"Student Auquas, you don't need to listen to her!

"

"...?

"

"...?

"

"...

"

The second prince called out as if he was sure that the black-haired boy was waiting for the opportunity to jump the ship – which honestly caused both Zoemi and Burushiitto to stare dumbfounded at the obviously delusional guy while Miriette was just glaring at him with an ice-cold expression.

"...!

"

The cold reaction of the others worked like a bucket of cold water dumped onto the blue-haired boy's head and made him clear his throat and compose himself.

"Or, if you prefer serving woman, you can become my Buru's attendant too – you see we are going to...

"

"...I will rip that filthy tongue right out of your foul mouth if you don't shut up right now, brat...

"

Surou tried to restart his speech but was interrupted by the enormous pressure that the dark-haired girl started to give off – her voice was low and thankfully it seemed like only her black-haired attendant was able to catch her threatening the second prince, but it was enough to send cold shivers down his back.

The only good part about this situation besides Miriette growing more and more quiet the angrier she became was that she didn't activate any spells as of yet – which really was a blessing considering her record so far.

"I am terribly sorry lady Espine...!

"

"...!

"

And then the heroine stapped forward bowing her head deeply with a seemingly honest apology – she honestly made Zoemi breathe out in relief as it seemed that she came in the clutch – as long as the blond girl stayed in her boundaries, staying down and showing her respect would work fine in that situation...

...but unfortunately, the blond heroine wasn't as knowledgeable about Miriette as the scarred attendant was and made a mistake...

"Sir Zoemi – I am sorry to you too! Please, don't take this conversation as the statement about our relation...!

"

|Please, mister yandere, do not target me – I don't even want you – that moron behind me is all that I want out of this world, I swear...!|

...Burushiitto clenched her hands and raised up – making her voluptuous chest bounce in the process – and bowed down to the black-haired boy, too focused on dodging being killed by the attendant to realize that it was his master who should be worried about more...

"...what...?

"

The blond girl's heartfelt speech caused a vein to pop on Miriette's neck.

"...you seriously just...

"

Lady Espine closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Then she opened her eyes.

"Commoner, you are forbidden from talking to my attendant first - ever, and under any circumstances.

"

Miriette spoke through her teeth and it was clear that she was about to blow up.

"Since you are a commoner and he is a noble, you are obliged to answer to him with due respect, but from now on you are strictly forbidden from starting the conversation.

"

The dark-haired girl closed her eyes and took another deep breath.

"Zoemi, we are going back to the first prince.

"

"At once, my lady!

"

He didn't have to hear it twice – as soon as the blessed command to leave had been spoken, without the slightest delay, Zoemi rushed to Miriette's side.

The attendant positioned himself between his master and the pair to at least act as a buffer in case a fight, would suddenly erupt.

"Zoemi... sorry to impose that onto you, but please, be ready to hold me back...

"

"Of course, my lady.

"

Miriette stealthily tugged onto her attendant's shirt and whispered to him showing a great deal of self-control with that request - Zoemi never felt more proud of his master as in that moment!

She was at least trying to behave like a responsible person and not the spoiled noble lady - well - at least when looking at it from the position of someone who knew Miriette's character.

But...

"No, we are not done here! I dema...!

"

Surou tried to stop them again but he froze at the sight of the air boiling above the head of lady Espine.

"My lady – as per your request I am stopping you.

"

"...yes...

"

Zoemi put his arm out and stepped in front of Miriette's before lowering his head and smiling at his master, making the girl crack a little smile.

"No, we are done.

"

After calming down thanks to her dose of Zoemi's closeness, Miriette declared and released the mana into the thin air.

"Surou. Your foolish accusations are based on your short-sighted feelings and not facts – do not worry – I am going to submit an official complaint to the academy's faculty about this event. Even if you buy or are gifted the position you do not deserve by the fools putting their hopes in a future marionette like you, the principal won't tolerate such behavior from the so-called most trusted student.

"

"...!

"

Surou took a step back even though the spell above Miriette's head has already dissipated – but in the first place, it was her words that pushed him back not the magic.

"No guts.

"

Miriette peeking from over Zoemi's side spared the blue-haired boy just one single glance before she snorted mockingly.

After that, she turned around and started walking as if nothing happened.

Her attendant hurriedly followed her and in his heart, a seed of hope sprouted that maybe the script has backed itself into a corner because of the event acceleration, and therefore they dodged the bullet.

At the same time, he felt annoyed – the ancient bracelets blocking the spell's usage weren't something that someone like him could put his hands on easily...

Still, as long as events will fail to activate properly, there was a chance that the bracelets would never pose a threat.

Zoemi's preparations for dealing with them would all go to waste, but he was alright with it as long as Miriette was safe and happy.

The master and the attendant managed to take but a few steps away from the blond heroine and the blue-haired capture target before all of that wishful thinking was shattered in five seconds.

"Sir Zoemi! If that's okay with you, can we meet up and talk later – I want to tell you more about the...!

"

Burushiitto with her head still full of assuring that she won't become a victim of the murderous – in her opinion – black-haired attendant, followed them and called out timidly after the black-haired boy...

"...!

"

The next things played out in slow motion for Zoemi.

The dark-haired girl by his side flinched and her jaw moved slightly forward - her body started turning and her hand was readying itself for delivering a hit – and to make everything far worse, Miriette's body began glowing – the hit wasn't going to be one of the playful soft taps that Zoemi and Horeo received form time to time when she was flustered – that's for sure...!

"MIRIETTE, NO...!

"

With only a few tens of a second of a delay, Zoemi reached to Miriette and grabbed her waist to pull her back, but he couldn't hold the dark-haired girl back and Miriette took a firm step forward and attacked the heroine who got definitely too close for her own good.

"!!!!

"

Burushiitto eyes widened at the sight of the hand flying towards her - but her shocked reaction ended up delayed - Miriette's hand was sure to take off the heroine's head...!

|AS IF I LET YOU!|

Zoemi growled in his mind and his body got enveloped by the darkness of the shadow enchantment!

Feeling his mana drain like water from a broken barrel, the black-haired boy gritted his teeth and managed to get Miriette far enough to make her miss!

..or so he thought...

*BOOOM*

"UGHUAAAGH....!

"