“The problems...our nation has failed to realize...” Orania sighed once she had returned to her room. Suddenly, she began to prepare for another fishing trip. “Master Mia really does understand the problems befalling Ganudos...”
Orania recalled the serious expression Mia had worn and fell into the world of her thoughts. Ever since she had started to look up to Mia, she had begun to notice something—namely, that Mia usually was playing the part of a ditz, likely to keep her interlocutors from putting up their guard. But sometimes, that would change. She’d drop the act and warn Orania with absolute seriousness, just as she had just done.
She discarded her ditzy facade to impart that teaching on me... She must be referring to that...but...
“Are you fishing again, Your Highness?” Orania turned around to find her personal maid looking awfully fed up. She didn’t bother to hide the fact she was clearly trying to belittle Orania, who nonchalantly looked back at her.
“Hey... You’re making fun of me, right...?” She spoke in her usual, carefree, slow tone, so the maid responded with a faint smile.
“No, not at all...”
“I don’t mind so much myself, but...won’t your family end up on the streets if you’re fired?”
“Huh?” All the blood rushed from her face, but Orania paid no attention.
“You have a younger brother and sister, right...? If I remember correctly, they’re quite young, and I seem to recall sending them some money on their birthdays...” Orania stared into her maid’s eyes, which were open wide in shock.
“U-Um, I-I...”
“People really are fools... Even when the danger is obvious with even just the littlest bit of thought, they choose to dance on uneven ground... Do you even realize you’re hopping around on a boat that’s ready to sink...?” Personally, Orania thought the answer was almost certainly “no.”
“The princess I serve is an idiot, so she’ll turn a blind eye to a bit of teasing! And if that’s the case, I should be able to blow off some steam by being rude to her, right? I’ll be fine as long as I don’t cross the line, yeah?” That had been her maid’s thinking, and as long as they continued to stay out of the way of anger, warning, or harm, people failed to notice the dangers of their actions. They wouldn’t change, and by the time they suffered the harm they begot, it would be too late to do so.
“F-F-Forgive me, Your Highness. I wasn’t trying to...”
She surely had her excuses. Maybe the other maids were all doing it, and maybe the maids above her had instructed her to follow in their example. Maybe Orania’s typical attitude had her dropping her guard.
People really were fools beyond salvation.
She can’t see the clear consequences of her actions. I...was the same...
But luckily, someone had appeared to warn Orania—she had met someone she could look up to in example.
And so, these were Orania’s words. “Hmm... Well, if no one warned you, then you’d obviously act like this. It isn’t truly your fault, so I can forgive you...but...” She brought her pointer finger to her lips. “From now on, I want to live a life befitting the princess of Ganudos...”
“Befitting...?”
“Yes... I was fortunate enough to be born a princess, after all. If I don’t try to solve our problems and make a better nation for us all, being born a princess would be a waste... For example... Don’t you think it would be wonderful if being fired didn’t mean your family was forced to the streets...?”
“I-I see,” said the maid, blinking blankly back at her and unable to keep up with how her master had changed.
“And I’d be happy if you’d work with me to make such a world...” said Orania, smiling.
Her maid seemed overwhelmed, but she managed to kneel on the ground and lower her head. “Not only have you excused my discourtesy, you’ve shared your deepest thoughts. I’m incredibly grateful, and I wish for nothing more than to give my all in loyal service to answer your warm kindness.”
“I see... That’d make me very happy,” said Orania, beaming back at her maid as she studied her. She didn’t sense any ill will, and there were no hints of scorn or belittlement. But Orania wasn’t one to trust easily. What had transpired the other day had hit her where it hurt, making it abundantly clear her keen eyes weren’t as keen as she had thought.
More than anything, she now knew that people could change. An insignificant act like swearing loyalty could easily sway one’s heart, and thus, Orania felt like it wasn’t deserving of her trust. And yet...
I’m sure Master Mia wouldn’t punish this maid...
It was then that Orania suddenly realized just how easily hearts could change. A soul that had been innocent just the day before could easily be dyed black. But still...perhaps there were some things that couldn’t easily revert to how they once were. Orania was certain she could never be the same person she was before she had met Mia Luna Tearmoon, the Great Sage of the Empire, and she knew she would never be capable of betraying her master.
Master Mia really is amazing... I hope I can be just like her...
Orania was likely unaware of who exactly she was aspiring to be. Her keen eyes were even more unreliable than she had thought. It was an insignificant tragedy.