.
She said in a low voice, “Prestige and glory…” These words would taste bad if they had taste.
Mia was used to glory She was well aware of the prestige that coming from being princess of the Tearmoon Empire. She also knew about the beheading, though. Glory, prestige, and social status… Those things wouldn’t stop a blade from going through her neck. It was much better to have a fast horse. She’d even be willing to give up all her glory for a carrot cake. At least she could give Kuolan the carrot cake and keep him moving.
Also, the fact that she ran away meant that her head was already about to roll. She would much rather not have the guillotine come after her in the first place. How could that be done best?
She looked at Count Lampron and spoke slowly and slightly condescendingly, like someone would when trying to explain something to a very smart child. “Count Lampron, I believe that always being able to eat tasty, filling meals is a great blessing.”
That’s correct. The executioner will not come for you if you eat every day. Today you can eat cake because you know tomorrow you will have mushroom stew. That is a blessing bigger than any glory. For that cake to be truly enjoyable, however, everyone nearby had also to be full. The sight of hungry people outside the castle walls took away the sweetness of the cake faster than anything else.
“What greater glory is there than to provide for all people? To know that there will always be bread in the morning, so everyone can sleep well at night?”
Glory did not stop the scythe; gorged guts did. It was important for people to know they could eat as much as they wanted today and still have plenty of food tomorrow. That really kept people’s heads from dropping, because what did people do after eating that much? Food comas. People start to feel like a pig, and lie on their back after eating too much. They get tired. Their mind and body slow down. As long as they can get a good night’s sleep and another good meal tomorrow, they don’t care as much about things, like princesses who might not be very smart. She didn’t care as much, and she wasn’t that different from everyone else, at least.
That was Mia’s perfect world. A place where everyone was pleased. And not worried. And with a very high chance of getting F.A.T.
While thinking about this, she smiled at the people in the hall, making her face as friendly as it could be to hide any breakthrough smugness, and said, “Hunger kills nations. It kills the people along with their kings and rulers. It is our shared enemy. So, shouldn’t we all work together to fight this threat?”
Hunger was the enemy. In the same way, it was the same for everyone. It was the same for emperors, kings, Sunkland, and Tearmoon. Also, the enemy of an enemy had to be a friend. That’s what she really meant with what she said: she wanted to get some good people from Sunkland to work for the group. As soon as she finished her speech, she knew she had won…
“Princess Mia, I am truly amazed by how wiseyou are. It would be an honor to help you make this big dream come true.”
… Abram, King of Sunkland, spoke out in support of her cause. Her smile was friendly but speaking to the hall, she had a hint of smugness about her.
“Please forgive me, everyone. I have taken up your time. I’m not the guest of honor this time; it’s Prince Echard and my best friend Esmeralda. They’re together because of a marriage proposal, and I wish them the best.”
By quickly turning the attention to Esmeralda, she was trying to send a message to those who were against her. That’s right, she couldn’t stop the wedding. In that way, she had lost the battle. They should enjoy their win while it lasts, though, because she still hasn’t lost the war. Mia made it clear that Esmeralda was her best friend and that everything that happened after this depended on her.
“May this wonderful arrangement go off with all the ease and joy it deserves.”
That last line was just extra, and she meant it as a kind of “Go ahead, get married. It doesn’t matter to me.” Then she stomped off on her heels with what she thought was an air of sophistication instead of, well, sour grapes.
She walked toward some grapes, but they were not sour at all. Nor was anything else near her either. She ran straight for the desserts on the serving table.
That was way too much work to do. I’m beginning to feel dizzy. I need sugar.
The events had used up all of her energy, and her body was in desperate need of sugar.
Mia kept walking, and each step brought her closer to her perfect world. Literally. To the table that was full of F.A.T. waiting for her.
