Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Moments after Raven's arrival at the castle, he was guided by a guard directly to Milo's chambers. The king couldn't risk having him meet his mother first, after all, if he did, that would ruin their plans to manipulate Maria. Even the fact that Raven was back had been known to Milo for a while, but given his mother's eccentricity, he'd given it every effort to keep that fact away from her.

"At the start, I hid the news of your arrival simply because I know how excited my sister can be about meeting the hero, and now that you've changed places with that warrior, she'd been nagging everyone to take her to see you, " explaining his situation to Raven, Milo stood before him with Viola standing by his side.

"But if Tia knew or even Maria, either one of them, the news would've gotten to the other's ears, and that would've been utter chaos."

'Astute as always, huh? No wonder Maria's afraid of him taking over.' Holding no grudge nor animosity towards Milo, Raven was impressed not just by what he'd revealed but by the way he was conducting his business as Royalty.

"Before anything," glancing up and down Milo's well-kempt clothes before moving onto Viola's shimmering opal dress with gemstones, he felt for once–in the true presence of royalty. Getting up from the chair he'd been provided as a show of respect, he nodded at Mio's lover before turning back to him.

"I've noticed more guards at the lower city, and it sounds like you've laxed taxes on farmers, hawkers and even street vendors. Nothing of the sort ever happened when your father ruled, how you even managed to convince the noblemen is beyond me, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you've done in such a short time."

The faintest of smiles climbed up the duo's lips, it was the first time they'd been recognized for their work. All the queen and the council did was complain about their policies, simply because it didn't suit their interest but rather the interest of the public.

"Sir Markus deserves some of the credit, without his blade we would've had a coup on our hands, but–no matter, I'll relay your thanks to him, but for now, please sit down and hear our request," taking them up on their offer, Raven quickly settled down, and it wasn't long before he was told everything that had happened in the castle while he was gone.

From Maria hiding the death of the king for a long time to holding his funeral in secrecy, none of that was a secret to Raven, but everything she'd done towards Milo and Viola as well as her sabotage towards the citizens by meddling in their betterment, it pricked him in the heart.

'That bitch…' His expression contorted so much it made Viola squeeze Milo's arm in fear, the king himself wasn't resistant to the darkness and corruption oozing out from the blessed hero. 'She doesn't care about anyone but herself, why the fuck are we even doing this whole journey fucking things if she's gonna mess up our home?! We want to save these people!

We want our world to flourish and survive the–'

"ATROCITIES OF THE DEMON LORDS!!!" Jumping from mind to reality, Raven screamed in rage–not only spooking the king and his lover but also alarming the guards stationed outside. The door opened and they came rushing in, even surrounding Raven while pushing the king away, they kept their weapons drawn–hoping, no!

Praying that they won't have to fight a chosen, much less someone trained by the radiant Valkyrie.

Looking at his fist for a while, Raven slowly let them ease up. Lifting his head right after, he noticed spears, swords and a few arrows pointed in his direction. Moving the spear and swords away from him with the back of his hands, he turned to Milo.

"Tell me what you want me to do about her? I'm assuming you called me here for a reason after all," taking a deep breath to calm himself, Raven let down his mask of anger, and instead with a little help from his own charm calmed his heart. Then with a smile, he opened his eyes. "Apart from killing her, I'm sure I can beat some manners into her if that's what you want."

Baffled by the sudden change in his personality, Milo blinked a few times, but quickly managed to recover. Thinking everything over in his head, he brushed off the guards, even though they seemed reluctant to leave the king alone with Raven. Once the door was shut as they left, Milo moved closer to the mage and told him in the most forward way possible.

"I want her gone from the castle–I don't care how, I don't care what you do to her as long as she'd not dead, I think anything would be an improvement," thinking about her conspiring with the noble family whose son would soon marry Tia, Milo wanted this resolution to conclude long before the idiotic son or his family attempts a coup emboldened by Maria.

"Anything?" Raven asked, his voice rugged as it can be.

Although a bit taken back after hearing him questioning the limit, Milo remained steadfast and nodded back at Raven.

"Yes, anything as long as she's alive–I don't care what you do," no stranger to the mage sleeping with the whore, he didn't care if he even fucked in public so she couldn't show her face to anyone.

"You suspect a coup?" Tilting his head sideways, Raven's curiosity was apparent.

Still wary of the mage, Milo took a gulp and responded.

"Markus is out to investigate the family, he will more than likely kill them if there's enough proof of their imminent betrayal," piling every bit of information together, finally since last night a devilish smirk flashes across his face.

"And you said the very same family's son is going to marry your sister soon?" Milo nodded in response while Viola slowly approached him from behind. "Then how about we turn the wedding into an event that nobody can forget–one that would ensure no other fool tries to step up to you? At least not the corrupt piece of shits."

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Milo stuttered unsure what Raven had in mind, but his answer was simple, yet effective no matter the situation.

"No mercy, Milo for those parasitic leeches would have none for you." And although harsher than he liked, Milo couldn't disagree–even though deep down he felt like he should. But that remained a part of his personality, benevolent and kind, to a fault that would lead to his death if not for Markus and now even the new hero.