The show during the audience (part 2)

"It's to reveal a dark secret and plot kept away from you, your majesty. Making it public is the best way to assure that the person behind it won't be able to get away as easily as if I wanted to deal with it in secrecy."

"...!"

Charlotte declared, having no trouble mimicking James's voice while making sure that her robe covered her clothes properly to not preemptively run the reveal – her announcement caused the gold-haired first prince's hand to twitch, although it was the only detail that messed with the otherwise perfect performance and was missed by everyone...

"...~"

...except for Medea, who had the first prince in his peripheral vision and observed him keenly enjoying the misunderstanding...

"James, are you confident that it's something that should be handled publically...?"

The king raised his brow and asked, discreetly glancing towards the eldest son of the royal bloodline. The ruler might not have certainty, but he was not estranged from the world do not realize that the most likely perpetrator of the second prince's kidnapping was the first prince.

Well, palace intrigues were something royalty had to deal with their entire lives, so it wasn't like he would openly do anything, though.

After all, the king also HAD siblings competing for the throne in the past...

All that said... making a public statement about the attempted fratricide would greatly diminish the respect that both the nobility and the common folk had towards the royal bloodline, had caused the king to question the supposed second prince's decision.

"Your majesty, it's especially because you cherish your children so much I have to do this. The intrigue had been going for long enough I can no longer allow myself to stay silent as it would surely damage not only the royal family but the nation as a whole."

"!!!"

Charlotte's calm answer sent waves of murmurs across the nobility gathered on both sides of the audience hall and made the first prince straighten his back and raise his head high while clenching his jaw.

There was no doubt who was the better actor between the two.

"...is that so... then..."

"Father! We all are relieved that my dear brother managed to return to us unharmed, but is that really him? Zorivia is rarely in the castle and has spare chances to meet with the second prince! There is a possibility that my brother has been replaced by a cunning impostor placed in by the villain who kidnapped the real one!"

The king breathed out and closed his eyes, already starting the nodding motion but just then, the first prince shot out from his seat and gasped, very close to completely losing his cool.

"...~"

Medea had to close his eyes for a moment just to properly compose himself; he must have remained vigilant for what would come next; he couldn't be grinning at the first prince digging his own grave in front of so many eyes~

"James?"

The king gazed upon the flustered first prince before turning his head back to the second prince, revealing the cleanly shaved neck, and asking for his opinion about the indirect accusation.

******

The previous night when Medea was industry... teaching Charlotte how she should behave to use her acting skill the best, a question arises from the troubled girl.

"Mister... are you serious about me being dismissive about all the answers? I should know at least know some basic stuff that she was known for..."

Charlotte kneeling down and sitting on her feet with her hands on her knees, asked, fidgeting nervously in an uncomfortable position.

"If the guy with the crown you will be talking to initially will have a tiny scar right here, he is the real king; if not, he is a body double. Just in case, address him, your majesty; he would be greatly disappointed if the kid he began to like more can't recognize him."

Medea turned his head to the side and pressed his index finger to the left side of his neck, right under his jaw.

"Wh-wha...?"

Charlotte gasped, going wide-eyed and staring at the serious black-haired man.

"The real king had an accident with a razor when he was young. And by that, I mean one of his older siblings paid off the royal barber to slith the youngster's throat during his first visit. Thankfully the bodyguard with a healing pellet on hand was right there and saved the current king's life. The pellet was too weak, though, and left a scar in a spot where the wound was the deepest."

Medea explained in more detail, although he was aware that it wasn't what Charlotte was concerned about.

"Alright. Calling him your majesty until I am able to confirm that he is the real one, not the body double. I understand. What else?"

Charlotte closed her eyes and nodded, breathing out before focusing again and staring at the black-haired man.

"You don't need any other detail; just answer the questions honestly."

"...eh...?"

Medea tilted his head and started grinning, causing Charlotte to flinch and gulp down her saliva.

"B-but, what if someone demands me to take part in some test or something to prove my identity?!"

The girl gasped, biting her lips and trembling.

"Oh, not just someone. The first prince will do that for sure."

Medea nodded lightheartedly as if the girl's worries were the most trivial things in the world.

"Exactly! What am I supposed to do then?!"

"Agree to it."

Charlotte pointed out the troublesome part in exasperation, to which Medea simply shrugged his shoulders and answered with a demonic grin.

******

"I agree. Brother, could you explain what kind of test you have in mind?"

"..."

Charlotte bowed her head gracefully towards the king's body double and then faced the first prince with a confident expression that seemed to have troubled the young man.

Was it because the real Jams never dared to look him in the eyes like that? Or was it because the first prince Noah started to realize things would only get rougher from that point on?

Who knows~?

"...~"

Medea snickered in his mind while keeping a serious front.