n

n

nIn the kitchen, as it was normal, Patishi was working very hard on her new recipe, which coincidentally turned out to be for cookies.

n

"Big brother! You will not guess but...! Eh?! EEEHHHHH?! Y-your Highness...!

"

nPatishi smiled at the sight of her big brother but then became ghastly pale at the sight of the Miriette and the poor girl even took a step to the side to cover the tray with the steaming batch of cookies as if feeling guilty over making them.

n

"You are the girl who makes my bread, right?

"

nMiriette asked glaring at the shaken girl in a cute apron.

n|If the cooking might say a man's heart, then wouldn't she be the most dangerous one of all the potential ones...?|

nThe dark-haired girl thought to herself, squinting her eyes in suspicion.

n

"That's right, my lady – this is my little sister, Patishi!

"

nZoemi wanted to applaud his master for remembering about that detail - back in the Espine's household she always had trouble with remembering the maids' names...

n...though in truth that was because of the dark-haired girl's reluctance to do that and not because of her memory...

n

"I see, Patishi, eh? Keep up the good work.

"

nMireitte frowned even harder, seeing the closeness between the two, but at the same time felt relieved once Zoemi actually introduced the younger girl as a sister – the black-haired attendant had only his father but he treasured the familiar bonds very much and always wanted a big family.

n...that also meant that if he put Patishi into a little sister zone, she wouldn't be crawling out of there for a long, long time – no matter how much – at all – she wanted to get out of it.

n

"Ah! Th-thank you...?

"

nPatishi didn't really know how to react so she bowed her head and curtsied awkwardly.

n

"...!

"

nBut as she did that, Miriette saw the tray of cookies that the young cook was trying to hide.

n

"How adorable!

"

nMireitte gasped while blushing, and ran towards the tray with sparkling eyes.

n

"O-oh, y-yes, I was just... making them... as a... Test... Yes, a test!

"

nPatishi had some trouble with finding correct words but she ended up stumbling upon a satisfactory excuse.

nBut, a test or not, the cookies were shaped like hearts and the chocolate pieces were shaped like many smaller hearts on top of them...

nIf there was something that was screaming – girl's first love – more than that, Zoemi couldn't really imagine it at the moment.

n

"Patitishi, teach me how to make those too!

"

n

"E-eh...? Teach you? Y-yo-your highness!

"

nWithout asking for permission Miriette took one of the lovely cookies and took a bite as the girl next to her gasped, staring at her wide-eyed.

n

"What the?!

"

nMireitte's eyes widened in shock and she put a hand to her mouth, exclaiming in shock.

n

"Zoemi! Come here right now!

"

n

"!!!

"

n

"?!

"

nShe demanded causing Patishi and Zoemi to look at each other confused.

nCould it be that the cookies were actually bad...?

nNo... it didn't make sense - Patishi was basically unable to make something that tasted bad!

nZoemi got to his master's side instantly trying to figure out what was the problem.

n

"Open your mouth!

"

n

"...

"

nMiriette demanded and the dark-haired attendant obediently complied with her command.

n

"GUHHH..!

"

nAnd Miriette showed the rest of her cookie into his mouth.

n

"Delicious, right!?

"

nThe dark-haired girl asked when poor Zoemi was choking on the cookie that Miriette basically pushed through his throat halfway to his stomach.

n

"Big brother - here...!

"

nPatishi panicked and hastily gave the black-haired boy a glass of water and Zoemi somehow managed to survive this spontaneous assassination attempt.

n

"Ohohohoho! Amazing right?!

"

nBut his master wasn't bothered at all - she was already imagining how Zoemi will react when she will make cookies like this for him, and she was laughing out loud while putting one hand up to her mouth.

n

"Y-yes... my lady... very delicious. And... thank you, Patishi... You saved me there...

"

nZoemi confirmed his master's words and nodded towards Patishi for the timely reaction.

n

"Um... Big brother Zoemi, what's going on...?

"

nThe brown-haired girl fidgeted nervously.

n

"Nothing much. My master wants to make some cookies for her fiance, are you willing to help her?

"

nZoemi shrugged his shoulders and explained casually after managing to calm his breath.

n

"For the first prince!?

"

nPatishi voice peaked and she glanced at the cookies she baked and blushed.

n

"Yes, those would be perfect!

"

nZoemi nodded enthusiastically and pated the fidgetting girl's head.

n

"Don't worry, my master is very talented.

"

nThe black-haired boy grinned and put his thumb up to reassure Patishi – since he misunderstood the reason for her nervousness and the lack of confidence and not something entirely else.

n------

nAbout one hour later Zoemi was forced to eat those words together with barely edible clumps of hardened, burnt-up dough that couldn't be called cookies no matter how optimistic he got.

n

"I'm sorry, big brother Zoemi, I have no idea what went wrong his time either!

"

nPatishi was bowing her head to him repeatedly, the brown-haired girl even used her magic on the ingredients, so the current effects were completely incomprehensible for her.

n

"N-no, the-they are... G-good...?

"

nZoemi tried to smile but he just grimaced and his scars twisted horribly.

n

"Zoemi... you can go back to your room now.

"

nThe grumpy Miriette motioned at the door with her chin while she was sitting on a chair by the kitchen counter.

n

"No, my lady, I will take you to your room...

"

n

"No! I want to talk with Patishi so you can go on ahead! I can find my own room!

"

nZoemi insisted but was shot down without mercy by a single scoff.

nWith the pledge to work on his acting in the future, so that Mireitte won't be able to find out how bad her cooking was ever again, Zoemi left the kitchen.

n

"...!

"

nPatishi was shaking in fear, will the lady Espine unleash her fury on her for not teaching her correctly!?

nPatishi wanted to cry!

n

"...

"

nBut Miriette only checked if Zoemi was actually gone and she hurriedly pushed the failed cookies into a trashcan making a space for something else and picked up a bowl from the back of the counter.

n

"EEEEEEHHHHHH?!

"

nWhen Patishi saw the content- she ended up gasping in shock absolutely stunned!

nIt was the cookie dough they have made before!

n

"Eh...? But how? Why...?

"

n

"Hmph~!

"

nPatishi was confused but Miriette only smirked smugly.

n

"Listen Patishi, if you want to charm a man you can't just give him all the best stuff from the get-go~!

"

nThe dark-haired girl giggled and started preparing the batch of cookies for real.

n

"But the ones before...!

"

nPatishi was still confounded by the unexpected reveal, but Miriette only shrugged her shoulders.

n

"Your teaching was fine – I was able to make things perfectly from the start – for the three failed attempts before, I just threw some random things to the bowl and mixed them together – that's why they ended up so awful.

"

n

"...!

"

nMiriette explained winking at the flabbergasted girl.

n

"Think about it, kid - if I would make perfect cookies on the first try would my efforts truly be recognized? I don't think so – having a weakness is a charm point in and of itself!

"

nThe dark-haired girl declared, proudly puffing out her modest chest to not much of an effect whatsoever, except boosting her own morale.

n

"So, make sure to remember it right!

"

n

"!!!!!

"

nMiriette put her index finger in front of Patishi's nose, making her flinch and tremble in fear.

n

"We were working on those cookies for two more hours, is that clear?

"

nThe noble lady asked in a deadly serious voice.

n

"Y-your Highness...?

"

nPatishi muttered in confusion, lowering her head with tearful eyes.

n

"Two more hours! Now, you say it!

"

nEven so, the dark-haired girl was relentless and wasn't going to let her go without complying with her wishes.

n

"Yes! After big brother Zoemi left, we were working on the cookies for two more hours!

"

nPatishi straightened her back too as Miriette successfully terrorized her into obedience.

n