The day started, as usual, Zoemi woke up, went to the bathroom, got dressed, and picked up the mana potion that still kept on appearing by his door…

"…

"

With the vial in his hand, he looked to the sides in search of Grazio, but he was nowhere to be seen…

"I… I need to talk with Ehmi and Burushi about that guy…

"

The black-haired boy sighed while hiding the vial in his pocket.

Honestly, thanks to all the evening training with a bunch of other students, his mana pool had already reached a level when the efficiency of the mana potion was lagging behind by a lot.

The thing is, the blue liquid wasn't something like concentrated mana in a bottle – which would make it possible for the boy to straight-up convert into his own – but rather it made the body regenerate mana a little bit faster – it had a huge effect on someone with a small mana reservoir like the darkness and earth magicians, but didn't work anywhere near as good for anyone stronger than that…

|…not that I mind bleeding that guy dry out of all of his money…|

Zoemi thought to himself, still very much unable to forget what the red-haired capture target did to him and almost did to Miriette.

With that in mind he went to the kitchen, he greeted and talked a bit with Patishi and Veo, who both seemed to be in excellent moods, and then together with Teo he made the breakfast for Miriette.

Teo insisted on looking at the tray with the food and walked into the dark-haired girl's room first – at which Zoemi agreed without any hesitation – after all he already walked on Miriette at least twice.

Even someone as dense as him learned his lesson and preferred to let the female attendant spearhead their mater's territory.

It was quite considerate too, after all, it surely was less embarrassing to get seen by another girl than a boy…

"Mistress, hello~

"

"…

"

Teo entered the room and called out cheerfully, while Zoemi patiently waited for the response.

"Good morning~ Hmm? Is Zoemi not coming today…? Oh, my gosh, you have to listen to this!

"

But then a familiar responded – and got really excited too, making the boy hesitate.

"No, no – he is here. He just doesn't want to stress you out, again…

"

"GHH…!

"

That is why he only heard and did not see how the girls acted.

…Teo hurriedly shook her had motioned at the door with her chin, stopping Miriette from blurting out what happened the other day, while the dark-haired girl hurriedly shut her mouth and straightened her back, attempting to act natural.

"Good morning, my lady.

"

That was the moment when Zoemi ended up entering the room and saw Miriette waiting by the desk – the black-haired boy's heart skipped a beat when he saw her profile as she was sitting by the desk as he remembered how she ordered him to pamper her…

She was a bit fidgety, but overall there was no reason to suspect that she remembered anything from the last evening…

Of course, the truth was that since the dark-haired girl wasn't actually mana depleted at all, she was just doing her best to act as she normally did.

|He would definitely call me an indecent woman if he knew the truth…!|

Miriette thought to herself keenly watching the boy's reflection in her mirror.

"Here.

"

Teo put the tray with food in front of the young noble lady while Zoemi grabbed the prepared hairbrush and started brushing Miriette's hair.

While doing so, the black-haired boy recalled how his master snuggled up to him and he actually flinched just a little bit from that while tending to the girl's rowdy short hair.

"…!

"

…which resulted in his hand trembled and he brushed it against Miriette's neck, which in turn made the dark-haired girl jolt and blush so hard that even her ears and neck became red.

"AH! I'm sorry, my lady! Your servant was so clumsy…!

"

Startled Zoemi started apologizing, panicking because of the vivid red color that he was used to associating with anger but Miriette shook her head.

"I-it's nothing, it happens…

"

She declared in a slightly trembling voice but didn't look back at her attendant – which made Zoemi worry a little bit…

|He is so forward…! To caress my neck like that, that took me by surprise! Sh-should I do something like that to him too…? Maybe it's alright to be a bit more bold…?|

Somehow Miriette misunderstood what happened but ended up coming to a correct conclusion.

The truth was Zoemi didn't like perverts that bothered others – but he never had anything against that kind of closeness as long as both parties consented…

"…

"

Miriette's hair was also getting curly from the love-struck excitement and the brushing had to take longer than usual…

Teo took the tray with empty dishes and left the room and Zoemi and Miriette were left alone.

"My lady, shall we go to the lectures?

"

Zoemi smiled and asked politely while opening the door for his master.

"But of course, Zoemi.

"

Miriette nodded her head benevolently and offered her hand to the black-haired attendant.

"…!

"

And then she froze because someone went past her door and she realized that she was about to ask Zoemi to hold hands and walked with him like that in public.

"!!!!

"

She blushed and quickly retracted her hand before Zoemi could have noticed her movement.

"L-let's go…!

"

She stuttered trying to act normal and walked out of her room with her head up proudly.

|Was she always this cute…?|

Zoemi couldn't help himself but admire his master attitude, even though he wasn't aware of what exactly caused her to blush…

——

The two of them walked to the classroom together, Miriette inched a bit closer towards Zoemi so that by the time they were entering the classroom their shoulders were almost touching.

"Good morning to the two of you!

"

Suddenly Horeo appeared out of nowhere and jumped between the master-attendant duo and grabbed their shoulders inserting himself in between.

"It's a good day, isn't it?

"

He asked cheerfully.

"My prince! Good morning!

"

Zoemi raised his brows at the sudden appearance of the first prince but then he smiled…

…a bit coldly unable to stop glaring at the prince's hand that was touching Miriette's shoulder…

"Zoemi, does my fiance gives you any trouble? Don't be shy, you can complain to me all you want!

"

"You…! My prince, please don't joke around like that…!

"

Horeo laughed cheerfully and Miriette tried to move as far away from him as she could, completely creeped out.

|What is wrong with you…!?|

She silently mouthed at Horeo in disbelief.

"It's always good to see you, my love, you're getting more beautiful by the day!

"

The first prince turned to her and smiled only with his mouth.

|I told you, it's a war.|

His cold eyes were saying…

"!!!

"

Miriette read that without any trouble and clenched her fists.

|You'll interrupt even an innocent walk!?|

She mouthed furious, getting closer to him and pinching his side as hard as she could.

|WAR.|

Horeo mouthed in response and moved his hand onto the girl's back…

"Let's not block the door anymore, my love, please, you first.

"