n

n

n

"Sir Zoemi!?

"

nTeo gasped, raising her head up to look at the other person's face.

nThe short brown-haired attendant hasn't seen the scarred attendant when she was preparing the evening meal so she thought that the two of them would not meet at least until the next day - and even then it was only a maybe.

n|It's the perfect chance!|

nTeo was going to ask Zoemi to keep his end of the deal!

n

"Sir Zoemi, wait here for a bit!

"

nShe demanded with a serious face.

n

"Okay!

"

n

"...!

"

nZoemi agreed with absolutely no resistance – not to mention with a wide smile that made Teo blush.

nThe girl in the butler's uniform hurriedly returned the dishes in the appropriate place and on her way back to Zoemi she was thinking up a strategy.

n|He seems to be in a good mood, which means that the mistress is feeling better too, and that means he most likely will not be required to accompany her today anymore...!|

nShe was thinking fast.

n|He said that he'll pat my head for as long as I want – but there is no way that's true... As soon as I tell him how long I want him to pat me he will start bargaining with me to shorten the time without a doubt. If that's the case, my best option is to start up with an unreasonably long head-patting time so that everything else will seem alright in comparison and the final result will be satisfactory for both of us! Yes – that can work!|

nTeo congratulated herself for making such a splendid plan just as she stood before Zoemi.

n

"You wanted to talk about something?

"

nthe scared attendant asked happily...

n...oddly happily...

n

"Sir Zoemi...

"

n

"Sir this and sir that...

"

nTeo started but Zoemi interrupted her by waving his hand dismissively.

n

"I'm calling you Teo, so you just call me Zoemi. I'm no sir, hmph!

"

nHe declared in a confident tone, puffing out his chest with pride.

n

"Ah! Y-yes, as you wish, Z-Zoemi...

"

nTeo blushed and clenched her fists hoping for the best.

n

"T-then, Zoemi, do you remember what you promised me today?

"

n

"...promised you...?

"

nZoemi tilted his head and made a pensive expression.

n|Eh...? He doesn't even remember...?|

nTeo was devastated and she hung her head down in defeat, but then Zoemi clapped his hands.

n

"Ah! Yes, I do! Head-pats for as long as you like! So, hit me with it. How long?

"

nHe declared, back to his oddly cheerful self.

n|Now's my chance...! Now, with some ridiculous amount of time...!|

nTeo perked up and a fire light up in her eyes.

nIt was the time she was preparing for!

nShe will be satisfied even with one minute, but a woman needs to aim high!

n

"I want you to pat my head through the whole night!

"

nShe declared in a voice that showed how determined she was to fight for every additional second!

n

"No problem! Deal!

"

nZoemi agreed without even batting an eye and he put his hand on Teo's head and started caressing her hair.

n

"E-ee-eeeeeh...?

"

nTeo was so baffled that she was almost scared...

n

"I-I don't know if you've heard me properly, si... Zoemi...

"

nThe short girl said in a shaky voice.

n

"I told you that I want you to pat my head through the whole night...

"

nShe was sure that he had just misheard her, and that's why he agreed so casually.

n

"Yeah, I've heard you the first time. Through the whole night. So I already started – it's already basically night after all.

"

n

"!!!!!!!!!!

"

nBut Zoemi's answer only made Teo's heart start beating as fast as if it wanted to burst through her chest and run a marathon on its own.

n

"So where are we going for the night? Your room, my room?

"

nThe black-haired attendant asked lightly, looking around in which direction they should go.

n

"Your room!

"

nTeo answered Zoemi's question so violently that she made him jump a little.

n

"S-sorry...

"

nShe blushed and apologized.

nThe thing was, she was sharing a room with her older twin sister - and since Teo was already jealous of Veo, she certainly didn't want to give her sister another chance to take Zoemi away from her – after all, she didn't even seem that interested in him!

n

"It's nothing. Let's go then.

"

nAs they were walking through the hallways and passing other people Zoemi's hand never left the top of Teo's head.

n

"!!!!!!!

"

nIt was a bit much even for her, but instead of asking Zoemi to stop she just put her hands up to her burning-red face, in an attempt to hide her blush, and didn't look at anyone.

n

"Now...!

"

n

"...?

"

nAnd yet, as soon as they entered Zoemi's room she got a bit bolder.

nWhen the door closed she snuggled up to him and looked up at his face - even though she was older than him, she was tiny in comparison.

n

"Zoemi... When I was helping you with the lunch d-did I do a good job...?

"

nShe asked.

n

"Of course! You were of great help!

"

nThe black-haired boy confirmed vigorously and cheerfully.

n

"Then... A-am I a... good girl...?

"

nTeo felt the chills of anticipation as she asked timidly...

n

"Yes, you are a good girl.

"

n

"!!!!!!

"

nZoemi confirmed with no hesitation at all and Teo hugged him tighter.

n

"A... A very... a very good girl...?

"

n

"Very good girl!

"

n---***---

nThe room was dark, Zoemi was watching over his master's peaceful sleep as always.

nThe girl was breathing steadily as no nightmare had access to her as long as he was there.

nThe guardian.

nThe protector.

nBut then the darkness changed, it grew darker, deeper, like a silky jet-black velvet cape that someone had thrown over the pompous bedroom.

nHe was there...!

nThe danger...!

nThe vile filth that threatened his most treasured master!

nHe snuck through the cracks in the door, making his way to the bed.

nZoemi wanted to shout to want his master, but his mouth felt as if they were sewn shut.

nHe wanted to charge the wretched intruder, but his body did not respond to him as he wanted

nThe intruder was closer and closer, walking casually yet not making even a single noise - his concealment was perfect...

nNo... it wasn't like that...

nThe intruder was not concealed - that bastard has separated the room from the rest of the building with his magic!

nThe spell was so strong that Zoemi would not be able to oppose it even if he could move.

n|I MUST PROTECT HER! I MUST PROTECT HER! DON'T YOU DARE TO TOUCH HER! GET AWAY FROM HER YOU DISGRACEFUL TRAITOR!|

nZoemi could not move, he could not speak, but with all his soul he was shouting at the intruder creeping his way towards the bed.

n...but it was useless...

nZoemi could feel the mattress of Miriette's bed moving under the pressure of the intruder's body.

n|NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!|

nZoemi was crying tears of blood as the agonizing powerlessness of his was ripping his feeble soul apart.

nThe intruder looked in his direction and their eyes meet.

n

"Ugh... what are you looking at with those creepy eyes? Disgusting.

"

nThe black-haired intruder scoffed at Zoemi and pushed him to the floor with a single swing.

n|NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!|

nZoemi roared - but before he could reach the floor...

n...

n...the grandiose throne in the throne room of the royal castle, countless corpses stacked underneath it...

n|Master... I'm sorry...! I was too weak...! I couldn't save you...! It's my fault...! it's my fault...! It's my fault...! It's my fault...!|

nThe guilt, the terror, the despair.

n|I must protect you...! I must protect you...! I must protect you...!|

n---***---

n