Medea Solon/Relationships

## Friends and Acquaintances

### Psyche Callista

Medea and Psyche have a complex history and relationship. At the debutante ball held three years prior to the current timeline, Medea witnessed Psyche's debut into high society. Though other nobles initially condemned Psyche for her mysterious absence in public, Medea pitied her for having nothing but nasty rumors spread amongst the nobility class.

Medea grew uncomfortable after Psyche began tailing her, believing that Psyche harbored antagonistic intentions. After overhearing Psyche telling off a fellow noble for insulting the House of Solon, Medea decided to befriend her. Psyche expressed insecurity for being inferior to Medea, who was well-established in high society. Medea reassured her that, like a pawn in chess, Psyche's social standing allowed her to become anything she wanted. Though Psyche was sheltered and had a naïve way of thinking things, Medea could not help but be drawn to her sunny, genuine personality. Two years into their friendship, Medea was shocked to learn that her engagement with the Crown Prince was cancelled. Instead, she was invited to enter a Crown Princess contest with Psyche. Despite fully intent on competing to win, Medea still trusted and remained friendly with Psyche as she easily progressed through the rounds of the competition, believing her win was guaranteed, believing the experience would help Psyche grow. The night before the results were announced, Helio informed her that he discovered Eros had been secretly leaving the palace, strangely since Psyche's debut. Medea chose to believe in Psyche and deemed it as an unfortunate coincidence. She also noticed that Psyche seemed to have genuine feelings towards Eros and seemed concerned for her, even apologizing to Psyche in her mind and stating that she would have gave up the crown had it not been necesary for her. She was therefore dismayed when the Pope of Vasilios crowned Psyche as the future Crown Princess. To her horror, Psyche agreed and joyously accepted Eros's proposal. Humiliated and betrayed, her failure to become the Crown Princess would result in the death of Nana, who she so dearly cared for. This combined with Psyche's lack of hesitation in accepting the position of the Crown Princess lead Medea to believe wrongly that Psyche had been plotting against her all along and tricked her to become the Crown Princess. Her heart broken by the death of her mother figure and the seeming betrayal of her friend, Medea grew to bitterly hate Psyche: She harshly rejected her when she tried to remain friends with her and when Psyche, with bitter smile and tears in her face, sadly believed that Medea was doing all this due to her desire for power, Medea's broken heart caused her to give a bitter laugh. Earning the title of the Devil of the Vasilos Empire further infuriated Medea and she sought revenge on Psyche for taking advantage of her kindness.

Psyche made several attempts to make amends with Medea, but all the trinkets she sent towards Medea only infuriated her. Instead, Medea poisoned Psyche and killed her favorite knight as punishment for cheating during the Crown Princess contest. She illegally infiltrated the temple on the day of the Yearly Prayer to assault Psyche. When Psyche insisted that her love for Eros was real, Medea told her she was naïve for valuing love over ruling an empire. During their struggle, Medea accidentally fell into the temple fountain. As she sunk in the waters, she begged the Guardian Deity of Vasilios to give her everything of Psyche's. Medea's wish was granted and from that day forward, she inhabited Psyche's physical body. She proceeded to impersonate her sworn enemy, fooling the members of the Count's family. When Psyche, in Medea's body, attempted to return, Medea kept her at bay and sent Helio to protect her.

Soon after usurping Psyche's life, Medea began experiencing misfortunes. She realized that she had overlooked the hardships Psyche had to endure. During the assassination attempt in the forest, Medea bitterly wondered if the Guardian Deity switched her and Psyche so that she could die in Psyche's stead. As she fought Eros's soldiers, Medea entered a limbo state where the Guardian Deity showed her Psyche's troubled past. She realized that Psyche truly never intended to betray her and felt guilty for betraying her trust. Faced with the undeniable and firm evidence of Psyche's genuine loyalty and friendship, Medea cried as she finally revealed just as Psyche wanted to be strong like her, Medea herself wanted to be generous like Psyche. Her trust in Psyche restored, Medea refused to die at the expense of someone else's sins, vowing to defy fate and survive her fatal wounds, and wanting to trust Psyche and work with her to turn things over. As if an answer to her prayers, Psyche's divine power miraculous healed Medea. With their misunderstandings cleared, Medea reconciled with Psyche and vowed to kill Eros for his treachery.

Later on, their relationship has apparently mostly returned to their old friendship: Medea portrayed herself in public as still the jealous and disgraced Lady Medea of the House of Solon who resented Psyche for "cheating" and becoming the Crown Princess, but when alone she is able to show Psyche kindness and generosity, trusting her to help in killing Eros and encouraging and guiding her in improving her abilities while expressing pleasure in the sight of her growth.

### Helio Niccolo

Helio and Medea share an extremely close and trusting friendship. After the House of Niccolo crumbled under the attacks of greedy nobles, Medea took the young, orphaned Helio under her wing. Under her tutelage, Helio grew to become the strongest knight in the empire and eventually restored the name of the Niccolo Family back to its former glory. Over seven years, Helio and Medea formed an inseparable bond and became very close friends. Outside of visiting each other's manors during the day, they often had secret meetings at night. They can read each other's thoughts and predict each other's actions without physically meeting or relaying messages. Helio is Medea's trusted confidante and the only person she confided with regarding her body switch with Psyche, confident that he would notice the change in her body's behavior.

After reuniting at the Crown Prince's birthday banquet, Medea received a dagger from Helio for emergency use and was grateful that he understood her so well. The dagger became a necessary weapon for defense when she later fought Eros's elite knights in the gardens. After she returned from the brink of death, healed by Psyche's divine power, Medea allowed Helio to embrace her as he expressed relief for her survival.

### Eros Orna Vasilios

Eros and Medea feel extreme animosity towards each other despite never having officially met. Eros and Medea were previously engaged when Emperor Vasilios suggested that Medea was an appropriate candidate to assume the seat of Crown Princess. Eros, however, had his sights set on Psyche and persuaded his father to call off the engagement. After Medea lost the Crown Princess contest, Eros framed the Duchess and the House of Solon for committing an assassination attempt on the Imperial Family. He took every opportunity to paint Medea as a vengeful, murderous villain in the public's eyes, including Psyche.

Since the body-switch, Medea and Eros are now bound in a loveless engagement. Oblivious to the fact that Medea is now inhabiting Psyche's body, Eros showers her with flowery compliments and vows of passion. Though she plays along as the oblivious "Psyche," Medea is aware that he is maintaining a facade for unknown reasons. After Eros locks her in the basement of the Count's Manor under the pretense of protecting her, Medea realized that his intentions were far more malicious than she expected.

At his birthday banquet, Medea was lured into the forest and attacked by several highly-trained soldiers. She immediately deduced that Eros had sent the men to kill her. After learning that Eros plotted to kill Psyche and steal her divine power, Medea vowed to murder him.

### Nana

Nana was a maid in the House of Solon who raised Medea in place of the neglectful Duke and Duchess. She therefore shared a very close, maternal relationship with Medea. Medea sincerely cherished Nana, as the maid was the only person in the House of Solon who showed Medea unconditional love. When Medea pushed herself to meet her parents' high expectations, often jeopardizing her health, Nana was the one who soothed her tears and comforted her. Medea treasured the teddy bear that Nana gave her as a child, keeping it with her until the day she became engaged to the Crown Prince. She reassured Nana, who was concerned about Medea's happiness, that she desired a status higher than that of her father's, and tossed the teddy bear into the fire. When Duke Solon punished Nana for Medea's loss in the Crown Princess contest, Medea attempted to save Nana and was instead knocked unconscious. After discovering that Nana died from the Duke's beating, Medea and Helio retrieved her abandoned corpse from the river and mourned.

### Lin

Medea offered Lin money to go undercover to the House of Callista to spy on Psyche. Lin did not interfere when Medea and Helio killed Psyche's favorite knight and servant. After the day of the Yearly Prayer, Lin confessed her sins to Medea, who she believed was Psyche, in order to remain in the good graces of the Callistas. Though Medea wished to kill her, she decided to spare Lin's life after remaining in Psyche's body.

### Emperor Vasilios

Pleased with Duke Solon's political achievements and contributions to empire affairs, Emperor Vasilios offered his son's hand in marriage to Medea. Though she did not love Eros, Medea saw this as an opportunity to gain a social status higher than that of her father. Later, Eros convinced the emperor to cancel the engagement and hold a Crown Princess contest. During the last round, the emperor was thoroughly impressed by Medea's keen intellect and knowledge on empire affairs. He incorrectly assumed her insight was a result of being raised by Duke Solon, whom the emperor holds to the highest esteem. Though he was in favor of naming Medea as the Crown Princess, Eros defied his father's wishes and took Psyche as his fiancée. Since Eros gained the public's support for his decision, Emperor Vasilios had no choice but to abandon Medea.

### Lady Seira

Prior to the current timeline, Lady Seira wished to gain Medea's favor, as Medea was engaged to the Crown Prince. When Medea rebuffed her advances, Lady Seira grew bitter and vented her anger out on Psyche.

## Family

### Thesion Solon

Duke Solon is Medea's father and does not share a close relationship with his daughter. As a child, Medea used her extensive knowledge to consult her father on various political affairs. In return, the Duke would often bestow upon her lavish gifts of dolls, precious gems, and fine silks. Initially, she genuinely wanted to help her father as he advised the Emperor. Once she discovered that the Duke was taking credit for all her ideas, she realized it would be his name, not hers, that would end up in the history books. She thus took advantage of her engagement with the Crown Prince to further her social status and surpass her father. After Medea lost in the Crown Princess contest, Duke Solon tortured Nana for Medea's failure, blaming the maid for improperly raising his daughter. When Medea attempted to intervene, the Duke accidentally struck her with his cane, rendering her unconscious for a week.

Since the name of Solon has fallen, Duke Solon spends most of his time out of the house, neglecting his daughter. He is unaware that Psyche currently inhabits Medea's body.

### Duchess Solon

Though Duchess Solon is Medea's mother, they do not share a close relationship with each other. Since childhood, Medea sought to seek approval from her mother by excelling in her studies, to no avail. Duchess Solon pushed Medea past her limits, believing that her daughter must achieve a reputation worthy of being recorded in history. Other than checking on Medea's progress, the Duchess spent many years neglecting her daughter. She regarded Medea's deteriorating health from overworking as trivial and spared no consideration for her daughter's well-being. Despite the cold treatment, Medea expressed genuine concern when Duchess Solon fell ill after her imprisonment. Bedridden with poor health, the Duchess rarely leaves her chambers and is unaware that Psyche now inhabits Medea's body.

### Dekis Solon

Dekis Solon is Medea's older brother. From what has been seen, Medea in public potrays a calm and respectful demeanor around her brother, but it was shown that she bitterly despised him for running away from his duties, calling him a coward.

## References

1. ↑ Episode 7
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Episode 12
3. ↑ Episode 13
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Episode 14
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Episode 15
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Episode 1
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Episode 2
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Episode 3
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Episode 6
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Episode 10
11. ↑ Episode 17
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Episode 18
13. ↑ Episode 4
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Episode 9
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Episode 11
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Episode 16
17. ↑ Episode 8