Mia’s sensibilities, at their core, aligned with that of all noble ladies. Obviously, she detested squirmies and crawlies like centipedes and worms, and she was entirely uninterested in touching one.
But that changed when it became a necessity. Fishing was a means of survival, and those words were enough to change Mia’s mindset. She had a terrible penchant for ending up at the guillotine, and she was ready to escape using any means necessary. Fishing meant procuring a source of both food and water, and she had every intention of mastering the skill.
It may be unpleasant, but starving feels much worse! she thought, laughing inside.
This sight had inspired Bel to remark, “My, Grandmother Mia really is something! She’s learning survival skills to prepare for any adventure, any time! This must be the true source of the Great Sage of the Empire’s wisdom!” The spirit of adventuring had consumed her soul, but anyways...
“You really are quite amazing, Your Highness! I was convinced hooking the bait would be our job,” said Santeri, awfully surprised by what he had witnessed.
Mia shook her head. “It’s unfair to leave what’s gross to your vassals and only do what’s fun yourself,” she said. Plenty of nobles were keen on foisting the dirty work on their servants and taking the credit for themselves, but Mia wanted to avoid this as much as possible. The thought of pushing all the work on Anne and just having fun seemed preposterous to her.
Not to mention, Rafina loathed such practices as well. She glanced at the Holy Lady, hoping to both appeal to Rafina’s sensibilities and stress the fact Rafina was her ally to Orania. “Right, Miss Rafina?”
She seemed shocked to have been dragged into the conversation, but she quickly closed her eyes to compose herself, bringing her hands before her stomach in prayer. “Yes, you’re absolutely right, Mia.” Then, she opened her eyes, which glistened with tears, and looked straight at Mia. Rafina appeared as though she were making an earnest, desperate plea.
Huh? What’s up with her? thought Mia before she returned her attention to Santeri. “And letting others hook your bait would mean not getting to enjoy one of fishing’s joys! Everything from hooking the bait to catching the fish comprises the act of fishing, no?”
“That’s an excellent way of thinking, Your Highness,” responded Santeri, nodding enthusiastically with the air of an experienced fisherman. “Hooking the bait yourself truly is one of fishing’s greatest joys, one I’d like all of you to experience for yourselves.”
“But Santeri? Won’t the children struggle trying to do it themselves? See? Touching them is quite gross and...” said Rafina, as considerate as always.
“Listen up! Fishing is a necessary skill for any adventurer! Make sure you learn it properly, you hear?” came a cheerful voice that drowned out Rafina’s.
Bel would be known as the greatest adventurer in all of adventuring history to posterity, and her group of SEEC cadets let out a hearty “Yes, ma’am!” in response. Yanna and the other girls had begun picking up the worms with squeals, but even they seemed to be having an awful lot of fun.
“Um, Rania? Won’t this be a bit much for those from royal houses?” asked Rafina, very kindly and benevolently trying to watch out for her fellow man.
Rania grinned. “Thanks for worrying about me, but there’s gross bugs like these crawling all over the fields,” she said, glancing at Tiona.
She grinned as well. “Right, and some can harm plants. I’ve squashed and squeezed plenty of bugs myself!”
“It’s the same...in the woods. There’s plenty...of bugs,” added Liora, nodding along with the other two girls. Instead of fearing the worms, the three countryside noble ladies happily chatted about their hometowns.
Still wearing her usual cool smile, Rafina turned to the princes.
“We never got a chance to test our fishing hands on the deserted island. I think this’ll make a fine opportunity for a competition.”
“You beat me out in our training the other day, so I think it’s time I turn that around.”
They were all in as well! Keithwood shook his head in loving exasperation.
Now, Rafina spun around, looking at everyone she could find as if pleading for help... That’s when her gaze settled on the sweet, lovely Citrina. She spoke as if having sensed this gaze and the desperation within it. “Oh, um... Rina isn’t really good with—”
“Huh? But Rina, that means we can never go adventuring together!” said Bel, cutting off her friend’s words awfully forcefully.
Citrina moved in a flash! “Well, I thought Rina wasn’t good with them, but it was actually quite easy once I gave it a try,” she said, nonchalantly hooking a worm. Her movements were awfully refined, as if she had done so many times before.
For just a moment, Rafina’s expression was that of betrayal. But quickly, she recovered her smile, looking around the room once again. She settled on...
“Ch-Chloe, don’t you prefer reading books alone in your room? In that case...”
“Do you think we could catch the human-faced fish with these seaworms?”
“The human-faced...fish? I’ve never heard of such a thing before... I’m not quite sure since I’ve never caught one myself,” responded Orania.
The sight of their lively chatter had Rafina swallowing her words. There was no one else she could enlist for help.
“Miss Rafina, do you...?” Suddenly, someone seemed to notice Rafina’s hesitation, and moved to offer her some kind, encouraging words. It was Mia.
At the same time, Rafina let out a shout of self-encouragement and plunged her hand into the box of worms. “Here goes!” She plucked one out with her thin fingers, holding back her trembles with bated breath and a ghastly expression as she impaled it on her hook!
“D-D-Did you see that, Mia?! Look, I did it too!”