"...whew... well, that was unexpected...

"

The black-haired attendant breathed out, releasing the shadow enchantment – not realizing that even after keeping it active for more than any other time he didn't feel as if his mana depleted in any significant amount...

"Ah...!

"

Zoemi was right by the door to Miriette's room – so the same room that he was occupying while healing – and he got there just in time to see a young gold-haired woman whom he had certainly never seen before, reaching out for the doorknob.

"Pardon me, miss – are you perhaps one of the medics taking care of me?

"

The black-haired boy called out and jumped towards the woman extending his hand.

"Eh...? Wha... wha... wha...?!

"

The gold-haired medic turned towards the boy and instantly her eyes widened from shock and she took a step back while stuttering.

"Sorry to be a bother to you – but the thing is that there is a student in the Academy who can use healing magic – I am and will be extremely grateful for all that you and your colleagues did for me – but for now... well... I actually got the treatment from the healing attribute magician – take a look.

"

Zoemi declared cheerfully, using the chance of having the hallway empty he turned around and pulled up his clothes, showing off the spotless, scarless back – and turned back pulling the shirt back down after a second or two.

"...

"

The gold-haired magician who honestly looked as if she barely graduated the Aspakeony Academy herself, stood there staring at the boy's stomach with open eyes, not even blinking.

"...miss...?

"

"!!!

"

Zoemi asked with concern, making the young woman flinch, look back up at his face – and blushing bright red as the result.

"I-I-I see! Good! Good for you lord Auequas! I-I'll go tell the others that there is nothing to worry about anymore!

"

The gold-haired medic suddenly declared and ran away, hiding her burning face in her hands.

"...huh...? She didn't even want to confirm whether my wounds are properly healed? Oh well...

"

Zoemi furrowed his brows and tilted his head.

"...why is everyone calling me lord...?

"

He frowned to himself in confusion.

But – having dealt with the most pressing matter of preventing an unnecessary panic erupting – the black-haired boy decided to go to the kitchen after all – poor Patishi must have been kept out of the loop and the last time she saw him was right after the whipping – Zoemi vaguely remembered that the skinny girl was crying because of how he looked...

|...huh... I should have left the heroine like that – I didn't even confirm whether she was truly the one leaving the mana potions under my door each day – and this was a perfect opportunity...!|

Zoemi thought to himself, making a concerned expression.

|Oh well, I guess it's the end of the route for Surou and she will just be with him – I can ask her at a later date after everything settles up – maybe she will hook me up with a supplier or something~!|

He thought t himself nodding his head cheerfully.

After all – once either the medics or he himself will show off that he is even better than before the punishment that the second prince had come up with, there will be no reason for the rumored punishment – which would surely mean that the route would end up in the heroine's success just like that – and best of all, Miriette will not be threatened at all!

Wasn't that just perfect~?

Of course, there was the possibility that the punishment would still happen – after all even Zoemi's father, Mizoe, already know it as a fact, but – with no one receiving any lasting damage why would it be anything dangerous? Besides what could the full one be anyway? A week of suspension? Two weeks? Surou was a prince! Second prince, but still a prince – and he was the queen's favorite too! Everything will be fine and the blue-haired boy will just pent the lovey-dovey time with the heroine in his room!

Yes!

Surely!

Definitely!

Anyway, Zoemi was elated.

The route has finished and Miriette was all good, she had a cold but if this was the bad end in this version, well, Zoemi could deal with that.

Not to mention that there was this little detail about his face getting fixed after so many years!

Yes – everything was going to be just perfect~!

With that in mind, Zoemi arrived at the kitchen in a great mood, just in time to be surprised.

Patishi was there, of course, but the person standing by her side was none other than Veo...!

The two of them were immersed in a conversation – which was a big step up from the last time Zoemi saw them interact.

"Oh-ho...!

"

The skinny girl in a cue apron was preparing the food and the girl in the maid's outfit was nodding her head as if she knew what was going on.

Patishi was just about done and suddenly Veo closed her eyes and opened her mouth.

... and waited...

"Aaa...

"

"Miss Veo... We both know that it will be good, do we really need this whole taste testing...?

"

Patishi fidgeted while glancing at the stone-faced attendant's parted lips.

"Indeed... but what if something went wrong?

"

Veo opened one of her eyes and teased the other girl with a soft smirk.

"Are you sure everything went right...?

"

She asked, breaking her indifferent act and smiling cunningly.

"Well... yes, I do.

"

Patishi nervously glanced to the side but ended up nodding her head

/

"Really...? Did you cook it enough? No doubt at all...? You said that you cannot influence the taste of the finished dish~

"

The short brown-haired girl in a maid's uniform teased, leaning back and forth with an obviously fake concerned expression.

"Well, I... Oh, fine, here!

"

Patishi gave up and fed Veo while blushing.

"How is it...?

"

The younger girl asked anxiously.

She knew that Veo was only teasing her - but she still became nervous, she was making the meal for the prince, after all!

"Perfect, like always.

"

Veo properly chewed the food and said in the most obvious voice after she swallowed the bit - she even shrugged her shoulders as if she didn't understand why the other girl sounded so concerned.

"You...!

"

Patishi gasped and pouted.

"Hmph! You will see, one day I will be the one to tease you!

"

She declared and turned back to the food.

"Indeed, indeed... I'm sure that you will~

"

Veo nodded her head with the face of a confident senior teaching her junior.

"...eh...?!

But then she saw Zoemi at the door and her confidence faded, she became completely red and turned her eyes widened in utter shock.

"Hmm...?

"

Patishi glanced at her with a questioning look and then turned to the door to see what caused such a reaction.

"Eh!?

"

The skinny girl gasped and looked down while blushing heavily.

She hurriedly wiped her hands in the apron and bowed her head deeply.

"G-good evening, my lord – wh-wh-what can we help you with...?!

"

Patishi gasped all fidgety, sounding as if she had never seen the black-haired boy in her life.

"...umm... Patishi...? What's whit the formal language – it's me, Zoemi...?

"

The black-haired boy furrowed his brows and glanced at Veo, looking for support, but the short attendant was staring at him with utter disbelief clearly just as shocked as Patishi.

"B-big brother Zoemi?!

"