Chapter 510

Fun Girl’s Party 1: Princess Mia Burns With a Sense of Mission

Following the royal castle ball’s conclusion, Mia and her friends shifted to Rafina’s room at the inn for an exclusive girls-only after-party. Upon their arrival, they seated themselves at a dinner table adorned with a tempting pot of steaming cream stew. Within the rich liquid floated substantial chunks of bread, and perfectly boiled sweet potatoes imparted a golden-yellow hue and a faintly sweet fragrance to the stew. Mia found herself captivated by the sensory experience. As she spooned a mouthful, the sweet potato on her tongue unraveled into pure deliciousness, leaving behind a luscious sugary flavor and a fruity aroma that harmonized with the stew’s creamy texture.

Exhaling quick, steamy breaths, Mia explored the stew in search of something specific until she spotted it. Its body was mostly concealed by the stew, with only a small portion poking above the surface. Resembling seaweed but not a marine vegetable, Mia wondered aloud, “Is this... the legendary mushroom, sambapilz?”Expplôre uptodate stories at no/vel//bin(.)com

The server confirmed, “Yes, it is said that those who indulge in this mushroom experience their tongues dancing with delight due to its exquisite flavor. They are more easily found around here in Sunkland.”

Mia exclaimed, “How wonderful!”

Without delay, she scooped a portion into her mouth. Its slender, pliable consistency made it jiggle, imparting a distinctive sensation as if it were dancing on her tongue. A spontaneous giggle escaped her. Upon biting into it, a lavish mushroom essence spilled forth, creating a magical flavor that seemed to distill all the delectable essences of Mother Nature into that single bite. Paired with the stew, it crafted an indescribably delightful experience.

“Mmmmmmmmm... It’s so good...” she expressed, savoring every element, from the stew-soaked bread to the tender sunshine carrots, finding deep satisfaction in every aspect of the dish.

Contemplating the prospect of Esmeralda marrying Prince Echard, she envisioned stronger ties to Sunkland and the potential for occasional gifts of these exquisite mushrooms. Yet, it wasn’t just the mushrooms; the entire stew was a masterpiece of culinary art.

After indulging in the hearty late-night stew, Mia began to feel the embrace of drowsiness. It was only natural to seek a restful sleep after a satisfying meal, and Mia, embodying the essence of humanity, fully embraced this inclination.

“Hnnngh... I’m not really up for making the trip back to Count Lampron’s,” she murmured, stifling a yawn.

This prompted Rafina’s interest for some reason. The Holy Lady then took a deep breath and regarded the room with the utmost seriousness.

“I completely agree. It’s hardly a good idea for young ladies to head out when it’s already so late. How about you all stay here for the night?”

“Huh? Is that...okay?” asked Mia, unsuccessfully attempting to mask her drowsiness.

“Of course. This is an inn, and they have plenty of rooms. Besides, there are Serpents out there, so it’s definitely safest to stay here,” Rafina insisted, her fists balled in a persuasive manner.

“Fwaaaah... That’s...a good point. I guess I’ll take you up on your offer... Rina? Bel? You’re okay with that, I assume?”

So, it was decided that Mia and her friends would spend the night with Rafina in the inn. Assuming they’d all fit in one room, Mia’s four-girl group—composed of her, Bel, Citrina, and Anne—proceeded to rent...absolutely nothing! They stayed right where they were! Why? Because it was time for a five-girl pajama party!

Soon, the girls were fully immersed in sleepover mode. Having changed into pajamas, all provided by Rafina, they huddled on the two beds in her room, ready to talk the night away.

The idea of an all-pajamas look had been Rafina’s brainchild.

“Once we’re in pajamas, there’s no telling who’s a noble and who’s a commoner, right?”

With this statement, she effectively extended an invitation to Anne, allowing each one of them to gather on the beds of sisterhood.

Mia, initially ready to crash out at a moment’s notice, found that with so many young maidens gathered after witnessing a heart-stopping duel, sleep was all but impossible. Rest wouldn’t come until they’d exhausted every romantic topic they could think of.

“Prince Sion was so cool back there!” Bel declared, opening the conversation about her idol’s performance.

“Tee hee, you sure are crazy about Prince Sion, aren’t you, Bel?” Citrina said, giggling and playfully dismissive.

Bel nodded firmly, the joke either flying over her or sliding off her. “Of course I am! I mean, he’s just too cool! Don’t you think so, Rina?”

Mia observed the girls with droopy eyes as they carried on their conversation. Despite the charged atmosphere, sleep still weighed heavily on her. That is, until...

“What about you Moth—? Miss Anne? Is there anyone that you’re crazy about?”

...Bel went for the jugular. Mia immediately perked up, her drowsiness disappearing in an instant.

Feeling a sense of duty, Mia realized she had a responsibility as a friend and a seasoned expert in romance. She needed to use her experience to find and introduce the perfect man to Rafina, ensuring she would remain her friendly, non-prelate self. It was essential to keep Rafina’s desires satisfied, particularly her romantic ones, but Mia wouldn’t mind having a companion in the world of F.A.T.

“Miss Rafina, you and I are in a position that will eventually require us to produce heirs. It is something we need to do to keep our kingdom prosperous and our people happy. When it comes to the type of men you prefer, it might be wise to think in more specific terms.”

“Hmm... I suppose you do have a point.”

Mia’s suggestion prompted Rafina to adopt a more serious expression.

“In that case...” Rafina began, a thoughtful hand on her cheek, “Someone I can respect, perhaps?”

“Respect...”

“Yes. Someone selfless, who won’t hesitate to act for the good of others. Someone kind to children and the elderly alike, and who has compassion for the weak... but will firmly oppose oppression by powerful people. He doesn’t have to be physically strong, so long as he stands up to tyranny. Someone who fights quietly but tenaciously... I’m pretty accommodating, so as long as he’s got those qualities, then I don’t really care much about the rest.”

“Mmhm, mmhm. Okay, I... see?”

As she compiled the laundry list of qualities, the image of a particular individual flashed across her mind. Confronted with the cold, uncaring cruelty of the world, this man had undoubtedly fought against it—quietly and tenaciously. He tirelessly worked to protect underprivileged children, prioritizing their needs over his own despite the challenging conditions of his surroundings. Selfless, acting for the greater good, and displaying boundless compassion for the vulnerable, Mia’s thoughts turned to the priest in the Newmoon District.

While he was undeniably older than her—considerably so, in fact—as a member of the Central Orthodox Church, Mia deemed him a viable candidate. To confirm, she decided to pose a few more questions.

“By the way, what do you think about muscles?” she asked.

“Huh? M-Muscles?”

Rafina furrowed her brow, perplexed by the sudden query. Recognizing the faux pas, Mia quickly waved her hands.

Ugh, what was I thinking? Ruby’s the only one who gets excited when she sees big, muscular men. For most girls, their romantic preferences don’t include muscle mass!

Clearing her throat, Mia started afresh.

“Well, not just muscles, but more like...stature? You know, how tall they are and how big they look. The face is important too. Also, how good they are at swordsmanship or academics... And what their rank is...”

“Personally, I have no preferences regarding any of those qualities.”

“What about age then?”

“In terms of public image, it would be problematic if he was too old, but for my part, I don’t particularly care.”

Mia thought about the priest’s visage.

Hmm... I wouldn’t call him too old. Maybe this might just work?

“So long as we share the same faith, and his love for me is true, then I’m happy to marry whoever asks for my hand.”

Wonderful! The priest of that church loves Miss Rafina to death! I think I’ve found the perfect candi—

“Oh, actually, I have one more condition,” said Rafina with a clap of her hands. “And this one is very important.”

“Oh? One more condition?” asked Mia, encouraging her to continue.

With the most serious expression yet, Rafina said, “Yes. They can’t own a portrait of me.”

“Ah. Well. That...makes sense.”

So much for the priest. Mia promptly erased him from her mental list of potential candidates.