The two entered the room by the princess’s order, Mia taking a moment to inspect the room. Gaudy was the first word to come to mind, quickly followed by pink. A large bed with pink covers and drapes, a gold trimmed mirror adorned by pink gems, a rug made from an animal with pink fur taking up much of the floor space. She even had two couches with a pink lined glass table in the center.

Everything in this room hurt her eyes to look at, minus the large mirror that provided a lovely view of the outside world but even that was ruined by pink drapes.

“That is all Ashley, you may leave.” Athena who sat next to the mirror inspecting herself said. Giving the maid a fleeting glance as dismissed her.

Ashely bowed “Thank you, my lady.” She took one final peak at Mia before leaving the room.

When the door shut all that remained in the room was Athena and Mia, the latter standing in silence waiting for the princess to speak.

Eventually, a sigh broke the silence “We shall start with your report. Did John tell you anything of note? A secrete plan? Anything I will have interest knowing?” Athena turned in her seat to face her while resting her shoulder on the desk.

Mia thought back to the discussion she had with the hero, most of it she assumed the princess already knew. “Came from another world, no magic. Said more advanced, had books, other things, showed things like it is here.” Mia said, “Told was his fated maiden… said will save everyone.” She finished, thinking that covered all the important bits from what she remembered.

“Ha! ‘Fated maid’ what even is that nonsense? “Athena couldn’t help but laugh “And he is going to save everyone? Well hopefully he will continue to do his best for this kingdom he wants to save.” She mocked. “As for the rest, I have had some idea from the way he speaks. Did he give any detailed information on what kind of knowledge he has from his other world? Any events or preconceived Ideas of this world from his books?”

Mia squinted, combing her mind of anything he might have said “Said king might be untrustworthy… church might be evil…”

Athena’s expression changed, becoming stern and serious. She opened her mouth to speak but paused, bringing her hand to her chin she began to pace around the room “That is, concerning…” She continued to pace around the room mumbling to herself “At the same time, could be useful.” She stopped and faced Mia once more “Is this speculation, or does he believe it to be fact?”

Mia had to think a bit on that. From how he talked about it at first she would say it was speculation, just something he thinks might be a fact. However, his declaration at the end complicated things and just ended up confusing her. “Both?”

“Both? How can it be both?!”

“Don’t know. Confusing.” Mia shrugged.

With her anger rising Athena stomped on the ground with her foot “What do you mean it is confusing?! He told you, right?”

Mia began to panic, flustered she tried to explain “Think said both, don’t know… maybe thinks it’s real from the end? Hero is confusing.”

Athena clutched her head “Hit yourself as hard as you can.” She commanded, and unable to go against her order Mia complied, hitting herself in the face. “I do not know if it is you, the hero, or both being stupid but I do not have time for this.” She then began biting on her thumb’s nail “I will have to plan for the worst, the church is fine… they have been getting out of line for a while, daddy is another story…”

Rubbing her bruised cheek, Mia remembered a certain detail about the hero’s declaration. She was conflicted on if she should say it or not…

“Maybe it really is the best to dispose of him now… having him recklessly attack the church should be enough to get the backing for it…” Athena pondered.

That wasn’t good, Mia knew that once she got rid of the hero she’d be next on her list. If she was lucky she would go back to the slave merchant, she had a decent idea that wasn’t what was going to happen. Needing something to convince her not to ditch the hero, she decided to tell her what she remembered “The hero also said, would make you queen.”

“What?” Athena paused in her pondering and rapidly approached Mia “Do not lie to me beast, what did the hero say about making me queen?” She gripped the girl’s shoulders, holding her in place.

Mia was taken aback, carefully she spoke “After taking care of king, wants you to replace him.”

“That would be…” Athena’s gaze fell on Mia’s collar “It is not going off, you are telling the truth.” She let Mia go and unsteadily walked towards the sofa, plopping down on top of it. “Does he not understand the lengths he would have to go through to make that possible?” She nervously laughed to herself “The biggest obstacle if daddy is removed would be my older brother, who is in good health and good standing with the populace. He is next in line, but he intends to skip that.”

Mia watched the princess raise the back end of her hand and place it on her forehead as she quietly laughed to herself. She found the sight a bit unsettling, as if she was watching the exact moment someone realized their evil plot to mark the downfall of a nation to their own benefit…

oh right, that was exactly what she was watching.

Athena rose from her seat, a wide smile on her face “If played out correctly and with the right support, this might just work!” She rushed over to her desk and raised a golden bell, giving it a ring an old butler entered the room shortly after.

“Yes, my lady?” The butler bowed, then stood at attention.

“I am giving you another task, Doug, Get me a copy of my brothers schedule for the past year. Along with any outings he has made to the church. “Athena paused and brought her attention back to her desk, scanning through the contents of the paper work on top of it “Also direct the handling of the nobles Ferly, Riese, Krier, and Count Holland unto him.” She then forced a bundle of parchments into his hand before waving him off.

The butler stood there, a bit stunned at the rapid development but in a show of professionalism, bowed “It will be done, my lady.” Then left the room with his new tasks.

Mia blinked, while she may have insured her living conditions for now, she had to wonder if she had just made a massive mistake. But oh well, not like she could take it back now… how bad could it be?

She brought her attention back to the princess, who was still riffling through some parchments on her desk, giggling and mumbling to herself. Seeing that sight caused Mia’s doubts to grow. She shook her head, giving up and decided she was just over thinking it. She had secured her spot for the time being.

Standing up Athena brought her attention back to Mia “Now then, now that the matter of the hero has been handled, and while I hate to say this, I must commend you for doing an excellent, albeit annoying, job as my spy.” Athena’s expression then turned stern “I am almost willing to forgive you for last night, almost.”

Mia didn’t say anything, instead just standing there while listening to the princess.

“But first, let us get this out of the way.” Athena approached Mia, looking her over briefly before continuing “The matters discussed here are to remain private, do not discuss them with anyone. Furthermore, after the events of last night do not supersede my authority by sucking up to the hero. This is an order.”

Mia nodded; she knew that was coming. With this she no longer could go to the hero for help… as long as the princess was aware of the matter beforehand. She would have to hope there would be a time when the hero and her were alone so she could educate him as much as possible.

Athena stared at the slave collar fastened around the girl’s neck “Now as for your punishment… I will admit I struggled with thinking about one. I could have you hit yourself until you pass out but that has started to bore me.” Her gaze on her collar remained as her cold words exited her mouth “Instead, how about a more painful and amusing order. Now seeing your collar reminds me of the time in the carriage, you writhing in pain as it activated full force.” She then gave a light smile “This is an order, do what ever it is you did at that time to activate the collar this instant.”

Mia blinked, that’s it? She then opened her status and focused on the bottom part, the familiar blue screen blocked out by a red X appeared in her vision and without any hesitation poked it. She instantly dropped to the floor as the collar activated and as her vision faded she heard the displeasured talk of the princess.

“Wait, really? Just like that? No protest? How dull…”

With her last remaining bit of consciousness Mia mentally apologized towards Athena that she failed to be more entertaining.