"Continue monitoring the situation and notify me if the plan needs modifications, in your opinion. Make sure that our guys in Donrobus know to stay away.."
Medea said with a serious expression, looking up into the sky while standing right outside the carriage parked on the edge of the road, without any specific person he could be addressing.
After that, he knocked on the carriage's door and went inside shortly after.
"...master, what was so urgent that someone had to talk with you via the communication pellet?"
A masked person dressed in all black welcomed him with those words instead of a greeting.
"...Rune... so you two are close enough for that kind of talk...?"
Despite her tone being plenty polite and reserved, the masked girl ended up being glared and scoffed at by the blond-haired girl on the opposite seat.
"M-my lady...! That wasn't at all what I was trying to...!"
"..."
Rune flinched and raised both hands as if trying to prove she had no bad intentions, but Zorivia's grumpy expression didn't improve.
Zorivia continued to glare at her while Medea was taking a seat next to her, and even as she moved and sat on his lap, throwing her hands around his neck.
"You two are in a similar position only on paper. Know your place."
"...I'm sorry, my lady..."
Zorivia wrapped herself around Medea as tightly as she could, all while reprimanding Rune, who was cowering apologetically in her seat.
"My oh my~! My sweet puppy seems to be growing out her fangs~!"
"...!"
Medea tilted his head, and the look in his eyes softened as he traced Zorivia's side with one hand, making her flinch and look at him with an anxious expression.
"N-no! It's not like that! I would never...! I'm sor-nnnn~!"
The blond-haired girl fidgeted and began to explain herself, about to apologize, but the black-haired man leaned towards her and kissed her mouth shut before she could finish.
*chuu*
"...~!"
After the initial long kiss, Medea gave Zorivia a quick peck on the cheek before hugging her back and comfortably resting his chin on her shoulder, which made the girl blush and fawn over him, leaning her head against his with a blissful expression...
"..."
All while the troubled masked bodyguard was still right in front of them.
"...I... I was just asking in case something bad happened and I should go out to survey the area instead of staying here..."
Rune mumbled pitifully, terrified at the thought of getting on Medea's bad side – which included annoying Zorivia in any way, shape, or form.
"..."
"...can... can you tell me at least that much, please...?"
While Zorivia seemed to be in her own happy world, the serious-faced Medea was looking at Rune until she couldn't hold herself back and asked.
"Nothing that you should be concerned about as long as you know that the only people you should be loyal to are within this carriage."
Medea sighed and rolled his eyes before pointing out without explaining anything.
"...hnnnngh..."
Some choice words were trying to push their way out of Rune's mouth, but she chewed on her tongue to block all of them, which ended up with her letting out a low groan-like voice of a discontent cat instead.
"So only two. When considering that there are three of us, it still doesn't feel right for such a high aristocrat to have only two trusted aides. It makes one look either suspicious or cheap."
Trying to let some of her bitterness out without directly putting her neck under the axe, Rune pointed out, looking away.
"Is it…?"
As if realizing something so obvious only after it being spelled to her, Zorivia let out a small whimper and looked at Medea for reassurance.
"I've already taken the necessary steps to solve it. Also, Rune. Use your brain more. Don't make me go out of my way to explain every single thing to you. You are a guard, not a guard dog. You are not an animal. Unless you want to be treated as one."
"!!!"
The stone-faced man nodded at the blond-haired woman, gently caressing the side of her face before addressing the bodyguard without sparing her a glance but still managing to send shivers down her spine.