Mia and her party departed Lunatear the following day. They were headed for a village near Tearmoon’s border with Ganudos, where they would meet up with Shalloak’s band of merchants to infiltrate the port country.
“I know our trip to the Clausius Domain has already given you some experience, but you mustn’t let up on your acting, okay?” said Mia, quite pompously. She was dressed in a cotton shirt and pants that were starting to fray—the plain uniform that would allow them to sneak into Ganudos.
One of her crew responded to her words with a deeply serious nod—Yanna. She had changed into a similar dress to Mia, along with a cap to cover the tattoo on her forehead. Kiryl stood next to his sister, wearing a matching outfit and expression.
Mia couldn’t help but find them adorable. Mia’s (age twenty-three) motherly instincts had been awoken!
Patty stood next to Kiryl, looking as expressionless as always. Actually, that wasn’t quite true, as a careful look revealed a slight tint of angst. The conversation with Lorenz must still have been weighing heavily on her mind.
I suppose it would be impossible to ask her to relax now that her path to freedom from the Serpents is starting to come into view. Well, anyways... The children seem to be taking this seriously, so I doubt I have to worry. The only problem is...
Feeling Mia’s gaze on her, Bel tilted her head.
“Just so we’re clear, we mustn’t be found out. Do you understand, Bel?”
She giggled. “Of course Gr—Miss Mia! Don’t worry!”
“There will be no adventures, journeys, or anything else that will draw attention. Got that?”
“N... Yes? Isn’t that more than obvious?” Bel gave an awkward laugh that suspiciously sounded like a “no” at the end. It inspired some fear in Mia.
“How shall we proceed, Your Highness?” Ludwig was standing behind Mia, his back held straight.
“Hmm...” She crossed her arms and took a moment to ponder this. Incidentally, Mia’s mind was quite quick when it came to these types of questions, and after a good deal of thinking...
“If I’m remembering correctly, Ludwig, you are already acquainted with the king of Ganudos, correct?”
“Acquainted? I’m not certain that’s the correct word, but Sir Dion and I once met with him, yes.”
“I see. Then, given your impressions of him, what would you recommend?”
She found a reasonable excuse to dump everything on Ludwig! Mia was a veteran yes-man, and her training allowed her to collect ideas from those around her with ease.
“Well,” Ludwig pushed up his glasses. “I believe it would be dangerous to denounce him based on what we have heard from Princess Orania alone. He may evade us, or perhaps even fire back when we least expect it.”
Dion spoke next. “He definitely seemed like the crafty type, after all. Like the kind of guy who’ll trip us up somewhere else if we try to march in head-on.”
“I see. Then I suppose it really will be necessary for Abel or me to witness their inhumane treatment of the Visalians ourselves.”
Mia’s strategy revolved around using the power of a royal to censure another. It would be nice if an expert of justice like Sion could share his opinion as well, but...
He would be acting separately during this operation. Esmeralda planned on dragging him to Ganudos, but his arrival would come after Mia and her party.
“Perhaps it would be best to ask Orania where the Ghetto is and see it for ourselves. Oh, that’s right, Yanna.”
Yanna sat up straight.
“Are you familiar with the place?”
Yanna looked down at the ground, seeming awfully apologetic. “I’m sorry. I don’t know much about it. I’ve lived my life trying to hide the fact that I’m a Visalian since I was always told they’d come get me if anyone found out...”
“Hmm...” Mia folded her arms and returned her gaze to Ludwig.
“Then there are Visalians who live within Ganudos and conceal their identities. A Pirate Hunt was carried out by the king two generations prior, and while those captured were forced into the Ghetto, the Visalians who abandoned pirating beforehand may be living throughout the nation and hiding their roots.”
“That’s gotta make these grudges even deeper,” remarked Dion.
Mia groaned once again. “In any case, it seems like observing this Ghetto is our top priority.” For now, that was the conclusion she came up with.
We now turn back the clock. After seeing Mia’s carriage off, Esmeralda returned to her manor and used the way there to do some thinking.
“Even if I suggest going to Ganudos, there’s a chance Prince Sion won’t listen. In that case...” She folded her arms and groaned. “Perhaps I should head for our villa with Prince Echard? Then, Prince Sion can follow us there, and we’ll hopefully return in time for Miss Mia’s Birthday Festival...”
Esmeralda was working out a plan to bring Sion to Ganudos, but she had let her mind wander.
“But moons, I had never fathomed such a thing was happening in Ganudos.”
She visited the Galilea Sea every year and had made countless visits to the royal capital. She had even walked its streets, yet she had never heard of the Visalian Ghetto.
“And Orania never mentioned it to me either! I’d have been happy to discuss things with her. There was no need to be so distant.” Esmeralda sighed. “No, perhaps there was. I’m sure she’d think it useless to open up about this to me, given how I once was. Plus...I’m certain she brought it up because Mia changed her as well. I suppose I should just be praising my best friend for her efforts.” For some reason, this thought cheered her up.
“I wonder if father is aware of the situation.” This was the thought that next troubled her. The Greenmoons undeniably had closer ties to Ganudos Port Country than any other nobles in Tearmoon. In the past, that distinction was held by the Yellowmoons, but that had changed. Thus...
“Could he really be unaware?”
Esmeralda knew her father well. He wasn’t the smartest man in the world, but he was far from incompetent. She found it hard to believe he’d overlook such actions by a family he was so well-connected with.
“Perhaps he did know...and chose to remain silent.” This thought hovered over her like a deep cloud of gloom.
Now that Esmeralda had finished her dinner, she wiped her lips with a napkin and let out a sigh. Then, she stood.
“Um, Esmeralda? Is something wrong?” That’s when Echard spoke to her. He wore a scowl, and Esmeralda tried to assuage her fiancé’s fears with a gentle smile.
“No, not at all. I was just thinking about something, but it’s nothing important.”
“Really? But...” He clearly had something to say.
“I’m fine. There’s no need to worry,” she said, trying to ease his fears.
Echard still looked as down as ever, but eventually, he clapped his hands as if something had suddenly occurred to him. “That’s right, Esmeralda! Could you wait here for a moment?” He spoke as if he wouldn’t accept “no” as an answer before running from the dining room.
Esmeralda found this curious, but after a short wait, Echard returned with Nina behind him. She was carrying a tea set.
“My, what’s this?”
“Tea leaves from Sunkland. Nina ordered them for me, and they’re finally here. They smell really good, and they have a calming effect too.” Echard picked up the tea pot.
“My! You’re going to steep it yourself, Echard? There’s no need to—” Esmeralda rushed from her seat, but Echard simply laughed her off.
“I considered letting Nina do it, but I really did want to steep them for you myself.” With that, he poured some tea into a teacup with refined movements. Then, he added in a spoonful of sugar and mixed it around. “I hear it’s best a bit sweet, but I’ll leave adding sugar to you for your second cup.” Then, he placed the cup before her.
Esmeralda took it into her hands and sipped it before it could get cold. A pleasant, refreshing aroma wafted into her nostrils as a tender sweetness and slight acidity spread over her tongue. She let out a sigh. “This tea really is quite calming...”
“I’m glad you like it. I’d always drink some whenever I felt jealous of Sion,” he said, sounding ashamed of his past. Esmeralda opened her lips to speak, but he shook his head with a gentle smile before she got the chance. “That was a long time ago. I almost never rely on this tea now, but”—he looked at Esmeralda—“I thought you might need some.” His cheeks were tinted red, and he sounded awfully embarrassed.
“My! Prince Echard!” He took care of her with the innocence of a child, and it had her heart skipping a beat!
✦ ✦ ✦
✦ ✦ ✦
A handsome boy the age of her younger brother had prepared her a cup of tea. Such heart-pounding situations were hard to come by! As a girl who had once amused herself by swimming at the beach or walking through town with an entourage of handsome men, Esmeralda was new to such pleasures.
Oh, I just can’t! Prince Echard is still just a kid. How has he already so captured my heart? Our engagement is not as definite as it once was, but still! He’s so cute!
She was so dizzy her eyes were doing circles, but she quickly composed herself by clearing her throat and taking another sip of her tea. Then, she let out a sigh. “Thank you, Your Highness. This tea is excellent.” She flashed him the composed smile of an older woman!
That’s right! Esmeralda had a younger brother of her own, and she wouldn’t let herself become putty in a young boy’s hands! That would be preposterous!
Echard giggled. “I’m really glad I made it for you then.” He looked so very gleeful, and it once again had Esmeralda’s heart pounding.
I must remember how I was saved by Miss Mia as well. She looked into Echard’s eyes and nodded. And given what I so proudly told Prince Echard, I can’t sit back and do nothing.
Back then, on their way from Sunkland back to Tearmoon, Esmeralda had told Echard he needed to be prepared to live a life suited for the saved and forgiven. Perhaps those words had been what inspired Echard to work so hard. Even in the faraway, unfamiliar lands of Tearmoon, he had dedicated his all to his studies at Saint Mia Academy. Thus...
“I need to do my best as well. First, I’ll do some research on Ganudos. My father’s room seems best for that. Or perhaps our villa in Ganudos would be better?”
Esmeralda had silently steeled her resolve.