|We played together before...?!|

The platinum-haired girl answered Zoemi's question, softly shrugging her shoulders, and smiled at the attendant lowering his head – while the black-haired boy himself was trying his best to recall where the two of them have met and played before...

Could it be that she was one of the children from the slums...?

No... that was actually impossible – she looked far too young for that – not to mention that neither of those kids liked Zoemi and were using him as a punching back just as much as Edung and Boren were.

That certainly couldn't be counted for playing together as long as someone wasn't a cruel and twisted person - which Zoemi had a feeling that the girl in front of him was not.

...then...

historical

Could it be that they met in the Epsine estate...?

Or maybe the royal castle...?

"My lady – if you be so kind – I feel like I know you, but my mind is refusing to cooperate... where did we meet...?"

Zoemi apologized profusely – not caring about the confused and concerned looks of the other attendants and members of the Academy staff – and asked daring to look up, hoping for a hint.

"We met in the royal castle before... long ago... Do not worry about forgetting me – my attribute might be the case of your confusion."

The platinum-haired girl smiled and explained lightheartedly.

"Your attribute, my lady...?"

The black-haired boy asked, tilting his head in confusion – which prompted the girl's smile to become wider.

"Sorry – that's enough for today – any more than that and I will really want to never let go of you again. Just remember what I told you – keep an eye on the healing girl. I believe in you."

"...wha...?"

The platinum-haired girl declared with a smile and before Zoemi could properly formulate his sentence, she put her index finger to her chest and traced a clockwise circle without saying a word – with that done she simply turned around and...

"...!"

Walked away at such an outstanding speed that even the wind magicians would have trouble keeping up with her while running full speed with their speed enchantments active...!

And her movement was really that of a casual walk, merely so fast that she could as well leave afterimages...!

"Why can't I remember her...? Huh...! The breakfast..!"

The black-haired boy stood up and furrowed his brows in concern – but then he glanced at the passing attendant carrying the tray with empty dishes and gasped t himself in panic before he dashed away.

He even activated his shadow enchantment to gain more speed...

----

Before Zoemi caught up to Teo, she already entered Miriette's room.

"Mistress, I'm not feeling too well right now, can I return to my room? Please leave the tray on the desk and I will collect it later."

...was what Zoemi heard when he entered right after the short brown-haired girl.

"..."

Inside, Zoemi saw his master sitting at the desk - Miriette was looking at Teo with a worried expression.

"It's alright – take care of yourself – after all, Zoemi is here too~!"

The dark-haired girl assured the female attendant and motioned at the black-haired boy at the door.

"Thank you, mistress."

Teo bowed her head and walked towards Zoemi.

"I'm sorry for not helping you out more, sir Zoemi."

The girl bowed her head to the black-haired boy and spoke up in a timid, apologetic voice.

"No, no – there's no problem at all – if you are feeling bad then I would even dare to say that it's your duty to get better as fast as possible! Don't worry about a thing and go rest."

Zoemi shook his head and smiled reassuringly, stepping to the side to not block the girl's way out.

"Thank you."

Teo bowed her head even more and walked out.

"That girl is a very competent attendant but it seems that her ability to socialize isn't that good. Apparently, she had a big fight with her older sister and ended up saying something really, really hurtful. The older one doesn't want to talk to her, and for whatever reason Teo refuses to apologize – she is shockingly stubborn, wanting to be forgiven without actually saying that she regrets her behavior..."

Miriette breathed out and shook her head with a concerned expression while looking at the already closed door.

"..."

Zoemi didn't know how to respond to that – honestly, most of what Miriette just said fitted her own personality quite well...

|Ooohhh...! That must be why Teo started liking her – she realized that she and Miriette thing alike...!|

The black-haired boy realized and nodded to himself.

"My lady, if you want, I can go and either talk to her about it – to go and try to help patch things out with Veo on her behalf..."

The black-haired boy offered while Miriette was turning back towards the breakfast.

"Ohohoho...! Are you really capable of doing that...? Teo told me that you have already made her cry before – actually, both her and her older sister... You don't seem to have a way with words around women.~"

Miriette declared – but she sure sounded a little bit too happy about her attendant not being a ladies' man than one would expect...

"...I didn't say that I wanted to do it – I merely suggested that I would do it if you requested me to..."

Zoemi looked to the side, sounding just a little bit sulky – which honestly only made Mireitte that much more satisfied.

"It's alright – I already told her that she can talk with me about it whenever she feels like it – suddenly throwing a handsome boy into the mi might not work out all that well."

"...a handsome...?"

The dark-haired girl giggled and shrugged her shoulders while glancing at the reflection of the embarrassed Zoemi in her mirror.

"Here – I still didn't calm down after having you scare me half to death coming here on the verge of dying. Your punishment must continue!"

She declared, putting her hand on a brush and a comb and sliding them on the side of the desk for Zoemi to pick up.

"You will have to continue brushing my hair until I forget all about it!"

Miriette declared, proudly raising her head and ended up missing probably the most beautiful smile that Zoemi made up until that point.