Chapter 72

Unicorn Hairpin

The week after finishing a business talk with Chloe’s father, Mia visited the poor area of the imperial capital, the New Moon district. The visit was a last-minute proposal of Mia. Under the direction of Ludwig, a ten-member guard platoon was dispatched hurriedly. Some of the soldiers secretly complained about the sudden mission.Vissit novelbin(.)com for new novels

“Her Highness really likes to do things her way. I don’t want to go to a poor area where security is bad ... It’s an extra effort.”

“It seems she wants to see the hospital that she had built. Well, I guess it’s a good popularity stunt. And at least she bothers. She’s called the wisdom of the empire after all.”

Since the guards’ heads might literally roll if something happens to the princess, it is not a surprise that they prefer for her to stay inside the castle where it is safer and quieter. It is easier to guard someone who does not actively look for trouble.

These grumbles of the young knights soon reached the ears of a veteran guard knight who accompanied Mia last time.

“You guys better stop your grumbling and complaining. Her Highness is different. At least she is different from the nobles that you might know. I won’t allow any badmouthing of her under my watch.”

This veteran guard remembered the first time he encountered the princess. She had the courage to step in without hesitation in an unsafe area. She showed mercy to dingy, dirty children and helped them unconditionally. She had the wisdom to build the hospital which was a necessity in that poor area. His reputation for Mia is as inflated as Ludwig.

“I thank you for your time for coming today despite such short notice, everyone.”

Just in time, Mia arrived.

Mia gave the knights a cheerful smile; to which the knights hurriedly corrected their postures to stand at attention. During the revolution, the Imperial Guards offered their very lives for the imperial family to the very end. And so, Mia is quite fond of the Imperial Guards. She decided to reward them for the deeds in the previous timeline and in the hope of strengthening their bonds for this current timeline.

She rewarded them with her smile, of course. While her motives were questionable, it was quite effective in raising the morale of the guards especially the younger ones. After all, Mia is reasonably beautiful. She may not be a beauty icon, but she’s also not on the level of the normal beauty. Moreover, there is also a status of being a princess of the Great Tearmoon Empire.

What’s more, today Mia isn’t wearing a fancy dress, instead she is wearing an active outfit, a blouse and shorts tailored for riding. This was a fresh surprise for those who believed that the nobles were always dressed in ostentatious dresses. All these added with Mia’s smile sent some of the young guards’ hearts aflutter.

“Well, let us then be on our way.”

“Yes, yes, Your Highness!”

Mia left the castle with a somewhat excited group of the Imperial Guards.

“Oh, has the atmosphere changed a little?”

Immediately after entering New Moon, Mia noticed the change.

“A present! As thank you for the last time!”

“What is this?”

It was a white hairpin. Its surface has a faint rainbow color. The color changes depending on the viewing angle.

“It’s a unicorn hairpin!”

“A unicorn!? Oh my!”

Mia screamed in amazement and stared at her hairpin. The hairpin certainly had a brilliance that she had never seen before, and it certainly looked like it was made by carving out the horns of a legendary unicorn. The boy giggles and laughs at Mia’s reaction.

“I made it by carving a tree from my hometown. It’s called a unicorn hairpin.”

“Well, is that right?”

Mia observed the hairpin again.

“This is beautiful. I like it.”

Mia was happy about the present and put the unicorn hairpin on her hair.

“Thank you, I’m very happy.”

When Mia smiled, the boy’s cheeks blushed red and then he ran away.

“It’s a keepsake from that child’s mother.”

“What!?”

Mia turned to see the priest standing behind her. He was the only person who ran an orphanage around here.

“Oh, Father, it’s been a long time.”

Mia politely curtsied and greeted him.