Miriette looked up at him with a worried expression.

What he was going to say?

She started biting the inside of her cheek while her hands trembled, this time not just from the strain but nervousness too.

”I…”

”I-it’s okay if you don’t reassume your attendant’s duties…!”

He took a deep breath like a diver about to submerge themselves into the water – but the dark-haired girl spoke first sounding almost desperate.

”You don’t have to – you don’t have to call me master, and you don’t have to clean up or cook or anything…! Just… Just don’t leave me… No, wait – I am doing this again…”

Miriette’s chin trembled as she spoke up, swept by the moment and worry.

Zoemi simply stated the fact – he was a high noble now – and not just a high noble, the head of the Banemor family – and even though he was also technically the only member of that family, his position meant that legally he was not supposed to be anyone’s attendant as it would be meant his family becomes subservient of another high noble family and that was literally against the law.

”The thing I want to say is – as we were apart I have some time to think. I talked with different people and… I realized that I don’t need you in a way that I thought I did… I… I don’t need you like a servant who will be with me twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, year in year, but I… I want you to be with me… not… not in a servant, or attendant, way… You know…? This is my response to your confession – the one back when you left me in the headmaster’s office. I-I mean – if that was an actual confession! If you meant it in a different way, then… then…”

Miriette took a step back and Zoemi did not stop her, then she proceeded to speak her mind, at first giving Zoemi the chills as it sounded like she was the one to sever their bond, but then she turned it all around with a splendid response that sounded as if she put a lot of effort coming up with, but was getting cold feet when it came to present it.

So this isn’t your wife… Kid, you should…

|Luider, I swear to all that is holly I will send you in watch duty in Derizno house but without any means of attack, just to surveil them and nothing else – IF YOU DON’T SHUT UP, please and thank you!|

The unique shadow of a dead ice magician seemed to be particularly preachy, which understandably – or not – made the black-haired boy rather angry.

You will not. You are a good kid, and that’s why you should not cheat on your wife… unless you have an agreement in case of which I am sorry for jumping to a conclusion…

|I do not have a wife – there is a girl who I would very much want to become my wife, and THE GIRL RIGHT HERE IS THAT GIRL!|

The unique shadow’s trust in his host did not falter even a little bit and did not stop talking – so the embarrassed boy had to spell things out to him.

Truth be told, if Zoemi was just honest with Ludier from the start about the whole wife situation, the unique shadow would respectfully stay quiet in the back of his mind, to begin with.

…but alas…

You should have started with that, kid – good luck!

Ludier’s shadow gasped and just like that, he went back into slumber without any further explanation needed.

”You… you didn’t…? Then, please – forget about everything that I said! I just…! I really did show up at a bad time, didn’t I…? Forget it please!”

With Zoemi taking a bit too long to respond because of his internal dialogue with his mind’s tenant, Miriette read his silence as the worst possible answer and started backing away clenching her fists and looking around restlessly while constantly blinking just to not make eye contact with Zoemi and show him her tearful eyes full of embarrassment and shame.

”Wait – no! It’s not like that! You didn’t misunderstand anything about my confession!”

”!!!!”

The boy shook his head and reached out his hand after the dark-haired girl – but did not grab her – his motion and words were alone to stop her retreat.

”So… it was a confession…”

”It was.”

Miriette took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself and asked, making Zoemi breathe out with relief and a smile.

”…”

Which in turn caused the dark-haired girl’s eyes to widen as if she herself could not believe that their conversation really

was following probably one of the best paths it could take for her and her own feelings.

”Then… you…”

”I love you.”

She fidgetted and muttered awkwardly, looking up at the boy, and instead of continuing to back away, she started inching forward with a rather clear intention of making her way back into his arm, which caused the boy’s smile to grow wider before he confessed – this time directly and while looking right at her, instead of offhandedly on his way out.

”Zoe…~!”

*crack*

”!!!”

”…?”

Miriette gasped in awe and was about to jump into Zoemi’s arms when a sudden noise caused both of them to flinch and look around in search of its source.

”There is no awake around.”

”Yes… though lord Vuctureo should check up with Burushi, he is having trouble breathing in his sleep.”

Zoemi said after using his spell to survey their surroundings and Miriette confirmed with a short nod while adding a little detail.

”…we are in the Victureo’s mansion… I better return to the room or Ehmi or Burushi might really wake up… I can tell Burushi about the Ehmi’s father then….”

The dark-haired girl breathed out – she was extremely happy, but she wasn’t blinded by the affection which showed her growth the most out of everything she did that night.

She also used the information she herself found out to give herself another reason for leaving – she did not actually want to leave but knew it was not advised and could get both her and Zoemi in trouble that was both unnecessary and avoidable.

”Do you want me to at least walk you back? I will be careful so that no one will notice.”

”No, it’s alright… you are mine now, and I am more patient than you might remember~”

Zoemi offered but Miriette only shook her head and turned around…

…but then she suddenly turned right back and her body lifted the ground with the help of her spell just so she could get on the boy’s eye level and…

*chuu~*

… she kissed the surprised boy’s lips softly…

”Well, maybe not that patient~”

She revealed as she floated away since her face was getting more and more red from the blush.

”Goodnight~!”

Miriette added just like that, she gracefully floated away farm more graceful and comfortable in the air than she was on the ground.

It was most impressive as she always held herself with pride, but that was simply a testament to how good she was with the levitation and flight spells.

”…!”

Not to mention that the dark-haired girl ended up hiding her face in her hands as soon as she got out of the boy’s line of sight, shocked and excited about her own boldness.