It was 3:42 in the morning when James passed out drunk during his party with Faba and Nando. His friends carried him by his hands and feet to his bed chamber and left him on his bed, snoring with his clothes still on. James slept until a little past 11:30 in the morning when Nando came back to splash a bucket of cold water on him to wake him up.

James was irritated that Nando woke him up in such a way until Nando informed him that it was nearly time for them to witness Jessie carry out her scheme against Giovanni. James' face lit up as he remembered Jessie talking about her plan and rushed down the steps to the ground floor with Nando and went outside to meet Faba at the estate hedge maze. Faba sat on a bench before the hedge maze with a grumpy frown and crossed arms. Several feet away from Faba was a letter in an envelope lying on the path.

"Good morning to you, Sir Faba," Nando said.

"It is barely morning anymore, good sir, and even then, there's hardly any reason to think there's anything good about it," Faba said.

James and Nando looked at Faba in confusion, and the former asked, "My good fellow, what has put you in such a sour mood?"

"It is your cousin and the company she has been keeping of late, Sir James," Faba said. "I spotted Sonia not 2 hours ago sitting on a bench and reading a book happily. I began to walk over to her to make my move when Duke Satoshi's messenger, Timothy, entered the courtyard and greeted her. Lady Sonia was smitten with that young man, and he was rejecting her advances. In the end, he left with Sonia brokenhearted. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she's only been happy lately because she's been gushing over that servant, forgetting how preposterous it is for a noble lady to want to marry a peasant."

James and Nando stared at Faba as they processed what he said. Then, James snorted before laughing with his hands on his knees. Faba looked at his friend, offended, while Nando gave the Alolan knight a shrug.

"If I may be frank with you, good sir knight, I see little issue with my lady falling for a man of lower rank," Nando said. "We do not decide how God gives us reason to be happy, and if a mere attendant is what lights Sonia's life, then c'est la vie."

"La vie? What the devil does la vie mean, and why must I say la vie?" Faba asked.

"You don't have to say it. It's a foreign phrase meaning 'such is life' or 'that's life.' In other words, oh well," Nando explained.

"Oh well? I came here from Alola to pursue this woman, only for her to fall for a nobody, and you suggest I give up? Are you mad?" Faba asked. "The duke's messenger didn't even return her feelings."

"Well, then he's a bigger fool than Nando is," James chortled as he wiped a tear from his eye. "Besides, if Sonia's downcast that she's been rejected, you can comfort her. Make her feel silly for chasing a servant of all things when a better man has been staying in her house."

Faba furrowed his brow before he rubbed his chin in thought.

"Well, Timothy did say he was never going to see her again, even when Sonia told him to stay," he said.

"Well, there you go," James said. "Sonia will accept that she can't do anything about her infatuation, nor should she try. This is just a bump in the road before she realizes who is the superior man."

"But what if she doesn't accept it?" Faba asked. "She told the young man to come see her again. That might lead to Timothy returning her feelings if she tries to woo her again or, if I'm lucky, him rejecting her and thus depressing Sonia more."

"Then, take the opportunity to show you are more than he could ever be," James said. "If this Timothy fellow tries anything, then step in and humiliate him on the spot. Sonia may never notice you unless you can show your quality through noble acts of bravery or politics."

Faba hesitated, biting the bottom of his lip.

"If I had to choose one, I would pick an act of bravery," he said. "Timothy might not know jack about politics given his low rank in society, but I'd rather not risk saying something political that might upset Sonia."

"Good then. Challenge the duke's servant to a fight," James said. "The next time you are alone, write a letter to challenge Timothy the Page. Write something rude and brief and refer to him by his first name at least three times to insult his pride. Thus, if Timothy ever dares to show his face to Cousin Sonia again, you'll be there with a letter to challenge him to a duel to the death."

Faba furrowed his brow before he looked down in thought. After a moment, the Alolan knight smiled and made a fencing pose facing away from his friends. He waved his arm, pretending to be swinging his sword toward his opponent, then lunged, pretending to stab the duke's page in the stomach. Satisfied with his imaginary kill, Faba held his head up for a victory pose before turning to James and Nando.

"Yes. Yes, that sounds like a splendid plan," Faba said. "Sonia will surely notice me after dealing with Satoshi's meddling servant. After all, no matchmaker can win you a woman's love like a display of bravery."

"Masterfully put, good Sir Faba," James said.

Nando looked at James disapprovingly, wishing James would stop encouraging the dimwitted man. James and Faba chuckled, patting the latter's back before noticing the letter lying on the ground.

"Say, Faba, is that letter yours?" James asked.

"No, it's the letter Jessie made for our prank," Faba said. "She dropped it there about 15 minutes ago for Giovanni to find and left me to keep an eye on it until he arrives."

James giggled and said, "Excellent. Have you read it?"

"I was tempted to take a look, but Jessie put me under strict orders to not let anyone look at it before Giovanni," Faba said. "She wants no indication that the letter has been opened when he sees it, and she wants it to be a surprise for us when he does read it and reacts to it."

"Then, it's a good thing we don't have to wait much longer because Giovanni is on his way now," Nando said, pointing past his friends.

James and Faba turned to the direction Nando was pointing to see Giovanni in the distance. He walked down the courtyard path with his hands behind his back, his chin up, and a proud smirk as though he were a nobleman going out for a stroll at his own mansion. James and Faba giggled excitedly as they and Nando hid behind the hedges. They shushed each other to be quiet just as Giovanni made his way in their direction. Giovanni was about to pass the hedges when he decided to sit on the bench Faba was sitting on. The steward sighed as he looked at the sky.

"Alas, that a man of my worth has not received his just reward," Giovanni said. "That despite how the whole world should know that I have more reason to be nobility than many who are born noble, I'm nothing more than an employee. Worst of all, my title of steward is the one thing that's that drunk, Sir James, can you use against me."

James smirked as he listened behind the hedges, pleased that the words he said the night before damaged the steward's pride.

"Yet, not everyone fails to acknowledge my greatness," Giovanni said with a boastful smirk. "Just this morning, Jessie apologized for her behavior last night and told me that Lady Sonia admires me. She said the countess admires my maturity as an older man, making it clear that I am considered virtuous and thus have better rights than a drunk knight to enjoy the finer things in life."

"Oh, that vile fiend. He truly does think he's better than us," James whispered.

"Why would Jessie apologize and say that Sonia admires him?" Faba asked.

"If I were a betting man, I'd say she did it to butter him up to ensure that he falls for her trap," James said.

Nando shushed his friends with his finger to his mouth. They waited a few seconds before Giovanni stood up and straightened his jacket with his chest up and his head held high.

"Imagine if Lady Sonia admired me so much that she found me a suitable choice for a husband, social ranks be disregarded," Giovanni said. "Then, I would be Count Giovanni, one of the most respected men in the Kanto region. Duke Satoshi would acknowledge me as far superior to him in respect and dashing features. Not to mention, I would have a lovely wife there to support me and my duties and be my lover when the day is over. Granted, I am a couple of decades her senior, but that is her problem."

James's eyes widened in disbelief before he clenched in anger and took a step to come out of his hiding spot and punch Giovanni. Nando and Faba grabbed James and quietly told him to calm down, reminding him why they were hiding. After a few seconds, James stopped struggling and took deep breaths to calm himself down, much to his friends' relief. Giovanni sat back down and held his arms to his sides, pretending he was sitting on a throne.

"Ah, imagine what it would be like by the time we've been married for three months," Giovanni said. "I'd be sitting in my majestic chair ordering the servants around dressed in my embroidered velvet gown. This would be having just come from the sofa, where I left Sonia sleeping after we've...spent time together as husband and wife."

Once again, Nando and Faba had to restrain James before he clobbered Giovanni for speaking about him and his cousin that way.

"With great authority, I gravely survey the room and tell them that I know my place," Giovanni said. "And then Cousin James is summoned to see his superior."

Giovanni snapped his fingers and whistled like a dog's owner summoning him.

"Here, James. Come here, Cousin James. Come here," Giovanni said. "When he finally comes as though he were expecting a treat, my friendly smile will be replaced with a look of authority. I will say, 'Cousin James, since fortune has allowed me to marry your cousin, I have the right to say this: as the man of the house, I declare you must stop your drinking. Furthermore, you must stop spending time with that fool of an Alolan knight. If your drinking doesn't destroy what wit you have, it'll be that simple-minded dolt who can't even spell half the words he knows."

Faba's eyes widened, and he began to come after Giovanni with James, both wanting to punch him. Nando held them back with his left arm around James and his right arm around Faba. The knights reached out toward Giovanni as though they could reach him behind the hedges.

"Peace, gentlemen. Peace," Nando whispered. "Don't forget what we're here for. If we ruin this, I assure you Jessie will never forgive us."

James and Faba eased up, knowing Nando was right. They peaked through the hedges, waiting for Giovanni to find the note. Fortunately, while Giovanni daydreamed about humiliating James, he looked down and saw the letter lying on the path. He raised his eyebrow before he stood up and picked up the letter. Giovanni's curiosity grew as he studied the writing on the envelope, similar to Sonia's, and how it was stamped with her family's insignia.

"To my beloved, who doesn't know of my love, I send this letter and my good wishes," Giovanni read out loud. "So, my lady has taken an interest in someone. Let's find out who."

James, Nando, and Faba covered their mouths to hide their snickering. Giovanni opened the envelope and took out the letter with a mischievous grin. As he read the first paragraph, his grin turned into a surprised look. Giovanni reread the paragraph out loud to assure himself that he read correctly.

"'God knows that I love, but I cannot say who. No man must know who fills my every thought. I may command the one I love, but like a knife, silence cuts my heart with a bloodless wound. G.I.O.A.I. rules my life.' Now, who could Lady Sonia be referring to with G.I.O.A.I.?"

"Interesting. Jessie developed a riddle that will lead him to think that he's who the letter is for," James whispered.

"May he not be so much of a fool that he can't figure it out," Nando said.

Giovanni furrowed his brow and hummed in thought as he began pacing.

"Let's see. If Lady Sonia left this here in her courtyard, then she must be referring to someone among the staff, which would explain why she cannot say who she loves," Giovanni said to himself. "As for G.I.O.A.I, it's reasonable to say she's referring to me. After all, no one in this estate has a name that starts with G, and the other letters are the vowels in my name. They are even organized in the right order. Maybe the rest of the note will clear things up."

James, Nando, and Faba huddled together as they watched in anticipation. After waiting a minute, they heard Giovanni cackle like he was conducting an evil scheme. He turned to the house, imagining Sonia inside, dreaming of fooling around with him.

"How more obvious can it be that my lady craves me?" Giovanni asked himself. "The rest of the note says it all. 'If this should fall into your hands, consider it well. By birth, I am ranked above you, but don't be afraid of my greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Your fate welcomes you. Accept it with your body and spirit. And, to prepare yourself for the upper-class life you will have soon, cast aside your lowly outer self and become a new, fresh person. Be rude to your companions and be mean to servants. Talk loudly and often about politics, and make a habit of being unique and eccentric. If you accept my love, then let me know by smiling. Your smiles look good on you. So, please smile whenever you're in my presence, my dear sweetheart. The woman who sighs with love for you advises you to do this. Remember who complimented your green stockings and asked to see you always wearing crossed laces going up your legs. Remember her, I say. Now, go. 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. Farewell. Signed, one who would switch places with you and be your servant, the Fortunate Unfortunate."

Giovanni maniacally laughed so hard that he couldn't hear James, Faba, or Nando, who were also laughing. The steward began jumping and kicking his legs as he laughed in triumph, as though he had already married Sonia and become the new count. Then, Giovanni spun before giving the letter a lengthy kiss.

"It couldn't be any more obvious that this letter is a love confession from my lady to me. Her heart is rightfully longing for her steward," Giovanni said. "Not to mention, her request can be easily fulfilled. I will have to work hard to be knowledgeable about politics, which will be necessary for me as a count. However, being cruel to the servants, especially Sir James, would be my pleasure. Granted, I'm not one to smile often, but for the chance to gain a young, submissive wife and achieve the title of count, I'll be more than willing to try. Come to think about it, perhaps this is why she told me to lighten up yesterday when I spoke harshly about Nando the Fool. The fact that she has a thing for me wearing green stockings and cross-guard laces is a little bonus. Makes it easier for her to come to bed when summoned."

Giovanni cackled and spun again before turning to the house and shaking his fist at it.

"Hear me, Sonia Penelope Magnolia. I will relish you giving yourself body and soul to me. I expect you to produce an heir, so my illustrious name will continue until Magnolia is nothing but a memory," Giovanni declared. "But, first things first. I must prepare to make my move. By this time tomorrow, Lady Sonia will throw herself at me, and we will begin discussing marriage and preparing for me to become the new count."

With a fit of laughter, Giovanni went into the house with a skip in his step. James, Nando, and Faba waited until Giovanni closed the door behind him to burst out laughing. James slapped his knee while Faba put his hands on James and Nando's shoulders to support himself before falling on the floor and rolling around the path with his arms around his gut.

"Oh, this is just too much," Faba chortled. "I could never believe that the steward was capable of such wild emotions had I not seen it with my own eyes."

"Indeed. It's almost too good to be true," James said. "I could marry Jessie right now for this."

"I could marry her myself if I had half your affection for her," Nando said. "Regardless, let us meet her while she's having her afternoon tea as instructed and praise her for a job well done."

James and Nando nodded and ran toward the back porch, with Nando following behind. They found Jessie sitting on a chair before an outdoor table, sipping her tea. Jessie heard the men running toward her, and she smirked before turning to face them. James, Nando, and Faba knelt beside each other and bowed down to Jessie with their hands above their heads.

"Oh, my sinister lady, I could kiss your feet if you'd allow me," James said.

"As could I," Faba said.

"I as well," Nando said.

Jessie's smirk grew, and she asked, "I assume Giovanni has fallen for my trap?"

"Like a fish taking the worm on a hook," Nando said. "You've sent Giovanni into such a fantasy that he'll go mad when he learns the truth."

"Excellent," Jessie said. "If you want to see the real results of this joke, wait until he first approaches Lady Sonia. Giovanni will come to her in green stockings—a color she hates—and with crossed laces on his legs—a fashion she despises. He'll smile constantly at her, which will creep her out because no face like his could give a smile without looking ghastly. Not to mention, it goes completely against her current mood, as she seems to be melancholic after meeting with the duke's messenger this morning. All of it together will surely make her notice him and scorn him. Now we just have to wait for Giovanni to make his move."

"Well, thankfully, we won't have to wait too long," James said.

"That's right. He said out loud that he'll prepare to woo Lady Sonia by this time tomorrow," Faba said.

"He did? That's fantastic," Jessie said. "Not only does that mean more time for Giovanni to have his hopes up, but it means we have time to prepare for what we will do after he humiliates himself."

"Oh, Jessie, please tell me you have thought that far already," James said.

"Indeed, I have," Jessie said. "Nando, do you still have your priest costume?"

"It's been in my room with my other costumes. Haven't used it since the last party Lady Sonia's father threw," Nando said.

"Well, now you get to use it again," Jessie said. "When Giovanni tries to woo Lady Sonia, she will think he has gone mad. Thus, I will tell her I will take Giovanni to a doctor. In reality, I'm going to have him locked in the old cellar, and he will think he's being visited by a priest who will declare he's gone mad and leave him there."

"How devious," James said.

"How long do you plan to keep him there?" Nando asked.

"Oh, we'll give it a few hours, maybe a day, before we let him go and he finds out he had been deceived," Jessie said. "Giovanni will feel the humiliation and finally realize his place. From then on, he will know not to take another toe out of line lest he wants us to pull another prank on him."

James, Nando, and Faba laughed as they stood up and applauded Jessie on her scheme.

"Excellent! Excellent, excellent, excellent!" James praised. "I couldn't be more excited for the full extent of your plan even if I tried!"

"Indeed. We overheard Giovanni talking to himself about wanting to marry Lady Sonia out of lust and wanting the title of count, and that was before he found your letter," Nando said. "He's proven to be a more vile villain than we gave him credit for, making it all the more necessary that he experiences the full extent of our joke."

Jessie looked at Nando, appalled, as though Giovanni revealed his greedy desires to her face. The very idea of Giovanni sincerely wanting to use Sonia for his selfish desires made Sonia's loyal lady-in-waiting want to sneak into Giovanni's bedroom in the middle of the night while he's asleep and strangle him. Jessie turned to James and Faba, who nodded simultaneously. Her anger grew until she stopped, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath before returning her mischievous smirk.

"In that case, let us consider it our duty to continue our joke out of our love for our beloved countess," Jessie said. "We will drive that fiend to his breaking point so he will know his place and never dream of having his way with her ever again. If you gentlemen feel you cannot bring yourself to be so abusive, now is the time to bow out. We may lose our souls for the cruelty we will commit."

"Ha! Souls or no souls, I would not be able to live with myself if I didn't see this through," Faba said.

"That goes for me too," Nando said.

"I, madam, will follow you to the lowest levels of hell to ensure the well-being of my cousin and to spare the world from Giovanni rising above his rank," James declared. "No matter what happens, I am with you till the end, greatest Jessie."

"Then, let us be off. The sooner we prepare, the better," Jessie said.

James, Nando, and Faba nodded in agreement as Jessie finished the last of her tea. Together, Jessie, James, Nando, and Faba ran to the old estate cellar with Jessie opting to put away her tea set later. Nando and Faba giggled like children as they imagined how humiliated Giovanni would be. As they ran side by side, Jessie and James looked at each other smiling, for Jessie was pleased that James was participating in a good deed while James was happy that Jessie was letting herself be mischievous for once.