MIA’S first ride in an automobile was nauseating. Whether it was because the driver was horrible, the roads were bad, or steam powered vehicles were unstable, the automobile shook, trembled, popped, and clanged as it rolled along the roads, puffs of steam billowing behind it. Each time the car bounced a foot off the ground, Mia bounced off her seat. Reaching her limit, she fished through her bag for a motion-sickness tonic and drank some. She had Henrik and Mathias take a swig as well.
Mia clung on to her seat for dear life as she complained, careful not to bite her tongue, “Why’d he go and do something so stupid?! Our theory is still nothing more than a theory—”
“He obviously did it for you, Mia,” Henrik cut in, irritation coating his voice and expression. “I won’t let you say you don’t understand. What he’s done will become a piece of solid proof to back our claims.”
The same method had lingered in the recesses of her mind, but she’d sworn to herself to never take it. Yet, a completely unrelated party, Felix, had taken the step she hadn’t had the guts for.
“…Are you saying he’s trying to prove our theory with his life on the line?”
“You can bet on it. I’ve always thought he was an idiot, but not to this extent. We still had other options to try. The least he could’ve done was discuss it with us. Felix is remarkably self-centered. Is that a way to treat your friends?”
Mia’s eyes rounded, and she stared intently at Henrik. “You think…we’re friends?”
“Huh?!” Henrik’s voice cracked. Then he went on another tirade, “Aah, so that’s how you view me, Mia. Let me be clear, Felix’s self-centeredness is cute compared to yours.” He was red to his ears.
Is he super mad at me? Or is he embarrassed? Happy to discover that Henrik thought of them as friends, Mia struggled to tamp the inappropriate grin pulling on her lips. Mathias smiled wryly at them and roughly messed up Henrik’s platinum hair with his big hand.
“Don’t worry. Your theory ain’t wrong. Felix won’t get infected. He charged in there because he believes you,” Mathias reassured. “I believe ya too. Otherwise, it’ll be bye-bye to my head.”
“Your head?”
“Nevermind.” Mathias shut up just as the driver stepped on the brakes. Mia slid forward and nearly collided with the seat in front of her if not for Mathias shooting out a steadying hand to stop her.
“Thank you!”
“No problem.”
An earthy scent, from fields filled with ears of wheat, tickled Mia’s nose. Beyond the automobile’s fogged windows towered the menacing Sanatorium they’d visited during winter break. Mia and the team exited the hissing vehicle after the professors.
This time, the security promptly opened the gates for them. Was it because it was a crisis?
Mia was quietly following behind Mathias when she slammed into his hard back because he’d abruptly stopped walking.
In the center of the monstrous cafeteria was Felix, restrained by one of the doctors in a rubber protective suit. Ropes were wound tightly around him, securing him to a chair as if he were some sort of violent criminal.
His golden hair was an utter mess. Felix had thrown his usual calm to the wind, yelling hysterically over and over, “Hurry and call for President Strickler!”
The mustached gentleman stepped in front of the group and into the room. Mia took that to mean he was the Royal Academy’s president, but she didn’t remember seeing him at the entrance ceremony.
One of the medical assistants gave him a grave explanation. “This young man climbed over both walls and infiltrated Isolation Ward within the Quarantine Ward, where he interacted with the patients. This is an offense unheard of. What’s gone wrong with the way you teach at the Royal Academy? What a disappointment on all fronts.”
President Strickler walked forward with a look of utter exasperation. “…Now then, why would you go and do something so stupid? Hmm?” he demanded, stopping ten steps away from Felix, perhaps from fear of infection.
“President,” Felix addressed in a calmer voice, “I have been infected with Demon Claw. You will have a medicine made for me, won’t you? Medicine you wouldn’t waste time making for poor commoners, you have no choice but to create for me.”
“Well, when you put it that way… But who knows what the brass will say. My position isn’t powerful enough to do what you’re asking of me.”
“You might be rotten, but you’re still royalty. You have the power to bring your opinion to the table. Exert your influence on parliament and wring a budget out of them.”
“Rotten? …Hey, aren’t you being hard on me?” President Strickler made a woeful frown and looked to the professors, seeking agreement.
He’s…royalty…?
Mia took the opportunity to scrutinize the first member of royalty she’d ever met. He had golden hair that was streaked with gray, and stunning blue eyes, but…if she was honest, his most impressive feature was just his mustache. He otherwise seemed like a run-of-the-mill old man. Rude as it may be to think so, nothing about him looked like someone who had power. If she had to say why, it was because he simply lacked ambition.
“Why would you go out of your way to make medicine for Keyserling?” Professor Rueger asked. But right after, he apparently arrived at the answer, because he clapped his hands together. “Aah…now it makes sense.”
“Hah, so the idiot knew how to idiotically use himself as a weapon,” Henrik whispered, a hint of worry in his voice.
Mia caught on. “It’s my fault. I’m the one who told him they don’t develop medicine for sick commoners. That’s why he used his status as a noble to…” Suddenly understanding the meaning behind his determined expression the last time they had talked, Mia’s heart squeezed. She clenched her fist in front of her heart.
“Try to understand.” Mathias sighed and patted Mia a few times on the head. Whenever he did that, he seemed like he was years older; someone reliable who knew more, that she could lean on. The tears she had been keeping in check overflowed at his kind gesture.
“I thought I understood, but…I didn’t think he’d go this far. This isn’t what I wanted.” Mia hugged herself with trembling arms. “I haven’t done anything to deserve all he’s risking for me.”
“He’s not payin’ back a debt. He doesn’t want anything in return.”
“Yeah.”
I can’t say we’re different anymore. He doesn’t want anything in return for his kindness. He’s satisfied just by being the one who gives.
“Mia.” She lifted her head—Felix was looking right at her. “I honestly didn’t want to do this. I wanted to help you with my own strength. But doing this should resolve everything… I just don’t want to see you cry anymore,” he admitted, then graced her with his sunny smile.