The first prince said loudly with impeccable manners and shoved his fiancee into the classroom, then he hung himself from Zoemi's neck with just the right amount of skinship that a normal male friend could allow himself before things would get weird.

"Thanks for always taking care of her, I'm serious.

"

Horeo said with a serious expression.

"My prince, it's an honor…

"

"Hold on, hear me out first..

"

Zoemi started but the prince interrupted him by waving his hand dismissively.

"To show my appreciation, how about we resume our training sessions? I've heard you get yourself quite the cult following, can I join in on the fun?

"

The gold-haired boy tilted his head and looked up at the attendant's face with an innocent-looking expression.

"I mean, sure… but just so you know, my prince, Your opinion might plummet if you will try to do the same thing you shamelessly pulled off when we were kids – there are a lot of people participating in those practices sessions…

"!!!

"

Zoemi raised his brow and tilted his head to match Horeo's face – and made the first prince flinch and actually blush.

"You…! Weren't you supposed to let go of that when I made Patishi the royal baker?!

"

The gold-haired boy took a step back and looked away with a grumpy expression.

"I was, but as far as I know, she is now your attendant, so the deal is off.

"

The black-haired attendant smirked and declared without any shred of shame or understanding.

"That's not how paying off one's debts works!

"

Horeo straightened his back and declared, furrowing his brows angrily at the shameless attendant.

"Fine, then, give me back my first kiss that you stole and I will put it all behind me.

"

Zoemi shrugged his shoulders and reached out his hand as if he expected to get handed something by the first prince.

"…

"

Horeo glanced at the black-haired boy's hand and then looked up at his face.

"I was a kid, alright?! And I just read some stupid books together with Miriette, I just wanted to practice, alright – back then there was no meaning to it, so give it a rest!

"

The first prince scoffed and shook his head in disbelief, embarrassed by his embarrassing past.

"Nah, I don't feel like it – still, my prince, if you want to show up for a practice session, feel free. It never was some close door gathering or anything anyway.

"

"…!

"

|Did… did I do something to make him angry…?!|

Zoemi shrugged his shoulders and shocked the prince's eye's widened, as the gold-haired boy tried to figure out what he did wrong…

|…oh… I might have been too harsh on him… it's all because of that misunderstanding with the shirt. Seriously, what a shameless attendant I'm changing into…|

Zoemi felt bad seeing the prince's reaction and breathed out internally.

"My prince, you really aren't used to being the one getting teased, are you? You are always welcome to join the training session whenever you have time.

"

He straightened his back and spoke with a soft smile while bowing his head politely.

"Ah…! Ah, yes! I see, sorry, I must be overly sensitive about the double meanings and whatnot – father told me that the negotiations he wants me to take part in will be very difficult and I am walking on eggshells.

"

The gold-haired prince twitched and his face relaxed in relief after assuming that Zoemi wasn't actually hating him or anything, and explained himself with an embarrassed.

"…?

"

…but by speaking out about a certain detail, Horeo caused the black-haired attendant to tilt his head and furrow his brows.

"My prince, pardon me asking but, when will you be joining his majesty during those negotiations…?

"

|It's not tomorrow, right? What about the shopping trip Miriette planned…?|

Zoemi asked out loud and finished in his mind while blinking in confusion.

"Tomorrow – quite unlucky, don't you think? I've heard from Miriette that you two will go take a breather in the local town and all – I'm quite jealous. Though no one said that preparing to inherit the throne would be easy, I was prepared to forsake my own free time. If you feel sorry for me then let's hang out another time.

"

Horeo perked up and patted Zoemi's shoulder.

"My prince… how long did you know about having to spend the free day in the royal castle?

"

The black-haired boy asked carefully, trying to stay in his lane and not make any outrageous assumptions…

"Since the whole thing was planned – at least a month in advance, what about it? Sorry, it really cannot be rescheduled or anything – apparently father asked the headmaster to make the day of the mandatory duels for the second and third years to be tomorrow BECAUSE of the date of the negotiations.

"

Horeo pointed out making an apologetic expression.

"And my lady was aware of that…?

"

Zoemi asked to have a clear picture of the situation…

"Of course, she di… oh. Ohhh…!

"

|THAT CUNNING FOX HAS LIED TO ME! That cheeky wench!|

Horeo furrowed his brows and shrugged his shoulders – but then he flinched and rolled his eyes in a rather very annoyed realization.

"Zoemi, let's finish our conversation before, or after, today's training session, we already talked about way too much stuff in front of the classroom.

"

The gold-haired prince straightened his back and declared in a calm and composed voice while pointing at the door behind him with his thumb.

"…yes, you are right my prince…

"

The black-haired attendant nodded with a serious expression and the two handsome boys entered the classroom, unintentionally causing most of the girls to swoon at the mere sight of the two of them showing up arm in arm, as the overall concentration of handsomeness had breached the acceptable levels and skyrocketed with their appearance.

|So Miriette knew but still wanted to go? Did she forget about– no, wait, she surely didn't… now that I think about it she mentioned going with Horeo only because I was unwilling to go… could it be that…?|

Questions instantly multiplied and filled his mind and the black-haired attendant took his seat in front of Horeo and Miriette without a word.

"You snake! What did you say to Zoemi!? Why does he look so worried!?

"

Miriette instantly jumped at her gold-haired fiance seething with resentment.

"Hah! Better you tell me why didn't you tell him that I won't be going for the so-called shopping date that you boasted about so much, you cunning fox! I knew from the start that there was something off – you weren't boasting nearly enough for him to just accept a date with you!

"

Horeo frowned and slowly but surely grabbed Miriette's face and pushed her away from his own.

"And control yourself a little or others will start suspecting that we are not madly in love with each other.

"

"You…!

"

He scolded the dark-haired girl, but Miriette has already come to her own conclusions and became pale from pure furry.

"You sold me out?! You cheap thieving cat, even in war there are rules – how could you sell me out like this?! Zoemi will now realize that I lied to him! I thought we were friends!

"

She bit her lips and started smacking the prince's arm and her pale face started regaining some color – until it became red from anger…

"Control yourself, you overexcited idiot, Zoemi's looking…!

"

"!!!

"

Horeo whispered urgently and the dark-haired girl froze in place with her hand on his shoulder.

"…

"

Zoemi has turned away and was looking at her with an innocent expression…

"…

"

"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"

"?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

"

…and once their eyes meet, he blushed and hurriedly turned back towards the teacher's desk, leaving Miriette – and Horeo – stunned…!

"…d-did you see the same thing that I did…?!

"

The dark-haired girl muttered, shaking the gold-haired boy's shoulder.

"…that… did… did I actually help you out by exposing you…?! No way…!

"

Horeo gasped in disbelief, devastated over the rather obvious reaction of the black-haired attendant…

Meanwhile…

|No, no, no – I am just imagining things – Miriette is a noble lady and wouldn't spare a glance for a mere attendant such as myself…! She must want to buy Horeo a present or something, and wants to ask me for advice – that's it that surely all there is to it…!|

Zoemi gulped down his saliva trying o calm down his wildly beating heart.

|…unless…|

But even with all the reasoning, he could muster at the moment, he still couldn't help but get hopeful there for a moment….