Published: July 4, 2025
On the seventh morning after departing from the City of Mifasoshi, the group finally arrived at the capital, Johnjohn.
As the entire view came into sight, there were two individuals who froze in place atop their horses.
The others had been to the capital several times before...
"Everything is made of stone..."
"It's a remarkable contrast compared to the wooden buildings of Mifasoshi."
Both Ryo and Abel were astonished by the wholly stone-built capital of Johnjohn.
"Johnjohn has a nearby quarry that produces good stone. The stones are transported here by ship. The city was built at the mouth of the John River, and it has expanded westward through canals."
Seeing the two in awe, Mifa provided an explanation.
She was a good disciple who helped her troubled master.
"Abel, you have a good disciple."
"I can’t deny that."
Ryo praised her, and Abel agreed.
Having been complimented by the two, Mifa blushed bright red.
"As I mentioned earlier, the Censorate wishes to hear from both of you regarding matters related to the Autonomous City of Kubevasa and the Duchy of Atinjo. I've already conveyed what we heard in Mifasoshi, so this is just a formality."
"Ah, that's no problem."
Abel nodded at Daimyo Sue Koo's explanation.
It was as he had been told before leaving Mifasoshi.
"I guarantee your identities. Therefore, accommodations will be at my residence. The Censorate will also come to the mansion to hear your story, so please rest easy. By the way, Mifa will stay at our house rather than at the Mogok residence, so please provide her with training."
"Understood."
Abel agreed, and Ryo nodded as well.
They understood that Sue Koo had done quite a lot on their behalf.
At the same time, they realized that Sue Koo held a high position in the capital, allowing him to make such arrangements.
That afternoon, in the retreat palace of Princess Shio Fen.
"Your Highness, it has been a while."
"Mifa, here you can refer to me as Shio, as usual."
"...Yes, Lady Shio."
After about half a year, Mifa and Princess Shio Fen met once again.
"I heard that after returning to Mifasoshi, you have been solely focused on swordsmanship. I met Director Mogok a few times, and he said the exact same thing."
"How embarrassing..."
Princess Shio Fen laughed as she spoke, and Mifa looked down, her face turning bright red.
Princess Shio Fen was seventeen, while Mifa was sixteen.
The Mogok family was an old noble family, and Mifa's father, Director Mogok, had been in Johnjohn for a long time, allowing the two to grow up like sisters.
They were like sisters, classmates, and close friends.
With Princess Shio Fen's marriage to Darwei confirmed, Mifa returned to Mifasoshi during the preparation period to acquire knowledge and skills as a maid.
However, having decided to live alongside Princess Shio Fen since they were young, she had studied what was necessary from time to time.
Therefore, what she focused on while back in Mifasoshi was the final polishing of those skills.
And, of course, swordsmanship.
Princess Shio Fen's groom would be Lyun, the sixth prince of Darwei, who was nineteen.
Due to his mother's low status, he was not involved in the competition for the throne.
Yet, precisely because of that, no one knew what kind of difficulties might befall Princess Shio Fen.
If those difficulties could be warded off with a sword, she would do just that... that was Mifa's resolve.
"I heard that during your time back there, you studied under a sword teacher."
"Yes. I became a disciple under my master... a person named Abel."
"You stood in front of the inn for three days, right?"
"How do you know about that...? I’m so ashamed."
Mifa's face turned even redder at Princess Shio Fen's knowledge of her reckless actions.
In hindsight, she felt embarrassed about her impulsive behavior.
"That's so typical of you, Mifa, to act so straightforwardly."
However, Princess Shio Fen looked at Mifa with affection.
Feeling a certain kind of admiration for something she herself couldn’t do.
"So, was that Abel someone you wanted to become a disciple of so badly?"