As Rovi exited Medea's room, he immediately encountered a pair of piercing, beast-like eyes.
The wide palace corridor was empty, a red carpet stretching along the floor, illuminated faintly by candlelight.
The demigod girl leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, her slender waist slightly bent forward, outlining her graceful curves beneath gently swaying garments. In the dimness, one could vaguely glimpse her shapely hips pressed against the wall.
The instant she spotted Rovi, she stood upright, her dark leggings rustling softly as she approached him.
Then she grabbed Rovi's hand—and bit him without hesitation!
"What's wrong now, kid?" Rovi asked, bewildered.
"Nothing. Just annoyed!" Atalanta pulled back quickly, voicing her displeasure. "You actually made me wait out here this long!"
And you even carry that woman's scent... Unforgivable!
"Not denying the 'kid' part?" Rovi chuckled.
"Say it again and I'll bite you to death!" The little cat instantly bristled.
"All right, stop fussing!" Rovi patted Atalanta's head gently. "Everything's ready now."
As they spoke, the princess's door opened again.
Medea stepped out.
Meeting Rovi's gaze, she lifted her skirt slightly and bowed politely. "Sorry for keeping you waiting."
Having shed her loose sleeping gown and donned formal attire, the princess radiated a completely different charm.
Her pristine white garment fluttered softly, lavender sleeves cascading gracefully, and her slender waist was highlighted beneath soft fabric. The hem of her gown swayed gently, outlining her elegant figure, while delicate legs, wrapped in white silk, supported her poised stance.
Medea now embodied both the dignity of royalty and the mystique of a skilled magus.
"Still young, but you certainly have a leader's presence already," Rovi clapped softly.
"Thank you." Medea pursed her lips slightly.
"Tch, hypocrite!" Atalanta muttered irritably behind Rovi.
"Hm? And this is...?"
"Oh, she's my daughter."
"Who's your daughter, you bastard!?" Without hesitation, Atalanta bit down again.
Medea: "…"
But Medea noticed Atalanta's obvious hostility toward her.
Is it because of Rovi? The young princess fell into quiet contemplation.
Just then, footsteps echoed from the far end of the hallway as several armored guards rushed forward.
"Princess, are you safe!?" they hurriedly asked Medea.
"I'm fine. With Lord Rovi and... this young lady protecting me, I'm safe." Medea spoke with initial unease, but after glancing toward Rovi, she suddenly regained composure.
Her delicate features exuded confidence. "What's happened?"
"The King's dragon-tooth warriors and the dragon from the forest have gone berserk! They've abducted His Majesty and several princes!"
"You're the only remaining member of the royal family—we must escort you safely out of the palace… Wait, they're here!"
Before the guards could finish, they were drawn to sounds from behind them. They swiftly turned, drawing swords, and stared tensely at the fearsome dragon-tooth warriors approaching from the corridor's end.
Medea narrowed her eyes.
Atalanta stopped her teasing and glanced sideways.
Rovi simply smiled.
Time for the show to start.
"Princess, hurry and escape—Princess!?" The guards froze.
Medea had calmly stepped forward, her gown billowing slightly as she passed the guards.
She stood directly before the warriors.
"Roaaar!" the dragon-tooth warriors bellowed.
Rovi moved forward simultaneously, glaring at them—
"Quit roaring, damn it!"
He kicked one warrior away.
The remaining dragon-tooth warriors immediately hesitated.
They'd intended to kneel before Rovi, but his kick froze them in place. Taking this opportunity, Medea gracefully spread her arms.
"I am the Princess of Colchis. If you have the courage, step forward."
Then, amid a clattering of metal, the previously ferocious warriors slowly laid down their spears and shields.
And knelt before her.
They appeared to kneel to Medea rather than collapsing under Rovi's intimidation.
The guards were utterly stunned.
The dragon-tooth warriors, whom even King Aeëtes couldn't control, were now bowing to Princess Medea?
"Shall we, Lord Rovi?" Medea turned to Rovi, smiling brightly.
Atalanta grew even more irritated.
But since she knew Rovi's intentions, she kept quiet, only silently grinding her teeth.
She disliked Medea deeply—though she didn't fully understand why, she sensed something snake-like from the princess.
Cats and snakes were natural enemies.
Thus, she instinctively disliked her.
"Follow me, everyone!" Medea announced loudly. "Let us restore peace to our country!"
The princess stepped from the palace into firelit streets. But wherever she passed, whether dragon-tooth warrior or the forest dragon itself, all bowed before her.
Submitting completely.
The chaos ended swiftly.
As dawn slowly approached, Rovi watched Medea stride forward.
More and more followers gathered behind the young girl, her figure becoming steadily more confident, gathering an invisible yet undeniable aura.
From princess toward king.
A princess who would become king.
As dawn brightened, the princess finally arrived at the palace gates.
Due to the sudden overnight turmoil, countless people—guards and commoners rounded up by Aeëtes as cannon fodder—gathered anxiously outside the palace.
Medea stood calmly before them, dragon-tooth warriors flanking her grimly.
Rovi and Atalanta stood nearby.
Medea glanced at Rovi, who encouraged her with a gentle smile. The petite princess drew a deep breath, smiling confidently as she faced the crowd.
"Everyone, my heart aches deeply—" She raised her voice clearly. "I grieve over tonight's upheaval. My father, my brothers, have all been captured. Without Lord Rovi, I would've faced the same fate."
"But what pains me more deeply is that I foresaw this disaster!"
The crowd exchanged confused looks, but since this was Aeëtes's beloved princess speaking, no one dared interrupt.
"My father, Aeëtes, was once great and wise, a hero to us all. But now, he has grown old and can no longer judge rightly. He's made many mistakes, leading us to this tragedy. As his daughter, I share this blame."
"In this moment of crisis, I must step forward and correct my father's wrongs."
"Therefore, I now decree, as Princess of Colchis: my people, you are free!"
"From this moment onward, no one shall restrain you or restrict your freedom ever again."
"For all people are born free!"
Reciting Rovi's prepared speech beneath the morning sun, Princess Medea appeared radiant and sacred.
Behind her, the silent presence of the dragon-tooth warriors added unshakable weight to her words.
"Praise the Princess!" someone called out fervently.
"Long live the Princess!"
"Long live the King!"
As the shouts grew, their meaning subtly changed. Some loyalists among Aeëtes's ministers realized something was amiss, but amidst the cheers of the populace, their voices were swiftly overwhelmed.
Thus, Medea ascended as king.
In the absence of all other royalty, she alone had prevented chaos and thus rightfully claimed leadership.
"But here, I must sincerely thank Lord Rovi," Medea spoke again, instantly quieting the crowd.
"Without him, I wouldn't be standing here. Without him, I would never have known the suffering of the people."
"It was he who asked me to free the oppressed, to grant you liberty—that was his wish."
"He is our hero. My hero."
Rovi froze.
As Medea gazed at him, her violet eyes shimmered softly.
Wait... Isn't this going a bit beyond my original script?
Rovi had planned only a minor role—claiming a simple "national hero" title, grabbing the fleece, and then leaving.
Then Medea brushed aside a strand of hair, slightly lifted her skirt, her delicate cheeks flushing faintly.
The petite princess opened her red lips and quietly asked her hero:
"I formally invite you to remain here, Lord Rovi."
"Would you please become my husband?"
"…"
Atalanta felt something snap loudly inside her head.
---
T/N: NTR!!
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