"Big brother, do you want to cook together?"

Patishi tugged on the sleeve of Zoemi's shirt and asked timidly – she really liked making food together with her big brother but because of Teo constantly trying to talk to her, she wasn't able to enjoy any of that recently.

"Of course we can, did you have something in mind or are we going wild? Once in a while my lady and the first prince deserve to have a deliciously unbalanced meal, don't you think?"

The black-haired boy nodded and smirked mischievously while reaching out and affectionately tousling the younger girl's hair.

"I have been thinking the same thing! Still, we shouldn't make anything too heavy, since it's for breakfast and all – but what about...?"

Patishi and Zoemi got to work, busily moving around as they worked on the meanwhile exchanging ideas.

Veo arrived in the kitchen just a few minutes after the two of them started and even though she wasn't much of a help with preparation, Patishi became visibly relieved when she walked in and Zoemi confirmed that it was her and not Teo.

On top of that confirmation, Veo seemed to have something else going on that would differentiate her from her younger sister.

The short brown-haired girl in a maid's uniform had an intricate earing on her left ear - it reflected the morning sun rays when she politely bowed towards Zoemi.

...and that most definitely wasn't by chance either - Veo actually kept her head at the angle for a bit longer than necessary so Zoemi would notice the piece of jewelry and comment on it...

|Ah! That's right, she saw me patting Teo yesterday!|

Unfortunately – or fortunately, depending on the context – the black-haired boy deduced that Veo was jealous and was standing like that because she wants to be patted...

"...!"

...and so he delivered on the headpats...

Zoemi placed his hand on Veo's head and caressed her hair.

"I've heard you've been through a lot lately."

He said with a sad smile, making the confused girl blush.

"I-indeed. It appears that I didn't know my sister at all."

She responded and backed away even though it seems like she would gladly stay close and be comforted like that.

"Is there anything I can help you two with...?"

Veo breathed out and tried to keep an indifferent expression while looking between the other two.

"U-umm..."

Zoemi raised his brows and glanced to the side awkwardly, at a loss to how to deter her from the idea – after all he already experienced how dangerous the short girl could be in the kitchen...

"Yes! Veo, here! I need a taste tester!"

Thankfully, Zoemi wasn't the only person there and Patishiseemed to have already figured out the older girl, as she called out and beckoned at her with a bright smile.

----

Veo leaned towards Patishi and whispered something into her ear, the younger girl looked at her with wide-open eyes, but then her face became serious and she nodded...

"...?"

Making Zoemi raise his brow and feeling slightly left out...

----

Teo walked in only when the three – honestly, only two - were about three-garters done with the preparations.

The short brown-haired girl in the butler's uniform had rugged breath and her clothes were unusually messy.

It was clear that she had to be running all the way to the kitchen.

"I'm sorry, sir Zoemi! I'm sorry! I overslept!"

Teo said instead of hello and kept bowing to the black-haired boy apologetically.

"Good morning to you too, Teo. And don't worry coming late isn't the end of the world – it can happen to anyone.

"...thank you, and sorry..."

Zoemi just shrugged it off and Teo blushed from shame.

"If you can't get used to waking up on your own I can come over each day to make sure you come early."

The black-haired boy smiled reassuringly and patted the girl's shoulder...

...the shoulder of the very brightly blushing girl...

"What's the matter...?"

Zoemi saw how red she was and asked in concern, making the girl flinch and shook her head and arms vigorously.

"I... the mistress would have killed me if I made you do something so outrageous...!"

She mumbled in embarrassment, taking a step back.

"Hmm? Oh, no. You don't have to worry about my lady that much – she is much nicer than she seems at the first glance!"

Zoemi only caught the part about getting killed and not the reason for it, so he responded just to that while waving his hand dismissively.

"..."

...making the girl blush even more...

-----

"Hold on."

"...?"

Zoemi finished the preparation and Teo was about to pick up the tray again – but the black-haired boy stopped her.

"It will only take a moment. Spread your arms."

"I...indeed...?"

He said and Teo tilted her head in confusion.

"I'm not going to do anything weird to you, you can relax"

Zoemi encouraged Teo so she finally did what he asked her for.

"Now..."

Then Zoemi reached his arms towards her and started fixing up her messy appearance.

"Oh? You're wearing a male shirt? You're really going all-in for that butler's look – that's what I call dedication~"

"!!!!!!!!!!"

Zoemi chuckled as he was tucking Teo's shirt into her trousers.

The brown-haired girl felt her heartbeat accelerate - she was wearing Zoemi's shirt after all...

...what if he recognized it...?!

"But honestly, even if you are late you should care for your appearance, you know? If the attendant looks messy it affects the opinion of others about his or her master."

Zoemi said while correctly buttoning Teo's vest and fixing her crooked necktie.

"Even if you oversleep you have me to cover up for you so take your time."

"...y...yesh..."

Teo's head was about to explode, Zoemi was touching her so freely but at the same time, he clearly didn't have any indecent thoughts and was only helping her out...

historical

...but even though the black-haired boy's intentions and thoughts were pure, the same couldn't be said about the girl in front of him...

"S-sir Zoemi, I...!"

"Veo, your earring is so pretty, it suits you!"

Teo wanted to say something daring but all of a sudden Patishi and Veo passed them and the younger girl called out loudly, getting the attention of everyone around her.

"Indeed. I decided to put it on so you won't mistake me for anyone else -it's a present from our prince, you know?

Veo responded with a charming smile and puffed her chest proudly.

"Do you like it? I think it would look good on you too."

She added smiling happily at the younger girl.

"You... you would?! A-and, can I?! Really?!"

Patishi gasped in disbelief and then trembled from genuine excitement.

"..."

Teo instantly closed her mouth and her shoulders slumped down as the two passed them...

"I've heard you've been bothering them. A lot. What's going on?"

Zoemi asked her feeling a strong déjà vu again

|Why do I get the feeling that she won't respond to me at all...?|

"..."

And just as he thought that Teo bit her lips and looked down.

"From what I've learned, you try really hard to get them to talk to you but you don't want to apologize at all. And apparently, you called your sister a 'useless cripple'. What did she do to make you say that? Did she insult you first or...?"

Zoemi asked trying to see the other side of the argument.

"...nothing..."

Teo lowered her head and mumbled.

Zoemi tilted his head and leaned towards her.

"Could you repeat that, please? "

"...!"

His calm voice and worried expression made the short girl's heart skip a bit but at the same time, she felt really bad...

"...She did nothing wrong. Veo just kept repeating how a proper attendant should act and I couldn't stand it anymore..."

"..."

Teo spoke more clearly but her answer didn't make Zoemi feel better.

"Oh, I see, but then why didn't you freak out and call me a disfigured ugly bastard when I was telling you exactly the same thing before my scars got healed up...?"

The black-haired attendant actually got a bit angry and started tapping his finger on his thigh because of that response.

"No! Sir Zoemi! You're different! I would never...!"

It looked like Teo was about to cry so Zoemi decided to give it a rest.

He had more important things to worry about anyway...

"Nevermind."

He waved his hand dismissively and tried to smile softly – which worked extremely well.

"Let's go, we shouldn't make our master wait, alright?"

"...Indeed...!"

Teo agreed in an embarrassing voice....