"It's an Akademiya official... Noelle-" The moment Nilou realized it, Noelle has vanished into thin air, and a moment later she appears walking out of an adeptus portal backstage, in her miko disguise.

Nilou sighed in relief, as she just remembered that the Akademiya might capture Noelle on sight even if they knew that Noelle is with Aether. The group watches on as Zubayr argues with the official, Sharif who was then interrupted by Inayah.

The moment Inayah called Sharif "father", Noelle shook a bit. Nilou notices this, but then looked back to Sharif. Inayah argues that even if the Akademiya shuts the theater down, it won't change anything.

Noelle clenches her fists when she heard Sharif saying that the reason is strictly business, and that it has nothing to do with his own daughter. She was about to approach Sharif to give a saying, but Nilou grabbed her shoulder and shook her head.

"Don't be reckless, Noelle."

Noelle calms down, and stepped back. Sharif then looked over to her.

"Wrap everything up and make preparations to shut down at once... Sorry, Inazuman Miko, to abruptly end your time of celebration like this."

After Sharif left, Paimon who is confused at who the Inazuman Miko is, looked at Noelle and gasped.

"Wah!? You're still wearing that disguise!?"

Noelle then points to the poster hung on a wall nearby, which is then torn down by Aether.

"That should take care of it."

However, Aether still looked sad from the fact that what was supposed to be a happy moment with his group and Nilou, became void. Ayaka was holding back her emotions at this point and was about to chase after Sharif, but then Noelle used her power to raise one of the small cobblestones in front of Ayaka, causing her to trip and fall down face first to the ground before Noelle returns the stone back to normal.

"Lady Ayaka, remember what Aether said. Being violent will not solve this problem."

"True, and what if you end up in solitary confinement by the Corps of Thirty if you do such rash acts?"

"Solitary confinement? There's such thing as well here in Sumeru, Nilou?" Paimon asked, remembering Klee.

"Yes. It is used only for the most dangerous of individuals, that place consists of one small room with a heavy metal door. Complete darkness surrounds the cell, which in turn will render the prisoner insane with fear."

Noelle doesn't want to imagine that, as she was punished by Jean once after she hung out with Klee. Turning insane from this kind of solitary confinement will not only ruin her, but Aether's heart as well. She then went on to help Zubayr to inform the attendees that the celebration is cancelled abruptly, gaining sad faces in return. Although this pains her heart to see those frowns, she then said.

"As compensation, would you like me to brew a cup of tea to the each of you?" And then the attendees looked up, with sparks in their eyes.

Except for Jut, who saw right through Noelle's disguise, who continued to weep internally from having his hopes and dreams crushed earlier.

"At least Noelle is taking care of the attendees, Aether, can Paimon help bring Ayaka back to the pot to rest? That fall seems to knock her out good."

"Sure, here's the talisman. So now, let's talk to Inayah." Nilou nodded after Aether finished speaking.

The both of them then went on to find her in the Bazaar but to no avail, and asked the children where she is but there is no dice. They then left the Bazaar without telling Noelle, as Nilou recalled one place where Inayah might have gone.

Noelle herself stared in awe as she sees the previously sad attendees enjoying her tea and failing to notice Jut's fake smile as he sipped on his cup. She glanced at Paimon to see her carrying Ayaka over to the Serenitea Pot, and then she looked around. Aether and Nilou are not seen around the Bazaar.

Closing her eyes, she then sees one spark of light emanating not too far from where she is now standing. She senses that this light is fighting against multiple opponents, and quickly she opened her eyes again and bowed in front of the crowd.

"Pardon me, dear guests. There is something that I have to do as of now."

"But I want one more cup!" Farhad shouted, but it was too late as Noelle then walked into an Adeptus portal before he and the others noticed.

Elsewhere, a portal opens and out comes Noelle, who tackles whatever is attacking Aether and Nilou. It is one out of six Rishboland Tigers who are trying to prey on Inayah. It was about to pounce on Inayah when both Aether and Nilou are busy handling the others.

"Noelle!"

"I thought she is busy serving tea, but that was a quick response!" Nilou said in awe.

The tiger growls as Noelle then lifted it up and gently put it back down on the ground. She then focused her energy, as her body is then covered in light. She is back in her normal outfit, alas with a translucent golden cape and a tiny golden light fills the center of her pupils.

"Leave it up to me, do not harm these tigers."

"What?! They're trying to eat me, miss!"

Noelle then glanced at Inayah with a warm smile, as she enclosed the distance of her two hands to one another, and formed a rose made of gold. She clasped it softly, and she then used her right hand to smoothly fan off petals of golden light from her left hand. The golden rose petals then enveloped the six tigers, and when the light dissipated, the tigers calmed down and walked away.

"N-no way. What did she just do?" Inayah asked, with a puzzled look on her face.

Noelle's body then glowed again, and when the light dissipated she returns into her miko disguise.

"I calmed down their hunger, and now they are going back to resume their regular food chain naturally. They shall not bother any humans for the time being."

"A-are you some sort of goddess, or--"

"I am just who I am, Miss Inayah. I am a Maid-Knight, serving and protecting Aether, as well as innocent people."

Inayah then shook her head, and pessimistically told the group that she won't go back to the theater as she thinks that this whole ordeal is her fault. Nilou tried to talk her down but Inayah always countered, because Sharif is a very stubborn, demanding man. Noelle's heart sank even more when she heard of what Sharif did after Inayah got the third highest score in one of her exams.

"Regardless, you still need to come back. You have found happiness and a sense of family within the theater, so much that you may call it home."

"Home...? Family? But my--"

"I understand how you would feel. I myself never experienced having a mother or father that in a sense, made us the same as we were unable to gain the love from one, and I failed on my exams to join the Knights of Favonius all the time no matter how hard I have worked. So, what I did is, that in the end I need to find my own fate and resolve."

Nilou nodded, and continued on how Rekhar is happy to live at the theater despite her past which is now basically the same thing that happened to Noelle, who smiled behind her mask.

"The same goes for you Miss Inayah. You were unhappy after that one moment with Mister Sharif back then, but you found happiness within the theater. I would advise you to return and await the upcoming debate which me, Miss Nilou and Aether have planned. When the time comes, you may want to confront Mister Sharif yourself either as his daughter, part of the Zubayr Theater, or both."

"Miss Noelle... Thank you. Thank you as well, Nilou, Traveler."

Noelle then headed back into the Serenitea Pot to take care of Ayaka for the time being, and when she woke up, it turns out that the debate has ended in the Theater's favor. Shaped up by both Noelle and Nilou's advice, Inayah managed to stand up to Sharif and finally talked him down.

Ayaka still grumbles internally that she missed all the action, hiding her disappointment behind her fan. But then she sees Nilou with Aether and Noelle as well.

"You, I thought you're supposed to be at the theater?"

"Oh, me? I left a permanent hydro clone to take my place as a dancer and gain more information from within Sumeru City. As for me... I want to join in Aether's travels as well!"

"Y-you're kidding me!"

"Paimon thinks that we're going to need a bigger bed~" Paimon teased.

"I can't accept this!" Ayaka stood up, and prepared to unsheathe her tachi only for Noelle to hold her back.

"Lady Ayaka, please calm yourself down!"

And so from now on, Nilou has joined Aether's harem.