The cunning NPC schemes on (end of season 1)

The social introduction party would typically happen for a female noble when she was twelve years old, so Charlotte was quite late to that, but it also allowed for the celebration to be that much bigger and grand.

...with the hidden objective of receiving as many marriage proposals from the other noble houses as possible...

The preparations took more than a week, and there was hardly an aristocrat in Wondalandor who wasn't invited.

That didn't mean that everyone could show up, though – the rulers of the territories at the southern border were either dealing with the aftermath of Battllorran's invasion that was pushed back or were keeping the enemy forces in check at the border.

On the bright side of that, it was predicted that Battllorran would give up on the campaign and enter the peace talks before long as with the loss of their third field army first corps, they completely lost momentum and were burning through resources faster than their nation could produce it.

But it wasn't a time for bringing up such heavy topics! It was a time for a celebration!

It was a rather surprising occasion; the royal princess entered the main hall with his Majesty the King on her right side and the royal prince on her left side.

Even the princess was a bit intimidated by her escort and thought that she didn't fit them, but that was only her worries speaking.

For all the quests watching, it was the entrance of the royal family, the regal king, the wise prince, and the brave princess in all of their glory.

After descending the staircase from the inside balcony, Charlotte nervously reached out towards her tiara to make sure that it kept steady.

"It looks good, don't worry, little sis."

"...ah...! O-okay...!"

But before she could start messing with it, the first prince grabbed her hand and assured her with a smile, making the girl blush.

"That said, it is customary for the young lady's first dance to be with her relative. Charlotte, will you give me the honor?"

Noah changed his grip on Charlotte's hand and asked in a soft voice.

"Ehem! Son, shouldn't it be obvious that Charlotte's first dance should be with her father? If you want a chance, then wait your turn."

"...!"

The king cleared out his throat and looked down at the first prince while gently taking Charlotte's other hand, making the girl flustered to the point of her eyes spinning.

"Father, don't be like that. You've heard our dear Charlotte speak during that audience – she wants to get along with her big brother. Shouldn't you honor her wish?"

The first prince's smile became a bit strained as he leaned forward and said in a hushed voice so others couldn't overhear them.

"That doesn't sound as good coming from someone who barely stopped mistakenly calling her by the false name she had to live under for all those years."

"Tsl! Now you are just looking for excuses, father!"

The king countered the first prince's point and made the young man scoff.

"Don't mind him, Charlotte. I think this name suits you, and it is really praiseworthy that you took the name of the girl who sacrificed herself to protect you."

The first prince leaned down and whispered to the royal princess reassuringly.

"Not to mention that you should be by your fiancee's side. Isn't young lady Zorivia our Chrlotte's benefactor and should be properly celebrated too? Why don't you hurry to her side?"

"She wasn't feeling well, so she's recuperating in her room!"

The king wasn't bothered by the whispering and instead pointed out, dismissively shooing the first prince away and causing him to call out in annoyance.

******

"It worked out so easily only because the king already knew or at least suspected that James was a girl. Don't let this success get to your head; something like that could cause you to make the stupidest mistakes."

Shortly after the audience, Medea sneaked into Charlotte's chamber like a shadow and reprimanded the girl who fell on the bed, mentally drained and under the false assumption that everything was over.

"But they accepted me, didn't they?"

The teenager sat up and grumbled while hugging the pillow.

"Don't you see that's part of the problem? It blocked most of the potential excuses you had access to."

"...eh...?"

The black-haired man shook his head in disappointment, causing the pale-blond-haired girl to gasp, taken by surprise.

"Since you were accepted outright, you had no chance to throw a tantrum and angrily say that you don't remember anything the old -you- could do. You have to cram a lot of skills to keep up the act, or the king will figure out that something is amiss."

"!!!"

Medea went out of his usual way and explained, causing Charlotte's eyes to widen as she hugged the pillow tightly in unease, realizing that he was right.

******

"Is that so? Did you make sure that she is comfortable? The last made she was assigned turned out to neglect her duty and is under house arrest. Her demon assistant is capable, but if she isn't shown enough hospitality, bad rumors will spread."

"...!"

The king snickered at his son, causing Charlotte to flinch and shake off the intrusive flashback.

"Of course I did! I made sure that half a dozen maids stayed by her side to fulfill her every whim! And don't mention that monster, father. It will ruin the mood of the party!"

Noah scoffed back, all grumpy after being reminded of the black-haired man.

"!!!"

He wasn't the only one, fearful that even the devil would show up if he was mentioned in a conversation; Charlotte flinched and looked around in search of the distinctive black hair and breathed out in relief when she couldn't spot it anywhere...

------

The royal princess couldn't see Medea in the main hall where the party was taking place because the black-haired man was in the servants' wing of the castle.

"Seriously, trying to scream at the mere sight of me. You're quite rude, aren't you? Julia?"

"..."

Medea shook his head, wiping yellow powder off his index finger and thumb with a handkerchief while speaking to the paralyzed woman, stiff as a board and stuck in an awkward position leaning diagonally against the wall.

"And I am already annoyed enough with those bunch of maids surrounding my dummy at all times and making it impossible for us to have some alone time."

The black-haired man with one of his earrings missing a yellow marble took off the bedsheet from the bed in the corner of the room and started seemingly playing with it after putting the handkerchief back into his pocket.

"You see, originally, I only wanted to make your life miserable like a living hell, but then I confirmed it was the first prince who enticed you to disregard the king's order and completely ditch your duties towards the young lady Zorivia Rotteloss so the plan altered quite a bit."

Medea pointed out while his agile fingers were rolling and twisting the white fabric.

"..."

The young woman couldn't even say a thing as the effects of the paralysis spell were too powerful for her small frame to even wheeze.

She could only passively listen while her eyes were staring in one direction, unable to even properly look at the intruder.

"Who would have known that a fourth daughter of a baron from the north would have such a close relationship with the crown prince! Good thing that you have decided to right your mistakes."

Medea finished playing with the bedsheet and stood up, taking out something from his inner pocket.

He approached his paralyzed victim and put something into her field of vision.

"...!"

A piece of paper filled with neat handwriting caused Julia's eyes to widen in shock and would make her scream or at least tremble if she could do any of that.

"You have nice handwriting, Julia. It was a pleasure to forge a confession such as this. I didn't overdo it, did I?"

Medea snickered while unable to contain his bright smile as he took the note back and read it himself once more.

"Blah, blah, blah. The first prince assured me that I would face no backlash as the young lady Zorivia was assured of breaking off the engagement first. Blah, blah, blah... I listened to him complaining about failed kidnapping of young lady Zorivia a few years back... blah, blah, blah... I only hope that taking my own life, even as a fourth daughter of a countryside baron, will be enough of a statement to bring this situation to light and expose the first prince's actions towards his unfortunate fiance. As a fellow woman, it is the best I can do to prevent a tragedy in waiting... A bit tacky, don't you think? But judging from what I overheard from your coworkers, it is your style, so..."

Medea chuckled happily, putting the note on the desk by the window with its curtains drawn shut and taking up the bedsheet rope with a nicely tied sturdy knot.

"Although I believe it will be at least two or three days before you will be discovered... your sacrifice for the cause is truly appreciated."

"...!"

Medea approached the maid, who could not move a muscle, and said in a grateful voice with a friendly smile on his face.