n

n

nFinally, the big day of the date between the first prince Horeo and the daughter of the duke Espine. Zoemi woke up just in time and prepared himself before leaving to the kitchen - he was already feeling nervous, worrying over whether everything would go as he planned?

nOr will some other unexpected event just pop out, out of nowhere?

nBut still, first things first - the plan would be a bust if Miriette's health worsened since the day before. The dark-haired girl has said that she was alright but it could have been just a front!

nZoemi wasn't going to risk his master's health just for a few quick affection points.

n|And if she developed a fever, we can always change the night-walk date into a care-for-the-sick date-like event, which could turn out to be even more efficient with Miriette seeing the carrying side of Horeo, while he would catch a glimpse of how adorable Mireitte is while she isn't purring out a front...|

nThe black-haired boy nodded to himself - it still would be good because it would show to the first prince the defenseless side of his fiance, but for some reason, Zoemi felt uncomfortable at the thought of his master alone with the first prince when she's a little dizzy and all weak and meek.

n

"It's just because I don't like the idea of my master being sick and suffering.

"

nThe scarred attendant furrowed his brows and said looking at his reflection in the mirror while styling his hair.

nThe black-haired boy checked the time on his pocket watch – he still had more than enough time to spare...

n

"Why not practice a little bit...:

nZoemi muttered to himself with a determined expression and walked towards his desk before pulling out a drawer.

nIt was almost empty - only a few chunks of semi-transparent milky crystal rolled forward from the back.

n

"...

"

nZoemi picked up the biggest chunk that he spent almost the entire month's worth of his earnings as an attendant and weighed it in his hand carefully, before raising it up and examining it.

nThe fragment of a magic crystal looked just like any old piece of broken crystal should look with the exception of the barely visible fine engravings marking its surface indicating its use.

n

"Hmph...!

"

nZoemi frowned and squeezed it in his hand as hard as he could.

nThe crystal was incredibly hard, instead of crushing it, he almost hurt his hand in the end.

n

"...good...

"

nThe black-haired youth nodded with satisfaction, and then he lightly grabbed the crystal between his index finger and his thumb as if he was picking something frail and delicate.

n

"...now, just like with the darkness blade...

"

nZoemi whispered while concentrating – the thing was he wasn't really trying to create the dark dagger-like blade but instead focused on merely pushing out as much of the corrosive mana as he could, injecting it straight into the milky crystal.

n

"...

"

nNothing seemed t change but the black-haired boy has opened his eyes as if he had accomplished something.

nThe crystal still bot looked and felt just a sturdy as before.

n

"Muffle.

"

n*pshaaa*

nZoemi activated his silencing spell and right as he did so, the shard of the milky crystal in his hand crumbled into the powdery dust.

n

"...!

"

nZoemi felt the euphoria filling up his body.

n

"This will take care of at least half of the bad endings~

"

nHe breathed out in relief and then blew off the remainings of the magic crystal from his hand, satisfied that at least one part of his long-term plan is going well.

n|But how to get my hands on those damned bracelets...

nZoemi was thinking about the future and opened the door leading to the hallway.

nHe looked down to check if the mana potion would be there again - and he became surprised.

nThere was not just one vial in front of his door - there were two!

nWaiting for him neatly in line, with a bit of a distance between the two.

nThe black-haired boy picked both of them up and looked at them closely.

n|Could it be that the heroine is buying my protection?|

nIt wasn't so difficult to understand that after the bullying started, the heroine wanted to get someone trustworthy to back her.

nAlthough he wouldn't go out of his way to help her, since it would be helping the person without whom his master would have a perfectly happy life – still, as long as he'll manage to keep Miriette safe, nothing was stopping him from nudging the blond heroine in the right direction while under the pretense of worrying about her...

n|Thanks for the potions, though.|

nZoemi shrugged his shoulders and put the vials into his pocket before venturing to make his master's breakfast.

n---

nSince the scarred attendant used muffle on himself to test out something before, he had appeared especially creepy, walking through the dark hallway without making single a sound.

nBecause of a similar reason, he entered the kitchen without being noticed by the younger brown-haired youth and the short brown-haired girl in a butler's uniform, who were apparently having a quarrel.

n

"Miss Teo, I have no idea what got into you today, but I refuse to allow you to get anywhere near those ingredients!

"

nPatishi declared while doing their best to keep the short attendant away from the counter.

n

"Your words are unreasonable, Patishi. I am responsible for preparing a meal for my master and that is what I will do. Please, move aside.

"

nThe brown-haired attendant shook her head and declared.

n

"No! The ingredients are afraid of you today! I'm not letting you waste them!

"

nPatishi was adamant, spreading their arms and blocking the short attendant.

n

"Well, tell them that I am not dangerous, then. I'm just going to use them to prepare a meal.

"

nThe girl in the butler's uniform shrugged her shoulders and declared with an indifferent expression

n

"No, you won't! You're holding that knife as if you were ready to murder someone!

"

nPatishi furrowed their brows and motioned at the tool in the girl's hand that she was holding up rather menacingly, to tell the truth...

n

"Just let me...

"

n

"I refuse!

"

nThe attendant opened her mouth but Patishi interrupted her, not backing even an inch.

n

"J-JUST LET ME MAKE A MEAL FOR MY PRINCE, ALRIGHT!?

"

n

"!!!!!

"

nThe constant interruption seemed to be enough even for the usually calm girl and she ended up shouting at the brown-haired youth, as her voice cracked from the embarrassment.

n

"...uh-huh...

"

nZoemi let out a sigh and approached the two.

nThen he grabbed the short brown-haired girl's head and pulled it backward making her face the ceiling.

n

"S-sir Zoemi...?!

"

nShe gasped in shock, staring at the scarred boy with her widened, tearful eyes.

nAs Zoemi was looking down straight at the short brown-haired girl's face, the effect of his muffle spell has conveniently ended.

n

"Veo. Is there a reason for you to be in the kitchen instead of Teo? And why are you bothering my younger sis... sibling.

"

nZoemi asked in a tired voice and bit his tongue, remembering not to use a form that could get the brown-haired youth in trouble.

n

"Eh? Veo? Big brother Zoemi, are you telling me that this girl is not Teo?

"

nPatishi asked in a confused voice, looking between the two, blinking repeatedly.

n

"...indeed....

"

nVeo pouted and gave an affirmative answer to Zoemi's question while looking away.

n

"And the reason is...?

"

nThe black-haired boy tilted his head and inquired while leaning in.

n