Silent Witch

Book 15: Chapter 15: The Explosive Remarks Before the Main Topic Were Too Big

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"Miss Monica, I have prepared a comfortable cloth for you, so please use it to wipe your face. Agatha is preparing a warm drink at the moment, so please wait a little longer."

The rumor of Miss Monica, the daughter of the eastern House of Count Kerbeck is famous in the academy for being treated as a servant and bullied by her own relative Isabelle.

No one could hide their complex expressions at the sight of Isabelle diligently attending to Monica.

Elliot put his hand to his forehead and looked up at the sky.

"I feel like I've aged drastically in these past few minutes I can't believe I've said Know your place' to Miss Norton the Magic Count someone please kill me already"

As Elliot muttered that, Claudia, who was lying on the desk like a corpse, groaned in a lifeless voice.

"To have spoken of the Silent Witch in front of the Silent Witch herself I feel like an utter fool"

Claudia was referring to the tea party when she first met Monica.

At that time, Claudia had mentioned the Silent Witch.

That the Silent Witch is an intellectual and clever person who knows the value of silence.

"And my brother-in-law had already caught on somewhat yes right now, I really want to die."

"Miss Claudia, p-please stay strong"

Neil hurriedly tried to console Claudia, who looked like she might hang herself right there.

In the midst of this, the usually quiet Glenn, who had been holding back from speaking, raised his hand and said, "Oh, oh!"

"So, does that mean Monica also took down the dragon in Duke Reinberg's territory!?"

"At that time I failed to provide proper support, and caused you great trouble, Glenn"

Monica apologized meekly, but Glenn approached her with sparkling eyes.

"Then, then! Was it also you who beat up my master in the Seven Sages Selection Exam, Monica!?"

Glenn's master, in other words, the Barrier Magician Louis Miller, is one of the most martial among the Seven Sages.

Everyone's eyes widened at the fearsome remark that she had beaten up Louis.

"It's a misunderstanding at that time, I just kept using wide-range magic because I was scared of him"

As Monica shook her head vigorously enough to nearly snap her neck off, Hubert interjected with a snicker.

"For your information, the one who beat me up in that magic duel the other day was also this girl."

"Ah, that's because Senior Dee was going to do something terrible to everyone"

"The way you slowly tortured me with the latest high-level tracking formulas, rewriting my magic tools to seize the initiative, and mercilessly demonstrated your overwhelming power it was the best, wasn't it, Mo.Ni.Ka?"

"Please stoooop"

The information kept pouring out, with phrases like "who beat up so-and-so" sounding fearsome each time. The gap between these accounts and the timid image of Monica Norton left everyone confused.

Albert was muttering, "Come to think of it, her appearance and stature at the ceremony were indeed" while Eliane was smiling and saying, "Well, well," but her gaze was unfocused.

In the midst of this, there was one man whose composure did not waver.

"In other words, the Seven Sages of this country are a group of chess masters. Are the other Six Sages also strong?"

At the words of the ever-straightforward chess-obsessed man, Roberto Vinkel, even Monica could only give a wry smile.

"Well the Seven Sages and chess are unrelated, you see"

Elliot put his hand to his head as if nursing a headache and muttered.

"The Seven Sages are the best magicians in the Ridill Kingdom. They hold a position equivalent to a count and serve as advisors to the king."

"In other words, Lady Monica plays chess with the king!?"

"Please get away from chess already!!"

Elliot let out a scream-like voice and slumped onto the desk in exhaustion.

Beside him, Bridget murmured.

"I finally understand."

Bridget pressed her finger to the furrow between her brows and looked back and forth between Monica and Isabelle.

"I had only thought you were an intelligence agent of the House of Count Kerbeck but to be precise, you were acting as His Highness's bodyguard, backed by the House of Count Kerbeck."

"Y-Yes that's right you see, I was told to secretly guard His Highness without his knowing"

"Only the king can give orders to the Seven Sages so it makes sense that you couldn't reveal your true identity."

Bridget tapped the desk with her slender fingers and fixed her amber eyes on Monica.

"And for one of the Seven Sages to reveal her own identity it must mean there are significant circumstances, correct?"

Monica gulped and nodded once.

This was the main issue at hand.

Monica took out a leather-bound diarythe real diary of Felix Ark Ridill.

"Before explaining the circumstances I want all of you to read this first."

Monica stood up and placed the diary between Elliot and Bridget.

She intended for everyone here to read the diary, but she wanted these two, who knew the real Prince Felix, to read it first.

Although Elliot and Bridget looked perplexed, they immediately opened their eyes wide when they saw the first page.

"Hey, Miss Norton, where did you get this?"

"Please read it all first. I want everyone present here to read it."

When Monica quietly told them that, Elliot and Bridget silently began reading the diary.

Conveniently timed, Agatha, Isabelle's maid, had brought tea for everyone, so they all drank tea and exchanged comments about Monica's true identity while waiting for Elliot and the others to finish reading the diary.

Eventually, Elliot and Bridget seemed to reach the last page, as they both took a sharp breath.

Elliot's complexion was particularly pale.

"Hey, Miss Norton, this means then, he is"

Elliot had heard about the true ending of Prince Felix from Isaac.

That must be why he couldn't hide his agitation.

Bridget, too, had a pained expression with her thin brows furrowed.

Monica nodded once to the two of them.

"First, I want everyone present here to read this diary. And after that I have a request for all of you."

As Monica said, Elliot passed the diary he had finished reading to Cyril and Neil sitting next to him. In this way, everyone in this room read Prince Felix's diary in a clockwise order.

The diary recorded the truth from ten years ago.

The friendship between the young prince and Isaac, the plotting of Duke Crockford, and Prince Felix's true wish.

After Hubert, who received the diary last, finished reading it while leaning back on the sofa, he slowly turned his head to look at Monica.

"Hmm, hmm, hmm, so in other words, ten years ago, the Second Prince and this Isaac guy switched places? After writing this diary, where did the real Second Prince go?"

"I heard he passed away."

"Well, that would be the reasonable assumption. To summarize, the Felix Ark Ridill we all know let's call him the Student Council President' to avoid confusion. The Student Council President is actually Isaac hmmm? In that case, it contradicts the Jewelled Magician's recent accusation that he had just recently switched with an imposter, doesn't it?"

After muttering that, Hubert showed a wicked grin.

"I see. The Student Council President and Duke Crockford had been cooperating until now. But for some reason, they had a falling out, and Duke Crockford decided to dispose of his co-conspirator, the Student Council President the Jewelled Magician is just a sacrificial pawn, huh?"

Hubert's quick thinking and sharp deduction were appreciated at this moment.

Monica nodded and opened her mouth.

"That person the Student Council President is only fixated on preserving the honor of the real Prince Felix. For that purpose, he intends to die as a great criminal."

Preserving the name of Felix Ark Ridill. That was Isaac's sole motivation.

For that, he had abandoned his own face and name and lived for ten years as the perfect prince acknowledged by all.

"But if that person is executed as the Imperial Magician that could become the spark for a war with the Empire."

That Duke Crockford is eager for war is something that everyone present has likely heard to some degree.

Only Glenn, who was unfamiliar with domestic affairs, tilted his head and said, "Is that so?" prompting Albert to groan with a bitter expression.

"So this is why he was trying to forcefully push my engagement with Miss Eliane."

"Eh!? Albert and Elly are getting engaged!?"

As Glenn raised his voice, Eliane fidgeted and averted her gaze.

"W-Well, it's not decided yet. Father just suddenly said that"

In contrast to the flustered Eliane, Albert remained composed. However, his eyes burned with quiet anger.

"Eliane's father, Duke Reinberg, is on close terms with Duke Crockford. The two dukes likely intend to install me, the Third Prince, as the next king. The engagement is a means to that end."

Once Albert became king, Duke Crockford would wield power as his regent and eventually lead an invasion of the Empire.

Therefore, the inconvenient puppet is no longer needed by Duke Crockford.

"I want to help the Student Council President and also prevent a war."

In response to Monica's assertion, Claudia, still lying on the desk like a corpse, muttered.

"It's impossible."

Claudia's words, as a descendant of the House of Scholars', carried weight.

"True, publicizing this diary would reveal Duke Crockford's crimes from ten years ago but it would also reveal the crimes of Isaac, his co-conspirator Isaac's execution would be unavoidable"

Claudia was right. Even if the full truth were made public, Isaac's death could not be avoided.

Monica clenched her fists on her lap and spoke, enunciating each word carefully.

"There is one strategy I have in mind."

It was hardly worthy of being called a "strategy" it was Monica's biggest gamble in her life.

But with this, she could avoid both Isaac's execution and the war.

"I cannot carry out this operation alone I need everyone's help."

As Monica said that and bowed her head, Cyril spoke in his usual stern tone.

"Treasurer Norton, explain the outline first. Whether we lend our aid will depend on that explanation."

Although stern, his attitude of prompting her to continue was appreciated by the current Monica.