The show during the audience (part 1)

The abduction of the second prince was already becoming a kingdom-wide known critical situation, so when Charlotte showed up and demanded the official audience, everything was organized in less than an hour.

Despite being an outsider, Medea managed to slip between the castle servants to pick up on any useful information.

Just as he expected, the first prince Noah was disturbed but did not outright panic – from the words of the maid assigned to him, the first prince expressed joy for his younger sibling's safe return but then began to have doubts about them being the real person.

The first prince Noah was hailed across the kingdom as a genius and a cunning tactician always three steps ahead of everyone else, but whether those were true statements or was it a part of the propaganda to assure the commoners and the lower noble that the future of the Wondalandor is in capable hands was something that Medea was yet to learn for himself. For now, it was best to plan according to the more troublesome option while keeping in mind the best-case scenario just in case to not act too surprised if it would actually come true.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, my dummy~" *chuu*

"Medea~!"

Despite all the commotion that the supposed second prince's demand caused, Medea still managed to find Zorivia in a secluded location and pull her by the waist to stand on his toes and kiss the side of her head, making her let out a happy sound.

"This much will have to do or now... the maid assigned to you during the stay in the castle will start checking places like this one soon enough if we stay here for too long..."

Medea burrowed his head in Zorivia's hair and sighed bitterly, very clearly loathing that their time alone couldn't last any longer.

"Mmm... hmm? Assigned maid...? Who are you talking about...?"

Zorivia used the chance to get as much skinship as possible and purred... but then she furrowed her brows and asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"The first time you came to the royal castle, a maid was designated to serve you. I believe her name is Julia, and she's a fourth daughter of a baron from the north."

Medea explained and casually brought up some details that he should not be aware of since the subject was never mentioned before.

"???"

Zorivia's eyes widened and reflected the perfect cluelessness about the subject.

"...why are you making a face like that...? She must have served you while you were in the castle. A guest of high importance as you, especially the first prince's fiancee, must have got a maid. Think about it. Someone so servile it's bothersome, who would not leave no matter how many times you sent her away because of the royal order."

Medea leaned back, doing his best not to blush because of the innocent cuteness of the troubled blond-haired girl.

"??? I-I'm sorry... there was no one like that, though...? I never had to send anyone away because it was always only Kenneth and I when we were saying here...?"

Zorivia looked away, biting her lips and rubbing her hands together nervously before looking up pitifully and mumbling an apology.

"..." *shhh*

"Eh...?! Hnju~!"

Medea silently got back to her and hugged her tightly, which initially confused Zorivia, but she got over it quickly and nuzzled into the warm embrace.

Thanks to that, she didn't notice the friendly smile that crept its way onto the black-haired man's face as another name was added to the list.

Directly going against the royal order... it was doubtful that the fourth daughter of some baron had enough guts to do that on her own, and that mean...

...someone she must have trusted assured her it will be alright... Someone powerful, who at least appeared to have some understanding of Zorivia...

And it just so happened that a person fitting that image was in the top placement on the list and was living in the royal castle.

------

"His Highness, the second prince of Wondalandor, James Ellsworth! Accompanying him is his savior, lady Zorivia Rotteloss!"

When everything was ready, the door to the audience hall opened, and the steward announced the names of the two-thirds of the trio that entered.

Medea, as a personal assistant, was nothing but an accessory to his master, he did not have the right to be introduced, and he was not allowed to speak without being directly given permission by the king.

...the king, a platinum-haired man in his forties, who was sitting on his throne with his wife, a reddish-gold-haired woman still looking as if she was in her thirties, sitting on his left having six other consort lining up beside her...

On the king's right side were two seats, not as grand as the two thrones for the royal couple but still plenty imposing. Only one of those was taken – the closer one with a gold-haired man in his early twenties trying to keep up a pleasant expression but with the look in his eyes betraying the anger he was holding back.

"..."

Medea was having a hard time keeping down the demonic grin that wanted to force its way to his face. At that moment, he really hoped the first prince really was as smart as the rumors were paining him to be because there were not many things as infuriating for a genius strategist as his plans getting thoroughly ruined.

The trio approached the throne and kneeled down in front of the king.

"James, my son, stand up. You too, young lady Zorivia."

The king said while raising his hand and watching Zorivia and Charlotte get up.

Meadea, as he was not acknowledged, remained kneeling with his head down, making sure that his behavior was absolutely perfect.

After all, it would be such a shame to have the performance ruined by some minor detail~

"James, what is the reason you called for an official audience?"

The king asked, and the already quiet audience seemed to have held their breaths, awaiting the answer as the silence that befell the audience hall seemed absolute.