n

n

n

"Ohohoho! When I give Zoemi my cookies he will be stunned how much I have improved and he will fall for me even more, without a doubt!

"

nMiriette boasted triumphantly, raising her fist in a preemptive victorious pose.

n

"Eh!? Those are not for the first prince?!

"

n

"Pffft!

"

nPatishi became stunned and Miriette snorted at her reaction.

n

"For Horeo? Yeah, no. No way. My cookies are only for my Zoemi! But I would feel bad for leaving that guy with nothing, he is my friend and all... so!

"

nMiriette scoffed but then ended up looking to the side, scratching her cheek deep in thoughts before her eyes lighted up when she came up with an idea.

n

"I would like to give him some of yours, can I?

"

n

"!!!!!

"

nMiriette actually asked someone for permission – and someone of a lower status than her to boot!

nIf Zoemi saw – or at least heard – about that, he would shed tears of happiness!

n...or not, probably not really...

n

"I-I am allowed to give my cookies to my prince?! With your permission, your highness?!

"

nPatishi perked up and blushed from happiness, letting her inner feelings slip out in a rather obvious way.

n

"Yeah, sure whatever.

"

nMiriette didn't even spare her a glance and waved her hand dismissively while fully focused on the oven.

n

"Just stay quiet for a moment I don't want to ACTUALLY mess them up by accident.

"

nShe said in a focused voice.

n------

nAnd her cookies did come out perfectly.

nZoemi was actually right all along.

nHis master was very talented.

n------

nPatishi helped Miriette pack the cookies into cute wrappings.

nThe one for the first prince was, of course, a lot flashier and with pink ribbons - all lovely and all – while the one for the Zoemi was suitably plainer and it had a small green ribbon looking a bit scruffier than the one on the other wrapping.

nIt was actually because Miriette did that one herself. Even though she was talented in many fields, it was her first time creating the handmade decorations herself so she couldn't compare to the brown-haired girl in that regard.

nMiriette left the kitchen but didn't return to her room or go to any of the boys' rooms, instead, she went outside the dormitory to think calmly think about her plan.

nUsually, she would use her spell and fly around, since she could compose herself better when she was looking down upon everything else in the world, but today she didn't want to be seen so she settled on walking instead to at least move around a bit.

n

"Should I really give those to him...?

"

nWhen she was deep in thoughts, Miriette would speak her mind out loud - it helped her figure out whether the idea was good or not.

nThe dark-haired girl was strolling in the sunset, the hand in which she was holding the cookies for her fiance was hanging loosely by her side and the one with the ones for her attendant was raised – and it was also the one at which the girl was staring at intently.

n

"Wouldn't it be too forward on my side? I'm his master, wouldn't it be just forcing myself on him...?

"

nLady Espine was faced with a moral dilemma.

n

"It would be just like in that indecent novel that mother didn't want me to read! The vulgar lady forced her attendant into an indecent relationship and the attendant hated her for that!

"

nMiriette bit her lips and her fingers tightened around the plain wrapping.

n

"What if Zoemi will hate me too just like that...? Oh, no! Why did I have to make them heart-shaped?!

"

nThe dark-haired girl's heart started beating fast from the sudden fear she felt.

nShe wanted a relationship with Zoemi but because of her high birth, anything she would do would be considered an abuse of power.

nMiriette chest started aching.

n

"No, wait...! But he suggested that I should make the cookies because he wanted to try them, right?! He said that I'm his most important person, so of course, he would want that... Right? Right...?

"

nThe more Miriette thought about that the more doubtful she was becoming.

n

"If I give him those heart-shaped cookies won't it be like ordering him to love me?

"

nMiriette turned and started to walk in another direction without watching where she was actually going while she continued to overthink everything.

n

"But he loves me already, right? So wouldn't that be like giving him permission?

"

nShe lifted her head - that last one sounded right!

n

"Wait, no...

"

nBut then the dark-haired girl hung her head back down.

n

"But what if I'm too hasty? He didn't even budge when I was naked behind him, he must be a late bloomer or something... Or maybe he somehow inherited Mizoe's denseness! No, wait, it doesn't work like this, does it...?

"

nMiriette furrowed her brows and shook her head.

n

"If I pressure him too much, it will only scare him off!

"

nThe dark-haired girl clenched her fists and started walking faster.

n

"No...! I don't want him to hate me...!

"

nMiriette whispered sadly and changed the direction of her stroll – that was already almost a run - again.

nThe visions of Zoemi's confused, scared, and angered faces filled the dark-haired girl's mind and she felt her eyes stinging and her nose getting itchy.

n

"I don't want him to look at me like that...!

"

nMiriette was a strong-willed girl but the thought of Zoemi hating her was the one thing that could bring her to the verge of tears with ease.

nJust like she was the most important person for Zoemi, Zoemi was the most important person for her.

nIf he declared his love for her she was ready to abandon her family name and riches at any given moment, but the problem was if she did that then the consequences would fall on him first.

nZoemi was a darkness magician, that alone would make it seem like he was the one who deprived the noblewoman and swindled her into his ways.

nBeing with Zoemi would also mean breaking the engagement with the first prince and even though Horeo was just Horeo and he thought of both Mireitte and Horeo as his best friends, their marriage was decided by their parents.

nIn the end, even if they decided on the daring lover's escape, Miriette and her love would become imprisoned - well, she would become imprisoned - Zoemi would be executed without a doubt.

n

"If only those bracelets didn't exist...!

"

nMiriette muttered under her breath and gritted her teeth.

nThe kingdom of Bellcephore was in possession of a certain relict of ancient times - a terrifying pair of bracelets that disabled the magicians' ability to cast spells.

nThat artifact was made of a special crystal ore that couldn't be found anymore.

nThose bracelets were truly terrifying not because of the spellcasting-sealing properties but because after being charged with the mana of the light attribute and exposed to the remnant of another magician's mana, they would teleport on the arms of that magician and seal their powers no matter where their target would be hiding.

nWell – to tell the truth - there were a few pieces of the mysterious ore still around, but all of them were in the hands of the collectors and although they still held the power of sealing magic, they were basically harmless for Mireitte since those fragments didn't possess the ability to teleport.

n

"Even if I cast free flight and took Zoemi with me if those bracelets would have been used at that time....!

"

n