ยฉNovelKiss
Reincarnated Princess Wishes To Avoid Death-Chapter 511
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Fun Girlโs Party 2: Rafina Decides to Learn Horseback Riding
The conversation continued until a little past midnight. At that point, Rafina, seemingly satisfied with the girl talk, said, โPhewโฆ Well, how about we call it a night?โ
Upon realizing she could finally enjoy some much-needed sleep, Mia threw herself onto one of the three beds. Yes, three. Anne had insisted on sleeping on the floor, but Rafina adamantly refused to allow it.
โWhen wearing pajamas, weโre all equals, so we should sleep as equals too, no?โ Rafina declared. At her insistence, they got a third bed and positioned it beside the previous two so everyone could sleep together.
โThisโฆgap between the bedsโฆ It seems like you can fall throughโฆโ thought Mia as she yawned. Before she had a chance to drift off, she heard Rafinaโs voice.
โBy the way, Mia, has the whole engagement issue with Miss Esmeralda been straightened out yet?โ
โHmmwha? Uhhโฆ Yes, pretty muchโฆโ Mia reflexively answered before her drowsy brain comprehended the question. The subsequent chill was enough to wake her up. Had she told Rafina about the real reason for her trip to Sunkland? Noโฆ She never mentioned the complicated circumstances she came to sort out.
Uh-oh. This might be a problemโฆ Too late now.
โI seeโฆโ Rafinaโs expression grew pensive. โThere was something I wanted to discuss with you, butโฆ You probably have plenty on your plate already, and Iโd rather not burden you any further. Also, the situation has changed a little, and it doesnโt seem like Iโll be needing your help immediately, so just keep what Iโm about to tell you in the back of your mind, okay?โ
After that oddly long preamble, she began to quietly tell her story.
โYou see, Malong came to me the other day and asked for some advice.โ
โMalong? What kind of advice?โ asked Mia. ๐ง๐๐๐๐ค๐๐๐โด๐ท๐๐.๐ธโด๐ฎ
โYouโre probably aware already, but lately, there have been reports of a gang of horseback bandits causing mayhem in Sunklandโฆโ
โAhโฆ Those peopleโฆโ Mia wasnโt just aware. Sheโd come face-to-face with the very same bandits.
Moons, I completely forgot about those peopleโฆ They were the ones who were originally supposed to assassinate Sion.
โI certainly do know about them, butโฆ Whatโs the matter?โ
โWithin Sunkland, there is a growing contingent of voices claiming itโs the Equestrian Kingdomโs doing, and that war is inevitable. However, Malong doesnโt think the bandits are from his kingdom.โ
โI see. So thatโs why youโre here. I assume you came all the way to Sunkland to mediate that issue in person?โ
โIf hostilities break out, countless lives will be lost. No amount of effort is too much when it comes to preventing war,โ Rafina asserted, her voice calm but resolute. โThe issue is, wellโฆ Even if itโs not the Equestrian Kingdomโs doing, to some degree, it still concerns them.โ
โWhat do you mean?โ
Her curiosity thoroughly piqued, Mia turned toward Rafina, only to find Rafina doing the same. Both girls ended up on their sides, regarding each other from across the thin chasm between their beds.
โHave you ever heard ofโฆโ began Rafina, holding Miaโs gaze. โThe lost clan of the Equestrian Kingdom?โ
โLostโฆclan?โ Mia blinked with obvious confusion. freew(e)bnovel.(c)om
โItโs said that long, long ago, the Equestrian Kingdom was made up of thirteen clans. Granted, this is something Iโve only ever heard about from other people, and the Equestris have no cultural custom of recording their history on parchment, so everything is preserved through word of mouth and ends up being oral tradition. Even within the kingdom, no one has any direct knowledge of these eventsโฆ But anyway, the point is that supposedly, thereโs a clan that no longer existsโthe lost Fire Clan.โ
The surname of Equestris represented the clan they belonged to. The โLinโ in Lin Malong, for example, meant โforest.โ Malong, therefore, belonged to the Forest Clan. Some of the other clans included Wood, Tree, Wind, Mountain, and Hill. Mia was aware of all twelve existing clans, but sheโd never heard of the Fire Clanโthose with โKaโ as their clan name.
โAnd the bandits causing trouble in Sunkland might be from the lost Fire Clanโฆโ said Rafina. โThatโs what the people in the Equestrian Kingdom suspect, anyway.โ
โI see. So theyโre not directly responsible, but it might be the doing of people who used to be part of their tribeโฆโ
Mia mulled over the implications. Fortunately, the story proved interesting enough to slightly lift the fog of sleepiness. In addition, thanks to the mental stimulation of their extended discussion of romantic interests, her brain still had enough juice left to do some work. When in romance mode, Mia was neither an introvert nor an extrovert. She was an amorvert, who recharged by thinking and talking about love-related matters.
โIn that case, I suppose we canโt entirely blame Sunkland for misunderstanding the situation.โ
โIndeedโฆ Though itโs also possible that their misunderstanding is intentionalโฆโ
They could be using their suspicion of the Equestrian Kingdom as a pretext to justify an invasion for the purposes of annexing the Equestrisโ land. It was a line of thought that had no doubt crossed the minds of the more militant Sunkland nobles. Many of them were probably delighted by the situation.
โTrue. Thatโs a definite possibility. I assume the purpose of your visit this time is to push back against those voices, then?โ asked Mia.
โItโs one of them. The other purpose is to look into the possibility that the assassin who attacked you might be a member of that lost clan. Iโve been asking around to see if thereโs anyone in the gang of bandits who resemble that assassin.โ
โYou mean the wolfmasterโฆโ
The whisper didnโt come from either of them. Glancing toward the speaker, they found Citrina grimacing, her face appearing slightly pale.
โDonโt worry, Rina,โ Bel reassured, noticing her friendโs discomfort. โItโs okay.โ
Citrina rolled over and gave Bel a tight hug. โThanks.โ Citrina nodded, and the tension in her expression eased slightly.
โBelโs right. I wouldnโt worry too much about him. After all, even I managed to shake him offโฆ Oh, I know. How about we all go for some horse riding lessons together?โ Mia suggested on a whim.
To be clear, she didnโt โshake him off.โ Sheโd miraculously survived his pursuit, and it had been the closest of shaves.
Itโd be good for Bel and Rina, in case they ever end up in a situation when they need to escape. If they have some experience on horseback, theyโll be able to ride on their own, which frees me up to ride alone. And riding aloneโฆmeans riding lighter. And my horse will run faster, making it easier for me to get away.
Make no mistakeโfirst and foremost, Mia was always looking out for number one.
โTogether? Umโฆ Mia, would that happen toโฆinclude me as well?โ
โHm?โ Mia arched a brow at the dumbstruck look on Rafinaโs face. โWell, sure. I donโt see why not. You should definitely join us, Miss Rafina. We can even try going on some long rides. Theyโre great for clearing your mind.โ
โLong ridesโฆโ Rafina whispered to herself. โGoing on long ridesโฆwith friendsโฆ I was just invitedโฆ This isโ I canโt believeโฆโ Her indistinct mumbling continued for some time before she replied. โYesโฆ Yes, I think I will, Mia. Iโd love to go on long rides with you!โ
Mia had expected Rafina to agree. What she hadnโt expected, however, was the immense amount of accompanying enthusiasm.
The following morning, Mia was nowhere to be found. On the beds, that is.