After the man resembling her Great-Uncle Hannes had left, Mia had bought some dried snacks as a gift for Rafina...and then ate more of Orania’s recommendations! Her current snack was called poya, and it resembled the monstrous fruits believed to grow in Hell. Its biting smell of the sea and its plump texture combined together into an enchanting delicacy. Apparently, these needed to be eaten fresh and weren’t well suited for souvenirs.
Well, I suppose they do look quite grotesque, and they’re more suited to Chloe’s tastes than Miss Rafina’s. Maybe I should invite her here sometime so we can eat these together. But will Miss Rafina feel left out if I don’t invite her too? I’ll just have to invite everyone and introduce the right snacks to whoever can make it!
Mia was awfully considerate and made sure to properly give mind to ensuring that Rafina felt included.
That reminds me—Orania isn’t a fan of sweets. I miscalculated a bit here, I see. Mia was perfectly pleased with the delicacies she had eaten, but her cravings could never be satisfied without some sweets.
“By the way, Orania, I hear His Majesty will be carrying out a ceremony tomorrow.”
“Oh, right... It’s the Northward Net Ceremony, meant to pray that the fish make it through the winter. I’m surprised you’re familiar with it, Master Mia.”
“Oho ho! I’m not too knowledgeable, really. But about that... I was hoping we’d be allowed to watch. Would that be all right?”
“I don’t think it’ll be all that fun, but...” Orania looked back at her, curiously.
Mia nodded. “I don’t mind at all. I was hoping you’d introduce me to your father, King Nestori, once the ceremony was over.”
“Oh, I see... You probably won’t be able to meet him using official means, but if you run into him during the festival tomorrow, then he won’t be able to escape...” Orania seemed to be on board with this plan.
“Farewell then, Orania.” After seeing Orania and her personal maid off, Mia turned to Ludwig. “Well, then. Why don’t we discuss our plan for tomorrow on our way home?”
“Our plan? I suppose you must be hoping to run into His Majesty tomorrow and negotiate then. Have you given up on visiting the island?”
“I have, but... It’s not so simple,” said Mia with a nod. “There’s something I need Dion to do.”
“You need me? Guess things are about to get tense,” said Dion as he patted the back of his neck, smiling. “I’ll do anything to protect you, little princess, so don’t worry.”
Mia smiled back at him. “I’m sure you will, but...” She shook her head. “Unfortunately, I’m not the one who will be in danger tomorrow.” Mia looked straight into his eyes and lowered her voice. “It’s the king of Ganudos. There’s a chance he will be assassinated.”
“Assassinated, you say?” clarified Ludwig with a scowl as he observed their surroundings. Thankfully, the streets were bustling, and if anyone happened to overhear, they’d likely dismiss it as a joke. “Where exactly did you get this information?”
“From your diary, Ludwig. But the moment I learn of what’s written there, the contents tend to change. We can’t rely on it completely.”
“Ah, I see. As it records your actions and the future they result in, they shift as soon as you learn the outcome.”
“Exactly. And for some reason, the entries are quite fixed about this matter. Dreams don’t shift to reality; the entries just disappear.”
Ludwig’s diary was a bit different from Mia’s diary and the Princess Chronicles. It should have been more reliable, as it included not just normal entries, but dreams believed to be memories from other timelines. Thus, its records included the most possible outcomes of the future, as well as the futures that shifts in the timelines would bring. However...
“It’s not very reliable this time around,” said Mia.
Ludwig scowled. “Perhaps...this may lead to my own death.”
Mia was shocked. “Your death? What do you mean, Ludwig?”
“It’s quite simple. If I, the observer, were to perish, I’d be unable to write any more entries. As I’d have no memories of what followed, I’d be unable to see them in my dreams.”
Dreams were memories of lost timelines, which meant an early death on one timeline would prevent those memories from being left behind.
“That’s...” Mia couldn’t help but groan. “Certainly a possibility, I suppose.”
Mia’s own diary only existed because she had spent so much time locked in the dungeon after she was captured by the revolutionary army. Fears of the guillotine consumed her, but it also served as an opportunity to reflect on her past.
But apparently, the dangers here in Ganudos were of a different sort, and likely, more direct. Whether there be an assassination or a revolution, involvement could very well lead to their untimely deaths.
“For now...I can’t just die at a moment’s notice. At the very least, I need to die in a way that will serve as a hint for you, Your Highness... No, perhaps even that is meaningless. It’s impossible for us to know how our actions now may relate to the information that Miss Bel has,” muttered Ludwig with an intense scowl.
Mia wagged her finger at him. “There’s no need to overthink things. I’d be in trouble if you died, so focus on staying alive, okay? As my trusty vassal, I need you to support Tearmoon with everything you have.”
“Your Highness...” His eyes were opened wide with emotion, but Mia instead turned her attention to Anne and Abel.
“Listen, you two. Don’t push yourselves, and be careful not to do anything that could put you in danger.” Finally, Mia turned her attention to Dion. “Anyway, you heard how it is, Dion. I’ll be counting on you to prevent this assassination.”
“Oh? You’re not gonna tell me to be careful too?” joked Dion.
Mia grinned back at him. “Of course not! You’re my sword, and I know you’re too tough to break at the hands of a single assassin.”
Mia had great trust in Dion. In a certain sense, at least.