"Oh? But you do understand that the punishment would be much worse for you than for your master – you aren't protected by the high noble rule.

"

Surou scoffed, looking down at the black-haired attendant expecting him to back off.

"Zoemi, stop it! It's just a week in my room, what's so bad about it?

"

Miriette lowered her back and put her hand on Zoemi's shoulder.

"My prince, if you will forgive my master then I fear no punishment.

"

The black-haired boy declared without raising his head.

"Zoemi! I told you to stop it!

"

Miriette gasped and shook his shoulder – but received no reaction.

|Showoff!|

Surou cringed at the words of the attendant.

For him, it was obvious that the ugly black-haired youth was just faking it.

|Now you've done it! I want to see you back out with your tail between your legs!|

Surou gritted his teeth and squinted his eyes.

"Whipping, a hundred whips on the academy courtyard right after afternoon lectures.

"

The second prince declared, raising his head up high and smiling with a challenge.

|Now, beg for forgiveness!|

Surou thought triumphantly.

"What!? No! Zoemi, stand up! I'm going to just stay in my room, it will be like a vacation! You can take notes for me and... and...!

"

Miriette tried to force Zoemi to get up from his knees but her attendant didn't budge.

|Miriette... you're saying that because you don't know the script!|

Zoemi gritted his teeth and continued to ignore his master.

"...

"

"...?

"

Then he raised his head and looked at Surou, making the second prince flinch.

"My prince, thank you for being so merciful. This lowly servant is grateful for your bonhomie!

"

Zoemi agreed to the punishment with a thankful smile and not even a speck of hesitation in his voice.

"!!!!!!!!

"

"...wha...?!

"

Hearing the attendant's response Miriette became petrified with shock and Surou took a step back.

"W-wait, that's not what...

"

Surou was trying to call out Zoemi's bluff so he never expected this turn of the events and completely lost his composure!

"Surou, take back that punishment, or I'm going to kill you right here and now!

"

Miriette completely lost control, her hair bristled like a forest of needles and her body shone in green, the wind mana started crystallizing around her body and lady Espine raised a foot above the floor.

"!!!

"

Surou who already wanted to take back his words as soon as possible took another step back.

"I-I...!

"

He stuttered.

But this time Zoemi wasn't too late. He got up from his knees and turned towards his master.

"My lady, calm down. Everything will be fine. I promise.

"

He said.

"...

"

Thanks to the Miriette levitating they were on the same height so they were looking each other in the eyes.

Zoemi smiled gently and Miriette shook from anger.

"What will be fine, you idiot!? You are just agreeing on a whipping! What's wrong with you!?

"

The dark-haired girl shook her head in disbelief and exclaimed.

"My lady, I will protect you no matter what.

"

Zoemi raised his hand and touched his master's cheek.

"Protect me from what? A suspension!? I've been telling you that's nothing!

"

Miriette shouted and tears appeared in the corners of her eyes.

"Hmm~

"

Zoemi smiled even warmer and wiped her tears with his hand.

"Just trust me on this, my lady - Miriette.

"

"...! That's not fair...!

"

Hearing her name from his mouth Miriette trembled and the green light around her disappeared.

She slumped on the ground and her head hung down, Zoemi was still touching her face.

"My prince, I will come to find you to discuss the details about my punishment as soon as today's lectures will finish. Once again thank you for your grace.

"

"...I...! A... wha...?

"

Zoemi turned to the speechless Surou and bowed his head.

"My lady, let's return to the first prince now, shall we?

"

"You are an idiot! Stupid big dummy!

"

Miriette cried but allowed her attendant to take her by the hand and lead her away from the second prince.

A few minutes later the heroine exited the toilet and tilted her head looking at the motionless Surou.

"Prince Surou...? Why are you doing in the middle of the corridor...?

"

She asked in confusion.

"Did you forgive lady Espine? You did, right...?

"

Burushiitto asked, slowly approaching the blue-haired second prince.

In response to the heroine, Surou, pale as a ghost, turned his head towards her.

"I... May have made a terrible mistake...

"

He uttered with fear in his eyes.

-------

"How can you be so stupid!? Haven't you've heard him properly or something? Whipping! One hundred whips! People can die from far less than that!

"

Miriette wasn't walking in front of Zoemi – instead, she was right beside the black-haired boy and was holding on to the sleeve of his shirt and shaking it vigorously while hissing furiously at him.

"My lady, it is very important that both your studies and relationship with the first prince won't be in danger. You two are engaged after all

"

Zoemi tried to convince her but he couldn't really tell her that he knows what will happen because this world is just like the world of a game he played in his previous life without sounding completely insane.

And aside from that, the black-haired boy couldn't really think about any other good excuse.

It was preferable to be seen as sane and not lose Miriette's trust.

Still, he wasn't nearly as foolish as the dark-haired girl suspected him off – he know full well that his plan wasn't even that good.

Honestly, it was reckless and stupid.

But also it was the scarred attendant's best shot at getting rid of the damned bracelets that allowed over half of the bad endings to happen to the villainess.

|If only everything will go as I plan...!|

What would happen next was a gamble that Zoemi was willing to try – after all, the samples he was testing his theory on weren't the original – whether the bracelet would behave the same way as the crystal shards in his drawer...

"You aren't even listening to me, are you!?

"

Miriette became enraged.

"The suspension would prevent you from attending classes...

"

Zoemi pointed out hoping that a miracle would happen and the dark-haired girl would give up...

"That stupid suspension would be nothing! If you just took notes for me and tutor me in the evenings, everything would be just fine! I don't even like sitting in the classroom all that much!

"