Episode 10

"**Why I Hate You**" is the tenth released episode of *Your Throne* by SAM. With nothing but years of intensive swordsmanship training and Psyche's frail body, Medea faces off against the five knights Eros sent to assassinate her.

## Synopsis

Underneath the silver moonlight, Medea's blood-stained face remains cold and stolid as she faces the five knights in the imperial gardens. With her dagger pointed at the head knight's throat, Medea demands to know if they are hired mercenaries sent from a foreign kingdom, or knights of the imperial family. The knight holds her tongue, refusing to answer even as the sharp steel scrapes against her neck. Outside of her peripherals, another knight draws his sword and approaches Medea from behind. The soft thuds of his approaching footsteps jerk Medea into action and she turns around just in time to meet the blade of his sword with her dagger. To her surprise, the impact of their blades forces her backwards.

Now free from Medea's grasp, the head knight catches her breath, rubbing her neck. She realizes that Medea was truly intending to kill her and that they have severely underestimated her. As she wipes blood off her chin, Medea observes that her attackers' movements are far too trained to belong to ordinary soldiers. Based off of their initially careless behavior, it appears they expected "Psyche" to be a weak, defenseless woman who has never held a sword in her life. Since they quickly adapted after realizing that is not the case, Medea concludes that these men must be true knights who have received formal training.

The head knight warns her comrades to be on guard and to face Medea as if she is not a defenseless woman, but another soldier. As the assembled knights draw their weapons, Medea watches in amusement, thinking of how futile their efforts will be. Regardless of how much they struggle, taking on a couple of pathetic men such as these will be easy for her. Realizing that her arms are still trembling from the earlier impact, Medea tightens her grip on the dagger. Though it will have been easy to defeat the knights in her original body, Psyche's frail arms make it difficult to even block a single strike from a sword.

Inside the imperial ballroom, Eros is approached by a well-dressed gentleman. As a well-dressed foreign king bows respectfully, Eros congratulates him for recently inheriting the Kingdom of Hennel. The young heir extends his felicitations for Eros's birthday in return. As they converse, Eros takes the moment to briefly scan the room. Noticing that "Psyche" is nowhere to be seen, he concludes that everything is going according to his plan. The nobleman observes the delighted expression on Eros's face and remarks that the crown prince must be in high spirits. Eros smiles graciously, raising his glass, and agrees that it is a joyful day worth celebrating.

Outside of the imperial palace, Helio suggests to Psyche that they should head back to the banquet. As they slowly walk back to the ballroom, he promises to stay with her for the rest of the festivities. He explains that he sympathizes with her conflicted feelings for the crown prince, but advises her to shoulder her responsibilities as "Medea" instead of running away from her problems. After a moment of hesitation, Helio asks Psyche if she envies Medea. This stops Psyche in her tracks. Helio watches her face as she smiles bitterly, asking how it is possible not to envy the strength Medea possesses.

Back in gardens, Medea braces herself as a knight darts forward to engage her in a duel. She reminds herself that she cannot win against them in a battle of strength. The knight swings his sword, narrowly missing Medea as she ducks down. With her free hand, she grabs a fistful of dirt and throws it in the knight's face. The knight uses his cloak to shield his eyes from the flying specks of dirt. As he angrily shouts at her for employing cowardly tactics, Medea runs her dagger up the length of his torso, splattering blood everywhere. In the remaining seconds before his death, the knight wonders how Medea managed to switch hands holding the dagger so quickly. As the knight dies, Medea coldly remarks on the hypocrisy in his accusation of her cowardice, noting that the men all teamed up against a single woman. She grabs ahold of the knight's cape collar and examines the fabric. From the lack of emblem on his clothes, Medea concludes that the man does not belong to any of the official knight orders.

A second knight yells and rears his sword from Medea's right. Quickly, she throws the fallen knight's cape into the man's face. With his vision suddenly obscured, the knight braces himself, cautious of protecting his vital points. Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, Medea attempts to knock the sword out of the knight's grip using her fist. Casually commenting on how she indeed cannot use her bare hands to win, Medea plunges her dagger into his body. With her free hand, she takes the fallen knight's longsword and engages a third knight in a fierce duel. As they spar, Medea decides that the only way she will survive is if she dodges all of their attacks and aim for the heart. With one hand, she slices the knight's face with the dagger, and with the other, drives the longsword into his chest.

The head knight watches in terror as three of her comrades fall at the hands of Medea, unable to comprehend how she could defeat them so easily. The five of them belong to an exclusive knight order created by the imperial family. She recalls the proud moment when the young crown prince hand-selected her, an insignificant, poor civilian girl, to join the most elite and secretive order of imperial knights. The only known person who should be capable of defeating the best-trained soldiers of the imperial army is Helio Niccolo, the strongest knight of the Vasilios Empire.

Medea approaches the remaining two knights, warning them that she understands the type of people they are. Regardless of how she may torture them, she is confident that they will not divulge the identity of their master. In a low voice, Medea offers them one last chance to oblige her. The head knight clenches her jaw and rushes forward with her last standing comrade. As they approach her, she notes the lack of curiosity in her expression; it is as though she already knows the answer, and is merely waiting for a confirmation of her suspicions.

Medea quickly dodges the knights as they both attack at the same time. Vaguely, she wonders how she has grown to despise Psyche so much. It vexes her that she has to fight in Psyche's stead. She has already considered that the guardian deity of the Vasilios Empire may have switched her soul with Psyche's so that she may die in Psyche's place. A fire lights up in her eyes as Medea reminds herself that it does not matter. Regardless of who is pulling the strings, Medea can overcome a trivial matter as weak as fate.

In a flashback, an eight-year old Medea stood in a blue silk dress, edged with fine white lace, and a ribbon in her hair. In her arms was a soft, brown teddy bear.

## Characters

*Characters are listed in order of appearance. Character first appearances are **bolded**.*

* Medea Solon
* Eros's knight
* Eros Orna Vasilios
* **King Hennel**
* Helio Niccolo
* Psyche Callista

## Gallery

Medea threatens the head knight with her dagger.Medea faces off against the five elite knights of the imperial family.In Psyche's frail body, Medea trembles from blocking a strong sword strike.Eros is pleased to see that "Psyche" is absent from the banquet.Helio and Psyche head back to the banquet together.Medea throws dirt into the knight's face.Medea punches the knight's hand, attempting to knock the sword out of his grasp.The head knight remembers his youth when Eros approached him.Medea gives the knights one last chance to answer her question.The remaining knights fight Medea together.