"I just want to check up on my master, she's sick so I'm worried. Veo, as a fellow attendant you understand me, right?

"

Zoemi decided to play a bit dirty and asked, approaching the older girl, grabbing her hands, and lowering his head to look up at her face.

"...a.... umm... a... I... a...I... umm... W-well, yes... I... I-I do know what you mean...

"

Veo's resolve crumbled down like a grass tent hit with a hurricane, and the girl started stuttering overwhelmed by the boy's 'new' appearance.

"B-but even so...!

"

"...tsk...

"

But just as Zoemi thought that he won the argument, Veo lowered her head so much that the black-haired boy could not look up at her while still standing up, and spoke in a more confident voice.

"Shouldn't your health be the most important for the moment...? You know that mistress is safe and under proper care so as an attendant you should focus on recovering as fast as possible to go back to serving your master as soon as possible – isn't that correct?

"

Veo declared while staring at her own stomach, not daring to look into Zoemi's healed face.

|Gah! She got way more responsible than I thought. Damn it! I just want to see Miriette! And I am completely fine too...!|

Zoemi made a sour expression but he hurriedly shook his head recovered.

"I'll just take the supper to her, I won't even take it back, I'll ask Teo to help me with that and then return straight to my room and I'll stay in bed until the medics tell me that everything is fine, alright?

"

"...

"

"...

"

Zoemi mumbled dispirited, looking at the other two, and Patishi and Veo looked at each other with a concerned expression.

"Well, If you return to bed right after...

"

"Indeed... If that would be the case...

"

Both girls made the mistake of looking at Zoemi's face and instantly gave in...!

"I will!

"

Zoemi cheered out in a promise and barely held himself back from pumping his arm in guts pose.

With that after assuring Patishi and Veo that he will really return right to bed after delivering the meal, the black-haired boy prepared the food and left the kitchen while the two watched him with worried – and slightly abashed – looks.

--------

"...I didn't ask them how I look...

"

Zoemi muttered to himself, looking down at the tray in his arms...

He made nutritious, easy-to-eat food that he was sure that the dark-haired girl would be able to enjoy even if she's feeling under the weather.

The tray wasn't heavy in the first place – but still, after both girls back in the kitchen had worried about him so much, he ended up slowly stretching to check if his body would be feeling weird.

Thankfully, everything seemed to be in order.

Zoemi smirked to himself and went to his room since that was where Miriette was staying.

He felt a bit weird knocking on his own door but he entered as always – after waiting a little bit in case the dark-haired girl might have denied him the access.

"...?

"

To his surprise, Miriette wasn't waiting for the food by the desk even though it was most definitely the time for the evening meal.

She was supposed to have only a slight cold So Zoemi expected her to be moving around as always but instead, his master was already in bed, sleeping soundly.

"...hmm~

"

Zoemi left the tray on the desk and walked over to the girl.

Miriette was laying on her side, the thin blanket she was covered with up to her neck was slowly rising and falling in the rhythm of her breaths.

Looking at her calm face Zoemi felt a warm feeling filling his insides.

"Master~

"

He called out in a small voice – but his master didn't respond at all.

"...

"

Zoemi took a deep breath and looked around as if checking the perimeter...

...and once he was sure that there is no one else in the room, he looked back at the girl defenseless...

"Miriette...

"

He called his master's first name without any honorifics...!

"...

"

And yet the girl still didn't respond.

|So she really is deep asleep...|

Zoemi thought and moved his hand close to Miriette's face.

He straightened his index finger and then he softly poked her cheek.

"...

"

Her skin was soft and the poking it caused her to make an adorable expression – and even with that, she still didn't wake up.

"You are the cutest girl I've ever seen, Miriette.

"

Zoemi retracted his finger and laughed quietly...

Then he slowly leaned towards Miriette and delicately flicked away the wild flock of dark hair from her face.

"...

"

And he lightly kissed her forehead...!

"I will protect you... and I will make you happy.

"

The black-haired boy promised and hurriedly straightened his back.

"Oh god, that was so inappropriate for an attendant to do...!

"

He scolded himself while hiding his blushing face in his hands.

With that, Zoemi quickly left the room and closed the door silently...

...so he couldn't see Miriette slowly putting her thin blanket over her head - Zoemi was blushing but Miriette was straight-up burning but even so she didn't open her eyes at all and she didn't make any sounds either not to alarm the boy...

But what Zoemi saw instead was Teo.

"S-sir...!?

"

The short brown-haired girl in a butler's uniform exclaimed surprised staring at the devilishly handsome young man in front of her

"S-s-sir, w-what were you doing in mistress's room!?

"

The girl gasped, taking a step back – looking away from Zoemi's face as if it was blinding her.

"I... I made her supper...

"

The black-haired boy flinched, taken aback by Teo's behavior, and explained while getting more and more embarrassed himself – while reminiscing the bold action of kissing the girl's forehead...

"S-supper...?! B-but I am responsible for that... s-sir...

"

The short girl raised her shoulders defensively while lowering her head in embarrassment and complained.

"...you... you might have made a mistake, sir... this room is occupied by lady Miriette Lisea Espine – the fiancee of the first prince Horeo Ma....

"