Grandmother Mia Embellishes

Mia took a bath and went back to her room after she and Citrina had finished planning. She sat there for a while, wearing soft clothes for sleeping, and did nothing.

When she looked over at Bel, she saw that she was sitting on her bed and rubbing her face against the cuffs of her fluffy pyjamas with a big smile on her face. The little girl loved this set of pyjamas more than any other. Every time she put it on, she buried her face in the fabric and inhaled its smell.

As Mia watched, her mind went back to happier times.

That makes me think I used to get like that as well.

A fluffy blanket and a pair of pyjamas made from the soft, fuzzy wool of fullmoon sheep were enough to keep her grinning for hours as she enjoyed their wonderful feel.

So easily moved So happy and carefree Ah, the gift of youth

Grandma Mias face lit up with a warm smile when she saw her granddaughter.

Wait, dont go there yet! Im no grandma! Im still young myself!

Mia smacked the back of her inner grandmothers head and stomped on it, telling herself that she was still young as she did so.

When she said that, Bel gave her a puzzled look.

Huh? Miss Mia? What did you just say?

Nothing. Dont be worried. Also, Ive been wondering what youve been doing by yourself all the time lately. Wasnt it that thing you gave Rina?

Yes, thats right. Malong and I became friends, and he showed me how to make it.

Bel said with a big smile, Rina was the first friend I ever made, so Im glad I got to give her a gift.

Mmm. Thats good to know.

Mias lips turned into a sweet smile when she saw that her granddaughter was making good friends. It had a very old-fashioned feel to it.

Today, her inner grandmother showed how tough she was by clawing her way back up and sticking her head out again.

I have to say, I had no idea you were

Mia took a quick look at Bels hands because she remembered how the troya had looked and saw that her index fingers were wrapped in bandages. The girls failed sewing projects, presumably.

She decided to act like nothing had happened.

Oh, your hands are so good. Maybe youre going to be an artist.

Unfortunately, her inner grandmother had won.

When Mia saw how happy Bel was that she had made a gift for her friend, she couldnt bring herself to say that the gift wasnt very good.

She told a small white lie instead.

I know, right? I know it doesnt look like it, but Im pretty good.

Bel puffed out her chest with pride.

Then, she got a little sad and her eyes got a little narrower.

Its all thanks to Mother Elise. She did a great job teaching. Oh, but it was hard because she didnt want to teach me how to clean at first. She told me that as a princess, I shouldnt do things like that. So I told her that all the other girls in town knew those things and that it would look strange if I didnt. That was enough to convince her.

Bel

The story was short, but it made me think of how hard Bels life used to be. She used to have to think on her feet and come up with convincing arguments to get even the simplest things she wanted.

Heh, heh, Mr. Ludwig told me to tell Mother Elise that, and it worked.

Bel.

Mias face changed as she listened to Bels method of persuasion. She thought about how the young girls hard childhood must have forced her to always think on her feet.

Mias face changed right away when she saw that Bel was acting in a way that reminded her of herself.

All of a sudden, the story didnt seem as sad.

Once I got her to agree, Bel went on, she taught me a lot of things. After things got really bad in the empire, she spent a lot of time teaching me cooking and sewing. She told me it was so I could live on my own

I see

Grandmother strength brought back. Mia thought about how hard Bels life must have been. She was skilled with her hands (or was she?) because she had to be. If she was good at sewing, which is a big if, then that would also be because of her situation.

It was hard to say who had it worse between Mias year in a dungeon and Bels life in hiding and on the run. She could say for sure, though, that Bel had been through a lot of trouble.

Just as Mias eyes were starting to tear up, Bel put her hands on her hips and said, I can do housework, too. Everything. In fact, I think Im more likely to get married than you are, Miss Mia. So, youve never cooked, right?

M-MarriWha?

Mia groaned. Bels words felt like a hammer to the gut for some reason.

Deeper, even. It broke her heart.

She didnt know what marriageability meant. Being a princess, she had never thought about the skills that came with the title. She didnt have to be able to sew or cook. Thats why there were servants. She could not know how to do any kind of housework, and that would be fine.

There was nothing wrong with it. Not at all ashamed, but

Hnnngh Getting married

Her aching heart told her otherwise. Hearing that she wasnt good enough to get married felt like a rejection of her very identity as a young, healthy woman in the world.

It made her feel old, like her inner grandmother wasnt as inner as she thought she was.

Th-This is not good! What if Abel stops caring about me? Ive been too busy trying to figure out how to get through this winter. When was the last time I told him what a pretty girl I am?

Mia was desperate, so she decided to show that she really was a good candidate for marriage. At least more than Bel.

She couldnt afford to lose this contest.

W-Well, when I want to, I can be pretty good for marriage. I made sandwiches not too long ago, did you know?

She said this as a last-ditch effort to make a different point.

You did? Really?

Bel asked in genuine surprise.

I certainly did! It was easy as pie!

Mia said it with certainty. She didnt stop there, though. She then added to the story, putting icing on her metaphorical cake.

It wasnt just any sandwich, either. It looked like a horse!

H-Horse-shaped?!

She added more after seeing how well the first bit went over.

Let me tell you, that sandwich was a work of art. The best kind of new ideas. It looked so grand that you might have thought it was about to gallop away at any second.

Then, because Bels eyes were getting wider, Mia thought, Ah, what the hell, and dumped the whole bowl of frosting on.

And the taste. It was justmwah! On the same level as the best imperial food. The smelly, juicy roasted meat, the crunchy vegetables, and the soft bread that holds it all together That was food that can change peoples lives.

Wow! Wow! Wow, Miss Mia, thats so amazing!

Bel jumped up and down with honest, naive wonder.

I wish I had been able to try one. Its so nice to hear

They sure were, I said.

Mia took a moment to enjoy the admiration in Bels eyes before she had an idea.

Huh. If thats the case, I should tell Abel to Hmm, I just had a great idea!

She smiled with great enthusiasm, not realising that her very good idea would be a nightmare for a certain workhorse who had kept his yeasty friends from turning a picnic into a massacre.