Reincarnated Princess Wishes To Avoid Death
chapter-14

The Secret of the Hairpin

Through the narrow and winding back alleys, they arrived at their destination, a small church that was leaning to one side. It had a large garden from where energetic voices of children can be heard. After leaving the child to a sister, Ludwig looked back at the church.

“Is this the only place where sick people can be treated?”

The church was simple, and even with the attached orphanage, it could only house very few people. It was impossible for them to provide food and care to all the needy in the area.

While Ludwig was thinking, Mia was building rapport with the priest in charge of the church. She was not really a religious person. But she calculated that if she made connections with the church, which is an organization that is spread throughout the different kingdoms, then they might help her escape in an event of an emergency.

No matter the time or the place, Mia always operated under the motto of “me-first.”

“Father, thank you for accepting the sick child into your care.”

“No need for thanks. We do what we can as servants of God. It is us that are humbled that Her Royal Highness came to visit a place like ours.”

“It’s nothing. Because like the other districts, this place is part of my beloved country. By the way Father, would you happen to have friends abroad…”

Mia wasted no time in getting to the point.

It was Ludwig who called out.

“Oh, Ludwig, is it time to go already?”

“No. I just want to say that I finally understand your intentions now.”

Hearing that, Mia nodded satisfactorily.

“Yes. That’s what it is. It’s Ludwig. So how can we prevent a plague here in the Newmoon District?”

“There are two ways to prevent a plague: strengthen the inhabitants by giving them food, and improve the medical institutions.”

While talking, Ludwig realizes the difficulty of what he was proposing. The job he’s been doing lately is “reducing spending.” In order to restore the empire’s finances, he is pushing for an increase in the empire’s income and to reduce its spending. And now here he was, suggesting for distribution of food and the building of a hospital. Both ideas costs enormous money.

Ludwig had no idea how much money this project would need, nor where to get it in the first place. Even with the Princess backing, it might still be impossible. After all, she was still a child.

But …

“That means we need money… I see.” Mia nodded a little, folded her arms as if she was thinking about something. “Then…, that’s right! Is it enough if I sell this?”

She slowly removed the hairpin that was on her hair.

“…Huh?”

The big red jewel shone on it. It was a gift from a famous merchant just days before.

“Mia-sama, isn’t that your favorite!” Anne shouted in alarm.

But Mia just shook her head a little,

“It doesn’t matter. No matter how important it is, even if I treasure it as much as I can, it will still disappear one day. It could go missing or break. Knowing this, the most we can do is to use it well, and so give it meaning.”

“Your Highness…” The normally calm Ludwig was very much impressed. He looked at Mia as if she was literally a saint.

Of course, it’s an illusion. Mia is not a saint or anything. So there’s a good reason she said, “Sell it!” And the reason was…

It’s better to sell it quickly than to have it robbed from me by those jerks.

Yes, that hairpin, no matter where she hid it, it was stolen from her by the Revolutionary Army. What’s more, it was taken rudely by a crude and violent bearded hooligan. Not that it would be okay if it was taken by a handsome fellow with a kempt hair…

If it’s going to end up in the hands of someone like him, I’d rather give it up myself. At least I’ll be using it for my own sake.

Mia was endlessly calculating, and Ludwig doesn’t have a single clue about it.

“Your Highness benevolence shall not go to waste. I will make the best use of this treasure that I have received.”

Even if he sells the hairpin, it’s not enough for the amount they needed. However, Ludwig knew the intention of Mia, or at least he thinks he knew anyway.

The next day, Ludwig made a big statement that Mia offered an important treasure for the people of the slums. It was an utmost act of charity by the Princess.

The people were shocked and surprised at Mia’s act of benevolence. And the act forced the other nobles in a position where they had no choice but to donate to the cause as well.

Thus, twenty days later, it was decided that a large hospital would be built in the Newmoon District.