---***---


    It was a few months before Miriette, Horeo, and Zoemi went to the Aspakeony Academy.


    On a rainy day, the first prince couldn''t visit or be visited because he was sick anddy Espine was in an awful mood.


    She was being very picky with her food that day and even shouted at the maid who dropped the basket with dirtyundry when she was bowing to her.


    Even Miriette''s hair was more prickly than normal.


    Zoemi tried talking with her but even his most gentle and considerate efforts were met with a cold shoulder.


    "Mydy, your servant is sorry for being so inconsiderate and unattentive, but could you tell me what is happening?"


    "..."


    Zoemi looked like a sad puppy and Miriette didn''t want to shout at him even though she felt very agitated.


    "You will see for yourself when you''ll be helping with theundry!"


    She scoffed at him anyway and walked away.


    This continued for the whole day.


    |Today is just the worst!|


    Miriette sniffled, rolled inside the nket on her bed, and was massaging her stomach very much in pain.


    Suddenly someone knocked on her door.


    "Go away...!"


    Miriette didn''t feel like seeing anyone so she just grumbled and rolled on the other side.


    Someone knocked on the door again.


    "I said go away!"


    Miriette lifted her upper body and yelled.


    All rolled up in a nket she looked like a very angry caterpir.


    But the knock repeated for the third time!


    |That''s it! I''m going to scold whoever stand there so damn much their ears going to rot...!|


    Enraged Miriette stood up from her bed and walked to the door dragging the nket behind her. She unlocked the door and opened it with spite.


    "...!"


    And she saw her own attendant standing there innocently as if he wasn''t disturbing her at all!


    "Zoemi! What do you think you''re doing here!?"


    Just as she promised herself, she started scolding him.


    "Well, mydy, I just did theundry."


    |So he knows AND still bothers me!?|


    Miriette frowned terribly and was opening her mouth to chase him out.


    "Don''t worry, I managed to clean up your favorite ones, there''s no need to throw them out."


    "...!"


    |How can a boy say something like that without being embarrassed!?|


    Miriette blushed and closed her mouth - she didn''t feel like screaming anymore.


    "That doesn''t matter. If you know, why are you troubling me!?"


    She stomped her feet and asked with usation.


    But instead of backing off, Zoemi reached for something that he left on a cupboard near the door to Miriette''s room.


    "...?!"


    He was holding a tray with three things.


    A mug, a te full of sweets, and a book.


    "I made you some hot cocoa, snatched some choctes from your father''s secret stash, and stealthily took one of your mother''s romance novels from her special bookshelf. I can read it to you if you want..."


    ---


    An hourter Miriette once again rolledfortably in the nket was leaning on Zoemi''s arm. The ck-haired boy was sitting on the chair right by the bed since it wouldn''t be appropriate to sit together with his master on the mattress.


    Not that what they were doing waspletely appropriate, but well, it could pass.


    The mug was already empty and half of the choctes were eaten, the story was also getting to the good part.


    "Then the knight fell to his knees and kissed the foot of the princess..."


    Miriette fidgeted in her nket and her face became flushed.


    "That''s so romantic!"


    She whispered in excitement.


    "Mydy, if I may, why is the knight kissing the princess''s foot and not her hand...?"


    Zoemi tilted his head and looked at his master with confusion.


    Miriette returned the look and sighed.


    "I often forget that you weren''t brought up as a noble. I bet Mizoe doesn''t know anything about romance so it''s not surprising that he wouldn''t teach you."


    She shook her head in disappointment and continued.


    "The kiss on the hand can be just a greeting or the sign of respect, depending on the situation, but when a knight kisses the foot of thedy of his heart, he pledges his everything to her! It''s an unbreakable promise that bonds the two forever! It doesn''t get more romantic than that!"


    She dered with a blush.


    "It''s as you say, mydy!"


    The ck-haired boy nodded and smiled but his confused eyes betrayed his real feelings.


    |Sigh... You''re saying that but you don''t get it at all... Boys...|


    Miriette shook her head in disappointment once again.


    For just a moment she felt the urge to ask Zoemi to kiss her on the foot, but as soon as she thought about that her face and ears became deep red, and shook her head even more violently.


    |No...! He will think that I''m an indecent woman and hate me...!|


    She thought to herself.


    "Mydy, is everything alright?"


    Zoemi tilted his head again and made a worried expression.


    "Ye-yes...! I''m fine! Completely fine! Proceed with reading, but first, give me another chocte!"


    She calmed herself and parted her lips.


    Zoemi chuckled, he let go of the romance novel and picked up a piece of chocte from the te then put it into his master''s mouth...


    ---***---


    A loud knocking woke up Miriette from a pleasant dream of the past that she had.


    |Who might it be so early...?|


    Her head felt heavy, she fell asleep veryte because she was...


    ...busy...


    |Ugh... I did it again...! I''m such an indecent woman...! Zoemi would hate me if he knew...!|


    Miriette thought to herself, rubbing her sleepy eyes.


    "Mydy...? Are you alright?"


    A worried voice of Zoemi himself came out from outside.


    "Eh...?"


    Miriette froze.


    |Oh my god...! D-did he realized what I was doing...!?|


    She thought and paled.


    "Mydy? Are you there!? I''m going to use my spells to get inside!"


    Zomei''s voice grew restless and he called out.


    "What!? No! Zoemi Stop! I forbid you from entering my room! No way! You absolutely cannot enter now!"


    Miriette panicked while looking around her room - it was in an unbing state for a room of a nobledy...


    "Oh, thank god! Mydy, are feeling unwell, maybe? I brought you breakfast."


    |It''s already thiste...!?|


    Miriette panicked and checked the time...


    She overslept...!


    Miriette hurriedly got up and made the bed, covering the ruffled bedsheet together with one loose piece of clothing, then she hurriedly walked toward the wardrobe.


    "Kyaah!"


    *thump*


    And she slipped on her nightgown abandoned on the floor by the bed and fell on her butt.


    |Oww!|


    She bit her lips holding back the pained groan.


    "Mydy, what happened!?"


    rmed by the noise Zoemi became alerted again.


    "I''m fine...! I just hit my b... Stubbed my toe against the bed...! Just wait... I... I need to get dressed...!"


    Miriette swallowed the cry and stood up slowly, pressing her aching bum, and came up with an excuse.