Tearmoon Empire: Volume 12 [Parts 1 to 2] by Nozomu Mochitsuki

Author:Nozomu Mochitsuki
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 5: A Serpent’s Shadow

Mia gave a satisfied nod as she watched Patricia wordlessly eat her mushroom stew.

Oho! She seems to have quite an appetite. It’s starting to make me hungry as well...

Mia rubbed her stomach...then turned her gaze to those around her. Noticing, the kitchen staff rushed over with some tea.

“Here, Your Highness. This is our special milk tea.”

“My, thank you! I was hoping I could get some snacks to pair with this...”

“Our ingredients are not... Plus, it would anger Anne.”

Her frankness had Mia groaning. This particular staff member was one Mia was acquainted with, and she had quite a close relationship with Anne. Mia’s actions had been leaked to her—a gear (Mia) shift orchestrated perfectly by Anne. Her ceaseless efforts acted as permanent protection of Mia’s health.

Well, there’s nothing I can do about that... Judging on how much Patricia’s gobbling these mushrooms down, she really must have never eaten them before. Which means...

Mia’s curiosity got the best of her. “Um, why did you say you hated mushrooms?”

Patricia continued to stare at her plate. “My tummy hurts...when I eat them...” she whispered.

Mia...understood her point of view entirely!

Oh, I get it! Eating poisonous mushrooms does lead to stomach aches. She must have a scar over her heart left from making that mistake....

Mia was charmed. But then, she found some stew plastered to Patricia’s cheek.

“Oh, dear...” Mia wiped it off with a kind smile. She was the kindest of kind grandmothers, but Patricia’s reaction was a bit unexpected.

“Ah! I-I-I’m sorry...” She shivered in fear.

Again, Mia felt that something was off. “It’s nothing to apologize for. A lady really shouldn’t get food on her face, but tasty mushrooms are enough to get in the way of anyone’s composure.”

For some reason, Patricia stared at her in shock. Then, she opened her mouth in trepidation. “Um...why are you giving me tasty food?”

“Why? Well, if you’re going to eat something, it’s best if it’s tasty, right? Whether you be a noble or an imperial princess, that goes for anybody.”

Mia spoke an unwavering truth—if you’re gonna eat, it better be tasty.

“I see.” Patricia seemed to have come to an understanding. She gave a quiet nod. “You’re saying that gluttony is one way to ruin Tearmoon’s imperial household...”

“Oho! Exact— Huh?” Patricia’s praise of the mushroom stew had set Mia into cheerful laughter, but her grin suddenly froze.

...Ruin the imperial household?? Huh?

“The Book of Those who Crawl the Earth says that gluttony leads to wasted expenditure.”

The shocking vocabulary that was flying out of Patricia’s mouth had Mia flabbergasted.

Th-Th-The Book of Those Who Crawl the Earth?! I-Is this kid with the Serpents?!

Mia was about to fly off the back of her chair, but she managed to hang on to her last bit of composure. It took every effort to organize her chaotic thoughts, but she forced a smile.

I-I can’t let her find out I’m the Tearmoon Princess. She’s got to be quite dense not to have figured it out when I shared my name earlier, but...I can’t let my guard down! I’ve got to hurry and get a handle on this situation.

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