The show during the audience (part 10)

The truth potion was forcibly given to the third consort. She tried to refuse it but was held down while the concoction was poured into her mouth. She tried to spit it out, but her mouth and nose were blocked, so the only thing she could do was swallow the liquid.

As the application was a success, the third consort stopped struggling and instead just stood there, still surrounded by the guards, while keeping her mouth tightly shut.

"I believe that the preparation is now finished. Will you reveal the secret that could damage the royal family and the kingdom?"

The king granted the wheat-blond-haired woman one last glance before facing Charlotte and asking with authority.

"Of course."

The pale-blond-haired girl bowed her head politely before reaching into her robe and untangling the knot keeping it together.

*shhhh*

"?!?!"

With a quiet sound, the fabric slid down, revealing that the clothes she had worn underneath this whole time were a simple white one-piece dress.

"The second prince you all knew never existed. James Allsworth was born as a female, but her mother hid the fact instead of forging her identity as a male and forcing her to live as one."

"!!!"

The confession of the pale-blond-haired girl caused an uproar amongst the gathered nobles – but no one could be as shocked as the first prince.

Noah's expression was a face of a man realizing that he had wasted a ridiculous amount of time and resources trying to get rid of someone who wasn't even a real competition for the throne.

Charlotte was still under the effect of the truth potion, so her statement wasn't questioned in the slightest, and it was something so shocking that the way she said it didn't stir up any doubt either.

While the rest was so shaken by the revelation, the king didn't seem nearly as affected.

"Jane. Is this my child?"

"...~"

The king asked, directing his question to the third consort and making Medea's grin so wide that it looked as if his face had been split apart.

Such a lovely way of asking the question~!

The truth potion had the effect of forcing the person to speak the truth – simple as that.

But it wasn't something so powerful to somehow make them omniscient – the words that would leave the affected person's mouth would be what they believed was the truth.

That meant that the answer to the king's question would be...

"AAAAAGHH...!...Y-YES SHE IS...! IT HURTS...! SHE CAN'T BE SOME BASTARD CHILD, I HAVE ONLY EVER BEEN WITH YOU, YOUR MAJESTYYY...!"

As the third consort was refusing to speak, a single nod from the king spurred one of the guards to grab her arm and twist it for her to give the answer while yelling in pain.

"You're using too much force. Jane is my consort."

"Th-this unworthy servant begs for forgiveness...!"

The king sent the guard holding the third consort a chilling glare, and the poor man instantly released the yelping woman and fell to his knees lowering his head.

It seemed that what the wheat-blond-haired woman said had saved some of the ice around the king's heart.

"If so, then all this time, you have been lying about our daughter being a boy?"

"...yes..."

The king asked, and the third consort lowered her head and answered while massaging her sore arm.

"Even though you knew what would happen with two male heirs contending for Wondalandor's crown?"

"...yes..."

He asked again, and the third consort answered with just one word again.

"Why?"

The king asked, furrowing his brows.

"...because it was the best way to gain your favor... I was lonely, and you stopped paying attention to me once more beautiful consorts joined..."

"!!!"

The woman said without raising her head, so she missed the look of utter shock on Charlotte's face.

At that moment, the third consort was speaking her biased truth, but it was completely different from what James told shared during their time together as hostages.

It wasn't a struggle for power, but...

...love...?

Somehow, this made the whole situation a bit more understandable but all the more sickening.

"...silly woman, don't you understand how much trouble our kingdom would get into if another country sent their princess for James to marry just for that childish play to be revealed during their first night? The damage to the reputation and honor of Wondalandor would be unmeasurable."

The king shook his head and sighed, although, in his voice, there was more and more affection towards the wheat-blond-haired woman.

"I intended for James to enter the priesthood when she became of age and make vows of celibacy, dealing with all the potential problems."

The answer was once again something that Charlotte had no idea about because even the real second prince – well, the first princess – wasn't aware of such plans.

But even Charlotte's shock couldn't measure up to the amalgamation of emotions that were boiling within the first prince.

"..."

"Eh...?"

"...?!"

At that moment, Medea gently brushed against Zorivia's side, making her let out a surprised voice which in turn made Charlotte break out of her state.

"My child. What do you have to say about that?"

And not a second too soon, the king turned towards her with a gentle smile and a question.

It was time to secure the fake royal position and get rid of all the bad blood between the king's children to secure Charlotte's future in the royal castle.

"I want to live true to myself, even though it might be extremely hard. The title of the second prince was never mine, but as the royal princess of Wondalandor, I will be sure to do my utmost best for the good of the kingdom that I love. Also..."

Charlotte declared, once again speaking the truth but in a way that suited Medea's narrative.

"...also..."

"...?"

The pale-blond-haired girl hesitated and fidgetted before shyly glancing towards the first prince, making him tense up attentively for the potential accusation that could come flying his way live a curveball.

"...I would also like to get along with my big brother whom I dearly respect... like I always wanted to..."

"!!!"

Charlotte blushed and looked away shyly, giving the perfect performance of someone her age being embarrassed about speaking up about their honest feelings.

That also had a humongous effect on the first prince, who trembled and leaned down, putting one hand to his stomach as if receiving a serious blow.

Noah was already shaken by repeatedly having his reputation damaged in the short span of the audience, and now the weight of guilt crushed upon his shoulders like a boulder.

Was it like that?

Was it always like that?

All this time, he was trying to get rid of someone who wanted to be his ally?

"...~"

Medea continued girning the storm of thoughts that were passing through the first prince's head and was clearly visible on his face was exactly what he planned.

With that, Noah was completely in his palm.

"I believe we can end the audience for today and instead prepare for a feast."

"...?"

The king clasped his hands together and said proudly, straightening his back and looking around the gathered nobles.

"It will be a bit of work rewriting the records, but we have to throw a social introduction party for our Wondalandor's royal princess!"

"~!!!"

The king declared, and the initially hesitant aristocrats burst into cheers.