Princess Mia’s Attempt to Win Over… Fails?
To ensure that Xiaolei did not escape, Mia, who had spectacularly lured Xiaolei with her horse-shaped bread, suggested that they have their al together. Mia imdiately took Xiaolei’s hand and led her towards the hot pot prepared by Anne.
The portable black horse-shaped bread was quite hard, so it was usually eaten after being soaked in soup or another liquid. As she saw the horse-shaped bread floating and soaking up the soup in the hot pot, Xiaolei let out a cute squeal of delight, but quickly composed herself.
“Hmm, hmm… It looks good, but there’s sothing missing.”
And then Xiaolei returned to her tent and quickly brought sothing back.
“Oh, what’s that?”
“That’s cheese. If you add it to the pot, it will lt and taste amazing.”
“Oh…”
“I also have so dried at. If we chop it up and add it, it will mix with the cheese and really enrich the flavour.”
“Wow!”
With skilled movents, Xiaolei shaved off the surface of the cheese and added it to the pot. She then added the dried at, which gave the Tearmoon hot pot an exquisite colour.
The first thing that stood out to Mia was the delightful, appetising aroma of the cheese, followed by the glimpse of the delicious chunks of dried at coated with the gooey cheese.
“Wow, this looks wonderful! As expected of ingredients from the Equestrian Kingdom. Well then, let’s dig in…”
While the pot still simred, Mia transferred so of the dried at Xiaolei had provided onto her own plate and imdiately took a bite.
“Hmf!”
Steam escaped her mouth. The lted cheese was very hot, so Mia took deep breaths in and out to avoid burning her mouth. Perhaps that was a good thing because the rich flavour of the cheese spread throughout her mouth all at once—a trio of llow flavour, refreshing acidity, and the strong, salty savouriness of the dried at. When she bit into the crunchy dried at, the juicy soup that had soaked into it spread throughout her mouth.
“Oh, wow… this is wonderful…”
After that, words were unnecessary. Mia and Xiaolei were completely engrossed in their al. Perhaps because they were hungry, the taste was so very delicious! It was irresistibly so! Before they knew it, the pot was empty!
Mia felt as though she had experienced an optical illusion and ti had flown by—it was truly astonishing.
“Ah, sohow I was totally absorbed in eating. Hehehe, I’m completely full now. It was a lot of fun, Xiaolei-san.”
Mia said cheerfully, but Xiaolei suddenly turned her face away.
“I have no intention of getting friendly. Princess Mia is my enemy.”
While Xiaolei glared at her, Mia responded with a smile on her face.
Then, laughing it off, she prepared her counterargunt!
“That’s not true, is it?”
“What’s not true? You think being friendly and riding horses together is what the match-up is about? That’s an insult to the horse match-up.”
“No, that’s not the case.”
Shaking her head slowly, Mia took the opportunity to present her theory.
“I understand that the horse match-up is a clash of opinions. So, I know it’s serious, but…”
First, she needed to show that she fully understood Xiaolei’s perspective.
“However, the true battle lies only within the race.”
Mia wanted to clarify the timing of the battle’s conclusion: when the match-up ended, so did the battle. In other words, she aid to define where the conflict should end. Once the match-up concluded, it was ti to exhibit sportsmanship and cultivate friendliness. This was Mia’s appeal.
“The battle itself should be fought with proper respect and honour for the opponent.” Mia emphasised. She added that during the horse match-up, there should be no rough play or violence and both sides should play fair. This approach would prevent unnecessary hard feelings and avoid any trouble.
It was a mont when Mia’s thoughtfulness and consideration shone brightly!
“You can only clash during the match-up. After that, you must accept the results and abide accordingly…”
“Eh?”
Mia blinked at Xiaolei’s abrupt words.
“This is the teaching of our forefather, Ka Seima. Is this what you wish to say, Princess Mia?”
“Yes. That’s exactly right!”
Mia nodded as if to indicate that was exactly what she ant. However, it was obvious she had not given it any deep thought. Obviously.
However, Mia was not one to let go of a new wave.
‘I will ride this wave! With absolutely no hesitation!’
“The horse match-up is not a battle to kill the opponent. It’s just a thod to settle disputes and ensure cooperation. Therefore, we are not enemies. Once it’s over, shouldn’t we praise each other’s efforts without being swayed by hatred or personal feelings?” Mia clenched her fist, passionately making her argunt.
“Princess Mia…”
For a mont, Xiaolei seed deeply impressed, but then quickly turned her face away.
“That’s just too idealistic. There’s no way I could believe that.”
“I see. That’s unfortunate.”
Mia sighed softly.
‘She is quite the formidable opponent. Hmm, in this case…’
In a turn of events, Mia planned a complete change in her strategy. After all, that was her speciality.
“However, I must praise Rakuro and your riding.”
She had decided to flatter Xiaolei with all her strength. Mia had a track record of successfully overcoming several crises using this flattering strategy, at least in her own mind.
Even at that mont, she kept talking, trying to find a way. Thanks to Xiaolei, she had enjoyed a delicious dinner, so her tongue moved smoothly.
“Rakuro’s run today was splendid, truly worthy of its na as the Moonhare among Moonhares. It was quite magnificent! As the princess of the Tearmoon Empire, I believe that I know fine horses. Rakuro is a wonderful horse that won’t lose to any of the horses in the Empire. And you too, Xiaolei-san. Even if no one else saw how wonderfully you fought, I saw it for sure.”
Mia pleaded emphatically that she was the only one who held her in high esteem. She was earnestly trying to create an atmosphere where it would be difficult for Xiaolei to ask Mia sothing like, “Give your horse.”
How cunning!
“I-I don’t want to hear such obvious flattery.”
Xiaolei said as she stood up.
“I have no intention of getting along with you any further. Please be prepared for tomorrow!”
With those words, Xiaolei left Mia. As Mia watched her leave, she sighed softly.
“Hmm, I wonder if I failed…”
Mia stood and looked up at the sky.
“Well then… what should I do tomorrow…?”
As if reflecting Mia’s anxiety, the shining moon was gradually veiled by a thin layer of clouds.
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