Upon returning to Lunatear, Mia immediately began preparing for her journey to Ganudos.
“I doubt I need to give Ludwig any concrete orders. That would only hold him back. As for Dion, I shouldn’t have to worry about him so long as he’s armed—actually, perhaps even if he isn’t.” Mia couldn’t help but think Dion could handle a warrior wolf or two without his sword. “Now I just need to figure out how to get into Ganudos...”
She completely ignored her doting father who wanted nothing more than to hear about her days at school, and instead...headed straight for the Merchant King, Shalloak Cornrogue. Ludwig had already requested his presence at the Whitemoon Palace, so Mia had prepared the perfect tea cakes to greet him.
“We’ve become friends after my journey to Perujin, so I do think he’ll be willing to help us,” muttered Mia as she gazed at the snacks arranged on the table, which was a tray of hard-to-find baked goods she had Esmeralda procure. The confection was known as ruscotti, a traditional Tearmoon sweet consisting of twice-baked cookie dough topped with a sweet jam. And since the Greenmoons didn’t disappoint, what Esmeralda prepared was a grape jelly as beautiful as she was. It was filled with chunks of crushed grapes and was more enchanting than any other jam Mia had ever encountered. She gazed at it, completely bewitched.
Mia wasn’t the type who cared much for jewels and accessories, but she did care for food. If you stored beautiful, delicious goods in your stomach, nobody could steal them from you, after all. She was a pragmatist, and thus emphasized the importance of pleasing both your eyes and your taste buds!
“Excuse me, Your Highness. Sir Shalloak Cornrogue has arrived.” Ludwig appeared with Shalloak behind him.
Huh?
But there was something odd about his appearance.
Shalloak...seems...
Mia couldn’t quite put her finger on it, yet she ignored the feeling and led him to the sofa. “I had the daughter of Duke Greenmoon prepare our tea cakes for today. Please dig in.”
But despite Mia’s suggestion, Shalloak made no move to take any. “My apologies, Your Highness. I’ll refrain from the sweets.”
“My, but you’re always eating!” Mia’s eyes were wide. “Does this perhaps have to do with your current form? You seem to have gotten slimmer,” said Mia as she slathered her ruscotti with jam.
Shalloak gleefully nodded. “So you noticed!” he said with a chuckle. “Miss Tatiana’s been helping me, actually.”
“She has? Looking at you again, your face looks so healthy I hardly recognize you! I didn’t know there was such a great, dramatically effective, fast-acting method to improve your health,” muttered Mia, utterly impressed.
Shalloak slightly averted his gaze. “Effective, huh? Well, I suppose it is more great than bad, but...it’s quite hard knowing I’ll never get to lose myself to gluttony again,” he said, his expression somewhat forced.
Mia realized she could never adopt this method herself. “I see. I-In that case, I’ll have to ask Tatiana about it if I have the chance,” she muttered.
But there was something Mia had missed! Anne was standing right behind her, and thus had heard the whole thing! But let’s put such grave matters aside for now...
“So you want your group to infiltrate Ganudos Port Country disguised as merchants,” muttered Shalloak, stroking his chin—which incidentally, while once flabby, was now defined.
“Yes, exactly. Princess Orania told me about the situation in Ganudos now that we’ve become close. She even came to discuss the matter with me, so there’s no way I can sit back now.”
“I see. How very like you to take the port country for yourself and gain access to the sea, Your Highness.”
Hearing the words “take the port country” inspired a terrible image in Mia’s mind. Taking it meant ruling it, which meant the construction of a huge, golden something—specifically, a lighthouse—symbolizing that power! She’d be the subject of censure across the continent and receive terrible rebuke from the Central Orthodox Church.
“Oho ho! I’m not acting out of such personal interest. If I want access to the sea, I can just ask Ganudos to grant me it, no?” First, Mia made that clear, emphasizing that she had absolutely no intentions of turning Ganudos into a Tearmoon territory.
“I see. There’s logic in that as well. There’s no measuring the backlash you’ll receive from the people of Ganudos should you take it by force. It would be difficult to procure crew for your ships, and the people would stop caring for the ports and building new boats. So instead, you think it’s better to maintain an amicable relationship and use those ports as well, yes?”
“I’m not so presumptuous as to think I can do everything myself, and everyone has their own talents. I simply think it’s best to leave things to the experts. Merchants should control trade, and warriors war. Similarly, the royal family of Ganudos is the group who will best govern it.”
In all honesty, Mia just wanted to shirk any responsibility she may have. If it was up to her, she’d be spending her days tasting delicacies, napping, dancing, and going horseback riding. Then, well...she’d restrain herself just a bit and gently—very gently—approve whatever documents Ludwig brought her way.
“But you’re not a true friend if you simply let your friends do as they please, no? True friends point out their friends’ bad habits and scold them when necessary.”
Shalloak chuckled. “A noble reason for a noble woman! A merchant would strike when the time was right to gain greater profits for himself.”
“That does sound like you, Shalloak, but don’t go too far. If you do, I might have to give you another talking-to.”
Shalloak responded with another jovial laugh. “We can’t have that. If I put you in a bad mood, you might take me off my work for the Mianet, and that’d be a shame after all the effort I put in.” He narrowed his eyes, as if looking at the dazzling sun. “History looks fondly on those who have worked for a purpose. The Mianet will save the starving and change the world, and I’m sure working to establish such a thing will have been my life’s greatest pride.”