Psydea

Psydea is the femslash ship between Medea Solon and Psyche Callista from the Your Throne fandom.

Manhwa
Before the events of the series, Psyche and Medea were friends. Psyche was initially fascinated by Medea, though too afraid to approach her in person. One day, two noblemen complimented Psyche by calling her an angel in contrast to Medea, who they called a devil. Psyche was offended on Medea's behalf and demanded that they apologize, much to their anger. Medea overheard the conversation and saved Psyche from being beaten. She criticized her for being weak, but much to her surprise, Psyche started crying, asking why Medea seems so used to this treatment from the men. After that, the two began meeting more often and formed a friendship.

When Medea's engagement with the Crown Prince was canceled, Medea and Psyche were placed in a competition for the crown. Psyche didn't want to compete or be in a loveless marriage, but Medea convinced her that it would be a good learning opportunity. On the day of the contest, Psyche easily accepted her losses, and the two remained on good terms throughout the contest. In the last round, Psyche was shocked to discover that the Crown Prince is Eros, the secret lover she had been meeting with. She became distraught realizing that Medea would become engaged to the man she loved, but told Medea that she will accept the results of the contest regardless. To everyone's surprise, Psyche was announced as the winner. Too overjoyed to consider Medea's feelings, Psyche accepted. Psyche's victory later caused Medea's father to punish her and beat her nanny to death. Medea started resenting Psyche for taking everything from her and broke off their friendship.

Psyche attempted numerous times to make amends, though they only left Medea more furious. On the day of Yearly Prayer, Medea infiltrated the temple to confront her. Psyche attacked Medea, and argued that Medea only wants Eros for his power, and that it shouldn't be wrong for herself to want to be with the one she loves. Medea slipped into the prayer fountain and Psyche dove in to save her. As they were submerged, Medea prayed to God to take Psyche's place as Crown Princess, and it was later revealed that Psyche prayed for her own death because of the suffering she's caused. God granted Medea's wish, and the two woke up discovering that they were now inhibiting each other's bodies.

At Eros's birthday banquet, Psyche and Helio discover Medea in the forest, dying from an assassination attempt. They both individually realize that all these events were manipulated by Eros from the start as a plot to murder Psyche for her divine powers. Psyche tearfully apologizes to Medea, and heals her by having her blood touch the sacred relic Medea is wearing. Now knowing who their true enemy is, Medea tells Psyche that she will kill Eros.

Visual Novel
In the visual novel adaptation, Medea is the main character, and Psyche is one of the four love interests the player can romance. The events of the beginning play out as in the original story. Medea is especially devastated by Psyche's betrayal because of how much she trusted her.

Episode 1
One year after Psyche became accepted as Crown Princess, she sends a gift to Medea. If the player accepts the gift, it turns out to be a white and gold dress. The servants comment on how this is something fitting for Psyche to wear at her betrothal. Medea interprets the gift to be a message about how she will never be Psyche, and accepts this as Psyche's true feelings about her. Medea contemplates on if this would have hurt less if she had seen through Psyche's true nature from the beginning, but is grateful that she can now move on from her.

Medea visits Psyche to pay back for the gift. Psyche is elated to see her. Depending on the player's choices Medea can be friendlier with Psyche or remain cold. Similar to the manhwa, Medea gives Psyche tea and flowers that makes the tea poisonous. Later, as Psyche's knight goes to investigate what Medea did to cause Psyche's illness, Medea stabs him, wanting Psyche to experience the pain of losing everything as she did. After killing him however, Medea doesn't feel exhilarated like she thought she would.

Episode 2
Medea infiltrates the Day of Prayer, though overhears Perion speaking of the oracle on the way. When Perion notices her, Psyche appears, and the player can choose to escape with her. They escape to the garden, and Psyche apologizes to Medea. Medea is frustrated that Psyche is being vulnerable, as if she sincerely cared. She shares that she was most hurt when Psyche happily kissed Eros. Psyche asks Medea to understand that she couldn't turn down being the Crown Princess because she loves Eros. Medea's heart twists at this. Psyche continues that she was fond of Medea as much as she was fond of Eros, and Medea feels bitter at the use of past tense. Medea criticizes her for prioritizing her love for Eros over the future of the Empire. The two fall in the fountain and switch bodies in the same manner as it happened in the manhwa.

Episode 3
When Psyche in Medea's body attempts to talk to Medea, Eros stops her. Medea can defend Psyche, be neutral, or dismiss Psyche. Eros then locks Medea in the cellar, and she realizes that he doesn't truly love Psyche.

Episode 4
In the cellar, Medea comes to understand Psyche more, realizing that Psyche was locked in there throughout her childhood. Medea can choose to read Psyche's diary, which has an entry about Medea. Once Medea escapes, she and Helio meet with Psyche to teach her etiquette. Psyche starts crying, regretful that she was close friends with Medea yet didn't know her at all. If the player chooses to wipe Psyche's tears, she says that life for Medea must have been lonely. Medea replies that she doesn't know Psyche well either, thinking about the cellar and Eros. However, she affirms that they will know each other better than anyone from now on.

Episode 5
During the banquet, a lady insults Psyche. Medea can intervene or watch how Psyche deals with it. When choosing the latter, Psyche plays the role of Medea perfectly, and Medea feels proud of her.

Moments

 * In Episode 89, while Medea, Perion, and Helio are visiting an orphanage, Medea gazes off in the distance saying it would be nicer if Psyche had come.
 * Psyche also plans on sending a surprise gown to Medea to wear for her debut as a duchess, and she hopes that Medea would like the gown she ordered.
 * In Episode 99, Psyche fears that using her divine power will have people see her as a monster, but when she remembers that Medea doesn't see her as a monster, she overcomes her fear.

Manhwa
"I wonder... how you see me today? The usurper of the one you love? Or... The fool who now has to bear your misfortune?"

- Medea, Episode 7.

"You must not realize what face you make when you look at me... And what your voice sounds like when you talk to me."

- Psyche to Medea, Episode 44.

"If you ever fall into someone's trap, or death is at your door... I'll save you."

- Medea to Psyche, Episode 62.

"I have been ignoring what I already know to be true. The person Lady Medea could not help but love. The person they say is after God's own heart. Psyche Callista and her brilliant kindness."

- Helio reflecting on Psyche, Episode 71.

Visual Novel
"It wasn't the crown prince's betrayal or my loss that hurt me the most that day. What hurt me the most was... the fact that you looked so happy when he kissed you."

- Medea to Psyche, Episode 2.

Behind the Scenes
In an interview, author of Your Throne SAM explained that she wanted to put a twist on the cliché of a "nice woman" and "mean woman" being rivals that is common in the Romance Fantasy genre.

Fanon
Psydea is one of the most popular ships within the Your Throne fandom. Fans appreciate how Medea and Psyche have brought out the best in each other throughout the series; Psyche is able to grow stronger thanks to Medea, and Medea grows to be more empathetic thanks to Psyche. The ship is also helped by how it's one of the most genuine relationships in the series, with the two expressing how much they care about each other every time they meet. Psydea has always been popular, with fans expressing that Psyche and Medea should ditch the abusive character Eros, whom the two were fighting for in the beginning of the series, and just be with each other instead. The ship was especially fueled by Episode 44, where they have intimate moments like Psyche holding Medea's hand to her face. Non shippers simply see their relationship as platonic and think that they're better as friends.

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Trivia

 * Medea and Psyche have contrasting color schemes, with Medea's mainly being purple and Psyche's being yellow. This is also shown when the two switch bodies through their clothing choices.
 * Medea and Psyche's names, like the other main characters, are derived from Greek mythology.
 * On an instagram post for a new thumbnail featuring Medea and Psyche, a user commented "Girlfriends", and claims in a reply that SAM liked the comment.
 * In the visual novel, the flavor text for the dress Psyche gives Medea is, "Know her true feelings."