They followed Muzic through the woods by taking narrow animal trails. It was just as harsh as walking in the riverbank. Mia was exhausted, but she couldn’t afford to be left behind.
The canopy of the thick dense trees blocks the sunlight. As a result, the whole forest seems to be surrounded in darkness. From the shade of a tree, a monster may appear. Mia trembles with her overactive imagination.
She did not believe in ghosts or monsters and the like. But she did not get the title of being “Chicken-Hearted” by being selective of her fears. Whether it’s a ghost or a wolf, Mia can jump up and scream without any difference.
She was already way past the point of exhaustion but her fear from her overactive imagination gave her more than enough strength to keep walking on.
Well, I am surprised. I thought that by now we would have taken at least two breaks. I’m surprised that Mia has physical strength. I know she joined the equestrian club, but she is truly impressive. Princess Mia, I can’t really lose to you now.
Sion was impressed by seemingly Mia’s stamina.
Mia of course was barely hanging on. Staggering desperately…
“Oh? The flickering light is twinkling in front of me. It’s very beautiful …”
Just when Mia started mumbling things that would make doctors concerned about her mental health…
“We’ve arrived”
The trees seem to open up to wide clearing.
—
They arrived at the village of Doni. It seems to be composed of about ten houses and every house was made only out of wood
A village made up of hunters and lumberjacks…
A quick look at the village and Sion came to this realization.
“We’re here. That round-roofed house is my house.”
Muzic pointed to a house which was more like a shack. It was not much different from the other houses.
“Even if you want to go to the royal capital, it will have to be tomorrow. It’s too late today, so it’s a good idea to stay here for now.”
Upon hearing these words, Sion exhaled with relief.
It looks like we can sleep in a place with a roof tonight.
But he suddenly turned to Mia. For Sion, who sometimes goes hunting in the woods, this kind of hut is a relatively familiar place. But that’s not the case for Mia, the princess of a great empire. Sion was worried that she might be disappointed or even disgusted upon seeing the condition of the house…
“How do you eat rabbits? Do you roast them over a fire?”
“Oh, we sometimes do that. But I was thinking of making it into a hot pot today, so I prepared some vegetables.”
“Wow! Stewed food! That’s wonderful! Oh, if you add mushrooms …”
“Ah, young lady, mushrooms are difficult to identify, so it’s dangerous if you pick them up randomly.”
“Then, could you tell me which ones are edible? There’s someone I really want to cook for.”
With her eyes glittering with excitement, Mia was clearly absorbed in cooking. She didn’t seem to care about the state of the house at all.
So much for me worrying about her delicate sensibilities. She didn’t seem to be bothered if we camped out in the open either. She’s surprisingly tough.
Sion looked at Music again with a resigned smile.
“By the way, it looks like it’s going to be difficult here.”
“Hmm? What?”
“There is a civil war, right?”
“Hmm? Oh, I don’t know. Word here is that there are some people in the town making a noise about something stupid.”
“… something stupid? It does not affect anything around here?”
“Don’t know. We don’t hear about it around these parts. Anyway, here in the countryside, we’re not free enough to do that. We’re too busy looking after ourselves. Gahahaha”
Muzic makes a lively laugh. Seeing that, Sion frowns.
It’s quite different from the report… I thought that the revolution had enveloped the entirety of Remno…
‘Residents, who couldn’t stand the heavy tax imposed by the king to expand their armaments, rose up in anger.’ This was the information he received.
Is it because this place is a remote settlement along the border that it hasn’t reached here yet?
Sion tilted his head slightly due to the slight difference in the information he received and what he is currently witnessing.
—
Mia, on the other hand, was also tilting her head. But this is because she was drinking a generous amount of rabbit stew from a wooden bowl …
As expected. No wonder it was mentioned in the book. It’s excellent!
Mia was pleased with the tender meat that melted in her mouth, the wild taste full of wildness, and the rich taste of wild plants. She noticed her body being warmed by the food.
“… This is strange.”
Mia observed the rabbit stew in the bowl.
“It seems that like there is plenty of food…”
The famine that will hit the continent wasn’t due for a few years from now. So, there is no shortage of food yet. Still…
“… It’s kind of weird.”
It’s like a little discomfort … no, it’s a kind of uneasiness that might have been fleeting… However, she couldn’t take her mind off it.
“… Oh, I want something sweet.”
Mia muttered while wolfing down another rabbit meat into her mouth.
“It’s delicious, but I want something sweet …”
At the end of the day, Mia was still a princess. And a Princess deserves her sugar cravings.