"Don't be jealous, you know that it's not like that between me and him. Just let me have this after so long…

"

The platinum-haired girl moved her head to take a peek at the pouting dark-haired girl and made a gentle expression.

"…!

"

Miriette flinched and fidgetted before nodding her head in embarrassment.

"…alright, but only because it's you…

"

She muttered and moved onto Zoemi's bed where she unceremoniously burrowed herself under the covers still warm from Zoemi's body.

"Hmhm~

"

The platinum-haired girl giggled and nuzzled against the shadow-clad boy again.

"…

"

Miriette ended up sticking her face from under the blanket and started glaring at the two despite her previous words.

"…I know that you are watching. What is it?

"

The platinum-haired girl asked without actually moving over as if she knew exactly how Miriette would act.

"Zoemi is using spells again, isn't that making him stay in the mana depletion state even longer?

"

The dark-haired girl squinted her eyes with accusation and asked.

"…

"

But she was ignored…!

Miriette squinted her eyes even more and bit her lips.

"You are doing this on purpose aren't you? I thought that you didn't want to make him stay like this for too long!

"

She grumbled angrily, loud enough for the other girl to hear.

"…I really was insufferable…

"

"…YOU…!

"

The platinum-haired girl sighed, and for some reason, her words made Miriette blush and tremble from embarrassment.

"Alright. I didn't have enough, but I might as well go now or I will never want to leave him…

"

In the end, the platinum-haired girl reached out and pulled away from the bear-like boy – Zoemi didn't try to stop her at all, but the moment that she stepped away, the black-haired boy's shadow armor dispersed into the air and the boy was only looking at her sadly with his lifeless eyes.

"Thank you, Zoemi, I will be counting on you – now, go back to bed.

"

"…!

"

The platinum-haired girl smiled back at him and motioned at the bed with the surprised Miriette.

"…

"

Zoemi tilted his head and looked over, but it was as if he didn't know what he was supposed to do.

He looked back at the platinum-haired girl and blinked at her in confusion.

"Silly boy, you are a human now, remember? You can walk – go to bed now.

"

In response to that, she only laughed and reached out to pat the boy's head before gently pushing him in the correct direction.

"Make sure he will not follow me – he will be back to normal before evening.

"

The platinum-haired girl smiled while basically showing the black-haired boy into the bed together with Miriette and waved them both goodbye before leaving, closing the door behind her.

"…

"

Seeing her leave, Zoemi slumped down as if he lost the will to move – but, on the other hand, he was already in the bed…

|Until evening she said…|

Miriette thought to herself feeling her face getting hot.

|That means… beforehand I could…?

"

"…

"

"…!

"

Miriette was already considering her option when Zoemi turned to her with a sad expression all on his own – she flinched and froze, not knowing what to do.

Before she was able to shake off her embarrassment, something even more incredible happened – Zoemi went and hugged her!

On his own!

It was mostly because of mana depletion, but Miriette wasn't going to be picky!

The black-haired boy wasn't trying to touch anything inappropriate either, he simply cuddled up to her as if he needed comfort – and Miriette was all for comforting him for as long as it was needed – even though the rest of the day, evening, night and the next day!

Shopping?

Who cares about shopping!?

——–

For the first time in a while, Zoemi didn't have the haunting nightmare.

He woke up all refreshed and energized – although he felt like something was wrong…

First of all, he didn't remember going to sleep – the last memory he had was realizing that Xeonith was going overboard with the strength of his spell and he had to focus all of his mana to not be blown apart by the punch…

…and that was it…

The black-haired boy moved in his bed, shifting to a more comfortable position, and suddenly a certain pleasant smell entered his nose – not only that – his nose was actually tickled by something!

"Hmmm…?

"

The boy twitched and slowly opened his eyes.

He saw none other than Miriette intertwining her arm with his and leaning her head on his shoulder.

"M-my lady…!?

"

Zoemi jolted and exclaimed in surprise.

"You woke up.

"

Miriette's reaction was suggesting that being in one bed with her attendant wasn't all that big of a deal as Zoemi was considering it.

"My lady, wh-what is going on…?

"

|Am I dreaming?|

Zoemi asked and wondered to himself in disbelief.

"Horeo and that annoying Xeonith had a duel and Horeo destroyed him so much that teachers asked Burushi to heal him up – our dear prince didn't receive any punishment from the school, but it seems like his mother didn't find it correct, so she made his father summon him early.

"

Miriette explained although this wasn't exactly the type of explanation that Zoemi had in mind.

The black-haired boy was grateful about the recap, but he was more interested in the reason for sudden closeness.

"I am lonely – you have been focusing more on others recently, you know? Before we came to the Academy, you were only mine, and I only had to occasionally share you with Horeo. Now you grew close enough to others that you even tried to defend someone other than me…

"

|Even Horeo said that the problem lies with Zoemi treating me as his master… with her around, that should no longer be a problem – just a little push should make everything work…!|

Miriette said clenching her hand on Zoemi's palm, doing her best to sound sulky – and judging by Zoemi's expression, it was working perfectly.

"My lady…! I-I mean, I think of Burushi as my friend and lord Derizno behavior towards her was simply inexcu…!

"

"…nnn…

"

The black-haired boy tried to explain himself, but Miriette only grumbled and shook her head, making the boy close his mouth and look at her in confusion.

"I am not trying to make you feel guilty for befriending other people – I want to be the most special one amongst all of them…!

"

Miriette pouted and pressed her forehead against Zoemi's shoulder to hide her face.

"My lady, but you are the most important one for…

"

"Not like this! I don't want to be important because I am your master, I want to be someone special for you, without the master and attendant thing and all…

"

Miriette closed her eyes and held her breath after being especially bold and voicing her feelings as clear as shame allowed her to.

"!!!

"

Zoemi did his best to remain calm but his face became slightly red anyways.

"…my lady… but… I am your attendant…

"

Still, even though he honestly wanted to go along with the girl's words, his mind still triumphed over the voice of his heart.

"HMPH! Fine! You want me to do it, then I will do it!

"

"My lady…?!

"

Instead of getting sad or more embarrassed, Miriette got… angry – and completely took the black-haired boy by surprise.

"As your master, I order you to go with me tomorrow on that shopping trip we've planned – I already made sure to ask for the bodyguards to watch over us, so you can't complain even if Horeo isn't with us!

"

The dark-haired girl declared, raising her head and looking into the attendant's face with a stern expression.

"I… umm… if that is what your wish, my lady…

"

Zoemi was so stunned by her behavior, that he agreed without thinking it through…

——-

*knock* *knock* *knock*

"I am not here…

"

The blond heroine muttered into her pillow doing her best to ignore the annoying knocking.

"Student Burushiitto, student Xeonith requires your attention! He needs to be in his top shape tomorrow during the duels and he is still in pain.

"

"…

"

The voice of an elderly earth magician resounded through the girl's room for the tenth time within seven hours – it was already ridiculous the third time, but tenth…?

It was straight-up annoying – especially considering that Burushi made sure to use her strongest spell on Xeonith so that she wouldn't have to spend any more time with him than necessary!

"I already did my best, teacher Auequas, please, leave me alone – I need to rest.

"

The blond-haired girl turned around on her mattress, which was already a lot considering that she was on the verge of mana depletion and she was getting rather moody.

"Then it's clear that you didn't heal him properly and have to do it again! You are a first-year student and have tomorrow free – you can rest then however long you want, but student Xeonith needs to be in his top shape! Now open the door and come with me, or I will report your uncooperativeness and insubordination to the principal!

"

No matter what, the old woman was as stubborn as a boulder – an extremely annoying boulder.

But at the same time, she was a noblewoman, and Xeonith was a high noble, while Burushi was only a commoner.

If she wanted to ever hope to see Surou again, she couldn't allow herself to make enemies…

"I'm going…

"

She ended up groaning and got out of her bed feeling dreadful.

|I should go to Miriette and Zoemi… MIriette would protect me, she is more important than Xeonith… Yes… I will use my heal on that faking bastard one more time and go straight to them…!|

The heroine decided, opening her door.

"Took you long enough, how could you make a wounded person wait?!

"

The elderly teacher scoffed at her and started walking, not even trying to listen to whether Burushi had something to say or not.

|…but he isn't wounded anymore…! I made sure to heal him on the first try! That asshole is probably too ashamed to show his face tomorrow after getting his ass handed to him by the first prince! Don't drag me into this mess!|

The blond girl wanted to say, but only chew on her tongue and swallow her words.

She would definitely go seek shelter in MIriette's room after she heals Xeonith this time….