[Warning again: Cursing involved in this story, especially this chapter.]
"... Violetta, are you hurt? You didn't get injured or anything right? Where were you?" the King asks, super concerned for the princess he's always trapped in his castle.
Violetta starts her act, innocent and submissive. She tucks in her head, a flash of golden blonde falling down. Her hands raising towards her face, showing a bit of fright, real tears drip down her face as she sniffles. They look so real, even Claude started to worry, thinking something is wrong… until she started to speak.
"F-father, I-i was p-pushed into the Spirit Tree F-forest by Maya. I-it was so s-scary!"
Though spoken softly and delicately, it resonated through the room. The authoritative King's face slowly turns red with anger, veins showing on his forehead.
"How dare she!" the King bellows in anger through the FaceTime look alike call through magic.
A glimpse of curiosity shows in Violetta's eyes as she sees the communication device. Fortunately, it was only caught by a couple significant figures.
She pushes aside her curiosity and continues with her act.
"L-luckily this gentleman came to my rescue," Violetta finishes, while wiping her tears.
"Is that so…?" the Supreme Demigod asks Claude, taking note of the pleading glance from Claude.
His wolf ears involuntarily twitch as he bows, fulfilling his part of the elaborate act, "Yes, I was in the area and saw the princess pushed into the forest by that maid over there."
Maya's face drains white with fear. She collapses on the floor. She really didn't think she would be caught. If it was only the princess, she could convince everyone that the princess probably didn't see correctly or something… but to think there was another person who saw? In fact a magical beast helped the princess? That's too crazy! Just what's going on?
Kate's face turns pale as she looks in horror at Maya, not believing her friend's betrayal. The knights look at her in disgust and hatred. She almost pushed them all six feet under!
The Supreme Demigod raises his hands signaling the guards to take Maya away, " I will allow Beria Kingdom to deal with her, as she is not from the Demigod Society."
"I thank your supremacy," the King replies, nodding his head gratefully.
After a couple words, the Supreme Demigod dismisses everyone. Violetta signals Claude to come with her outside. Blade looks at Claude's fading back with a bit of shock.
'Why the heck is Claude following that girl? Did he hit his head?'
After finding a secluded area, Violetta reverts to her real personality. Her chest held high with a look of superiority and elegance. Her bright eyes looks up at the tall, handsome wolf.
"Nice acting," she compliments.
Pulling up the rolled diagram from who knows where, she hands it to Claude.
"I have no reason to keep this … it's surprising that they didn't attack a magical beast right in front of them."
"Ahahaha…"
The curt conversation ends. Finding no reason to stay anymore, Violetta walks away.
The certain someone who finally earned his blackmail back, punches the wall with mixed emotions. The diagram scroll in his hand crumples up as he tightens his fist.
"How… amusing!" he murmurs with a somewhat sinister smile.
He turns around, his hand simultaneously combs through his shining hair.
Suddenly, a black shadow creeps up to him. With a blur of dark hair, the scroll belonging to Claude is snatched.
"Hnn? Let me see, what's this?"
The black shadow, also known as Blade, opens the scroll and literally spits on it.
"BWAHAHAHAFKDSALFKW!"
He laughed so hard he started to roll on the ground and tears began to form in his eyes. His thoughts wandered to, 'What the heck happened?!"
...and a bunch of fantasies, since he saw and heard Violetta and Claude's conversation. However, this just made him laugh even harder, to the point where his stomach started to hurt quite badly.
After a good ten minutes, he finally calms down and looks up at the embarrassed, blushing Claude. Claude, who has both hands clenched in a fist, shaking in anger and embarrassment, suddenly dives forward, trying to take the diagram from Blade.
"Oop~" Blade teases his little friend, using his additional years of experience to bully.
Claude starts to jump up, down, around and everywhere, like a dog chasing its food.
Blade, who is used to Claude's habitual moves, easily dodges Claude's desperate attempts.
Only, to normal people, it looks like two shadows, light and dark moving in at high speed.
After a long while, Claude huffs, catching his breath.
Blade gives a smirk, "Hey~ Explain please, did you hit your head or get sick or something?"
"It should be obvious! I was freaking blackmailed!" Claude bursts out.
"Oh~ By an innocent little princess like that?"
"WHAT PART OF HER SAYS INNOCENT?! TO DRAW SOMETHING LIKE THIS?!"
"Oh… I thought you drew it or something and then gave it to her as a token of your love for her-"
"WHAT THE F*CK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!"
Ok, this time Claude really exploded. Yes, she's quite a unique and interesting specimen, but at the same time, he would never risk himself just for some entertainment. Aahhh, fate is so harsh to him to be blackmailed like this.
'God, if you're out there, please, don't ever do this again!' Claude complains. 'Oh wait, there really is god, but like… I'm a demigod… wait, ???'
Blade finally stops teasing, "Ok fine, her acting skills are really something. If I hadn't seen how she reacted when she saw the mana-call, I'd probably still believe that she's some innocent little princess."
On queue, Claude smiles and finally explains everything to Blade, including Violetta's amazing skills that destroyed his barrier when he was off guard.
Blade's face turns pale from shock, his eyes wide in disbelief, but that was all he allowed Claude to be satisfied with.
Claude pouts, "Jeez, you could be more surprised…"
Blade contemplates, "It's sort of strange though, how did she go into the forest without being attacked even once?"