Chapter 79
Princess Mia Sympathizes
Oh, why in the moons is this happening…
Mia sighed a little while riding on horseback. The man leading their group was the very man who killed her. Depressed and weak, Mia let herself be swayed by the horse.
“Huh, princess, you’re horse-riding is quite good.”
The bear-like vice-captain, who was slightly in front of Mia, spoke to her.
“You are relaxed and letting the horse move freely. Most noble ladies don’t know such basic skill.”
“My, I thank you for that compliment.”
Mia returned a nod to the barbarian-looking vice-captain. As far as Mia can tell, aside from his appearance, he is not a bad person. He has been caring for her since earlier. Besides, since he is a vice-captain, this means that he is in a position to check on Dion. In case of an emergency, she can use him to keep Dion under control to some degree. Mia’s intuition tells her to get on the good side of this vice-captain.
Furthermore, she was a little happy he praised her riding skills. Even if it is the summer vacation, Mia continues to practice riding a horse if she had time. After all, riding skills are literally a matter of life and death for Mia. When something happens, she can count on her loyal subordinates and her physical mobility. How well she rides a horse determines whether she might end up on the guillotine or not, so it’s a good idea to get into practice.
“Do tell me vice-captain. What do you think? If I run away from Captain Dion, can I safely escape to the border?”
“Ah, well, that one …”
“That’s impossible. It’s a bad idea. I can catch up with you in three days.”
She raised her face to see that Dion turned around with a smile on his face.
“So, a friendly advice. If you want to elope and go abroad, you should make sure that I don’t find out, okay?”
“Well, well, but that’s it captain. If you train for another ten years from now, you can become a rider who can’t lose to the captain.”
“…oh… I see… Ten years …”
If history goes as written on the diary, the revolution will occur at the latest five years from now. Mia hangs her head, depressed by the idea. The vice-captain’s horse whinnied as if to comfort her.
“Oh my, that horse…”
Mia sees the horse on which the vice-captain rides. The horse was beautiful with its supple, powerful and dynamic muscles and the black and glossy coat that covered it.
“It’s a beautiful horse. The hair is especially very beautiful.”
“Oh, princess, are you into horses?”
The vice-captain who heard the praise, smiled widely.
“Hehehe, this guy is indeed very beautiful. And the hair that you like? I ordered from a foreign country a special horse shampoo.”
“Well, is that right? For some reason, I feel a connection with it. It’s as if there something familiar between the two of us.”
The horse looked sideways at Mia and gave a friendly snort.
In about half a day, Mia and his group arrived at the entrance to the Sealence Forest. The Empire’s centuria, led by Dion, set up a camp on a flat land a short distance from the forest. Makeshift tents line up in an orderly manner, and a simple fence covers the area. The soldiers moved busily from inside the fence. The snappy movements may indicate the skill of the soldiers, but Mia somehow felt an unpleasant feeling.
“Somehow, it seems like everyone is on the edge.”
“Since Her Highness has arrived, it is natural for them to be nervous.”
Mia shook her head upon hearing her guard’s answer.
“… No, it’s a little different.”
A silent feeling of tension just before the fire burns. The quiet before the storm…
Mia remembered this feeling from before…
It is like the atmosphere on the eve of the revolution!
“I see, Your Highness seems to have a good fighter sense.”
Dion stood beside Mia and smiled.
“Because this is a battlefield. The soldiers are prepared knowing that the battle can begin at any time, otherwise they will lose their lives.”
“Oh my!”
The environment seems too harsh for Mia. These soldiers have to work under such an oppressive atmosphere, and they have to follow orders from a terrifying man who saw humans as little more than heads to be chopped off….
“I feel sorry for the soldiers …”
Mia deeply and really sympathized with the soldiers.
Hmm, if she can sympathize with the soldiers who are ordered under the whims of the nobles, then this princess may really be a wise person as rumored…
Fortunately for Mia, Dion doesn’t have telepathy. He can’t read Mia’s intentions behind her words.
“Is it necessary to have the soldiers stationed here?”
“In my personal opinion, it’s not necessary. Rather, just being here can be intimidating and it can actually increase the risk of starting a fight.”
“If so …”
“But unfortunately, we’re just getting orders. Even if we know it’s better to pull out, we can’t move without a reason.”
Dion shrugged while saying it.
“A reason for withdrawing soldiers …”
Mia entered into deep thought.