Sonia spent her morning after breakfast in the drawing room. She had some maids bring a sketchbook and some pencils, deciding to draw for the first time since before Milo and their father died. For an hour and a half, the countess sat on her couch with her back against the arm and her legs on the sofa, using them to hold up the sketchbook as she drew a picture of Serena.

Sonia frowned as she finished drawing the head. Though she was pleased with how well she drew Serena's brown hair and goatee, not knowing they were fake, Serena's rejection played in her mind. Sonia hugged the drawing as though she were hugging the duke's page and began thinking of ways she could attempt to woo Serena with a gift or treat her to tea with the best sweets her house could offer. The countess sighed while staring at the ceiling until she heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," Sonia said.

She put down her sketchbook and stood up, expecting Jessie to inform her that Satoshi's page had arrived. Instead, Giovanni came in wearing a velvet cloak covering his entire body and looking at Sonia with a smile covering half his face. Sonia's steward thought she would be pleased to see him smiling, but Sonia was uncomfortable with his smile. After years of knowing Giovanni to be a grumpy man, seeing him smile was hard to look at. It was as though Sonia was seeing a filthy sewer rat smiling even though it wasn't physically possible for rats to smile.

"Good morning to you, Giovanni," Sonia said.

"A very good morning to you, sweet, sweet lady," Giovanni said.

Sonia's unease grew from how Giovanni tried to sound cheerful.

"Are you feeling alright, Giovanni?" Sonia asked. I'd appreciate it if you didn't try to act cheerful. Unless a certain someone comes to see me today, I have no reason to be happy."

"How can I be down when I feel so up, my lady?" Giovanni asked with a dopey giggle. "If you're down in the dumps, then allow me to be the one to make you cheerful with these."

Giovanni moved his cloak back to reveal that he was wearing green stockings and crossed laces. Sonia's eyes widened in disgust; her hate for the color green and the fashion trend of crossed laces was strong. She covered her mouth, feeling ready to hurl as though she were looking at moldy food or rotten animal carcasses tied around Giovanni's legs. Giovanni giggled again, thinking Sonia covered her mouth pleasantly surprised that he wore the clothes he thought she wanted him to wear.

"Giovanni, what on Earth is wrong with you," Sonia asked.

"My legs are green, but I don't feel blue," Giovanni said. "The letter came to me, and its commands must be obeyed. I think I recognized the fancy handwriting. These crossed laces do cut off the circulation in my legs a bit, but so what? If a certain person likes them, then as the saying goes: 'Please one, and please all.'"

Sonia looked at Giovanni with her mouth hanging open. At the time, the phrase "Please one, and please all" was considered raunchy, making it all the more appalling that the man Sonia had known since she was a child said the phrase carefree. As Giovanni giggled again, Sonia grew worried, for nothing he said or wore was in character for him.

"I think you should go to bed, Giovanni," Sonia said.

"Ah, to bed so soon? Well, I think it's too early to partake in bed, but you are the lady of the house, and what you desire will be done," Giovanni said with a lewd grid.

Sonia let out a high-pitched gasp as Giovanni took her hand and began kissing it vigorously. She pushed Giovanni away and ran to stand behind the couch, using it to separate her from him. Giovanni cackled, thinking Sonia was playing a coy game with him.

"Giovanni, please, you're starting to scare me," Sonia said. "Why are you smiling like that, and why did you kiss my hand?"

"'You said it yourself: don't be afraid of your greatness," Giovanni said.

"What?" Sonia asked.

"'Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them," Giovanni quoted. "'Remember who it was who complimented your green stockings and asked to see you always wearing crossed laces going up your legs. You are assured of becoming a gentleman if you want to be. If not, keep acting like a steward, a companion of servants, and not worthy to grasp the greatness before you.' It was nicely put. I was amazed by how you spoke with such passion. I never thought of you as someone who could write that way, my lady. I'm not complaining, mind you, nor do I fail to understand how I fill your mind."

With another cackle, Giovanni chased Sonia around the couch with Sonia screaming. At that moment, Jessie opened the door and entered the drawing room. She turned to speak to Sonia, only for her voice to die in her throat upon seeing Giovanni chase her. Jessie covered her mouth, trying not to laugh at how well her prank was going. After a few seconds, Jessie collected herself and stepped in, pretending to be shocked.

"Good heavens, Giovanni, what on Earth are you doing?!" Jessie shrieked.

Giovanni's grin turned into a contemptuous frown, and he stopped chasing Sonia to turn to her lady-in-waiting.

"Bugger off! Noblemen don't answer to servants," he growled.

Sonia hid behind Jessie and said, "Jessie, I don't know what's gotten into him. He came in dressed appallingly and said things that don't make sense. I think poor Giovanni has lost his mind."

"Come now, pretty Sonia. No need to be so shy. We mustn't hide our desires in front of the help," Giovanni said, acting cheerful again. "Let us retire to the bedroom and discuss more of my greatness."

"Giovanni, this is so unlike you. You must've gone barking mad," Jessie said. "Leave him to me, my lady. I'll keep him in here and fetch a doctor. We'll get to the bottom of this. I swear it. In the meantime, Duke Satoshi's messenger, Timothy, has returned. He's waiting for you at the gate."

Sonia's face lit up upon hearing the page's name. Jessie looked at Sonia, confused, remembering how Serena's last visit saddened the countess. Giovanni, however, continued staring at Sonia with a dopey smile, not paying attention to her reaction.

"I knew it. I knew Timothy would come back," Sonia said blissfully. "I must get the staff to prepare tea and treats for us right away. Jessie, fetch some of my attendants to take special care of Giovanni. Have Cousin James send for a doctor if you have to. I'd give half my wealth to keep Giovanni from harm."

"Don't worry, my lady. I will get Sir James and Nando. We will see to it that Giovanni is taken care of," Jessie said.

"Lord bless you," Sonia said before turning to Giovanni. "Giovanni, wait here while Jessie goes to get James and Nando. I hope you will feel better soon."

"I'll be counting the moments till I see you again, my little dove," Giovanni said.

Sonia grimaced from the creepy way Giovanni addressed her. She quickly put the matter in the back of her mind and raced out of the room, choosing to smile again with her mind on the page waiting for her. Jessie held her hand up to Giovanni as if to say, "Stay," before she left the room. As soon as the door was closed, Giovanni's dopey smile turned into a sinister grin. He cackled maniacally as he laid down on the couch with his hands behind his head and his feet up disregarding that he laid on top of Sonia's drawing of Serena.

"This is too easy," Giovanni said to himself. "I've won her so quickly that she's having Sir James, on top of servants like Jessie and Nando, take care of me. A perfect opportunity to be rude to companions and mean to servants as the letter instructed. Sonia will be so pleased with how condescendingly I treat them that she will jump into my arms. Everything is proceeding perfectly."

Giovanni cackled again as he imagined sitting on a throne while Sonia knelt by his feet, lying her head and arms on his lap. Unbeknownst to the proud and lustful steward, Jessie, James, and Nando listened with the door slightly open. Jessie, James, and Nando snickered with their mouths covered before they collected themselves and entered the room.

Giovanni sat up upon hearing the door open in time to see Jessie, James, and Nando come in. James came in first, giving Giovanni a serious look. Jesse and Nando hid behind James, pretending to be scared, with Jessie's hand on her cheek and Nando holding a cross necklace on his neck. Giovanni furrowed his brow and coldly looked away from Jessie, James, and Nando, his arms crossed and his head up high.

"Oh, Sir James, do something. Please," Jessie said. "As you can see, Giovanni is dressing outrageously and acting cold to his fellow man. He's frightened my lady so badly that I fear a demon possessed him."

"A demon has possessed him? Never fear, my dear Jessie. I'll give this evil spirit a thing or two," James said.

Giovanni quietly chuckled, amused that his fellow servants and Sonia's cousin thought his advances toward Sonia made them think he was demon-possessed. James sat beside Giovanni and patted his shoulder with a friendly smile while Jessie hid behind Nando. Sonia's lady-in-waiting crossed herself and whispered a prayer while Nando repeatedly kissed his cross.

"How are you, good Giovanni?" James greeted.

"Remove your hand from my shoulder, you intoxicated dullard. Leave me to my private thoughts," Giovanni said coldly.

"Leave you to your private thoughts? I think not," James said. "You appear to be demon-possessed, my good man, and I fear that if we leave you to your thoughts, the demon will twist your mind until your thoughts are of nothing but egregious sins and unholy alliances. Please, allow us to aid you in your -"

"I said go away!" Giovanni barked, startling Jessie, James, and Nando. "I cast you out! All of you! Get out of my sight before I strike you all for disobedience!"

"God: King of the Universe, save us. The demon speaks so loudly from within him and threatens to attack us," Jessie said. "Didn't I tell you, Sir James? My lady asks you to take care of him."

"Leave it to me, Jessie. I'll convince the demon to leave him," James said. "Giovanni, my good man, renounce this demon before it uses you for wicked desires. Remember, all demons are the enemy of mankind."

"Silence!" Giovanni shouted as he swatted James' hand from his shoulder. "I will not allow lesser beings to touch me or try to make me play their silly games."

"Oh, no. The demon is onto us and is offended," Nando said before kissing his cross again. "We must be careful. The only way to deal with him is gently. The demon in him is rough, but we can't treat it roughly."

"Maybe we don't have to approach the demon at all," Jessie said. "Sir James, get Giovanni to say his prayers. You must get him to pray."

"Hold your tongue, hussy. I will not entertain you with useless prayers," Giovanni snarled.

"You heard it from his own mouth, Jessie. He does not want to pray," James said. "Please, dear Giovanni, reconsider. You might endanger us all with your lack of resistance. If you won't do so for us or God, then at least do so for my sweet cousin."

"Go hang yourselves, all of you!" Giovanni barked. "You are lazy, shallow creatures. I'm made of better stuff than you. You'll learn more about that later."

Jessie gasped in fear, and Nando kissed his cross again, shaking their legs. James sighed and shook his head before giving Giovanni a look of pity. He patted Giovanni's shoulder again, and Giovanni swatted it away before James stood up.

"I'm afraid Giovanni is beyond our help. We must keep him confined here until we can get him to a better place where he can't hurt anyone. Then we'll see if we can find a priest to cast this demon from his mind," James said.

Jessie and Nando looked at each other with sad looks, silently agreeing with James.

"I have the key to this room. Let us lock him here before the demon attacks us," Jessie said.

"Agreed," Nando said before he turned to Giovanni. "God be with you, sir. And demon, may we never meet again."

Giovanni's eyes widened as he saw Jessie take a set of keys from her dress pocket. He jumped out of his seat and lunged toward Jessie, but James grabbed him by his cloak and thrust him into the ground. Jessie, James, and Nando rushed to the door and exited the room, with Jessie closing the door behind her. She locked the door with the key just as Giovanni reached for the handle. Giovanni tried to turn the handle to no avail, then screamed in fury as he banged on the door.

"Release me, you foolish vermin!" Giovanni roared. "When I get what I deserve, I will have you all imprisoned and tortured! You'll be begging for mercy that neither I nor Sonia will give! All the powers of Hell will be nothing compared to what I'll have done to you! Do you hear me?!"

Jessie, James, and Nando ran from the door screaming, pretending to be afraid of Giovanni's threats. They ran down the main hall until they could no longer hear Giovanni and burst out laughing. Jessie and James embraced as they laughed while Nando leaned his back against the wall.

"I can't believe how far that arrogant dolt has gone into his imaginary world," Nando chortled. "He practically delivered material for the next phase of the joke on a platter the size of Cinnabar Island."

"Indeed. Giovanni has really taken our trick to heart. It seems to have infected his very soul," James said. "We're really going to drive him crazy, and the house will be a calmer place for it."

"Ah, but we must make haste before he does something to ruin our fun," Jessie said. "I'll get some of the other servants to bind and blindfold Giovanni, then take him to the old cellar. Lady Sonia already thinks that he's crazy, so we can take it as far as we want. We'll punish him until we're tired and out of breath from laughing so hard, and then we will reveal he's been tricked. When this is over, I expect you to crown me as the Queen of Pranks."

"I, for one, will not fail to reward you with such a title," James declared. "Furthermore, when Giovanni's humiliation is complete, I swear to give you the title of the Queen of my Heart."

Jessie and Nando's smiles vanished. They looked at James in confusion, unsure if they heard him correctly. James continued smiling as though he didn't notice how Jessie looked at him. After a moment, Jessie frowned and mentally disregarded what James said, figuring he had plenty to drink already. She broke her embrace with James and cleared her throat to act like nothing happened.

"Nando, go get your costume and get ready for your performance. I will send word for you two when Giovanni is locked up and we give him time to be shocked that he is confined," Jesse said.

Without another word, Jessie walked away, trying to focus on the joke instead of James's declaration. Nando watched Jessie leave until she could no longer be seen then looked at James, who continued to smile in the direction where he last saw Jessie. He also wondered if Sonia's cousin had already had too much to drink, compelling him to unwittingly declare his feelings without realizing it. After several seconds, the fool walked toward his bed chambers, wondering if James would eventually realize what he said and retract his declaration before he said something he would regret.

James stood alone in the hall, still staring at where he last saw Jessie as though she were still there. Then, his trance was broken when he heard someone running and panting. James turned to see Faba running toward him with a determined frown, holding a folded piece of paper in his left hand and a sword strapped to his belt.

"Good morning, Sir Faba. You've been missing out on our joke," James said as the Alolan knight stopped in front of him. "Giovanni attempted to woo Sonia as planned, and she's convinced he's gone barking mad. Jesse is gathering servants to have him bound and taken to be confined."

"I don't care about the joke anymore," Faba said. "Duke Satoshi's servant, Timothy, has returned, and I have a letter challenging him to a duel as you suggested."

"Oh, excellent. Let me see what you have written," James said.

Faba nodded and handed the letter to James. He took a few steps away from his friend and drew his sword to make a pose, thinking it would enhance the mood of the letter. James resisted the urge to chuckle at how faulty Faba's pose was before he unfolded the letter and read it.

Youth, whatever you are, you're nothing but a filthy fellow. And don't be amazed or ask why I call you that, for I won't give you any reason for it. You came to the lady Sonia, and she was kind to you in front of me, but you lie like a dog. That's not what I'm challenging you about. I will ambush you on your way home, and if you happen to kill me there, you'll be killing me like a criminal and a villain. Farewell then, and may God have mercy upon one of our souls. He may have mercy upon mine, but my hope of surviving is better than yours, so watch yourself. Signed, your friend, if you were friendly in return, and your sworn enemy,

Sir Faba, Knight of Melemele Island.

James tilted his head as he read the letter. Though the letter established that Faba was challenging the duke's page to a duel, the message as a whole made no sense. Once again, Faba's friend struggled not to laugh while he stood proud of himself. Eventually, James realized he was taking a while to say something, and he folded the letter before giving Faba a pat on the back.

"This letter is exceptionally done, sir," James lied. "Good and brave. The vagueness will keep you from being accused of slander. It'll even keep you on the safe side of the law."

"Yes, I am quite proud of it," Faba said. "That fool, Timothy, will be furious at my accusations that he will want to fight to the death, not knowing that he has fallen into my trap."

"If this letter won't make him get up and fight, then there is something mentally wrong with him," James said. "Wait by the southeast corner of the estate walls outside of the property while Timothy has his hearing with Sonia. I'll give the letter to him when he leaves the estate and lead you to him. As soon as you see him, draw your sword and swear horribly as you draw it. It's often the case that a terrible swear word uttered with an arrogant tone can increase your reputation for courage better than actually fighting would. Now go!"

Faba nodded and sheathed his sword before running down the hall toward the front entrance. James waited until he heard Faba exit before shaking his head and tearing the letter to shreds. He tossed the pieces into a nearby wastebasket, then began making his way outside to the front gate to get ready for when Serena's audience with Sonia was over.

"I mean for the duel to happen, but not with a ridiculous letter like that," James thought. "Considering how easily Timothy has gained favor with Sonia and Duke Satoshi as his messenger, it is reasonable to assume that he's sensible. A letter that ignorant won't frighten him at all. He'd know it came from a fool. I'll challenge Timothy by word of mouth, making him think Sir Faba has a great reputation for being angry, courageous, and skilled with a sword, and Timothy will believe me because he's never met Faba. Even so, I doubt anyone will die in the end. Faba has moments of starting a fight but runs away when things escalate. Timothy doesn't strike me as much of a fighter either, though perhaps more courageous than Faba. Worst case scenario, Timothy intimates Faba to the point that he gives up. Best case scenario, Faba scares Timothy away, and he'll never return, leaving Sonia with only Faba to pursue her. Either way, we'll settle the matter without shedding blood."