"What now?" Michael questions.
"What's the range of your teleportation?"
"Not much, definitely not nearly enough to reach the capital even at max mana."
"I have another crazy idea. What if I just lie?"
"What do you mean lie?" Michael scratches his head.
"Let's make up some stupid backstory for you. Like I got jumped by a stray demon and you helped me fight against it which got you injured in the process." Selina explains.
"...that story probably has a lot of plot holes, but fuck it we ball."
"Now, all we gotta d–"
"Lady Amelia!" A familiar voice rings out.
Ah shit, I was out for too long.
"Who was that?" Michael whispers.
"It was for sure Reinhart. Act more injured, it's showtime." Selina helps Michael up like he was an old man.
Reinhart heard a faint rustle in the bushes and human-sounding steps; that must be Amelia! As she sprinted towards the direction of the noises, she saw Amelia with…some man? Her body reacted before she could think and she instinctively yanked Selina towards her, a protective grip on her waist. She pulls out her sword fluidly and points it at the man.
"Ack! Why is it always my waist?!" Selina complains.
"Amelia, who is he?" Reinhart chose to ignore her.
"Let me go first."
"No."
"...fine."
Michael was petrified, practically shaking in his boots from the death stare he was given. That's his sister you know!
"Sooo, I was out for a walk because I couldn't sleep and wanted to clear my mind as the memories of the battle still seemed so fresh, the blood splatter, the murder, the injuries and all that stuff. While walking, I heard a disgusting growl in the distance and went towards it and it was a demon. I don't know how, but I'm guessing one managed to escape somehow." Selina takes a breath.
"I tried to fight it, but I was losing and then this guy came in and helped me and, in the process, got very injured. Thankfully, the creature was pretty weak, and we managed to defeat it." Selina explains calmly lying through her teeth.
"And so, I was hoping that I can take this guy along with us to the capital as a way of thanking him."
"Amelia, you really can't stay out of my sight. We don't that man's origins and it's highly suspicious that he just showed up out of nowhere. This is a keep out, desolate area, how has he managed to survive, how long has he been here, and why is he here?" Yeah, Selina is cooked.
"Reinhart, I know you're doubtful and I am too, but I would honestly feel really bad keeping him out here in the dangerous wild. He's so pitiful and weak. Come on, please let me keep him."
"...It isn't just up to me."
"But you'll help me, right? Pretty please?" Selina clasped her hands together.
Faced with Selina's puppy eyes, Reinhart couldn't help but falter.
"I'll help you but I won't trust that man and you both will be under my watch every second, understood?"
"Yes Ma'am!"
"And you!" The knight turns her attention to the unwanted fella.
"Don't take Amelia's kindness for granted, the way she and I deal with unwanted company is very different"
"U-understood" Michael mutters out.
They make the walk of shame back to the camp. Due to not having enough tents and no one else being awake besides Selina and Reinhart, Michael was currently just chilling on a log near the campfire.
Meanwhile, Selina was sweating buckets in her tent with Reinhart.
"Amelia…I would appreciate it if you didn't lie to me."
"L-lie about what?"
"You know what I'm talking about, but I won't push you to answer me… Looks are deceiving, just because he's attractive and cute looking doesn't mean that he isn't a bad person."
"I know, but seriously, no matter what, I need to take him back to the capital" Selina firmly states, there was no way she was leaving her bro behind.
"Is he some kind of fallen aristocrat?"
"No? Maybe? Probably not." Fallen aristocrat, yeah, Selina could work with this.
"I have a suspicion, though I'm not quite sure yet."
Selina waited for everyone to wake up before introducing Michael. It went over…strangely well, especially with Troye and Noah. The guys were all over him, even the aloof duke couldn't help but sneak a few glances, only hesitating slightly before allowing Michael a trip back to the capital. So, Michael did have the boosted charm effect of the protagonist after all. Damnit, we should've stuck with the plan to seduce Troye instead of making a fool out of herself to Reinhart!
After eating and getting patched up with actual medical supplies, Michael was faring great and was ready for the ride. Being an injured passenger, he rode in the carriage with Selina, Noah, the puppy, and…Reinhart.
"...Why are you here?" And sitting right next to her as well?!
"I told you that I wasn't going to let him out of my sight. I'm simply here for safety reasons." The redhead calmly answers.
"I'm pretty sure one good smack in the head could make him crumble into dust." Noah quips.
"Your highness, extra precautions are never bad."
"Can't argue with that" Noah shrugs.