Book 9: Chapter 11:: Sense of Discomfort

This year’s play unexpectedly turned very well, especially that impactful performance which rarely happens in the play. While most of the audience got that impression, the people behind the scene watched a series of unexpected events ended up in a good way.

A sudden gust of wind had knocked over the gunpowder used for the performance, nearly causing a fire. The people behind the scenes had confirmed that the gunpowder device was securely fastened, but when they investigated the scene, they found that the screws had come loose.

Fortunately, it didn’t become a fire incident, and if Glenn Dudley hadn’t been able to use a flight spell, both he and Eliane would have been seriously injured.

“Prince Felix. I was so scared,” looked Eliane gingerly as a tear welled up on her beautiful face, hoping he to comfort her. But, Felix, knowing her very well, had suspected the problem.

It’s her…

He also speculated that she was the cause the main actor who played Raul was injured.

Felix smiled softly at Eliane, thinking with cold eyes how foolish her acts had been.

“Still, the play was a success. Thanks to your and Dudley’s excellent performances. You were a perfect representation of the first King and Queen, Ralph and Amelia.”

“…thank you…”

“Oh, where’s your hero? I don’t see Dudley around.”

“Where did he go, I wonder.”

Felix brought up Dudley in the conversation and Eliane’s mood fell in an obvious way. Even when she smiled gracefully, her eyes were not. He felt bad for forcing Glenn Dudley to take the main role but was secretly relieved after seeing the play end up a success.

Felix had been aware that Glenn was a disciple of Seven Sages ever since he enrolled in the academy. For that reason, he had recommended him to act as the main protagonist, believing that even Eliane planning on something, he would be able to cope with it.

And Glenn, unaware of his reason, has done it better than he expected.

Louis Miller has been sniffing around me recently, so I’ve been wary of his disciple too… but, I guess he can be so useful sometimes.

While having that thought, Felix immediately ordered the stage crew to remove the collapsed set.

Elaine kept glancing at him, hoping he to soothe her. But he was very busy right now.

After this, he had to put his attention on the ball dance’s preparation and was about to leave, but Eliane stopped him.

“Prince Felix… would you like to have a dance with me at this year’s ball?”

Felix smiled thinly in his heart at the words ‘this year’. The words she used every year to invite him to a dance at the ball. It had become something like an annual event.

Of course, he can’t refuse her.

After all, she is a distant cousin of Felix Ark Ridill and also a fiancee candidate nominated by Duke Crockford.

“Of course. I would gladly accept,” replied Felix with his usual faultless response, and normally it should be enough to satisfy her. But she’s unusually so persistent today.

“I hope you could give me something… to prove that you had made a promise to me…”

He didn’t need to make a guess to understand. What she wanted was customary of a flower ornament. And she was begging for it.

Felix had never participated in this particular event before. With his busy schedule, he has to change his dance partner depending on the situation, and sometimes he has to give priority to his important guest.

Above all, giving a flower ornament to someone could be taken as a sign that he had decided on a fiancée.

Suddenly, a certain girl flashed through Felix’s mind. It’s Monica with a blue ribbon and white roses adorning her chest. Though timidly, she told him that ornament was a charm to save her from embarrassment. Should he tell her the true meaning of that ornament, what kind of face she would make, he wondered. Or rather, what will her reaction be if he gives her an ornament of yellow ribbon with azure roses to invite her to dance?

She surely won’t be blushed like Eliane. Instead, she would turn pale as if on the verge of collapse and shake her head stubbornly as if her head were about to burst, saying, “I-I-I-I-I-I can’t, the responsibilities are too much for me to bear.”

A charm, she said? How cunning of you, Cyril.

After all, he was not even allowed to give a rose ornament to someone.

His gritting sound from his back teeth could be heard. Oh, no, he can’t grit his back teeth too hard or his beautiful smile would be gone.

It was not like he’s so eager to give someone a rose ornament, but— when he does that, he wants to give it to that girl.

I mean, it will be interesting, for sure.

＊　＊　＊

After properly dealing with Eliane, Felix returned to the school building to complete the final checks before the ball. All that was left to do was to return to the dormitory and prepare his formal dress.

Winter was nearing and the sun was setting fast. He could see the evening outside the window was already turning into dusk.

“Your Highness.”

Someone called him from behind. Turning his head around, he saw someone approaching.

He had a feeling he hadn’t seen him lately. Now he thought about it, last year Cyril had always stood by Felix’s side, saying that he was his bodyguard.

“Oh. I haven’t seen you lately, Cyril.”

“I apologize. There were just so many issues that had to be dealt with.”

“Keep it brief if you have any issues to report.”

Felix urged him to continue the conversation as he walked and Cyril reported as he walked closely behind Felix.

“One of the Institute’s representatives, Roberto Vinkle, he…”

Hearing an unpleasant name, his brows furrowed a little.

“Is he perhaps looking for Monica again?”

“Initially he only came with Prof. Redding as Institute’s entourage…”

Even Felix had not expected Roberto would come as Prof. Redding’s entourage.

After all, it’s rare for Serendia Academy to give a person from another school a permit to enter the school grounds. So he had let his guard down.

Well, there was no need to fret over it anymore, since even Roberto could not attend the ball. After all, the ball was held only for the students of Serendia Academy and a few selected guests.

“Excuse me, Prince Felix… there’s a bug on your shoulder.”

“Hm?”

Before Felix could reach out, Cyril pinched a bug that was perched on Felix’s shoulder.

It was a small spider in fingernail size, a kind that was not particularly poisonous and could be found anywhere. Cyril tried to throw the spider out, but since it can’t settle down in his hand, it ended up hitting the window frame and fell helplessly, which didn’t move afterward.

…what?

A spider is an insect with a surprisingly strong life force. Did he throw it so powerful to enough stop its moving? At that time, Felix felt a small sense of discomfort…

“E-Excuse me…”

He heard someone call him out. Then saw Monica rushed over to him clumsily.

Monica stopped in front of Felix and Cyril, after stopping her ragged breath, she turned her gaze, not at Felix, but at Cyril.

“Lord Cyril, can I have a moment?”

“Have some trouble occurred?”

“Um, there’s no trouble, but… there’s something important, I have to tell you before the ball, and…” said Monica awkwardly with her head hanging down as she kneaded her fingers. Then continued with “B-But it’s something only you can do, Lord Cyril…” without looking at Felix.

—Felix wondered why he felt something seared deep in his chest.

“I understand, let’s hear your story.”

“T-Thank you, b-but I can’t tell this to another person, so…” spoke Monica as she hesitantly tugged Cyril’s sleeve to follow her.

This was the first time Felix saw Monica pull someone else’s sleeve on her own.

— Why does he feel something squeezing hard in his chest?

“…Okay, I’ll follow you. Your Highness, if you’ll excuse me.”

“Yeah…”

Felix replied with the same calmness as always as he watched Monica and Cyril walk away.

＊　＊　＊

Monica led Cyril to an empty classroom nearby. The room was not used for the school festival, and there was no one in the room.

As the ball was approaching, the students started to move to their dormitories to prepare for it. Therefore, there were hardly any students left in the school building itself.

Monica took her hand off Cyril’s jacket and faced him with her back to the window.

The sunset backlighting made it hard for him to see Monica’s expression.

“So, what do you want to talk about, Miss Norton?”

He caught a glimpse of Monica’s face, which was expressionless, just as it was during the chess tournament.

At soon as Monica lifted her right hand, a golden cage was formed around Cyril.

——It was a cage made of a lightning spell. Touch it and he’ll be in serious trouble.

“What was the meaning of this, Miss Norton!”

“Lord Cyril never addressed me with ‘Miss Norton’ nor my full name… he always called me ‘Treasurer Norton.'” spoke the girl who created the lightning cage in an emotionless voice as the man stammered.

“Let me ask you, who are you?”