Reincarnated as the Villainess's attendant

"(Connected~!)"

"|Royto! How is my favorite human informant doing in the faraway Atreterve?|"

After the first sentinel hiding within Zoemi's shadow announced, the black-haired boy spoke in a hushed voice out of habit, even though his other sentinel was using the muffle spell on their surroundings so no one could hear him.

Well, taking into account the high-stake situation he was in, that level of cautiousness was fully understandable...

"[Sir Banemor?! Y-you could have warned me in some way before suddenly messaging me, you know? I almost had a heart attack thinking that someone had broken in and is about to cut my throat!]"

The blue-haired second prince breathed out in relief before complaining – he sounded overly anxious as if the situation he was currently in was taking quite a toll on him, which wasn't all that surprising.

"|Oh... that sounds like your life there isn't too easy...|"

Zoemi frowned with concern, straightening his back.

"[It's not that bad, alright? But... You will not lose on anything if you start a sudden conversation with - it's me, Zoemi - right? I don't trust the locals yet and I think that I would have a heart attack if someone casually called me by my actual name – because that would probably be an assassin, so giving out your name first would be preferable... Let me drop the subject already and move onto a more important one – did the news about me going missing from the monastery spread around yet?]"

The second prince grumbled for a moment or two before getting over it and asked with caution.

"|No, actually. And it shocks me greatly – according to the general opinion, you are still getting the reeducation within those walls. My best bet is that the monks didn't want to get in trouble and did not notify anyone about your escape.|"

"[Wait, really? That's... exceedingly strange. I was sure that at least some of them were actually just thugs mixed in along with the normal monks... Please, keep an eye on how that situation will turn out. That said – what got you to contact me, sir Banemor?]"

"|Checking out if you are alive. Also, what's new on the slave market – any illegally sold citizens of the Bellcephora kingdom?|"

Surou scoffed in concern before shrugging it all off and asking casually, making it Zoemi's turn to shrug his shoulders and respond half-dismissively.

"[Not officially, but let me prove to you why helping me out was the best decision you could make.]"

The second prince boasted and it was easy enough to sense his mood improving tremendously – which in turn let Zoemi know that he indeed had some interesting news to share.

"[I gained the favor of a few filthy-rich and important people here in Vexzi. My talent for making jewelry is only equal to my way with words, you see? One of those now loyal customers just happened to be the new consort of the owner of the biggest slave market in this part of the country, she comes by every two days or so to buy something and I'm giving her nice discounts in exchange for the information about the new slaves – even the less official ones.]"

Surou explained sounding as prideful as ever

"|Less official ones, huh...? Well – I've seen your craftsmanship so you amassing fans isn't surprising – but still... you must be giving some killer discounts for that lady to blab out about slaves from Bellcephora to a magician like yourself...|"

Zoemi pointed out with concern.

"[That is what shocks you? Well, you would be stunned if you learned who she actually is... But her identity is not all that important – aside from the fact that she is a former slave and a magician herself. She wants to help – I want the info – she gets the discounts. Might seem odd, but it works out for now.]"

"|For now? Tsk... I understand why you were on edge when I contacted you.|"

The second prince revealed just the tiniest bit of additional information – although it was still enough to make Zoemi realize that the blue-haired boy himself thought that he has compromised his hideout and a secret identity and was only acting tough.

That made him wonder...

Who exactly did he meet up with...?

That woman was supposed to be a magician but a former slave – she could be a bastard child of some noble that became a nuisance or maybe her story was even more complicated...

...but the black-haired boy was almost sure that whoever she was, she must have recognized the blue-haired second prince, which of course pushed the boy in question to the edge.

Or maybe not...?

|Am I overthinking things again...?|

"|My prince, be honest – Did you get yourself in trouble?"

Zoemi thought before wondering out loud.

"[Yes, of course, I did that! How did you guess that? Things went down right after I introduced myself to her with my full name! Because I'm a drooling idiot!]"

Surou complained in a pained voice after Zoemi showed his lack of faith in him.

"Who are you taking me for anyway!?"

He scoffed at Zoemi in disbelief, making the black-haired get a feeling that he really was off about the second price's circumstances...

"|For a brainwashed idiot who let himself be locked in a monastery after doing a lot of dumb idiotic things. Or at least a drama queen, much more than I expected you to.|"

Zoemi snapped back at him.

"[Fuck you! How was getting hexed my fault?! I had no say in it!]"

Surou groaned in annoyance, clicking his tongue at the unjustified burn.

"|Sorry. It was unnecessary, I'm just a bit nervous because of the marriage and all... Just so you know, the sentinels I left with you can teleport you away in the time of need, they will help you out if things get really bad.|"

The black-haired boy breathed out and apologized, reminding the second prince about the precaution he left with him.

"Oh. Caan they, now? That's awfully convenient – I thought that those little buggers were just here to be cute and occasionally sassy... now hold on – what marriage, or rather whose marriage are you talking about? Are you about to get married? WITH WHO?!"

"|...!|"

Surou's shout was so loud that Zoemi leaned to the side out of habit, just as if he was trying to get away from a phone even though the spell didn't work in the same way.

"[Hey! Keep it down!]"

Unexpectedly enough a muffled voice of an old man also transferred through the connection, which was an interesting nuance that a normal message spell was not supposed to do.

"[Ah! I'm sorry master! Just having a problem with a new piece!]"

Zoemi clearly heard Surou's apology before the blue-haired boy started talking to him again.

"[I'll ask again – who are you getting married to?! You aren't doing anything controversial, right?]"

The second prince gasped in a hushed voice that almost made Zoemi snicker.

"|Oh, no, I am not the one getting... hold on...! What controversy do you accuse me of...?|"

The black-haired boy was about to explain things, clearing out the misunderstanding, but there was something in the blue-haired boy's voice that made him hesitate.

"[Like...! I... you know... doing something like stealing my older brother's fiancee, or marrying miss Burushiitto to throw the societal hierarchy into a disarray... or something – I don't know!]"

Surou ended up audibly flinching and began muttering awkwardly, letting some of his actual feelings slip by in the process.

"|Societal hierarchy, huh... Are you perchance worried about Burushi after all...?|"

"[Sh-shut up, no I'm not...!]"

Sure cried weakly, when Zoemi read between the lies shockingly accurately and asked in a teasing voice.