Chapter 562
The Inquiry of the Wisdom of the Empire
A deep sigh echoed in the room that had been prepared for the Chief of the Forest Clan. Malong was reporting the events from earlier to his father, who sat restlessly on the foreign carpet, unable to quite relax.
I see, so Elder Kouma is indeed opposed to the return of the Fire Clan.
Mayun wore a tired expression on his face, while Malongs own sense of worthlessness gnawed at him.
Weve been outwitted. They completely turned our scheme against us.
They had two objectives in making the entry into the Southern Capital a groundbreaking scene. One was to create an atmosphere where it would seem natural for the Fire Clan to return and a special event to occur. The other was to obtain Mias right to speak.
Unlike Saint Rafina, Mia was just a princess from a foreign country. No matter how powerful the Empire was, it did not justify giving Mia the right to speak at the Meetings of Chiefs.
In any case, not having the support of Princess Mias wisdom is going to hurt us. Just for that purpose, I had devised a plan so that she would be acknowledged by the other Clan Chiefs, but
By having Princess Mia enter the castle on horseback, I wanted to show that she was no ordinary princess. However, it seems to have backfired.
It was possible that Fuu Kouma anticipated Mayuns scheme and came to crush it.
Even If Mia were to intervene in the Meeting of Chiefs, he would probably argue against it by claiming, There is no point in listening to someone who rides such a low-quality horse.
Thats why, as per their original plan, they intended to switch horses just before Mia entered the Southern Capital and have her enter the castle riding another horse.
If only Lord Fuuma had not intervened at that place, this wouldnt have happened.
It was a matter of bad timing. No, actually, its that cunning Elder Kouma. It is quite possible that he intentionally showed up at that place.
If it hadnt been for the interaction with Fuuma, perhaps it would have been possible to have Mia switch horses. She could have ridden the Moonhare, which was the pride of the Forest Clan, and made a grand entrance into the castle. If that had happened, then with great pride, they could have ensured that Mia participated in the Meeting of Chiefs and voiced her opinions.
However, that was not to be. That was because the words that Mia used to silence Fuuma were undoubtedly true.
A horse is a horse. Horses have no ranks, and all horses deserve to be treated with respect.
When Malong heard Mia say those words, he was quite shocked. It was an important truth that the people of the Equestrian Kingdom ought to never forget.
That was why Malong could not bring himself to stop Mia from entering the castle on her own horse. To have her ride another horse would mean a denial of Mias very words that there was no social ranking for horses.
However, the Wisdom of the Empire is surprisingly pure. I thought she would be a more calculating person. No, actually, I suppose it is not that unreasonable for a girl of that age.
As Malong watched his father mutter and shake his head in frustration, he felt a pang in his chest.
This wont do. I was too eager and played my hand too much. It seems like I got carried away.
I agree that Miss Mia is innocent. However, Father, I dont think I have met anyone who understands horses as well as her.
There was something that Malong remembered vividly to this day. It was the undeniable truth about horses that Mia had expressed when she first appeared at the stables of the academy.
Malong had been certain that she had come to complain about being sneezed upon. But Mia had said, Horses can take you anywhere, to any faraway place. She had said it in a voice full of conviction, as if believing it completely, with an expression on her face that did not harbour any doubt.
You know, Father, I think, if we deny Miss Mias words, for whatever reason, we can no longer call ourselves the Equestrian Kingdom.
Miss Mias words are unquestionably true. What values are we upholding by going so far as to deny her words? Isnt it too arrogant of us to think that we can evaluate which horse is superior and which isnt?
Horses have no ranks.
Those words hit hard. Anyone who faced them couldnt help but feel troubled.
Who am I to selfishly decide that I can measure the value of a horse?
It is frustrating that I cant proudly claim that what she said is right.
Malong noticed that his father wore a bitter expression on his face as he replied. It was a complicated mixture of guilt and self-derision .
Mayun forced a smile and shrugged his shoulders in the face of emotions that could not be easily resolved.
Being the Clan Chief is quite a fate
Malong frowned bitterly as he observed his fathers tired face. He felt gloomy with the thought of the constraints that repeatedly bound him. Malong felt free only while riding a horse. However, his hands and legs were always bound by invisible chains that made him feel sick.
After shaking his head to regain his composure, Mayun asked, So, what is Princess Mia doing?
It seems that Elder Kouma invited her to dinner. Lady Rafina is also supposed to be with her.
Is that so?
The two of them had no way of knowing at that time.
The Wisdom of the Empire would absorb all the norms, constraints and values of the Equestrian Kingdom and still be able to absorb some more. Just like Goddess Mother Earth, or more accurately, like a Giant Jellyfish opening its wide mouth, the overwhelming power of the Wisdom of the Empire was on the verge of swallowing the entire Equestrian Kingdom.
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