"Big brother!

"

Patishi was already in the kitchen and welcomed Zoemi as enthusiastically as ever.

"Ah, there you are! I was wondering how long will you be slee... eh...?!

"

The thin girl even smiled brightly to Teo – but then she noticed the reddened ear and stepped back closing her mouth with a furious expression.

|...oh, thats' right – Teo is wearing the maid's outfit. Patishi must have confused her with Veo...|

The black-haired boy realized glancing between the two girls.

"...

"

Patishi looked as if she was chewing on her tongue to stop herself from calling out Teo's behavior.

"Patishi, listen, we can just...

"

The brown-haired girl in a maid's uniform stepped forward and reached out towards Patishi, but the younger girl stepped out of her reach while gritting her teeth causing Teo to flinch.

"...hello...?

"

Thankfully, at that time the real Veo entered the kitchen looking between the trio in confusion - and she got especially shocked at the sight of the Teo's earring which she noticed instantly.

"VEO!

"

Patishi, who seemed to be on the verge of actually speaking out her mind about Teo, called out and ran up to the older girl and hugged her protectively – the two of them were basically the same height even though there were about two years of difference between them.

"Now, now... are you angry at yourself because you couldn't recognize me and her?

"

Veo smiled and patted Patishi on the back reassuringly.

"...that shouldn't happen again, though, right...?

"

"...?

"

She added looking over at her embarrassed younger sister, making Zoemi raise his brow...

...Veo had her earring on the other ear – but there was no sign of a hole in the earringless ear...

"Teo – you could have asked me about the present that my prince gave me – I told him that I don't like pain, so he gifted me a clip-on earring instead of a normal one – we stopped talking, but I wouldn't lie to you.

"

"!!!

"

The older twin explained tugging on her ear – causing the younger twin to flinch and look down with her face crimson red from embarrassment and shame.

"...

"

Teo's shoulders trembled and before anyone broke the silence that befallen their group, the ashamed girl ran out of the kitchen.

"...I thought that the earring would pick her curiosity and make her talk to me...

"

Veo looked after her sister and breathed out with a guilty expression.

"No! Veo, it is not your fault!

"

Patishi stepped away from the older girl and shook her head vigorously.

"It's okay. Where she even got that earring – it really has a similar design to mine...

"

Veo smiled at the younger girl and then looked up at the silent Zoemi with a questioning look.

"That's what I want to know too – that thing gives me the creeps.

"

"...creeps...?

"

The black-haired boy scoffed, furrowing his brows...

--------

After finishing preparing the food, Zoemi checked up on Teo – but she merely asked him to tell Miriette that she needs a day off, all through the closed door.

It was rather discouraging – if not annoying - but aside from that nothing unusual happened.

-------

"Zoemi what do you think about going on a shopping trip with me in two days?

"

Miriette asked casually while her attendant was brushing her unruly dark hair.

"...!

"

The unexpected question made the boy flinch and he straightened his back looking at Miriette's face reflecting in the mirror.

"Shopping trip? Of course, my lady, but what about the lectures...? That day isn't our day off...

"

Zoemi quickly regained his composure and asked making sure that his voice is casual enough.

If he didn't know any better, he would have thought that the dark-haired girl asked him out on a date using the fact that they were alone.

"Oh? Ah! You didn't check the announcement board!

"

"...?

"

Miriette furrowed her brows and looked back at the black-haired boy before her eyes widened in realization and she gasped – causing Zoemi to raise his brows in confusion.

"The second and third-year students have the mandatory duel classes on that day – the thing is, the first years like us can watch them, but that is not mandatory at all.

"

The dark-haired girl smirked cheekily and puffed out her chest.

"...I'm not sure, my lady... Don't you think that it might be interesting to see how the duels work...?

"

|I need to talk her out of that idea – as long as Aspakeony is vigilant, the Academy is far safer than some random town and sketchy shops...!|

The black-haired attendant spoke out loud while his real thoughts raced inside his head.

"...

"

Hearing Zoemi's words and seeing his hesitant expression the dark-haired girl sighed and rolled her eyes.

"...and how about we as Horeo to join us too? We could get someone from the Academy, or even the King's Guard, to watch over us that way...

"

"...!

"

Miriette was prepared this time – she didn't want to propose that idea first since she hoped that Zoemi would want to go on a date with her, but clearly, his dutiful mind wouldn't let him.

"If that's the case, my lade – then indeed that's an amazing idea!

"

Zoemi's face lighted up with a smile.

It was like killing two birds with one stone – making sure that Horeo and Miriette's relationship stays as good as possible while having maximum protection – having someone other than himself focused on keeping Miriette safe sounded like an excellent idea.

...Zoemi only had to ignore the jealous side of him that didn't actually want Horeo to go on a date with Miriette...

|OHOHOHOHOHOHO! He fell for it!|

...but in actuality, he was unknowingly falling into Miriette's plan.

The dark-haired girl knew for sure that the first prince will be unable to go with them on the shopping date that very day!

How did she know that?

Because Horeo himself has complained to her that he was called back to the royal castle by his father – something about staying by his side during an important conference to get him acquainted with the king's duties or whatever – Miriette wasn't even sure herself because she instantly started creating her plan the moment she heard the prince's words...

And as for the people watching over them...?

Miriette had the best guards with her anyway, the three air emperor spells she activated while Zoemi was recuperating after getting whipped.

They had the advantage over humans in form of being unable to communicate with anyone else besides herself, so they would never tell on her and get her or Zoemi in trouble...

...though, as a disadvantage they had to stay as far away from Zoemi as possible – Even though they were made out of the air they were also made out of mana, so Zoemi could see their shadows...

...and if Zoemi spotted them, he would definitely get angry at Miriette for conjuring them, as even while merely discussing the idea, he realized that because air emperors were cumulative spells, they would eventually grow strong enough to break free from the caster's control...

...yeah...

|I will be careful, what's the worst that could happen anyways?|

The dark-haired scoffed internally and smiled back at her attendant.

"Then... you agree?

"

She asked him to be completely sure.

"Of course, my lady. I can't' wait.

"

The black-haired boy smiled brightly and bowed his head to her, making Miriette's heart flutter.

|A date...! A date with Zoemi!|

The dark-haired girl trembled from excitement and leaned back on her chair...

"My lady, your hair...

"

Zoemi glanced down at her head and spoke awkwardly, raising the hairbrush with a meaningful look.

"Ah! Y-yes...!

"

Miriette turned away so he could start dealing with her wild hair but she already knew that they are going to be late – there's no way that those lovestruck curls would straighten themselves into the hairstyle she requested at the beginning...

Calling down was simply an impossible task for her...

|It's a date! A date! I asked him out for a date and he agreed! Teo was right – it's alright to be a little bit proactive!|

The dark-haired girl thought to herself happily.