She is a reincarnated person after all (part 2)

"I think I understand! It's all because of Medea being such a good person – he was able to singlehandedly influence the story because he chose to follow the path of righteousness!"

Zorivia didn't seem to realize how much of an impact she had caused with her question and simply nodded her head with an understanding expression before looking up at the black-haired man with an awestruck expression.

"?!?!"

Her outrageous statement appeared to physically push Charlotte back as she was unable to link the phrase – a good person – with Medea.

Ptah of righteousness? Him?! Was that woman blind or straight-up insane?!

Charlotte shivered at the fresh memory of the demonic grin and unhinged levels of enjoyment that Medea derived from the mere fact that he could try out a plan he had previously deemed impossible. It was something so traumatizing that it actually topped the horrors of being kidnapped and witnessing the death of the real second prince.

"..."

"!!!"

Charlotte glanced over at the black-haired man in question... and she froze when he responded to her look with a friendly smile that didn't reach anywhere near his eyes that gleamed with a sadistic light.

"My lady, is it alright to assume that you know of the second prince's circumstances?"

After silently putting Charlotte in her place, Medea focused back on Zorivia and asked softly while covering her hand with his own.

"... I'm okay with telling you everything, but is it okay for the second prince to hear it...?"

Zorivia sends Medea an upwards glance before fidgeting and asking timidly after sending a few glances toward Charlotte.

"..."

"...?!"

The situation wasn't something that Medea expected, but h wasn't someone who would just freeze up in surprise and glare urgingly at the unprepared Charlotte.

"L-lady Rotteloss, if you mean that m-my older brother was the one to orchestrate the attempt on my life, I am already aware of that..."

The pale-blond-haired girl took a deep breath and used all the information at hand, trying to respond to the blond-haired woman's worries in the correct way.

"Oh, so you know already. Yes, that's right. The thing is, I wonder how the events will change now that the criminals from Startington failed to uphold their end of the bargain... After all, no matter what route would be chosen, normally, the second prince should be dead, and both Noah and Theodore should be trying to outsmart and out-scheme each other on every step... Theodore's route was the earliest one to start with the information about your death spreading through the kingdom. How will this affect the game?"

"...?!"

Zorivia shrugged her shoulders and nodded as if she didn't just drop a bomb of information completely casually, making Charlotte stare at Medea.

Wasn't Zorivia supposed to be the simplest of tests to confirm whether she fools others into thinking she's actually the second prince?! She was actually scared by how easily she was able to blab out secrets that could get someone beheaded!

Although, half of it seemed to be some nonsense, or at least a code that Charlotte couldn't figure out. Hence her turning towards Medea for a clue.

"Pffft...! Ahahaha~! What's with that face, my prince? As you can hear, this world is nothing but a game for my lady."

And yet, instead of support, she got laughed at as the black-haired man straightened his back and declared proudly.

"...ah...!"

Charlotte gasped, and her eyes widened in realization.

Of course... it didn't make sense that someone so important as the only child of one of the most prestigious families would be an easy test.

Things suddenly started to make sense.

Charlotte figured out that it indeed was a test, but not the kind she expected – the truth simply must have been that Zorivia was just as bad or even worse than Medea.

Her saying so lightly about the death of one of the princes orchestrated by another one was just proof of that! No regard for life, using words like good and righteousness...

And the most important piece of the puzzle was that someone like Medea was working for her – funnily enough, it was something that Charlotte was told from the start, but she overlooked it and let herself be fooled.

|...Is what must be going through her head right about now. She is a good actress, but just like her brother, once she tastes despair, her face becomes so easy to read.|

Medea thought to himself while observing the teenager on the verge of panic. After all, he was indeed just wanting to test Charlotte – as for the things he said, he was just making it up on the spot going along with the nonsense that Zorivia was spouting, but he didn't expect that it would be THAT effective.

|That said... I can no longer ignore the things that my dummy says... As soon as the annoying matter of her getting married is resolved, I need to carefully hear out all that she has to say about this whole game...|

The black-haired man looked away from the pale-blond-haired girl and faced the oblivious Zorivia, who had no clue what was going on and was just enjoying herself like only a lovestruck airhead could by cuddling up to his arm.

"My lady, please forgive me for the disrespect!"

Charlotte suddenly fell to her knees and apologized with her head lowered.

"Eh?"

Zorivia flinched and blinked a few times, not understanding how the situation got to that point.

"No, I mean, I didn't really like the idea of you dying, so don't apologize! We can use it all for good!"

"!!!"

Zorivia shook her head and explained in a worried voice before brightening up with an encouraging smile, but that only made Charlotte experience horrible nausea.

Good? The same kind of good that was supposed to refer to Medea? Then does that mean this woman wanted to plunge the world into chaos?!

The teenager gulped down her saliva with great difficulty, feeling as if the noose was tightening around her neck.

"My lady, that's not all. There is another variable that makes the situation even more interesting."

"Really?"

Medea knew exactly what Charlotte was feeling and played into it to ascertain that she wouldn't dare to betray them in the future.

"Yes. You see..."

Medea nodded and reached out towards Charlotte's robe and pulled it away, revealing the pale-blond-haired girl wearing a dress.

"...the person known as a second prince James Ellsworth has actually been born as a girl, and that fact was hidden by the third concubine in order to gain the favor of the king. The second prince no longer wants to obey her mother and decides to reveal her true self to the world. She wishes for your support on the matter."

"..."

"...!"

The black-haired man said to which the bond-haired woman froze up, which in turn made the pale-blond-haired girl tremble.

"..."

"...?"

Zorivia looked between Medea and Charlotte before tugging on Medea's arm and making him lean down so she could whisper into his ear.

"...you wouldn't happen to like her, right...?"

"...~"

Zorivia whispered with a sulking look in her eyes while squeezing Medea's arm, making his gaze soften.