Chapter 182
Chapter Notes by the Author:
This is the comic book version of the completion of the commemorative extra edition.
Today we are posting two episodes, one for the extra episode and one for the main story.
Life in Mia’s dungeon was basically very boring.
Of course, they weren’t given any entertainment. And there was no hope of having a fun conversation with the guards unless it was a verbal abuse.
As a result, Mia…
“Five thousand six hundred one, five thousand six hundred two…”
…was counting the number of cracks in the stones that made up her cell. She was absorbed in a rather crazy game. It would not be an exaggeration to say that she was on the verge of insanity. By the way, the number of stones and the number of stains on the stones have already been counted by her before.
It was the end of the season.
“Hello, Princess Mia.”
Suddenly, she heard a rare and cute voice in the dungeon.
“Oh? Am I hallucinating?”
What appeared in Mia’s field of vision when she lifted her face up was the figure of Anne, the woman who was taking care of her.
“Well, well! Anne, how nice of you to come!”
It happened on a winter day near the end of the year.
The commoners were busy preparing for winter, and Anne had not been seen for the past seven days. Has she finally been abandoned? It was three days ago that Mia was crying loudly.
With the joy of not being abandoned, Mia welcomed the conversation partner that she hasn’t seen in a long time with a big smile.
Then, his gaze stopped at Anne’s neck.
“Oh, you’re wearing something interesting.”
“Ah, yes. Ehehe, it’s actually my birthday today.”
Anne pinched the scarf wrapped around her neck with her fingers. Because the mesh is uneven and cheap yarn is used, it cannot be said to be of high quality. But Anne has a very happy smile on her face.
“… you’ve such a good family.”
With a small murmur, Mia remembered her father, who had already been executed. A father who pampered her with overprotection. She didn’t know what he was like as an emperor, but as a father, he was always kind to Mia.
Mia felt like she was going to be saddened, so she shook her head slightly and decided to change the subject.
“Speaking of birthdays, I just had mine too.”
“Eh?”
Anne blinked in surprise.
“M-Mia-sama, it is your birthday?”
“Was. It was seven days ago.” Mia looked at Anne with a slightly accusatory face. “Or rather, haven’t you ever been to my birthday festival while living in the Imperial City?”
Speaking of Princess Mia’s birthday festival, it is a grand festival that takes place every winter for five days. When the empire was still prosperous, under the emperor’s grand decree, many stalls were lined up and many people from all over the empire visited for sightseeing.
“I’m sorry. I was busy with housework and other things during the winter…”
Anne said in an apologetic tone.
“Come to think of it, I remember my younger sisters pestering me to go there, but we never knew what the festival was for.”
“Well, that’s a thing of the past now.”
Remembering the liveliness of those days, Mia expressed a lonely smile.
“I thought it was annoying before, but when it’s gone, it’s a little lonely.”
“…is that so”
Anne seemed to be thinking about something, but in the end, she agreed only briefly. After that, Mia listened about the story that Anne’s sister had written, and heard about the state of the city, and the day ended, but…
Anne’s next visit was three days later.
Anne quickly entered Mia’s dungeon while secretly watching the guards.
“What’s wrong, Anne?”
“Shhh. Her Highness Princess Mia, please act as usual.”
After saying that in a whisper, Anne turned her back on the guards and looked at Mia.
“I’ll fix your hair today. Please turn around.”
Saying that, she hastily rotated Mia.
“Hey… what’s wrong? Anne, you’re so pushy… Huh?”
Anne pretended to fix Mia’s hair and quickly handed “something” to Mia’s hand.
“Is this… a cookie?”
“Yes, I was able to get it by chance.”
“My!”
Mia raised her voice softly.
Since the great famine hit the entire continent, the food situation in the empire has deteriorated extremely. Even Mia, as a princess, rarely ate sweets. Even more so after being thrown into a dungeon.
“Hurry up. If they find you, they’ll get that off you.”
“Oh, that’s right. Then…”
Mia carefully held the baked sweet, that she had for the first time in a while, with both hands. Then put it in her slightly trembling mouth. The moment she put it on her tongue, it felt like dry earth. However, as soon as it is chewed, it transformed into sweetness. Somewhat cheesy, but undeniably sweet. The scent of roasted barley and the scent of slightly sprinkled flowers…
“Oh…”
She let out a sigh involuntarily. It was the best treat she had since coming to this dungeon.
“Happy Birthday”
Suddenly, Anne called out to her.
“You brought it for this for…?”
“Yes. I’m sorry for being ten days late.”
“Wasn’t it difficult to get it?”
Even Mia can guess how hard it was to get a cookie. Was it okay to give it to her who wasn’t even a family member? Mia was very concerned.
“Yes. It’s special because it is for your birthday Princess Mia.”
“So…”
“Because isn’t it lonely? You weren’t able to celebrate your birthday. I think everyone has the right to celebrate being born in this world.”
After declaring proudly, Anne sticked out her tongue,
“Ehehe, I sounded a bit arrogant. Please excuse my rudeness, Princess Mia.”
Anne then lowers her head in a formal tone.
Seeing this sudden shift in attitude that bordered on comedy, Mia almost spatted out her cookie crumbs.
Times passed, and lives changed, but Mia never forgot that birthday she celebrated ten days late. She remembered it on the guillotine, and she continued to remember it afterward.
And so, time goes by…
“Oh, I’m tired.”
A national birthday celebration followed by parties at each of the four dukes. After going out for nine days, Mia’s face was completely sore by constant smiling.
“I thought it would be lonely if it disappeared, but it’s still as annoying.”
Mia is the type who misses winter in summer and summer in winter. In autumn and spring, the food is delicious, so she doesn’t miss it. She had a simple nature, but it kept her happy.
Mia takes off her dress and lies on the bed. She felt that she was about to fall asleep, but…
“If you sleep like that, you’ll catch a cold. At least, let’s change you into a loungewear.”
With a wry smile, Anne walked up to Mia. Mia turned her attention to the tray she was holding.
“Oh, what is that?”
“It was from the head chef. Something made from hot milk.”
“Is it delicious?”
“I don’t know, but I heard that it is sweetened with honey.”
“Thank you for the treat!”
Mia finds most things delicious if they are sweetened. It’s a happy taste. She sat on the edge of the bed and receive a porcelain container from Anne. A sweet smell wafted from the white, warm milk… Mia let out a sigh of satisfaction.
“By the way, Mia-sama, about the rest of the day…”
“Oh my! I just realized! Today is Anne’s birthday, isn’t it?”
Mia clapped her hands as if she had just realized. It’s really bad acting. Then Mia gave Anne the present she had hidden.
“Huh? Um… what is that?”
“It’s a present.”
The contents are high-class sweets.
“Ah, thank you very much.”
Anne thanked her… but Mia noticed that she seemed like she wanted to say something more.
“Is there anything you’d like to do? Ah, you’re having a birthday party with your family, so you want to go home today, or something like that?”
“No, it’s not. Um.”
Anne was fidgeting and fidgeting, then…
“I know it’s really rude, but I wonder if Mia-sama will come too…”
“Huh?”
Mia gaped.
“Ah, um, my siblings, umm… They are excited to celebrate with Mia-sama…”
Anne stole a nervous glance at her, then let out an embarrassed laugh.
“Ah, haha, but you look tired… it’s no good. I’m sorry. I said something strange…”
“You’ll always be the girl that celebrated my birthday ten days late. Always.”
Mia gripped Anne’s hand tightly on her own.
“Huh? Um, Mi-Mia-sama?”
“Of course! I will with go, Anne. Yes, I’d be happy to.”
Mia raised her face to see a shining smile on Anne’s face.
A few days later. Mia asks Anne to go to St. Noel Academy with her. Mia still didn’t know what kind of adventures awaited her.
Author’s Note:
Today, I have something to announce, and I have updated the activity report.
Sorry to trouble you, but I would appreciate it if you could see it.