Without saying, the rest of the lunch break passed rather erratically.

Xeonith was carried back to his room and Reo came running to the classroom where the Academy's staff were already fixing the broken window.

"Miss Burushi, we need your…?

"

The green-haired boy gasped, deactivating his enchantments, and looked around, only to realize that the blond girl wasn't there.

"Lord Moyena, if you are looking for the commoner girl, together with Lady Epsine she escorted Lord Zoemi back to his room – you must have missed them in the hallway.

"

One of the few students who stayed behind in the classroom because they had their meal delivered to them by their attendants stood up and hurriedly explained while curtsying to the upperclassman.

"Wha…?! I did?!

"

Reo gasped and hurriedly turned right away.

"Thanks for the help!

"

He waved to the helpful student and ran off again.

"Hey, hey, don't you think that recently Lord Moyena had become more… reliable looking?

"

A girl sitting together with the boy who answered the green-haired second-year nudged his side and asked curiously.

"He did! I'm so happy that you noticed it too! I bet it's because lady Espine started studying here, Lord Moyena saw how great a wind magician can be and finally decided to strive for more!

"

The boy, who coincidentally – or not – was also a wind magician puffed out his chest with pride and declared.

"That's good, you were bothered that his pranks would make others not take wind magicians seriously.

"

The girl nodded and moved her seat a little bit closer to the green-haired boy next to her.

"Of course I was! What would I do if people started laughing behind your back that you are engaged to some fool?

"

"…!

"

The boy declared and the girl raised her brows and then blushed deeply and shyly lowered her head before she started playing with her pale-gold hair.

"I might be a light magician but my mana reservoir is nothing special… you don't have to worry about such trivialities… here, I made this myself…

"

The girl fidgeted bashfully and pushed a small plate with a simple side-dish towards the boy.

"You made it by yourself?!

"

The boy's face lighted up with joy and reached for the offered food without a second of hesitation.

"…you don't have to worry about the opinion of others, it might be an arranged engagement but I like you so it's fine…

"

"Hmm…? Sorry, but could you repeat that…?

"

The girl muttered under her breath getting even more embarrassed but she was so quiet that the boy furrowed his brows and turned to her with a worried expression.

"N-n-nothing! Let's just eat, the recess is going to end…!

"

The girl flinched and hid her face in her arms, letting out a small bashful voice.

——–

"…I… think that I might have been too harsh on you…

"

"!!!

"

After putting Zoemi to bed and watching the blond girl use her healing spells just in case, the dark-haired villainess breathed out and apologized, or at least used the words closest to the apology that she could muster – which were so effective that Burushi froze in place, looking at her with her mouth hanging open.

|Slu-Slutiette is trying to be nice…?!|

The heroine could not believe what she just hard, although thanks to the previous experiences, she didn't try to double-check in fear of actually angering the other girl – she still remembers how her nose was crushed by basically a shockwave of Miriette's hit after all…

"N-no, my lady, you don't have to worry about that!

"

Burushi raised her hands and shook her head in denial.

"I can see now that some of my actions weren't apropriate at all and…!

"

The blond girl started talking hurriedly, hoping that Miriette would stay in a good mood and let her go without any objection.

"No, it's just that you are helping my attendant more than I ever did and it just gets on my nerves… About that bullying going on – while I'm not going to search for each and every person who wronged you, it's okay for you to hang around me, Zoemi, and Horeo – after what our little prince had shown today it would send quite a strong message to those bullies, whoever they might be.

"

Miriette shook her head and waved dismissively at the shocked heroine.

"Wh-what..? B-but…!

"

"It's not like I order you to do that, think about it as my gratitude for helping out my Zoemi… again…

"

Burushi stuttered and clenched her hands together, but Miriette only shrugged her shoulders and glanced to the side awkwardly.

"Th-that's not what I mean, my lady!

"

The blond-haired girl gasped and shook her head vigorously seeing Miriette't reaction

"If… if I can be so bold… is there a way for you to let me know which monastery the second price was sent to…? Nothing more! I wouldn't ask for anything more than the location!

"

Burushi fidgetted and asked, before starting to panic and flail her hands around.

"…

"

Miriette breathed out and looked at her with a perplexed expression.

"You know… I used to think that you are in a better situation than I am, but we might be more alike than I ever considered…

"

The dark-haired girl smirked with a rather melancholic expression leaving the blond heroine confounded.

"My lady, do you mean that…?

"

*knock* *knock* *knock*

"!!!

"

Burushi glanced at the unconscious Zoemi and then turned back to Mireitte, already opening her eyes about to ask her for detail, when suddenly someone loudly knocked on the door making her close her mouth and flinch – her eyes widened as if she expected something to happen.

"Who is there?

"

Miriette asked unperturbed, without even turning towards the door, focused only on Zoemi – because she could swear that the black-haired boy had flinched when the knocking resounded throughout the room.

"Ah! Lady Espine, I'm Reo, a second-year student – is miss Burushiitto still there by any chance? Teacher Kros has told to get her to heal Xeonith!

"

"…!

"

The very polite and abashed voice responded to her, making the blond tense up.

|Kros…?! I shouldn't have healed that guy!|

Burushi bit her lips and clenched her fists – she certainly didn't want to get into the same room as Xeonith – especially if it was Xeonith's room.

"Aren't there enough competent medics in the academy? That guy barged into our classroom and started spouting some baseless accusation – he even ended up hurting my attendant to get the first prince to duel him – in my opinion, it will be a good lesson for sir Derizno to heal up through natural means.

"

"!!!!

"

The dark-haired girl scoffed and declared at the door without the slightest intention of letting Reo inside – she also didn't answer his question, which made Burushi lean back in shock.

|She…! She is willing to help me out…?!|

The heroine thought in disbelief.

"H-he did that?! I… I had no idea… Nonetheless, my lady, I was asked by the teacher to get her… could you please tell me is she in there with you…?

"

Reo sounded distressed and all fidgety – as it turned out, talking to the most powerful wind magician – even though a door – was both an amazing and nerve-racking experience for an average wind magician, that's for sure.

"…

"

Miriette squinted her eyes, glaring at the door for a moment before turning to Burushi and motioning her head back at it clearly asking what does the blond girl want to do…!

|She…! When she meant hanging out she meant like this?! But then, she straight up offers me full support…!|

That simple gesture of the villainess herself was worth more than any words that could be spoken.

|…if she is serious but helping me out, then doesn't that mean I would be safe from Xeonith too…? She said that I could hang out together with her and the first prince – and the first prince was the one to completely beat up Xeonith… if so, then it doesn't really matter if I go and heal Xeonith right now – I just go there, cast a spell, and leave – maybe even come back here or something…!|

The blond girl figured out and decided.

There was no need to get either Reo or Miriette in trouble in case one of the teachers would get angry at them.

"Lord Moyena, I'm here – I just finished healing sir Auequas – we can go to lord Derizno.

"

"…

"

Burushi called out and stood up while Miriette merely shrugged her shoulders and waved her hand at the door, making a way for the blond girl to go.