"...stupid Zoemi – I will make him brush my hair until his arms will fall off...!"

Miriette was grumbling to herself staring at her spiky-haired reflection and occasionally glancing towards the wide opened window.

She really wanted to go check up on the black-haired boy, but she promised him that she will wait in her room – and the dark-haired girl would rather die than break the promise given to her beloved.

So she had to satisfy herself in listening in to the sounds coming from the outside – the sound of the whip's cracking through the air was unnerving, but at the same time, it was counting down to the time when this whole farce will be over and Zoemi would return to her side.

"...what if something went wrong...?"

Miriette flinched and looked towards the window with worry.

"...he said that he will be acting wounded, that probably will be exhausting..."

She murmured to herself glancing at her reflection and picking up a brush on her own.

"...I will start on my own so he won't have a hard time..."

The dark-haired girl fidgetted and raised the brush.

"...? Hmm...?"

Suddenly, Miriette realized that the outside world became quiet all of a sudden...

...too quiet...

"Don't freak out – it had to happen."

"WHAT THE...?! WHO?!"

Suddenly she heard a voice and she jumped out of her chair, dropping the brush...

...that didn't actually drop to the floor and instead froze mid-air right where she let go of it...

"...yeah, we are happy to see you too~!"

"!!!"

The voice repeated, and Miriette managed to localize it.

A platinum-haired young girl wearing the Aspakeony Academy's uniform that looked like she secretly borrowed it from her older sister was standing in Miriette's window, peeking inside with a mischievous smile.

"How dare you try to get into my ro...!"

"Chill out – we are in full control."

The dark-haired girl raised her head and puffed out her chest in prideful anger, but the platinum-haired girl scoffed and waved her hand dismissively.

...but if she thought that someone like Miriette would just settle for the half-assed explanation like that...!

"Pshhhhhhhh... You seriously scared me..."

...she would be completely right...

Miriette let out a long sigh and flopped back on her chair with a slightly annoyed expression.

"Jumpy, aren't we?"

"Well, why wouldn't I be? You know what's going on in front of the Academy, right?"

The platinum-haired girl smirked, making Miriette scoff and pout.

"Yeah, we know – that's why we decided to show up and give you a little advice for the future."

The platinum-haired girl shrugged her shoulder and declared.

"...you show up out of nowhere while I am losing my mind over Zoemi's wellbeing and you of all people want to give me advice...?"

Miriette raised her brow and asked in disbelief.

"Yes, we do."

The platinum-haired girl nodded her head vigorously.

"...ugh... alright – what is it?"

Miriette groaned and asked while massaging her forehead.

"Don't freak out – it had to happen."

The platinum-haired girl declared.

"Eh...? That's it...?"

Miriette furrowed her brows and glared at the little intruder in disbelief.

historical

"Yeah."

The platinum-haired girl nodded cheerfully.

"You...!"

Miriette breathed in and got red from anger...

*thump*

...but the very next moment the brush that was just frozen mid-air fell to the ground, and there was no trace of the platinum-haired girl anywhere anymore.

"...that little...!"

Mirriette gritted her teeth in annoyance and she rushed to the open window.

"Don't bother me if that's the only thing you have to say – dumbass!"

The dark-haired girl shouted outside and shut the window with anger.

"...seriously..."

Miriette grumbled to herself returning to her seat.

She glared towards the window but decided to not open it again – the stupid punishment was surely about to be over anyway, and since nothing happened up until then, that meant nothing would happen, period!

Miriette nodded to herself and straightened her back against the backrest, prepared to greet her beloved attendant with a high and mighty expression.

-----------

Back in the dormitory, Zoemi – unaware of what was going on on the outside with the elderly light magician showing up and all - didn't head straight to Miriette's room.

He went to the kitchen instead.

|Supper... I must prepare the supper...|

He thought and ignoring the pain he forced his body to move.

The kitchen as always was full of hustle and bustle.

The cooks and attendants were too busy to bother with the limping black-haired attendant.

"Big brother Zoemi!"

Still, Patishi spotted the black-haired boy immediately and ran up to him like an overjoyed puppy.

"Big brother Zoemi, I...! B-big brother...!?"

Her smile completely disappeared once she saw the state Zoemi was in.

"Big brother Zoemi! You need help!"

Patishi shouted horrified, and a few of the cooks glared at her with scorn - but then they looked at Zoemi and they stopped working...

...and then other cooks got concerned about why are they not working and also looked at Zoemi and also stopped working...

Soon the whole kitchen was dead silent.

Seeing Patishi, Zoemi tried to smile but he only managed a pained grimace.

"Patishi, sweetie, could you help me fix my clothes, please...?"

The black-haired boy asked weakly, pointing at his unbuttoned shirt.

"But big brother Zoemi, you...!"

"Patishi, my master is waiting for a meal, I can't disappoint her..."

"But..!"

"Patishi, please..."

Patishi wanted to help her big brother – but her big brother wouldn't lend her an ear at all...!

"O-okay...!"

So Patishi helped Zoemi even though her hands were trembling almost as much as Zoemi's.

"Big brother Zoemi, are you sure...?"

Patishi tried asking again.

"Little sis, could you bring me a few ingredients, please...? I don't think I will be able to maneuver the kitchen..."

But she was completely ignored by Zoemi who was washing his hands over the sink, dying the water pink with his blood.

"...!"

Patishi's chin would start shaking as soon as she would look at her big brother, but still, the thin girl helped him prepare the meal.

"...B-big brother...! You...! You...!"

Though somewhere in the middle of the preparation Patishi stared straight up crying.

When everything was done Zoemi nodded satisfied and affectionately messed up Patishi's hair.

"Thank's again, little sis..."

"Big brother Zoemi, we need to get you help!"

Patishi was crying and wiping off her tears in an endless loop.

"No. I need to get my master the supper."

"I-I can do that for you! Like – as I did for the first prince...!"

Patishi sobbed and tried to take the tray but Zoemi was already holding it securely.

"No. This and that are... different... I am Miriette's attendant and I will bring this to her. I made a promise..."

Declared Zoemi and slowly walked out of the kitchen.

"A-at least let me help you...!"

Patishi ran after him but she stopped at the sight of Zoemi shaking his head.

"No, Patishi, I have my work, you have yours."

"B-but...!"

"See you again, Patishi."

Zoemi completely ignored his little sister and left very slowly.

--------

The black-haired boy had to focus really hard to not drop the tray.

The way to Miriette's room never felt that long before.

A few times Zoemi had to stop and rest leaning against the wall.

Each time he resumed the journey he would leave a bloody stain at the spot he was leaning against.

Nonetheless, he was getting closer and closer with each step and his heart grew bigger and bigger.

After what seemed an eternity he arrived at his master's door and knocked.

As always there was no response so Zoemi entered the room.

And she waited for him right there.

Miriette was sitting upright by the desk with her back turned to the door and with a hairbrush already prepared on the desk to her right.

"...!"

Zoemi thought that he didn't have any more tears, but it turns out there still were some left because he felt his eyes sting and hot liquid run down his face.

"Zoemi, I want to make one thing clear!"

Miriette spoke up in a grumpy voice without even turning around.

"I am really mad at you, you know!? Even if nothing happened to you because of that shadow enchantment it was a very stupid decision anyway!"

The dark-haired girl scoffed and proudly raised her head, still not turning around.

"I hope that you are prepared to brush my hair for a very long time today since because of all this stress you put me through they got extra bristly!"

"..."

Zoemi almost laughed at that last one.

Brushing Miriette's hair was always his favorite thing to do.

He was as close to her as an attendant like him could be, and he loved every second of that calming activity.

"..."

The black-haired boy forced his numb legs to move and walked towards his master.

"...? E-eh...?"

Suddenly Miriette flinched and started sniffing the air.

"Zoemi? What did you make for supper...? Why does it smell like rust...?"

She asked exactly when he put the tray in front of her.

"...nnn...? ...eh...?!"

Miriette looked at him and her eyes widened from panic.

"ZOEMI, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!?

She screamed and raised her arms, just in time, because Zoemi couldn't stand up anymore.

"...Miriette..."

"!!!"

The black-haired attendant fell in the opened arms of his master and his chin ended up on her right shoulder.

"...I'm back..."

Zoemi was too weak to hug her so instead he snuggled against her soft cheek.

"...I succeded..."

He whispered with satisfaction.

...and then he fainted...

"Zoemi...?"

Miriette embraced him instinctively, she could barely support him without falling, but she managed. At first, she couldn't comprehend what was going on, but then she felt a strange wet and sticky sensation with her palms...

"...?"

She raised one of her hands that she was pressing against Zoemi's back and saw that it got completely covered with crimson blood.

"Zoemi!?"

Miriette screamed and her body trembled, struck by a sudden panic attack.

"ZOEMI!?"