"...my love, are you feeling better already...?

"

"...

"

Horeo asked with a wide mocking grin plastered all over his face – which instantly infuriated Mireitte wh was sitting up on the bed extremely embarrassed over fainting twice just because Zoemi turned out to be too handsome for her to handle.

"...my lady – is everything alright...?

"

"!!!

"

But when Zoemi asked basically the same question – only sincerely- the dark-haired girl couldn't stay quiet anymore.

"...yes... I must have been just tired – sorry for making you worry...

"

She fidgetted and apologized – while looking away from him.

With the drastic change in his appearance, for Miriette, Zoemi became like the sun – he was far too captivating to keep looking at him without getting burnt – it was on the ridiculous level of beauty that a person had to spend some time to get used to.

"...my lady, are you angry that I asked miss Burushii to heal me...?

"

"!!!

"

But still, Zoemi's next question made the dark-haired girl look straight back at him in shock.

"O-of course not! Why would you even say that?

"

She gasped, vigorously shaking her head from left to right.

"...well... you know...

"

Zoemi fidgetted awkwardly and looked away – what he was supposed to say?

Miriette slapped away Burushiitto's hand on two separate occasions – at least - while the blond girl was trying to offer to heal to Zoemi, so it wasn't like the black-haired boy had no arguments...

Still, pointing that out didn't feel right at the moment...

"Oh, I don't know – maybe because you yourself were bawling your eyes out crying that the commoner girl was one of the people responsible for Zoemi getting hurt? Hmm? How about that one?

"

But then, the gold-haired prince raised his brow and asked, looking down at the dark-haired girl in bed.

"...!

"

Miriette flinched and her face became slightly pink.

"...no... Zoemi, I am not angry – on the contrary, I am happy that you are back to full health...

"

She ended up looking down at her legs and answered in a soft voice.

"Then... you aren't angry about me getting rid of the scars that were the proof of my loyalty towards you...?

"

"...!

"

The black-haired boy asked another timid question, once again leaving the dark-haired girl speechless for a moment – although this time she could come up with the answer reasonably fast.

"Zoemi – me being here healthy is the proof enough! After all, without you, I would be the one scarred – or worse! Please – do not worry about that for my sake!

"

She declared, reaching out with the intention of patting Zoemi's shoulder, but ended up touching his face – drawn to it by some mysterious force...

"...!

"

"...!

"

The two of them looked at each other and...

"Ah! My prince, little lady! Thank you very much for visiting my son!

"

Mizoe returned to the room and gasped, falling to his knees and greeting the future royal couple – and unintentionally caused Miriette and Zoemi to pull away from each other.

"Little lady – what happened, why are you in the bed...?

"

The pale-blue-haired knight asked in confusion, looking up at the dark-haired girl.

"Ah! N-nothing! Really, nothing at all!

"

Miriette hurriedly declared, jumping right out of the covers and straightening her uniform.

"Alright – now back to our original purpose then!

"

Horeo turned out to be the mold-breaker and clapped his hands together getting the attention of everyone else in the room.

"Zoemi, tell me – are you feeling well enough to come with the two of us to see the punishment being announced?

"

The first prince asked with a soft smile.

"P-punishment what punishment?

"

Zoemi asked in confusion, looking at the gold-haired boy before glancing at his father – Mizoe was absent previously since he was supposed to visit the teachers and the principal and tell them that the black-haired boy's wounds have all been healed.

"I told them – but the headmaster still insisted on the punishment – he even said that it was all decided together with the king already.

"

Mizoe raised his hand and answered the question with a stern expression that clearly showed that he would riot if no punishment was given.

"...n-no – but – there's no need for that anymore – right? Look – I'm better than ever!

"

Zoemi paled – he was fully aware of how prideful – and spiteful – nobles can be – if the second prince will get punished because of him, he might try to get back at either Zoemi himself or Miriette because she was the black-haired boy's master...!

Having an enemy in the royal family wasn't a good idea for someone wishing for a peaceful future!

"That basically answers my question... You might have been healed but it still sound's like you're out of it – the second prince made a mistake that he has to get punished for or he will never learn and grow – it's also for his own good, you know?

"

But despite Zoemi's words, Horeo sighed and shook his head in disappointment.

"...huh... the second prince...?

"

Zoemi flinched and his eyes widened in surprise - Horeo didn't call Surou his younger brother, which he always would do no matter how angry at him he was ever before...!

"So – my love – get up and let Zoemi rest some more.

"

The gold-haired prince shrugged his shoulders and sighed turning to the dark-haired girl staring longingly at the profile of her attendant.

"N-no! I am completely fine - I want to go!

"

Confused or not – Zoemi couldn't just stay in bed – he had a bad feeling about the whole punishment and couldn't just skip its announcement...

"Zoemi, don't strain yourself!

"

"My lady, please...

"

Miriette said in a rather calm voice but she quickly looked away when her eyes met with Zoemi's – her face became crimson red but at least she didn't lose consciousness for the third time.

"F-fine... you can come with us...

"

The dark-haired girl lowered her head bashfully and agreed without even trying to argue.

"My lady, you are too kind to this lowly servant.

"

Zoemi smiled brightly and lowered his head gratefully

|Uwaaah...! He is too handsome now...! I wanted to show off to Horeo how close we got since Zoemi kissed me and all – but I never expected him to get this beautiful – that should be illegal! No one warned me about this!|

"...?

"

"...!

"

Miriette cried out internally, doing her best to reach out and grab Zoemi's hand but failed miserably the moment that the boy noticed her action and looked at her with an innocent expression – which caused the girl to flinch, ashamed of her boldness!

|Noo...! He is too pure now...! He will hate how shameless I am...! But then how could I... Ah...! Maybe...! Maybe if I could arrange for the two of us to go somewhere private...|

The dark-haired girl thought to herself while hurriedly retracting her hand.

"...

"

The first prince glanced at his fiance – and sighed.

Honestly, he could understand exactly what Miriette was thinking at the moment...

~I'll arrange that we would go to some romantic part of the kingdom, just the two of us, maybe the south where the lakes are... Mom and dad went there on their honeymoon and mom always would always say that it was so beautiful and romantic... Oh no! I'm blushing again!~

|...is what that cunning fox is thinking right now for sure...|

Horeo needed only a quick glance to figure out his fiance's thoughts as if they were words in a book opened in front of him.

|That cunning fox... She definitely made some progress – she is embarrassed because of Zoemi's looks, but there is odd confidence in her eyes that wasn't there before... Her only mistake is that she is acting too cautious – it's obvious that Zoemi would not refuse her advances if she just pressured him a little bit - if it was me in her place... No, if just I was a girl, I would have already gone all out! Snuck into his bed on every possible occasion... By now I would have at least three of his children!|

The gold-haired first prince thought to himself looking between the blushing dark-haired girl and the confused but smiling dark-haired boy...

|...not to mention be on the run, hiding from my furious family...|

Hore suddenly looked up in realization.

|...It actually might be better that I'm not a woman, now that I think about it...|

He tilted his head and nodded to himself.

"Anyway – the punishment will be announced at the beginning of the lunch break, the teachers will put up a big announcement on the announcement board by the entrance - if you actually will feel up to it, come to enjoy the second prince's face together with us at that time – I can assure you it will be worth your time.

"

Even though some of Horeo's inner thoughts would cause a huge uproar if spoken out loud in the public space - his outer appearance didn't show anything.

No one could tell that the first prince was thinking about anything else than what he was talking about.

"I will most definitely be there, my prince.

"

Zoemi declared straightening his back proudly before nodding his head t the gold-haired boy.

"Haven't you heard what the prince has said? If you're feeling well!

"

Mizoe chimed in into the conversation again.

"Remember what you promised me after yesterday!

"

"...!

The pale-blue-haired knight squinted his eyes at his son, and Zoemi blushed.

"I know, father... I'm sorry I made you worry...

"

Zoemi apologized and Mizoe smiled and patted his head.

"Thank you for worrying about my son so much, prince, little lady.

"

Satisfied with his son's words, Mizoe bowed to Horeo and Miriette.

"Not at all, I'm really glad to have him as a friend.

"

"...

"

Horeo laughed and Miriette only blushed and looked away.

|They are all such good kids!|

Thought Mizoe, completely oblivious to the truth.