The Dice are in Mia’s hands
There is a jewellery box called “Princess Mia’s Curse Box”. It is covered and decorated with lavish gems and rare jewels; the box is also ornate with beautiful painstaking artistry. It is also known as a cursed box that has continued to invite many owners to ruin. It is widely known that its first owner was Mia Luna Tearmoon, the princess of the guillotine, but the name of the person who made the box is surprisingly unknown.
It was actually commissioned by Viscount Berman. He is a noble whose territory is next to the territory of the Rudolvons. Hardly anybody know about Viscount Berman. And even fewer are those who knew that it was because of his actions that led indirectly to the Empire’s downfall.
“Viscount Berman, it is as expected. Count Rudolvon did not agree to the request.”
“Don’t call him a count! Put ‘out’ when calling him. He is just an outcount!”
Viscount Berman shook with rage after receiving the report from a lowly servant.
“A terrible country noble…”
It all started with this crap.
“Nevertheless, I can’t understand why Viscount Berman, who is a traditional and prestigious central noble, has a smaller territory compared to the upstart countryman, Outcount Rudolvon.”
A fellow nobleman remarked in one party event.
Berman wrinkled his nose with displeasure…
“Although the territory of that outcount is larger, most of it is agricultural land or forest area. So there really is nothing to be proud about it.”
“Even so, if it was me, I would not want to be upped by an outcount in any way. But if the Viscount doesn’t care, then it does not matter I guess.”
Berman tried to argue, but he certainly thought the nobleman’s words was reasonable.
It was unpleasant for him just to think that there is an aspect by which he is defeated by a country bumpkin.
The man whispered in his ear.
“If I may offer an advice Viscount Berman, all you actually have to do is to clear out the Sealence forest.”
“The Sealence Forest?”
Sealence Forest is a large forest area that is between the territory of Viscount Berman and Count Rudolvon. There is no line to mark boundary between the two territories. It is just generally agreed that where the Sealence Forest end on both sides, is the boundary.
“I see, if I clear up the forest from my side, then I can expand my territory by a large amount.”
Since Sealence Forest is considered not to be owned by any noble, clearing it from one’s side would mean being able to expand the territory. While this might be a selfish idea, it is not really an uncommon idea for a central noble.
Viscount Berman immediately begins to act. But there was a problem.
The Lulu tribe, a small tribe living in the forest, opposed the clearing of the forest and started a resistance. They were willing to die to defend their forest homeland.
“Insolent lowlives…”
The viscount immediately brings this issue to the Black Moon Ministry, which is in charge of the military affairs. As a result of his commitment to bribery, a centuria was immediately dispatched. However, the dispatched centurion commander refuses to engage the Lulu tribe in combat.
“I was given the mission of maintaining the security.”
They were not instructed, after all, to start a battle against the Lulu tribe. So, they camped just outside the forest and did not enter the forest to fight the Lulus.
“Useless! They don’t listen to me!”
The frustrated Viscount thought of a scheme to overcome the situation. And it is with a gift. A present to the Emperor’s beloved Princess, Mia Luna Tearmoon. The strategy is very simple. Make a magnificent jewellery box and use a very rare wood that can only be found in the Sealence Forest. It is the tree called the “Unicorn Horn.” And he will even attach a small sculpture. This will showcase the beauty of the Unicorn Horn.
Then he would say, “If Your Highness wants, I can make as many of the same things as you want… but to do that, I need to get the wood from a certain forest…” Then get the backing of Mia. The Imperial Army will move and it will be easy to annihilate the Lulu. This is what he thought.
At the same time, the Viscount was thinking of another plan. They are going to kidnap the children of the Lulu tribe and sell them to slavers. He will then show it as the work of the imperial soldiers. The Lulus will be outraged and will surely actively attack the army. If that happens, then a battle will break out. And surely the Lulu tribe will be wiped out. That means he wouldn’t have to wait for the completion of the jewellery box.
That was his strategy, but it never actually happened.
“Recently, Her Imperial Highness has been a big favorite of unicorn horn hair ornaments… She even wears a unicorn horn hairpin everyday…”
Such gossips came into the ears of the Viscount. If this was true, then he did not have to make any jewellery box. Unicorn Horn grew right in the Sealence Forest. If a hairpin is enough to make the Princess happy, then he can commission one. It is obviously cheaper and faster to make compared to a jewellery box. So, he prepared to get one immediately…
Thus, the flow of history is about to change. How? It depends on Mia. She now holds the dice to which her fate and the Empire’s fate hangs.
“Mia-sama, Viscount Berman has requested an audience…”
“Oh, who might that be? It’s a name I haven’t heard before.”
Destiny is about to appear in front of Mia in the form of a visitor. Mia had not yet realized that she was standing right above the turning point of her destiny.
