"...don't die... you cannot die... that's not how this whole story was supposed to happen... that's not what she told me...

"

Miriette always wanted to hold Zoemi in her arms but the current situation turned her dream into a nightmare.

When she was looking at Zoemi's blood-soaked clothes her heart ached as if she was the one who suffered the wounds.

"Miri! My baby, are you hurt!? What happened!?

"

"!!!!!

"

Suddenly a worried voice rang in Miriette's head, making the dark-haired girl jump up in shock.

"(M-mom! It's Zoemi! He got hurt again because of me...! Horeo went to get him help but, mom! Zoemi is all covered in blood and he's not moving...!)

"

Even while communicating through the message spell Miriette was sniffling constantly.

Her mother became relieved that her daughter wasn't hurt, but also wasn't someone who would get satisfied with just that...

"Sweetie, tell me what happened? Were you attacked and Zoemi got wounded protecting you? Are you not in the Academy?

"

Misena asked her daughter, Miriette may not be hurt, but was she safe?

"(N-no – you get it wrong, mom – the thing is...!)

"

-------

In Espine's household, Misena was listening to her daughter's explanation and her husband, the duke, was by her side shaking from the impatience.

Their whole castle was in disarray - most of the servants and three-quarters of the knights suddenly started bleeding from basically every single orifice and fainted while everyone else who heard the distress signal from the little lady got a splitting headache.

Therefore duke Espine became terribly worried over his daughter since she wasn't someone who would ever attempt such an outrageously cruel prank.

|What could cause such a reaction? Is she hurt? Where is she and how do we send help to her without a light magician who can use a teleport spell!?|

Duke Espine clenched his fists in worry.

But then his wife grabbed his hand reassuringly.

"Miriette is safe.

"

She said to her husband but then turned to the knight kneeling in front of them.

"But Zoemi...

"

"!!!

"

At her words, the knight in front of her trembled.

The man had light blue hair and his armor was drenched in red because of the recent bleeding.

It was Mizoe Auequas, Zoemi's adopted father.

Even though his mana was terribly weak, basically on the level of the slightly stronger darkness magician, he hasn't lost consciousness and was the only person to arrive before the duke and the duchess Espine to check on them.

One reason was that he was a knight and his first thought was to go to his master to protect him.

The other was the gut-wrenching feeling that if the little lady is calling for help that means his son tried to protect her and in the best-case scenario, he got wounded...

…but in the worst one, Zoemi could be even...!

There was no doubt in Mizoe's mind that his son would sacrifice himself without batting an eye - the black-haired boy did that twice already after all - and the poor knight was on the verge of a heart attack.

It didn't matter that Zoemi was his adopted son or that he was originally a commoner.

Mizoe loved that boy as his only child and was going half-mad from worry.

And that's why duchess Espine's words almost made him faint...

"I-is my son alive...?

"

Mizoe managed to squeeze the words through his dry throat, he was too afraid to raise his head, he didn't want to see the duchess shaking her head...!

"Yes. But he is badly hurt. Right now both Miriette and Zoemi are in the Academy and little Horeo is getting help for your son.

"

"What, that happened while they were in the Academy – how is that possible!?

"

Duke Espine asked his wife but then suddenly Mizoe stood up and started walking to the door.

"H-huh? Mizoe? What are you doing?

"

The duke called after the knight.

"Master, please forgive me this rudeness but I must immediately go to see my son!

"

Mizoe turned his head and bowed back to the duke and the duchess without even considering stopping.

"But you can't go looking like that!

"

The duke exclaimed pointing out the state of Mizoe's face and armor.

The light-blue-haired knight looked as if he killed someone and ate that person's heart - he was smeared in blood all over.

If he went outside looking like this it would cause panic.

"You can take my horse, she's a smart girl so don't hit her and just tell her that you are in a hurry – she will understand..

"

"Misena!

"

But the duchess gave Mizoe permission and even allowed him to use her beloved mare - her husband, however, was surprised by her decision, to say the least.

"Thank you, my lady.

"

Mizoe clenched his fists and offered his heartfelt thanks before leaving the room.

After the door closed behind him the duke looked at his wife with a frown.

"Why did you do that? You have seen him, he was barely able to stand! How is he supposed to last all the way to the Academy?

"

He complained grumpily.

"If Miriette got hurt, would you bother with changing or resting before checking up on her?

"

Misena responded with a shrug.

"I...!

"

The duke opened his mouth but then he only sighed.

"Yes, you are right...

"

"Of course I am, dear.

"

------

Horeo was back in Miriette's room in just a few minutes - he kept on teleporting back and forth and bringing more and more people and medical equipment.

A few of the teleported mages were very confused but thankfully not all of them.

One green-haired man who still had traces of blood around his eyes and nose walked towards the Miriette and reached his hand towards the boy in her arms.

"No...!

"

Miriette sobbed and hugged Zoemi protectively.

"Lady Espine, please, you have to let go of this boy so we could help him.

"

The green-hair man didn't flinch or get impatient, he only explained to Miriette in a gentle voice.

"We need to take off his clothes and clean the wounds. Can you please explain what happened to him?

"

As the green-haired medic was speaking he was slowly and delicately prying Miriette's hands off of Zoemi's back.

"He... He was whipped... I was going to be punished for slapping a girl but he took the punishment for himself and since he is of lower status than me the punishment would become more severe...

"

Miriette trembled and explained, lowering her head in shame.

"I understand, he is a very good servant... we will be sure to help him, so calm down.

"

The green-haired medic nodded his head and kept releasing Zoemi's body from Miriette's grip so they could start treating him.

"Have you seen everything? This servant of yours, how many times was he whipped?

"

"He... He is my attendant...

"

Miriette corrected the green-haired man and sniffled.

"He told me to go back to my room, he told me that he had a way to protect himself... I... I opened the window just in case he was lying, and if he screamed I was going to go save him...! But he never screamed! And when he returned he was like this!

"

Miriette explained and started crying again.

The green-haired man managed to take the unconscious boy away from her hands by that point and put him on the bed with his back up.

"I understand, of course, you would help him if you knew.

"

The green-haired man nodded with understanding.

"But do you know how many times was he hit?

"

"I-it was supposed to be a hundred whips...

"

"...! I see...

"

The green-haired man's face froze and he motioned to the others with his eyes.