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No one could find Sion, Keithwood, or Abel. Foreign royals who came to visit would usually be served the best food in this hall, but since they were there secretly, they couldn’t get a big welcome.

“Then we might as well take this chance to see the capital.”

After that, the three of them went their separate ways. In reality, they were in the Newmoon District looking at places connected to her, like the hospital she built and the orphanage she liked.

She had no idea, so she took what they said at face value. She thought they were off gawking, so she decided to eat her lunch slowly and enjoy it while Ludwig gave his report. He mostly talked about her summer plans.

The Tearmoon Empire was not near any bodies of water, so if she wanted to go on a cruise, she would have to first go to a friendly neighboring country.

She scratched her head when she heard the name of the place she was going.

“Huh. I’m sure I’ve heard of this place.”

Ganudos Port Country was where the Emerald Star was anchored. It was a small country on Tearmoon’s western border. For a long time, it had positioned itself as a friendly subordinate of minor power, even though its military strength and national output were much lower than those of the empire.

If it weren’t for the fact that it was next to the Sea of Galilee, the only thing that made it stand out, the whole country would have been a small note on the political map of the continent. Many of the empire’s most powerful nobles saw the country as a vassal state that got its security from Tearmoon.

Mia, on the other hand, knew better because she had seen how they really were when the empire started to fall apart. The crops from Perujin and the seafood from Ganudos were important sources of food for everyone in Tearmoon.

I still remember going there with Ludwig to beg for help.

She thought with a snarky smile, Good times.

It was very important for them to make a deal with Ganudos, but what was supposed to be a fairly easy negotiation with a country that was supposed to be obedient quickly got stuck.

“And it was all because the Greenmoons ran away,” she said in a bitter voice.

As far back as anyone can remember, the House of Greenmoon has always been focused on things outside of their country.

Attracted by the huge amount of money that could be made through foreign trade, every single one of its Dukes had taken an active role in international affairs, using their great power to make connections with countries that bordered the sea.

One of these places was Ganudos Port Country.

We might as well have smashed our heads against a brick wall as try to reach a deal with those people. I’d rather not go through it again. If there isn’t a revolution, the Greenmoons probably won’t leave the empire, but… Nothing was certain.

Next year, that nightmare famine was going to happen, and it was always possible that the Duke might want to take a long trip somewhere else. I should find a way to talk to them that doesn’t go through the Greenmoons. And I should do it soon.

If we go to them when we’re out of food, they’ll just take advantage of us. But right now, the empire is still strong, so as Princess of Tearmoon, I can still make my voice heard. I still carry weight.

She stopped.

That was, of course, a figure of speech. My weight in words.

The brave don’t need a Plan B, but the smart ones always have one ready. Mia, on the other hand, was the kind of person who liked to have plans C through F.

Sure, she had Forkroad & Co. setting up grain supply routes, good relations with the Perujin to make sure they would help her, a new strain of wheat being developed, and healthy food stores from being prepared, but if she could have just a little bit more, that would be great.

If she could just get some seafood from the Galilee Sea, she would finally feel like she was ready. Also, it would be great if someone could take care of that while she was on her cruise. She gave the person with glasses a quick look.

“Ludwig, you’ll be going with me to Ganudos.”

“Understood. I guess I’ll be opening a line of communication with the country?”

“Absolutely.”

She put a lot of jam on her piece of bread and took a bite. Then she made a face.

But I do wonder. What did Ganudos want to do if the empire got back on its feet?

In the end, it didn’t matter because the Tearmoon Empire fell to the revolution, but if it had survived the famine and gotten stronger, it would have made sure to mention Ganudos’s refusal to help.

Sanctions in return would be a given. Were they so eager to bring down the empire that they were willing to risk everything?

That doesn’t make sense… How strange. Maybe the Greenmoons had been working with the Serpents all along, and the others had been right to suspect them…

Even if Esmeralda herself wasn’t involved, that didn’t prove that her family wasn’t.

Would they sink the boat? Sacrifice Esmeralda to drown us all? No, I don’t think they would go that far, but it doesn’t hurt to check. Every option needs to be thought about…

She chewed on the sweet ball of jam and bread in her mouth for a little longer before taking a sip of tea. She didn’t swallow until she’d fully enjoyed the flavors.

Then she turned around to look at Ludwig.

“One thing more. When our boat leaves, tell Dion to meet you. He must go with you everywhere you go in Ganudos.”

“Sir Dion? Are we expecting something that bad to happen?”

“Think of it as a safety measure. It’s not that I don’t trust Vanos and the Princess Guard, but if things get violent, is there anyone else you’d rather have by your side?”

Dion was strange because she couldn’t stand him, but she also trusted him. If things got tough, she would rather have him close by.

Not too close, though. Not at all on the boat with her.

Since he has to come all the way from the empire, it will be easier for him to just wait at Ganudos instead of sailing out to our boat.

Mia did everything she could to keep herself safe.

“I’ll leave it up to you and her to decide what the two of you should do there.”

After she said that, she ate the rest of her lunch.