Chapter 53: 44

[Excuse-me, Rafina-sama. May I have a word with you?]

During lunch break, Mia, stiff and tense, visited Rafina's classroom.

[Oh, Mia-san, what can I do for you?]

Rafina looked up with the same smile she always has on her face. But that didn't put Mia at ease.

For her, who is described as a saint, smiling is a default state. She could casually cut Mia off while wearing a smile.

You can never be too careful.

[I need to talk to you about something...]

Mia fearfully looked up at Rafina.

[Is that so? I was just about to have lunch. Would you like to join me?]

Rafina guided Mia to her room with the same gentle voice she usually uses.

[Oh, yes. Thank you for the gifts. The staff was very surprised and pleased.]

Rafina clapped her hands and spoke happily.

Mia wasn't sure of what she meant, since she hadn't received a report from Anne about it, but at any rate, she smiled, relieved that Rafina seemed to be in a good mood.

(That is good. It might work...!)

After they were seated and the food was lined up on the table, Mia bowed her head.

[I'm very sorry for what happened.]

With the looming threat of the guillotine, she had no hesitation.

[Please raise your head, Princess Mia. It wasn't your fault, was it?]

[No, I'm the Empire's princess. The actions of the imperial nobles are also my responsibility.]

Mia said while trying to look as admirable as possible.

In fact, yes, it was done without my knowledge! That is what she wanted to say, but patience was necessary here.

[So, what about the punishment?]

[Yes, the servants who were directly involved have been sent back to their home countries. As for the students, their involvement is unclear, so they have been placed under house arrest.]

[Isn't that a bit lenient?]

Rafina narrowed her eyes.

(Eek!)

The cold stare made Mia shudder.

Indeed, she regretted not giving a harsher punishment, but now it is too late for that.

Now, she must somehow justify her decision to punish them so lightly.

[Princess Mia, you seem to be a very merciful person.]

(What should I do, what should I do!?)

Just like a cat being watched by a lion that just woke up, Mia tries her best to find a way out.

However, her already fried brain was unable to think of anything...

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At that time, she suddenly saw the soup in front of her. It was a yellow vegetable soup. A nostalgic soup with yellow moon tomatoes.

Suddenly, the face of the imperial chef came to her mind.

The face of the stubborn man who devised a way to cook the yellow moon tomatoes that Mia hated...

[...Only after having nothing left to eat came the realization that it was sinful to leave the yellow moon tomatoes behind, calling them bad...]

She says, remembering the taste of the yellow moon tomatoes she had after transmigrating.

(When I remember that I used to leave behind the food that had been so carefully prepared for me, I realize how terrible I used to be.)

(Wait, I'm trying to escape from reality! That is not the time for that...)

[In other words, you're saying that sometimes, people do bad things because we are unaware they are bad?]

[...Eh?]

[Since there was no significant damage, the victim won't seek further compensation. I see, that's why you sent your trusted retainer, Anne, to help...]

Different from earlier, Rafina's smile is soft and gentle.

There are two aspects to punishment.

One is to ensure justice in order to comfort the victim's mind. The other is to encourage the perpetrator to reflect on their actions.

This time, thanks to Anne's efforts, the damage was kept to a minimum.

[In this case, we should encourage the perpetrators to reflect on what happened and grow from it... Certainly, for a school, that looks like a more suitable way of punishment.]

[It surely does!]

Mia... got onboard.She wasn't sure what that was all about, but anything was fine, as long as she could escape.

[Mia-san.]

Rafina took Mia's hand once again.

[I must admit that I don't have the compassion to try to rehabilitate evil people. As expected from the wisdom of the Empire. I truly admire you.]

[I'm flattered.]

Mia gives a tense smile. She is not comfortable with that kind of admiration.

[So..., you see, Mia-san....]

Suddenly, Rafina started having a hard time articulating her words.

(...Isn't it over yet?)

Mia just wanted to run away, but Rafina said something unexpected.

[Would you... Would you like to be my friend?]

[Eh...?]

And on that day, Mia became friends with the school's president Rafina.

 

After parting with Rafina and returning to her room, Mia once again thanked Anne for her kindness.

She forced the reluctant Anne to go out into the city with her, and as a reward, she happily went on a tour of sweets...

But that is a story for another day.

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