The younger girl gasped and straightened her back – she ended up looking back up at the black-haired attendant's face – even though her face – and even though at first her face was getting redder and redder in the end the cogs in her brain clicked into place and her eyes widened.

"Big brother Zoemi! It is you!

"

Patishi exclaimed happily and ran up to her big brother like an overjoyed puppy.

"Of course it's me – are there other black-haired individuals in the academy currently...?

"

Zoemi raised his brow and answered slightly confused.

"Ah...! There are not...! Big brother, I am so happy that you are feeling be...!

"

The younger brown-haired girl gasped, hugging the black-haired boy – but then she suddenly flinched and pulled back.

"Big brother...! Wait...!

"

She frowned and tilted her head.

"Big brother Zoemi! You are not supposed to move around yet!

"

Patishi declared with a serious expression – not giving Zoemi a chance to speak.

"You should return to bed! What if your wounds won't heal properly!?

"

She exclaimed, grabbing onto the boy's arm.

"Pffft...! Patishi, it's alright, don't worry – look – don't I look a bit different – I got healed, and not just my face – I am perfectly fine, no matter what wound you might have in mind!

"

Zoemi smirked confidently and started tousling the younger girl's hair affectionately.

"Thanks for your concern though~

"

He added.

"EEEHHHH?! B-but lady Espine and miss Teo told us that you will take a long time to recover! Miss Teo even left the prince because she was supposed to help out lady Espine and you...!

"

"...excuse me, what...?!

"

Patishi gasped and called out, revealing detail that Zoemi wasn't aware of before.

"What do you mean, Teo left the prince? She is his attendant, that's not a position that one can just leave!

"

The black-haired boy asked, shocked.

"Well...

"

Patishi looked over her shoulder back at the girl in a maid outfit.

"As soon as we learned of your state my sister demanded that the prince would send her to care for you, sir Zoemi.

"

Veo, who already stopped blushing, walked towards them and explained – though she wasn't looking straight at Zoemi's face and instead was talking to his left shoulder.

"Mistress Miriette agreed to it and the first prince also didn't mind... But she clearly left her real duties, right!?

"

Veo tried to keep up the indifferent expression, but by the end of her report she ended up sulking and complaining, making a bitter expression.

"At the time all the medics were constantly watching you and there was nothing to do but she still left master without looking back! And she left him with me! ME!

"

"I... I see...? My condolences...?

"

Zoemi didn't know the reason why Veo was useless with housework, he only knew that she wasn't any good at it - so he nodded kind of awkwardly not sure how to react to that self-deprecating statement...

"If not for Patishi offering her help I wouldn't be able to serve my prince at all!

"

Veo continued her rant and Patishi was vigorously nodding at her words in confirmation.

"But... Well... Mistress did end up getting sick so Teo going to her turned out to be a good idea in the end...

"

The older girl's shoulders dropped as she started moping around.

"But in principle, wasn't she wrong as an attendant? She was, right? For the attendant, their master should be the most important. And don't get me wrong - my wonderful prince would definitely tell Teo to take care of the mistress by himself – but - I mean, there is a difference between doing what a master asks their attendant and Teo doing whatever she wants and miraculously ending up lucking out and getting an excuse!

"

Veo was so agitated that she even stomped her foot to vent out her anger.

"I'm not wrong, am I!? Sir Zo- ah...! I-I am not wrong, am I not...?

"

In the end, she was close to tears – and looked up at the black-haired boy's face and instantly turned bright red and stuttered, just to lower her head again and repeat herself in a timid voice while.

"Hmm~

"

Zoemi could only smile awkwardly and looked up tilting his head.

In the end, he raised his hand and placed it on Veo's head.

"Someone has become very responsible while I was out of the loop.

"

The black-haired boy's smile became warmer.

"You know though - I'm not going to be mad at your sister since, in the end, she did help my master when I couldn't do a thing...

"...

"

Zoemi felt Veo flinching and deflating under his hand but he wasn't done talking just yet either.

"But you are right, Veo. There is a difference between the two situations and how Teo acted was not how a good attendant should behave.

"

"!!!

"

Zoemi caressed her head, then he also put his other hand on Patishi's head and started messing up their hair affectionately.

"And good job for helping Veo, Patishi. I am very proud of both of you.

"

The praised pair blushed, Patishi was beaming with a smile and even Veo couldn't hide happiness no matter how hard she tried.

"You were almost done with the preparation before I interrupted you, were you not? Don't let me delay you any further, go take the supper to the first prince.

"

Zoemi retracted his hands and walked past the two girls, with the clear intention of just going about making the meal for his master as if nothing ever happened.

He went straight for the ingredients but his distraction tactic didn't work out.

"Big brother Zoemi! No! You might have been healed but we can't be sure! Your wounds were really serious! Please, just don't strain yourself before it is certain that everything is fine!

"

Patishi - after gloating in the praise for a bit - turned towards her big brother and declared with a serious expression.

"Indeed!

"

And then even Veo joined her, nodding her head vigorously.

"No, no – it is seriously okay – miss Burushi's magic is incredibly good! I will just make the supper and give it to my master - that's it.

"

Zoemi raised his hands and shook them, gesturing to the other two that they worry without a reason.

"I'll just carry it to my master's room, say hello, and show that everything is fine with me and there is no reason to pursue the obviously guilty person – and I will return straight to bed!

"

He assured, putting his right hand over his heart as if he was making an oath.

"What if even if you are healed the spell needs time to properly attach everything back in place and by carrying something heavy you will cause your wounds to reopen?!

"

Patishi clenched her fists and called out getting teary eyes.

"That is not how the heroine's magic works though...

"

Zoemi sighed and rolled his eyes...

"Heroines...?

"

Patishi asked in confusion and looked at Veo but the short brown-haired girl shook her head, just as confused as the younger girl.

"Nevermind that – in the first place - I won't be carrying anything heavy - it will be a tray with an evening meal for a sick person! You know that those cannot be heavy!

"

The black-haired boy hurriedly changed the subject.

"But...

"

"No...! No buts!

"

Patishi pouted adorably, but Zoemi wasn't going to give up on his decision.