Princess Mia Sympathizes
“Please. Please enter here.”
The priest led them into the church and into his room. The priest’s room was still simple and empty, which also reflects the state of the church. Nothing has changed since her last visit.
“I’m sorry I can’t offer you a proper hospitality. I’m very grateful for your support, but we’ve been too busy to find time to fix this place.”
The priest gave an embarrassed smile. Although upon looking around, it seems that repairs had been done to the walls and the ceilings. Even if it still bare, the church is in better condition, and at they won’t be bothered by drafts.
It is very admirable for him to leave his room for last.
Not all people working in poor areas are of outstanding character. There are people that are pretending to help while enriching themselves. Mia was impressed by the priest’s attitude, which did not change even with the financial assistance arranged by Ludwig. Mia’s admiration of him started to skyrocket before it plummeted with the next conversation…
“By the way, I heard that Your Highness became friends with the Saint …”
The priest said as if he just remembered.
“Saint … Oh, that’s Rafina. Yes, we have become friends.”
Not of my own choice… she wanted to add but stopped herself.
Because that person is scary…
Although Mia might be thinking this way, Rafina actually likes her. In fact, she has been sending Mia letters since summer break started. Mia did not have much of a choice but to reply to her letters.
Writing back to her is so stressful and depressing. I have to make sure that I don’t write anything bad or else she might hate me! Ugh!
Mia sighed in frustration.
“Oh, wow! The rumors were true after all!”
Hearing Mia’s words, the priest screamed in excitement and his eyes seem to be sparkling. For him, who belongs to the Central Orthodox Church, Rafina is up there above the clouds. So, his excitement might seem normal… but it seems to be more than that…
Is it just me or is he reacting like an idol fan?
Mia remembered what happened when she visited a big theater before. At that time, the popular actress was surrounded by lots of fans… and it seems like… the priest behaviour is…
“Oh, uhm…if it is not much trouble Your Highness, will you ask her for a signature the next time you see her?”
Damn right! This priest was fangirling!
Mia receives a portrait of Rafina from the priest. She tried very hard to hide her disgusted face. Then he told her detailed autograph instructions such as “I would be very happy if you could include my name if possible…”
By the way, the portrait seems to have been made in large quantities when Rafina was born in the Principality of Verga. Mia sniffed the same scent as her father to the delighted Duke of Verga, who invited many painters to make portraits of her daughter!
Rafina-sama also has it hard…
Mia felt sympathy for Rafina… well, just a little.
Mia then turned back her attention to the priest to whom she has lost all respect for, and changed back to the main subject.
“By the way, Father, I heard that this hairpin is a keepsake…”
“Oh, yeah, that’s right.”
Mia just caught him on time, if not the priest would have started singing Rafina’s praises. This time the priest nodded and switched back to being the humble director of the orphanage.
“It seems that the child’s mother is from a small tribe living in a forest area on the outskirts of the empire. But she has a relationship with a man from another tribe and gave birth to that child. This led to a fight with her parents. She ran away and came here to the capital with the baby. Unfortunately, she got sick, and she died when he was still young.”
The moment Mia heard the words, “a minority tribe in the outskirts of the empire,” an unpleasant chill ran down her spine. The words in the diary entered her mind. Mia’s instinct was telling her that she was stepping into a danger zone leading to her grave.
“…Well, would that tribe happen to be the Lulu tribe?”
“Oh, as expected of Her Highness Princess. You are already aware of it…”
The priest looked a little surprised, but immediately nodded as if he understood everything.
“It’s not a surprise that you already know since you are friends with the Lady Saint Rafina…”
In the eyes of the priest, Mia was elevated. But although he admires her, it seems that she won’t be joining the Mia fanclub any time soon. He’s a big Rafina fanatic after all. That aside…
“Well! If it’s such an important thing, I can’t accept it!”
Mia exaggerated her tone to point out that she did not know about this beforehand. She looked at the beautiful hairpin. It seems to be bewitching her to her bad ending. It is best to return this back as soon as possible…
“Oh no. Please take it, You Highness. Because that child really wishes for you to have it.”
The priest gave a gentle smile.
“Since being brought in by Your Highness, he has always wanted to thank you. That hairpin is a heartfelt gift from him.”
Well of course it is a heartfelt gift. It is his mother’s keepsake after all, duh!
“So please, please. From your point of view, Your Highness, it may look like a poor item, but please don’t throw it away…”
“Oh, of course. I won’t throw it away! I’ll make sure to perfectly take care of it.”
Mia, who is blocked from the escape route, takes the next best option.
“And when you’re here, and if you don’t mind at all… if you can wear it …”
“I’ll wear it every day!”
Since she can’t return it, she might as well as just charge forward! She will treasure this hairpin if it means building a good relationship with that boy. And she’ll make sure that it will be very obvious that she treasures it. She’ll wear it every day, and even wear it sleeping if that means building affection with that boy. Mia may not be sure how the boy is connected to her future “past” events, but she is sure that the boy plays a critical role. So, she might as well as take advantage of the situation.
“Will you please tell that child that I am very happy with his present? And that I will cherish it very much?”
“I will definitely tell him, Your Highness. He will surely be happy to hear that you like it.”
The priest smiled, looking relieved.
At that point, Mia was unaware how her behavior would have an unexpected effect in the future.
