An Artificial Spark

Mia, Are you injured?

N-No, Im quite fine.

Mia replied, subtly squirming. Mia is still unfamiliar with called by Sion without honorifics. Sion was looking at Mia with caring gaze.

By the way, who is that lady with you?

Now, Sions gaze suddenly turned into cool hostile look at Lynsha.

Well, I uh, uh

Lynsha stammers as she is intimidated by the pressure from Sions gaze. Mia sees it and feels sympathetic. Well, a little sympathetic.

Hey Sion, stop that. Youre already scary enough, dont make it worse by staring like that.

Mia steps forward to protect Lynsha from Sions murderous stare.

This person is Lynsha. Shes a member of the underground revolutionary organization, but she helped me. I was able to hear a lot of information from her. She told me that the leader of the revolutionary group is her brother and many more interesting stories.

Not that I know what any of it amounts to.

Mia mentally added.

Mia was just talking about what exactly happened. There were no lies or exaggerations. She just spoke by recalling the events.

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However, to Sion, it sounded like this. In this short time, I got a person with inside information of the revolutionary army to be on my side.

As usual, the Wisdom of the Empire does it again. Her skills and cleverness really know no bounds.

Sion even started wondering if Mia allowed to be kidnapped on purpose so that she could learn more about them. His better judgement told him that couldnt be trye, but some part of him felt like it was actually possible. Sions trust in Mia now runs so deep that he is starting to have this full on delusions.

At the same time he was thinking

What if it was me? What would I have done?

Looking at the boy who fainted at his feet, its probably not difficult to escape.

However, having the calm presence of mind to talk him into switching sides is something I probably cannot do.

She did not just escape. She turned her kidnapping into an opportunity to learn more about the enemy. The more Sion thought about it, the more impossible it seemed.

I dont think that trying to get them to defect would even cross my mind in the first place. Only Princess Mia can think of such a thing.

Needless to say, Mia didnt even think of that. All Mia was doing was showing some sass to the boy on the lookout, which even backfired. So she really accomplished nothing.

That aside

Should I assume that you are now our ally then?

Mia asks Lynsha. Lynsha nodded cautiously,

If you stop the revolution, Ill cooperate.

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Stop the revolution? But to do that, youll have to meet King Remno. Something has to be done with the heavy taxes.

To the best of Sions knowledge, the source of peoples frustration was the heavy increase in tax. It was a simple problem, but solving it wont be easy.

No, thats not the case. In the first place, what the older brother is not the lowering of taxes.

Lynsha shook her head a little and then continued

He is demanding the release of Count Dasayev Donovan, who is jailed by the government.

What do you mean?

That revelation gave Sion a pause.

His Majesty seems to have been imprisoned Chancellor Donovan somewhere to seal his mouth from speaking against the tax increase. My brother is fighting for his release.

Putting his own vassal in prison for speaking up? Is he stupid?

This reminded Sion of the conversation he had with Rafina before leaving. Rafina told him that something happened that could be a reason enough for revolt.

The one who has the courage to speak up the mistakes of the lord is a loyal vassal. Besides, the king should have expected this kind of response if he harms the person who speaks for the people.

Sions face showed a slight anger. During this time, a memory came up in Mias mind.

It was in the previous timeline when Sion met the captive Mia

Outcount Rudolvon was the one who fed the people that your royal family abandoned. They are saviours of the common people. Didnt you think what would happen if you killed such a person? Sion shrugged in disappointment. Did you guys ever think of the consequences of your actions?

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At that time, Mia couldnt say anything back. Outcount Rudolvon was indeed executed, and the revolution was brought about by the hands of the angry people. Sion was right, but just on those parts. Not everything.

But, but

Mia bit her lower lip, holding back her tide of grievances. In that moment, she wanted to lash out at him. To shout at his presumptuous face that all he said was a total nonsense.

I dont think my father did that.

Mias father, the emperor does not execute his vassals just because they are popular. He is not interested in those matters. Paradoxically, if all he cared was how people perceived him, then the empire probably wouldnt have deteriorated that much, but that aside

Mia has the innate feeling that there was something strange going on here. It struck to her thoughts like slime, shapeless and invisible, but terribly unpleasant. Nevertheless, faced with Sions criticism, she stayed silent, taking her doubts with her to the grave. Now she had a second chance to voice those thoughts; to take out all those frustration and indignation that she couldnt say.

You know, something just doesnt add up

However, her words were drowned out by a new intruder.

Authors Note:

Hello, this is Mochizuki. Thank you for your support.

So it was the 117th episode.

By the way, it seems that all the recent Naro animated works are given the title of Ikiri .

Hmm, in other words, is it necessary to add a squid to animate it?

So, I tried to get on the flow I hope you enjoy it.

The latest_epi_sodes are on_the . website.

I hope to see you again next week.