房客(糙汉)何璐程曜坤

"!!!"

The black-haired boy who was about to step inside froze without question - he did glance inside the room though.

The dark-haired girl was in her bed, hiding under a blanket not even sticking out her face - only showing her unruly hair curling around with embarrassment and... excitement,...?

"My lady, did something happen?"

Zoemi tilted his head and asked in a confused voice.

"We brought you a meal, are you not feeling well? Should I get some medicine?"

He asked, with a concerned expression.

"N-no! It's fine, just...! Y-you can return to your room, for now, Zoemi! Leave everything to Teo!"

"But... My lady..."

Zoemi's voice trembled and he sulked like a puppy that got unjustly scolded – he wanted to go to the heroine but not at the cost of the time that he could spend with Miriette...!

"I'm your attendant, right...? Did I do something wrong...?"

He ended up lowering his head and asked timidly.

"No! That's not it at all, it's just...! A female problem, alright? Please understand...!"

|Ah...! Oh no, I was being so inconsiderate! As a fellow female, Teo understands her better than me and can help her where I cant...!|

Zoemi quickly shook off the sadness and retreated from the room.

"I'm sorry for my rudeness, my lady. If I'll be needed, please message me."

He bowed his head while backing off/

"Zoemi! Th-that's just for today, alright? I still want you to continue serving me like always!"

Miriette, without taking off the blanket exclaimed in an anxious voice perfectly judging what her attendant was thinking.

...or that's how it looked for Zoemi since, honestly, Miriette was just panicking and speaking whatever came to her mind.

"Thank you."

Zoemi smiled, honestly relieved by her words.

|So, it is not that she suddenly hates me... whew... She still wants me to be near her.|

He actually felt a bit bad for having such thoughts about his master but he couldn't help it.

There was no need to say anything else so he passed the tray to Teo and closed the door behind him before leaving.

--------

Teo looked back at the door behind which Zoemi had disappeared and walked to the desk, putting the tray on it.

"I-is he gone already...?"

A weak voice came from under the blanket on the bed.

"Indeed, mistress, I also locked the door so you can be at ease."

Teo confirmed in an indiferent voice.

"...whew..."

At her words, Miriette breathed out in relief and threw the blanket away.

Lady Espine was wearing only an oversized male shirt, one that was definitely a part of the academy's uniform, and nothing else.

What's more, the shirt itself was drenched in sweat and sticking close to her body.

Not only that, in her left hand Miriette was holding a piece of cloth suspiciously similar to a pair of male underwear.

"Mistress, I know that I am not the best person to tell you that, but you really should work on your self-control – the sun hasn't even set."

Teo shook her head with disappointment and looked meaningfully at the window.

"I couldn't help it! It was a stressful day, alright?!"

Miriette hid her face in her hands.

And no, she didn't let go of the piece of particularly suspicious piece of clothing.

"Mistress, there's a time and place for everything, you should be well aware that sir Zoemi and I will come with the supper."

"I-I just went a bit overboard, okay!? I lost the track of time...!"

The brown-haired girl complained while breathing heavily which instantly prompted the dark-haired girl's defensive stance.

"You lost a track of time and a few pieces of clothing while you were at it."

Teo pointed out walking over to the side of her bed and picking up clearly hurriedly taken off uniform and underwear.

"It was a REALLY stressful day, alright?!"

Miriette frowned at the comment and turned away fit a bright red face – but then she suddenly realized something and turned right back at the brown-haired girl in the butler's uniform.

"As if I have to hear that from you! You have his shirt on right now, don't you?! The one you have on is clearly too big for you and isn't part of your normal set! You shameless attendant!"

"..."

Miriette declared, but if she thought that Teo would flinch after getting exposed, she was dead wrong...

Instead, Teo kept an emotionless face...

"Indeed."

...and simply confirmed without batting an eye.

"And if you want to be even more specific – the shirt isn't the only piece of clothing that I... borrowed from sir Zoemi."

Teo declared without a speck of shame as she patted her own butt and exuded an aura of satisfaction.

"...!"

Miriette looked at her, then she glanced at the piece of cloth in her own hand and she blushed embarrassed.

"You're even worse than I am! How dare you even try to scold me?!"

The dark-haired girl gasped in shock, squinting her eyes at the female attendant.

"Indeed."

But again, Teo merely responded to all the accusations with the affirmative nod.

"As per our agreement, I will be sir Zoemi's second woman - I am giving my best to stay worse, Miriette, you know? And honestly, it sometimes is a shockingly difficult thing to do."

Teo didn't add any honorifics but Miriette didn't admonish the female attendant at all – even when she glanced meaningfully at the clothes and the piece of clothing still in the dark-haired girl's hand.

"Hmph! It's good that you know your place... but seriously warn me next time – like, go ahead of him and knock five times to make me know to get ready, or something... I would die from shame if he walked on me like this..."

Miriette raised her head pridefully and nodded – but then she lowered it and breathed out nervously playing with her hair.

"I will do my best – I can try being nice for a friend."

Teo shrugged her shoulders but then she smiled and nodded back to Miriette.

...unknown to Zoemi, the two girls not only became friends but also created a dangerous alliance behind his back....