“M-Master? You mean...me?” Mia couldn’t help but ask that question. Yes, she had recently taken to instructing the students in the SEEC program to rave reviews from the students, who celebrated her lessons as the opposite of boring and so fun it felt like more play than study. The only problem was, it was incredibly questionable whether it actually counted as studying, but in any case, she did have some experience as a model for the youth.
However, her experience was limited only to students who had never received a proper education before. She wasn’t quite sure whether she’d be able to serve that role to a peer, especially a fellow princess.
Still, it’d be a waste to just refuse. This request would bring them closer together, and she wanted to use that to her advantage. Master, huh? Master of princess ways... Without thinking, Mia began to search for the ultimate symbol of authority—glasses.
“I want nothing more than to learn the Way of the Princess, for you to teach me how to live a proper princessy life!”
Mia couldn’t help but wonder what in the moons the “Way of the Princess” was.
Well, I guess it’s probably exactly what it sounds like. If such a school of thought is out there, I suppose I can teach it to her, but...
As the person who brought up the idea, Orania held the upper hand. But just as Mia had begun to warm up to her request...
“Oh, but not just that, of course... I want to know how you saved your country from peril and such too...”
Now, she had been deprived of all means of escape. An aurelia simply couldn’t win against a fisherman.
“I...see. I’m not quite certain if I’ll be able to live up to your expectations, but...”
“There’s no need to be so humble, Mia. I think it’s a wonderful idea,” said Rafina, gleefully clapping her hands. “I’ve always thought the world would be a much better place if everyone could be just like you.”
“Huh? Just like...me?” Mia took a moment to consider such a world. “I doubt...that’d be for the best.”
Who would be the idea men in such a world? As a yes-man, what could she possibly accomplish with only yes-men around her? Who would do all the thinking?! Any silly idea that left her lips could put her in the idea man spot and be instantly okayed by the others!
What a terrifying thought. She shivered.
“Anyways... If there is anything I can teach you, I’ll happily do so. Though, only so much as it helps you become a good princess in your own right.”
Mia was speaking from the heart. A disastrous princess blindly walking down the path to the guillotine had asked for her help, and she couldn’t help but feel that request had come from her past self. Abandoning her in her time of need just wasn’t an option.
“Still, the relationship of master and disciple feels a bit...formal, no?”
“‘Formal’...?” parroted Orania, giving her a curious look.
Mia smiled. “Yes, formal. We’re fellow students at Saint-Noel Academy, an institution of learning. We’re meant to study hard, learn from each other, and inspire one another. So, I do hope you learn something from me, but I’m sure I can learn from you as well,” said Mia, finishing up with a glance at Rafina.
She nodded, wearing her usual composed smile.
“I’ve learned plenty from Chloe and Miss Rafina as it is. Given that, I don’t think there’s a need to make our relationship such a formal one,” she said, putting on a mischievous grin. “Perhaps we could just be friends?”
Mia fervently worked to lessen the weight of her responsibility by morphing her title as “master” into that of “friend.” It was easy to save a friend in need, and she had no qualms of warning a friend who was headed straight for the guillotine. But guiding her as her master? That seemed...well, obnoxious, quite frankly.
“And I’m not the only one who can teach you things at this academy. Everyone you meet will have their own unique set of skills which you can learn from. So...”
Next, Mia divvied up that responsibility, appealing to the fact that she had plenty of other friends she could learn from, like Rafina or Sion. Now, even if Orania were to horrendously mess up, she wouldn’t be able to claim, “This was all based on the teachings of my great Master Mia!”
Orania listened to Mia’s every word. When she was done, she took it all in with a nod. “I see... So, that’s how I need to spend my time at Saint-Noel... Thank you for the tips, Master Mia.”
“H-Huh? How odd. I can’t help but feel you didn’t quite absorb what I just taught you...”
Once again, Mia was forced to realize the great difficulty of teaching others.