Chapter 188

Returning to the Imperial Capital

Anne was bringing news from Ludwig.

There is something I wanted to discuss with you about the academy town plan. Please return to the empire at earliest convenience.

That was all it said.

“Well, it’s rare for Ludwig to be looking for me...”

Ludwig was exceptionally competent that he rarely bothered Mia with his work. Occasionally, he would ask Mia to use her name for something, and she’d give permission without a second thought – well, without a first thought either. Mia had always been a model yes-man.

Anyway....

Arriving with the message was a detachment of the Princess Guard. They were on the lake shore and all ready to bring back Mia to the empire the next day. Accompanying her were Anne and Bel, along with Lynsha, Bel’s new attendant.

“I’m sorry, Lynsha. I know you were looking forward to studying at Saint Noel’s”

In response to Mia’s apology, Lynsha shrugged her shoulders.

“Don’t worry about it, it’s work. Besides, I’ve never been to the Tearmoon Empire, so it will be a new experience.”

And so, the carriage carrying the four of them, accompanied by a small escort force, hurried their way to the empire.

“The academy town, huh? I wonder what it will be about. If I remember correctly, the construction has already started, and I heard that students are planning to start studying by summer time.”

Mia scratched her head before pulling out the Chronicles of Princess Mia. She thought that she would have time for analyzing its contents while they were riding the carriage.

It is something that shouldn’t be shown to other people, but she thought she would be able to get away with it with her carriage companions.

“Oh? Mia-sama, what are you reading?”

It was Lynsha who immediately asked. Curiously, she tried to peer into her book.

“Oh, this is...”

A foreign book I borrowed from the library... and so on: was about to come out of her mouth. When...

“Ufufufu, that’s right. It’s The Chronicles Princess Mia. A book that details all the glorious achievement of my sister Mia!”

Bel announced proudly.

Who in the dark moons thought of giving it that name!

“If that’s the case, it’s even more strange. This princess’ biography... doesn’t mention that academy at all.”

If it’s a school with such a name, it should definitely be in this book. Despite that, the story of the academy was not written at all in Princess Mia’s biography.

“Huh...? It can’t be. I mean, I’ve read it before.”

Bel looked into the book. She exclaimed in surprise.

“Huh? Huh? No way! Why? This is weird.”

Looking at the confused Bel, Mia can guess what happened.

It’s probably the same as what happened with my diary. An event can trigger it to change its contents. Oh? But Bel’s memories itself hasn’t changed. Does that mean that it does not affect memories? Or is there some sort of time lag?

Unlike pages on a book, memories certainly seem to take time to be changed.

Hmm, there are many things I don’t understand...

Mia tilts her head in puzzlement.

So, what does this mean?

Mia continued thinking, using all her brain cells. She finally arrived at a truth.

That’s right. Bel came here as the guide that I prayed for. That means if I compare her unchanging memory with that of the changing accounts of this book, then I would be able to figure things out! That must be it!

Mia didn’t bother analyzing why such a phenomenon was happening. She was approaching it from the perspective of what does it mean for Bel and the ‘Chronicles of Princess Mia’ to coexist at the same time.

It was definitely not because she thought it was too tiresome to think about difficult things. This was ingenuity at work! At no point did she think that there’s no point about thinking things that she can’t figure out at all. After all, that would just make her tired. So long as she has an answer, she was happy with it.

Well, that aside...

“There is also this new strain of wheat.”

“Huh? New type of wheat? What is that? What do you mean, Mia-neesama?”

Seeing Bel’s expression, Mia nodded in understanding.

I see... In other words, in the future where Bel was, even though there was an academy town, no new wheat was developed. Well, it seems that the famine can be overcome thanks to the stockpile of food and Chloe’s firm...

Mia’s deep, deep thoughts continued.