A Tear-Eyed Mia is Helpless and Alone
“It’s really dark … isn’t it?”
The Sealence Forest was surrounded by darkness submerged in the night. Dion was holding a torch in front of Mia, but it seems to illuminate only a small circle around them. The forest did not look anything like in the daytime.
“Your Highness.”
“Eeek!”
Mia jumped up a little. Surprised at being called.
“What is it?”
“Nothing much. It’s just that we have arrived at the place where you were attacked during the day, so I thought I’d let you know.”
Dion said with a smile that suggested that he was enjoying this so far.
“Oh, is that right? I understand.”
Mia looked around and tilted her head.
“Is this really the place during the day?”
“Without a doubt. You see there, there are arrow marks on the tree.”
She looks at the direction Dion was pointing. There definitely seems to be a mark made by an arrow. But…
I can’t really be sure. And how am I supposed to find that hairpin in this kind of darkness?
Mia noticed that, but it was too late. If she tells Dion that they should just go home, she would be lucky if Dion would only get angry at her. After all, this was the man who killed her before. She should really be avoiding making him angry…
Mia squints at the ground trying to find the hairpin…
“Your Highness, it looks like things will go as you planned.”
“… Huh?”
Hearing Dion talk, Mia gave him a blank, clueless look.
“Hey, why don’t you come? Instead of peeping on us, come show yourselves.”
Dion says while pointing the torch towards the bush. Suddenly, the bushes shook, and men appeared from there. These men wrapped their muscular bodies with the beast’s pelts.
That is the Lulu tribe. Perhaps there are people who are related to Liora.
Mia gazed at them while Dion kept on talking.
“Since you did not welcome us with a flurry of arrows, I assume you are not here to fight, right?!
“Impressive… Leader of the Empire’s warriors…. good insight!”
The warriors parted to make way for an older man to come forward from the back. This man has an impressive beard and looked sharply at Dion. Then his gaze fell on Mia.
“Girl… you person… came at day?
Mia was taken aback when the conversation suddenly involved her. She figured that it would be wrong to lie in this place…
“That’s right. It was me…”
“Girl… where pick this?”
The man said in a low voice. In his hand was Mia’s hairpin, “Unicorn Hairpin.”
“Oh, that’s …”
“Answer truly… if not… I warn…”
“Alright, that’s enough.”
Dion interjected and stepped in between Mia and the old man.
“Don’t be rude old man. You are talking to the Princess of the Empire. The one that I have to protect. So you better start minding your manners…”
Dion’s hand moved to the hilt of his sword as his voice took an edge.
“I might also have to warn you myself. We don’t always play nice.”
“You……!”
Tension rises to the point that sparks could be seen between the two. A dangerous situation could erupt any moment. On the other hand, Mia…
Oh, this is …!
Mia was fascinated and trembled with excitement.
What a pleasure… this is bliss!
She was absolutely fascinated by the current situation that she could almost cry. After all, Dion was the man who killed her. This means he is one of her greatest enemies, if not the greatest enemy. And such a person is trying to protect her… really… this situation is just too much…
Ohohoho, this is the same feeling I had when I impressed that four-eyes. So refreshing!
Just when her suppressed laughter was about to vocalize…
“By the way, His Highness Princess … of course, you know how to get this thing done, right?”
“…………What?”
She felt like she was just splashed with cold water.
“Well …”
“Assuming this is within your calculation, I would be grateful if you could give me instructions on whether I can kill them or not. Should I engage or withdraw?”
Dion said this with his signature smile. By now, Mia has figured out that when Dion gives out this kind of smile, it means that you-better-know-what-you-are-doing-or-else. Mia turned blue.
Okay. This is not the time to be feeling good. I have to do something…
She thought and thought, but she could not think of a plan. What’s more, for some reason, there is a Lulu man in front of her who looks very angry. It seemed difficult to resolve this situation without blood being shed. Moreover, Dion wasn’t really an ally she can count on. He is neither a friend nor a subordinate who have sworn allegiance to her. His assistance is only conditional, and he even has an enemy-like atmosphere.
Oh my! Merciful moons, that means there is nobody on my side!
Mia is starting to tear up. She had just fully realized that she was all alone. She had no Ludwig or Anne or any friends to support her or help her out of this mess.
I… I have to think of something fast…
As she spiralled down into panic, Mia got help from an unexpected direction.
“Wait! I said wait!”
“Oh? Who might that be? Is that…Liora-san!?”
Mia was surprised at the sudden appearance of an acquaintance.
