Personal assistant (part 2)

Mark wasn't a clueless lad, but even before working in the mansion, he had heard about young Miss Zorivia being engaged to the first prince. He also knew that Medea was a serious and hardworking albeit a bit timid individual who didn't even want the burden of serving someone bearing such a heavy role – so the thought of what was really happening hadn't even crossed his mind.

Mark did find it surprising that the young Miss didn't request any breaks until their first stop at the roadside in the late afternoon, but he explained it to himself as the result of earlier preparation.

*click*

"We have arrived..." *WHOOSH*

As the young coachman stopped the carriage and jumped down to open the door, he made the mistake of doing it too fast and ended up with a blade of a knife grazing about the tip of his nose, stopping his eager announcement.

"!!!" *thump*

Mark backed off so fast he ended up tripping over his own legs and falling on his back while the silently smiling black-haired man put his thick glasses back on while flicking the knife back into his sleeve.

"..."

"!!!"

Mark was focused on the weapon for the most part, but he did manage to catch a glimpse of Medea's eyes and felt his skin crawl as if his nape was touched by the cold hand of a demon that dwells in the night.

Even so, Medea didn't seem to care at all about the reaction he caused; his expression turned back into a serious one as he walked out and helped young Miss Zorivia disembark the carriage.

"Mister Mark, you're bleeding...!"

The blond-haired woman grasped, seeing the blood dripping from the small puncture wound on the shivering young man's nose, and hurriedly reached out to find a handkerchief.

Although she got it immediately, her hand was stopped by Medea's gesture as her assistant stepped between her and the coachman, dismissively throwing a cheap cloth in his face.

"Miss, embroidery like that is quite costly. Let me handle that sort of thing for you."

"O-okay..."

The black-haired assistant said in a serious voice, blocking the sight of the blushing noblewoman from being seen by the coachman.

"...umm... M-Medea... you don't plan to ask about the best table or something, right? Let's keep a low profile..."

As Mark grabbed the cloth with trembling hands and pressed it against the wound, Zorivia leaned towards Medea and asked in a fearful voice.

"...do you dislike attention, or are you scared of the potential complications...?"

The black-haired man turned his head towards her and whispered conspicuously.

"I'm sorry...! Ah... I mean... well... since I am not very noble-like, my father told me to..."

"Dummy. I can make others treat you the way they should. Just tell me to do so."

Zorivia became flustered and clenched her fists while looking away in embarrassment, but Medea didn't let her mind linger in the dark place and whispered calmly.

"..."

"..."

The two looked at each other. Finally, Zorivia gulped down her saliva and bit her lips.

"...I... I just want to be treated like a normal person and not a failure... since... I am not fit to be a proper noble lady..."

Zorivia cowered and mumbled so quietly that it was barely audible, but even so, her words carried the deep-seated desire hidden behind a mountain of insecurities.

"You are. Just by being born into this world, you have been given the rights. Fitting in was never the case as no one has the right to judge you."

"...!"

Medea's face was as serious as it could get, and Zorivia's sapphire eyes widened as she gazed upon him,

"...but I was never... I... is... is it okay if you could show me how Zorvia... how I should be treated...?"

The blond-haired girl fidgeted timidly and took a step forward, asking as if she was fearful of being made fun of for childish-sounding requests.

"I am your personal attendant. I will make your wish happen... dummy~"

Medea nodded and hummed in a satisfied voice as he took the lead and guided Zorivia to the inn as Mark – whose knees finally stopped shaking, allowing him to stand up – to and take care of the horses and the carriage.

As the pair entered the building, his appearance wasn't initially noticed in the busy place.

"..."

Zorivia cowered and stuck close to Medea's back, clearly out of her element and seeking the reassurance of the physical contact.

"Evening! Let me know what you want to order if you find a free seat! Eh...?"

The cheerful young waitress greeted them in passing but gasped in confusion when the black-haired man grabbed her shoulder, stopping her momentum, which almost resulted in the spillage of food and beverages she was carrying.

"Young Miss Zorivia Rotteloss has graced this establishment with her presence. Prepare the best table."

Medea said calmly but loud enough to be heard in the noisy environment.

"Eh? I'm sorry, mister, but all places are taken already and..."

*SLAP* *CRUSH*

The waitress furrowed her brows and shrugged off the request – which earned her a slap in the face that threw her and everything she was carrying crashing onto the inn's floor and silencing the entire place.

"...?"

The fallen girl was so confused that it took her a few seconds to understand why the right side of her face was hurting so much and how she ended up on the floor.

"Medea...!"

Zorivia gasped in panic and clung to the black-haired man's back while gasping.

"Young Miss Zorivia Rotteloss has graced this establishment with her presence. Prepare the best table."

Medea repeated himself with a friendly smile brightening up his face.

He was heard by everyone present this time around as he followed his words by offering a helping hand to the waitress, who was still in shock.

"...b-but... all spots are already taken and-GUAH...!"

*SLAP*

The girl did reach out and took the hand, but she ended up repeating her earlier words, which granted her the backhand slap on the other side of her face for equal measure, and this time, she cried out in pain.