”H-hello…”

The devilishly handsome black-haired boy was let into the Victureo’s mansion and everything would be in order, if not for the one surprising fact…

…every single servant seems to recognize him at the first glace and get overjoyed at the mere sight of him…

This was… extremely unexpected to say the least…

If anything, considering the history between Zoemi and the Victureo family – with the exception of Ehmi – shouldn’t they all be even a little bit apprehensive towards him?

It wasn’t as if they were bad people, but as it often was with the aristocrat, they would often tend to push the blame on others.

Hence, Zoemi was sure that the servants who would try to appease their masters would be cold and distant towards him as he was actually the reason that Victure and Espine families would stop interacting with each other.

But, no.

That expectation he had been thoroughly foiled.

Even so, if Zoemi thought that would be the biggest surprise yet, he was in for something special…

”He is…?! Really?!”

As the elected servant leading the black-haired boy and the black-haired boy himself was moving through the hallway of the mansion, another servant was talking to someone in one of the rooms.

”…?”

And Zoemi definitely recognized that voice.

”Hmph! He sure took his time! And I wanted to… hmm…? Eh…? EH?!”

Although Zoemi recognized the voice, that did not mean that he recognized the person that it belonged to when they walked out of the room with a pridefully-pouty expression – even when that person glanced over at him and then did a splendid double-take when she realized who she saw.

The person in question was of course Ehmi Gamemi Victureo – the real one.

The crimson-haired beauty with eyes like burning embers, and a face like the marble statue of an ancient goddess.

She was far taller than most of the women Zoemi ever saw, with the body proportions that could bewitch even the most steadfast saint.

Ehmi was wearing comfortable clothes that she was surely only donning while relaxing at home, and her hair was tied in two low ponytails – that maybe were supposed to be pigtails, but their length exceeded any norms of said hairstyle.

”ZOEEEEEE~!”

After the initial shock at seeing the black-haired boy already in the hallway, Ehmi’s face lighted up with pure joy and she cheered out with excitement that could only be reserved for reuniting with one’s best friend after being separated for a long time.

”?!?!?!?!?!?!”

She also ran towards Zoemi, whose initial thought was to dodge the charge, but considering that the girl had no enchantments active, and was definitely not going to attack him, he decided to take her head-on.

*muniuu~*

”!!!!!”

And that might have been a mistake as the red-haired girl locked him in the warmest of hugs, literally clinging to him like a lost long lover, definitely catching the previously calm black-haired boy by surprise.

”I missed you so much…!”

Ehmi, who was slightly taller than Zeomi ended up lowering her head and rubbing her face against the boy’s collarbone and muttered as he was considering whether he should hug her back or not.

”Zoe! You bully! I’ve heard from Hororo that you have contacted him using a message-like spell! Same with Miri and Buru! Unfair! Why was I left out?!”

Zoemi’s dilemma about returning the hug was resolved when Ehmi pulled away on her own – at least at the ar’s reach distance – and stared at him while furrowing her brows and pouting.

|Is lying an appropriate solution for this situation?|

Zoemi blinked while looking into the fiery eyes of the red-haired girl, whose expression was getting grumpier and grumpier with each passing second of Zoemi staying silent.

Is she your wife or a lover?

Ludier’s shadow asked from within the boy’s mind.

|N-no…!|

Zoemi scoffed internally at the question that shocked him almost as much as Ehmi’s greeting.

Then who cares? Go ahead and lie.

The unique shadow of an ice magician responded indifferently and went dormant again.

”I didn’t want to bother you – I don’t know the schedule of third-year students so I didn’t want to interrupt you.”

Not wasting any more time Zoemi lowered his head just a little bit and gave Ehmi an upwards glance that coupled with a soft apologetic smile and his devilish beauty made for a truly killer combo that caused every servant who was able to see it to blush.

”Haa.~? Silly boy, you take precedence over any silly schedule! But still… that serious side of yours is cute too so your benevolent senior will forgive you this time.”

”…!”

…but instead of faltering over his looks, Ehmi squinted her eyes and countered with an even more seductive expression – completely turning around the situation and making Zoemi’s words backfire at him splendidly!

Zoemi’s face got healed up only a couple of months back – or even less than that – he wasn’t completely used to winning people over with his looks, so trying to win with Ehmi was a bad decision.

The black-haired boy didn’t blush but he tensed up – and Ehmi’s brow raised a little bit, revealing that she had noticed it.

”You are forgiven for not contacting me – but then why did you arrive so late? I almost thought that you would not show up! I was worried that you would stand me up! If not for Grazio backing me up, papa would have called for someone else to represent our family!”

She raised her head and nodded with a benevolent smile, satisfied with one-upping the black-haired boy…

”Ah! You are a papa’s girl? Aww~! Little cutie~”

”Khh…!”

…but she celebrated too early as Zoemi clapped back out of reflex, causing her to flinch and let out a scratchy noise as she blushed heavily.

”…”

Zoemi went silent as he noticed someone else coming…

”…ehem… Why are the two of you trying to outseduce each other in the hallway…?”

The new arrival turned out to be the red-haired capture target, Grazio Mera Victureo in person, who cleared out his throat as he was approaching to notify the two about his arrival, and asked, sighing with a serious expression.

”…and, hello, sir Zoemi.”

The red-haired boy added tensing up and nodding at the black-haired boy who had to really do his best to not make a bitter expression at the sight of him…