n

n

n

"...my lady...

"

nZoemi knocked on the door of his master's room and entered.

nSince Patishi informed him that Miriette was working hard on the cookies for two more hours after he left, the black-haired boy made a lot of dishes that she liked as a reward.

n|My lady is so hardworking!|

nThe scarred attendant smiled to himself when entering.

nBut the room was empty.

n

"My lady...?

"

nZoemi called out surprised as there was no trace of the dark-haired girl in her room at all.

n

"...hmmm...

"

nThe black-haired boy put the tray away and walked towards the bathroom door and knocked on it.

n

"My lady, are you in there?

"

nHe asked politely and waited.

n

"...excuse me for my forwardness...

"

nAfter hearing no response Zoemi tried opening the bathroom door.

nBut Miriette wasn't there either...

n

"Where could...?

"

nZoemi wondered out loud, furrowing his brows – the dark-haired girl didn't like moving around too much so it was very unlikely for her to be out at that time...

n

"...ah...!

"

nThe black-haired boy was worried but then he realized!

n|Of course! She must have gone to give the cookies to Horeo right away!|

nZoemi nodded his head - yes, that's right - his master was truly a hardworking and committed girl!

n

"...

"

nFor just a second, when the scarred boy imagined Miriette giving Horeo cookies with a lovely smile - his heart ached, but the black-haired attendant with the ugly burn-scar deforming his right cheek shook his head to disperse the image immediately.

n|No, no, no, I can't be jealous! I am just a lowly attendant with a messed-up face. Miriette will be happiest with the first prince! She will be the queen and have a perfect life!|

nHe clenched his fists while reminding himself and was about to leave but...

n

"Ah...!

"

n...the door to the room opened and Miriette entered.

n

"...? Zoemi...?

"

nShe still had a cute wrapping with pink ribbons in her hand and she looked depressed and dispirited, she raised her head and looked at Zoemi with a crestfallen expression

n

"Oh, is it time for supper?

"

nShe asked in a slightly hoarse voice and took a seat by her desk looking straight up exhausted.

nZoemi hurriedly grabbed the tray and put it in front of her.

n

"...?

"

nThen he unexpectedly felt some pressure on his side - when he looked down he saw Miriette leaning against him instead of the backrest of her chair.

n

"My lady...? Did something happen? Did by any chance prince Horeo didn't want your cookies...?

"

nWorried Zoemi decided to ask seeing the dark-haired girl in such low spirit.

n

"Nn-nnn

"

nBut Miriette's response was only a low, dismissive sound as she shook her head from side to side which tickled Zoemi a little bit.

n

"Then, what happened?

"

nThe black-haired boy asked in a concerned voice.

n

"...haa...:

nMiriette sighed.

n

"Nothing, Horeo wasn't there - I must have missed him or something. I didn't want to just leave it under his door in case somebody else would take it.

"

nShe merely shrugged her shoulders and her voice was full of resignation while she kept on leaning against Zoemi.

n

"Do you want me to take the cookies to him? I've heard you have put a lot of effort into making them.

"

nThe black-haired boy offered in a soft voice, watching the girl's reaction.

n

"Sure, you can do that - but just give those to his attendants tomorrow morning or whatever. Horeo will be able to enjoy them after his breakfast, let's be honest, they might be a bit too heavy for an evening snack...

"

n

"I... see...

"

nZoemi offered help but was partially rejected with another sigh.

n

"Zoemi...?

"

n

"?!

"

nSuddenly Miriette sniffled and asked without looking up at her attendant.

nHer eyes were glossy from the held-back tears so she didn't want him to see them.

n

"Will you always be by my side...?

"

n

"!!!!!

"

nZoemi tensed up hearing her weak voice.

n

"My lady... Did something happen...?

"

nHe asked again, this time far more carefully.

nZoemi knew that his master wouldn't suddenly act like that without any reason.

nThere was only one person that came to his mind that could make Miriette cry.

nThe heroine.

nSomething must have happened...!

n

"No, nothing happened. I just... Want to know...

"

nMiriette denied but Zoemi wasn't convinced.

n

"My lady...

"

nThe black-haired boy turned towards Miriette - she didn't move and now her forehead was pressing against Zoemi's stomach, the attendant hesitated a bit but since his master didn't react he also tried to stay calm.

n

"My lady, of course, I will stay with you.

"

nHe assured her.

n

"Always?

"

nShe asked in a weak voice.

n

"Always.

"

nThe black-haired boy confirmed...

n

"Even after I marry Horeo and become the queen...?

"

n

"...!

"

nMiriette couldn't resist any longer, raised her head, and looked Zoemi in the eyes.

n

"!!!!!

"

nAfter hearing her words, the black-haired boy felt as if a cold blade has stabbed right into his heart and swung down ripping through his stomach, freezing everything in its wake.

nHis master...

nYes, he could imagine his master getting married and living a happy life by Horeo's side as the queen of the Bellcephora kingdom...

n...his master...

nBut – could he say the same thing with a clear conscience about Miriette...?

n...that...

n...felt like an entirely separate thing to consider...

n

"...

"

nLooking into the dark eyes of the dark-haired girl the scarred attendant lost the track of time locked in an internal battle.

nKuro Aku was screaming bout protecting Miriette, demanding following the script of the game that he knew so well.

nThe bright-eyed Zoemi wanted a chance for creating an even for himself so that he could protect and make Miriette happy by himself, not relying on the scripts, events, and games.

n...but then there was the third one...

nThe amalgamation of darkness barely resembled any shape whatsoever with the only recognizable feature being the dead black eyes that did not reflect any light whatsoever that was always in the back of Zoemi's head for as long as he remembered - in both of his lives - that always slumbered but got stirred up together with the black-haired boy's magic awakening.

n|Protect master.|

n|Destroy whoever and whatever stands in the way to her safety.|

n|Never fail her again.|

nOnce its thoughts emerged, there was no place for discussion for anyone else.

nBack in the outside world Zoemi's obsidian eyes lost their luster and stopped taking in the light of the outside world just like the lifeless eyes of a lifeless toy who knew only loyalty and rage.

n

"Zoemi...?

"

nMiriette asked in a worried voice and leaned away from the black-haired boy with an empty expression.

n