Where the Path of Arrogance Leads
Esmeralda watched as Mia played around the front of the yacht, giggling and squealing and generally acting in a way that made people say things like “get a room.”
The young Etoiline beamed with happiness.
“Oho ho, Miss Mia looks like she’s having fun. Excellent. The search for a life partner is a very important duty for those of us with noble blood. I must say, though, that I always thought she would be happier with someone like Prince Sion. What was the name of this guy she liked? Abel, Prince of Remno? It’s not quite the same type, but the face is still very pretty. Oh, I see, I know what she wants in a man now…”
The happy tone of her monologue changed into an angry one.
“Still, it bothers me a little that she hasn’t paid much attention to me. I’ll get even with her by splashing water in her face later. Yes, she’ll learn her lesson! When we—”
Nina, her maid, quietly walked up to her and stopped her from being so happy.
“Excuse me, milady.”
“Yes? Is there something wrong, Ni—um, maid?”
“Yes, milady. The captain told me that there is a storm coming and that it will hit us sometime tomorrow. People have told us not to stop at the island.”
“Oh, a storm?”
Esmeralda looked up at the sky with doubt.
“It seems pretty clear to me. Are you sure that the captain isn’t making things up?”
“I have to remind you—”
“Remind me? Right now, the only person who needs to be reminded that this is my cruise is you. Do you really think something so bad would happen to us when I’m there?”
She gave Nina a mean look, and Nina just lowered her head.
“I apologize. I did something wrong. Please don’t get mad at me for being rude.”
“As long as you know what I mean. You are forgiven. Now, go tell the captain to keep going as planned,” she said, then walked happily to the bow of the ship.
Nina watched her leave and let out a deep sigh, but the wind took it away before her master could hear it.
“Miss Mia, I hope you’re having a good time?”
Mia woke up from her dream-like reverie with Abel when she heard the question. She turned around quickly and was surprised to see Esmeralda standing next to her, smiling.
She suddenly realized that all the giggling, squealing, and “get a room” jokes she and Abel had been playing were actually pretty embarrassing. She quickly put on a nice smile to hide how she felt.
“Yes, the cruise has been pretty nice up to this point. At first, this boat didn’t seem all that great, but now that I’m on it, I like it a lot more than I thought I would.”
“Oho ho, it’s great to hear such nice things. I’ll tell my father what you said as well.”
“By the way, Esmeralda,” Mia said, suddenly thinking deeply. “I was wondering what a cruise is really like. Do we just go sailing all the time?”
“Hm? What are you saying?”
“Well, I just thought there would be some swimming involved.” She thought she would have to learn how to swim. In fact, it was the reason she came in the first place!
Then again, not being able to swim means more time on the boat, and more time on the boat means…
She let out a longing sigh as she thought about the romantic moment she’d just had.
I’d like to see more of that. Now that I think about it, maybe it’s not so important to learn how to swim…
Just as she was starting to forget what was important, Esmeralda reassured her with a nod.
“There will be time to swim, of course. We’re going to an island right now that has a beach where we can spend some time in the water.”
“Really? We’ll be on an island?”
Abel joined in on their talk.
“I’ve only ever been to Saint-Noel Island. “How is this one?”
Esmeralda looked at him carefully, her eyes moving slowly from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.
At last, she gave a nod of approval. It looks like Abel passed her test for good looks.
“Then, Prince Abel, you will find that this island is much smaller than Saint-Noel. It does, however, have an opening where you can swim. Imagine… A beach with soft, white sand and clear blue water… It’s like paradise.”
She gave him a smile.
“I have to say, though, that Her Highness has made some great friends. I’m almost jealous.”
“That’s right,” said Mia, whose pride in Abel grew when she heard other people praise him.
“You should be jealous.”
Right then, Anne came in.
“I’m sorry to bother you, milady, but do you have a minute?”
“Oh, Anne. Sure. What’s happening?”
“I think we should take out that swimsuit Rafina-sama made for you and—”
Esmeralda said with a sneer, “My, Your Highness, you bothered to learn your maid’s name?”
“Hm? Yes. She’s not just any housekeeper, right? She is one of my most trustworthy and loyal servants. I know her name, of course.”
“M-Milady…”
Anne’s lips trembled with emotion, but she quickly got control of herself and turned to face Esmeralda.
“I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself sooner. I work for Princess Mia. My name is Anne Littstein.”
“My! How rude of you to think that I would want to know your name. Also, for someone that Her Highness seems to think is so smart, you sure don’t look very smart. Oho ho.”
The way she laughed was rude.
“Just so you know, Princess Mia’s servant, I don’t remember the names of everyone who works for me. So, I won’t use your name when I talk to you either. It’s not about you. All right?”
She gave one of her typical noble girl laughs with her back arched and her face turned to the sky, then looked down at Mia with an air of superiority.
“It’s so strange of you, Miss Mia, to remember the names of your servants. You must have something better to do with your time. Those who come from royal families should act in a royal way. If you hang out with lowlifes too much, you might start to act like them. Be careful, all right? Oho ho.”
Mia made no reply. She looked at Esmeralda, who was laughing, and felt torn.
I should let her know. Just for herself. But I doubt she would listen…
She knew where Esmeralda’s current attitude of pride would lead her.
I hope she realizes on her own. Before she is forced to realize.
When a high-ranking noble did something wrong, it was likely that the imperial family would also be to blame. So, Mia really wanted Esmeralda to get smart and get herself together.
It would stop the guillotine. From them both.
After all, losing her own head had been terrible, and seeing Esmeralda lose hers was likely to make her feel just as bad.
Author’s Note:
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