Archive of Our Own ^beta

Monica took a deep breath, looking over her uniform. Her hair looked normal, and her uniform didn’t look dirty. Nothing looked out of place as far as she could tell. She nodded to herself before knocking on the door. “E-Excuse me.”

She entered the Student Council Room, quietly closing the door behind her. She blinked a few times, looking around. Surprisingly, the only person in the room was Felix, who sat behind his desk.

Felix looked up when she entered, smiling his normal gentle smile. “Thank you for coming. I’d like to say we don’t have a lot of work to do now that the student festival is over, but unfortunately, we’ve still got some paperwork to take care of.” He gestured to the neat piles of paper on top of his desk and the table.

“D-Don’t mention it.” Monica quickly made her way over to her seat. Was it her imagination, or did he almost look… tired? “Everyone…”

“They’re working on other tasks.” Felix smiled a wry smile at her surprised look before returning his attention to the paperwork on his desk. “They should be coming back soon to report to me.”

Monica nodded before belatedly realizing he couldn’t see her. “I… see.” She sat down and grabbed the papers around her.

She glanced over at him.

While this wasn’t the first time she had seen him since the ball, it was her first time being alone with him in a while. It made her nervous. Not just because she was alone with him, but also because of these… thoughts in her head. These feelings she still didn’t understand. She wished she could easily forget about them or stop thinking about them, but she found she couldn’t.

Maybe… they were important? In what way, she didn’t know yet.

Of course, she was nervous for another reason, too. She glanced down at her chest. Specifically at the necklace Ike gave her. She… was wearing it again, although this time, she wore it under her scarf, as per the academy rules.

Ever since the ball, Lana had been trying to convince her to try out different hair styles and talking about fashion whenever they met up. Understandable, she supposed, given how Monica had dressed up for the ball and even wore the necklace Ike gave her. All the talk about fashion, though, made her head spin, as it was too much information at once.

She had finally managed to convince Monica to at least wear the necklace more often, and while a part of Monica couldn’t help but worry she’d be bothering Felix if she wore it again, she hadn’t been able to refuse, as she found she… liked wearing it.

It was strange. She shouldn’t be this attached to it, and she knew Felix didn’t give her the necklace to serve as some sort of charm, yet whenever she remembered the strength and courage it gave her the night of the ball, she couldn’t resist the urge to wear it again.

Plus, he… had looked happy when she wore the necklace last time. He had given her a very soft smile, one she… had never seen before, and while wearing the necklace had been embarrassing, she found she liked his smile. It reminded her of whenever she made her friends happy. That soft fluttery feeling in her chest.

She wanted to see it again. Make him happy again. This was probably the first time she had felt this way about him.

The rest of the student council members slowly returned one by one, greeting Monica and Felix. They all paused to look at the gold chain on Monica’s chest, but Monica was too engrossed with the numbers on the paperwork to pay attention to them. After reporting to Felix, they left for the day, glancing at Monica as they did so, causing Felix to raise his eyebrows.

Monica was oblivious to this, though, scratching numbers onto the paperwork. When she finished with the paperwork, she nodded to herself before gathering them into a neat pile and turning to Felix, blinking at seeing the setting sun outside the windows.

She hadn’t even noticed that much time had passed.

Still, she felt pleased she had managed to finish the paperwork in time. Most of the time, she felt useless as a student council member, as she couldn’t do a lot of the jobs they wanted her to do. Paperwork, especially anything to do with numbers, was right up her alley.

She got up, making her way over to Felix’s desk. She paused, her eyes widening. The setting sun caught Felix’s blond hair, making it shine and turn golden, and while she normally didn’t pay attention to things like this, she found herself struck by the beauty. Gold suited Felix. Maybe because he was a prince? Almost all the girls in the school would love to be in her position, she thought with a wry smile.

She shook her head, walking closer. Felix looked up when she approached, flashing his gentle smile. From this close, she could clearly see the exhaustion in his eyes, although he probably thought he hid it well. She wasn’t sure how to bring it up or even if she was allowed to. Maybe the polite thing to do was to ignore it? “H-Here.” She held out the stack of paperwork. “I managed to… finish everything.”

The last thing she wanted was to bother him. He looked exhausted as it was already, yet she found herself wanting to… do something. She wanted to make him smile. Not the smile he just gave her but the smile from the other night.

Felix… No, Ike was her friend after all.

Felix continued smiling, nodding at an empty space on his desk. “Thank you. You can leave them there.” Instead of returning to work, though, he narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her, causing her to squirm. She knew that look. What had she done now? She furiously racked her brain, wondering if she had done something without knowing it. He didn’t say anything, looking her over before blinking and looking at her chest, his eyes widening. Ah, Monica thought, her heartbeat racing from the nerves. He’d finally spotted the necklace.

He got up and made his way around the desk, Monica resisting the urge to tense when he stopped in front of her. He reached out, grabbing the necklace and bringing it out of hiding, her necklace now in plain sight. He stroked the peridot before looking at her, his eyes soft. “You’re wearing it again.”

She recognized that look. It was the same look from before, the one he’d been giving her increasingly often. As much as she tried to convince herself it was her imagination, she knew it wasn’t. She still didn’t know what it meant or why he gave her it, though. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, no words escaping. She fidgeted with her fingers, looking away, finding it hard to breathe under that soft and almost… tender look, although she didn’t know why. “Y-Yeah, I might not be a fashion expert yet, but well… Lana said it was alright, so…”

It probably wasn’t the best explanation, all things considered, but she had done her best. She hesitantly looked back at him, her eyes widening.

Felix smiled a soft smile, the same one from that night. She inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that soft fluttery feeling in her chest. While she couldn’t help with the exhaustion in his eyes, she had wanted to make him happy. Make him smile that smile from before. “I didn’t think you’d wear it again this soon. You’ve made me very happy.” He kept holding the necklace in a gentle grip. “I hope in time, you’ll grow to like it as much as I do.”

Something about that felt off. Like he was talking about something else, although she had no idea what. She found her mouth opening, overcome with the urge to tell him how important this was to her. “That’s… I can’t explain it well, but um…” Feeling self-conscious, she turned her head away. “My treasure,” she murmured shyly.

For several moments, she was unsure whether he heard her or not. She tentatively looked back at him, tensing at the unrecognizable look in his eyes. He averted his gaze before leaning in and kissing the peridot. Just like what happened back then. Her cheeks felt warm for some reason.

He gently grabbed her chin with his free hand, forcing her to look at him and moved closer, Monica squeaking despite herself at close he was. Too close! Too close! “Wear it,” he murmured, a strange light in his eyes. Passion? It almost reminded her of when Ike had talked about the Silent Witch. “Always wear it from now on. It’s yours. Forever.”

… That almost sounded like an order. Again, she got the feeling he was talking about something else. It was so weird.

She quickly pulled away, Felix allowing her to do so. “I-I…” She found she couldn’t look at him, fidgeting with her fingers. She didn’t understand at all. Did he really like seeing her wear it? At the same time, she couldn’t deny she was starting to like wearing it or that she liked making him happy. She finally nodded.

“Good.” Felix almost sounded pleased. “I’m glad.” She hesitantly looked back at him, eyes widening at the joy in his eyes. He wasn’t even trying to hide it, she thought stunned. “I’m looking forward to seeing you keep your promise, Monica.”

She stared at him with wide eyes.

What… in the world did she just agree to? More importantly, why? Why did she like the idea of always wearing the necklace?

Because it reminded her of him? Because it served as her charm and gave her strength and confidence? Because it made him happy?

She didn’t know, and right now, she wasn’t sure if she even wanted to know.

ZZZ

Monica sighed, readjusting her robe for the nth time that morning. “I don’t want to do this,” she murmured, a gloomy aura surrounding her.

“It’s your job, remember?” Nero, who sat on her bed in his human form, reminded her. She was used to seeing him wear his old-fashioned robe. It was weird seeing him wear neat clothes an attendant might wear.

She groaned at the reminder, picking up the peridot necklace. Felix’s soft eyes and soft smile popped into her head, causing her cheeks to flush. What was wrong with her? Why did that keep happening?

“Oi, you’re seriously wearing that?” She paused, looking over at him. Nero had his gaze on the necklace, his eyes narrowed. She nodded, turning back to the mirror and putting it on. “You realize what today is, right?”

Of course she did. That was why she didn’t want to do this.

Today was the start of her newest mission. Her official escort mission as the Silent Witch.

She glanced at him, hiding the necklace under her robe. “It’ll be alright. He won’t even see it,” she reassured, unsure herself where this confidence came from. Normally, she wore it with her school uniform, the golden chain visible. This time, she kept it under her long-sleeved shirt, the cool golden chain resting on her bare skin. Perfect.

She, of course, knew what Nero meant. If Felix managed to spot the necklace, she’d be in trouble. Felix had given the necklace to Monica Norton. Not Monica Everett, the Silent Witch.

Still… She found she couldn’t part from it, especially not today. She felt like she needed all the strength and confidence she could get. Even if she wouldn’t get to show Felix himself the necklace, she felt better having it with her.

Besides, Felix would never know it was there. They would have separate rooms, and as Nero was serving as her attendant, he’d always check who was at the door before letting them in. While she knew it was a risk, he’d never get the chance to see it.

It would be her and Nero’s little secret.

Nero scrunched his face before jumping off the bed, causing it to squeak. “Alright, Master, I’ll trust you.” He stared at her chest, where the necklace lay hidden under her clothes, his eyes darkening before looking at her. “I really hope I don’t need to say ‘I told you so’ during this trip.”

“It’s not a trip. It’s a bodyguard mission,” she corrected, raising her hood to cover her face. She frowned, studying herself in the mirror. It didn’t look right. Maybe it was crooked?

Nero let out a dismissive snort, walking over to her. “Same thing.” He reached out, straightening her hood as if it came normal to him before nodding to himself. “Let’s get this over with.”

One would think Nero was the one being forced to guard Felix, she thought wryly. Not her.

She grabbed her staff before leaving the room with Nero in tow, the necklace moving against her bare skin with each movement.

Looking back, she didn’t know why she felt the need to wear the necklace. Didn’t know why she had felt so confident despite Nero’s misgivings about her wearing it.

She should’ve listened.

Oh, how she wished she had listened to Nero.

ZZZ

Felix couldn’t wait. He was about to meet the Silent Witch, the one he revered and had been longing to meet all this time. Plus, she’d be around him for the duration of his stay. While this diplomatic mission was important, getting to meet the Silent Witch was just as important in his eyes.

Looking out the window, he saw a green forest, the color making him think of a certain person’s eyes… as well as the necklace he had given her.

I wonder how she’s doing.

Was Monica doing alright? Was she already back home? No doubt, Isabelle Norton was already tormenting her. He didn’t like that thought. At all. At the same time, he knew he couldn’t do anything. He’d, of course, try his best if Monica ever asked him for help, but he didn’t think he could do much to help.

His thoughts went to the necklace. While modest, the necklace stood out with its golden chain and the genuine peridot. If someone saw it, they’d probably take it from Monica. While he didn’t like the thought of someone taking the necklace, his necklace, away from her, it was better than them harming Monica herself. Although if he was honest, he wasn’t too worried.

Monica, while a bit strange at times, was a very intelligent girl. She probably already knew to hide the necklace from people who might take it from her.

He’d see her again back at the academy.

For now, it was time to meet the Silent Witch.

While surprised at seeing the Silent Witch’s attendant, Bartholomew Alexander, again, he quickly found himself amused by their interactions. The Silent Witch herself was as silent as her moniker and showed him proper respect. Bartholomew Alexander appeared not to respect him at all and probably would’ve never bowed to him if the Silent Witch didn’t use her no-chant spell to mercilessly smack him to the floor.

Wow.

He couldn’t believe he got to see those beautiful, silent, and merciless spells again so soon. He found himself struggling to speak, moved beyond words.

This… This was what he wanted to see. Had been hoping to see. Now more than ever, he found himself wanting to get closer to the person he’s been obsessing over. The person he admired most.

She was finally right in front of him and would become his bodyguard. It was the perfect chance to get to know her.

Monica popped into his head, causing him to pause. Why did he think of Monica just then? Contrary to what Wildianu thought, he was in tune with his feelings. He was aware of his feelings for Monica, and he was aware of how much he admired and obsessed over the Silent Witch. Those… weren’t the same thing, though. His feelings for Lady Everett were admiration and reverence. He didn’t have any romantic feelings for her whatsoever.

Dismissing the thought, he returned to reality and found that once again, Lady Everett had knelt before him, bowing deeply so that her forehead touched the floor. No doubt, she was apologizing for her attendant’s rudeness. Not that Felix minded.

Still… He didn’t like the thought of her keeping her head down. No, not her.

“Please raise your head, Lady Everett.”

She raised her head just high enough not to be seen under her hood. Disappointing, as he wanted to see her face, but that could wait. He blinked, noticing something.

Her hood, which she had hastily pulled over her head and face earlier, had pulled away from her face in her haste to listen to him. Of course, with her face down, he still couldn’t see her face, but it allowed him to see her light brown hair and her pale neck. That light brown hair… It reminded him of Monica’s hair for some reason. Something shined in the corner of his eye, causing him to look at it. She wore a golden chain around her neck. Maybe a necklace?

It wasn’t any of his business, of course, yet he found himself curious. Lady Everett was obviously a woman, yet she dressed conservatively, almost as if she didn’t care about fashion. It reminded him of Monica. What kind of necklace was it? Who had given it to her?

… No, he couldn’t be jealous. He had feelings for Monica after all.

He couldn’t see the necklace itself. She most likely wore the necklace under the robe and her long-sleeved shirt. Again, his thoughts went to Monica. Was she wearing the necklace even now? Or did she take it off in fear of it being taken?

Deciding he had seen enough, he reached out, his fingers brushing against her hood. She tensed, as if afraid he’d lower the hood. While the thought crossed his mind, he didn’t want to make her upset with him or fear him, so he quickly pulled the hood back into place before the others could see her like this then pulled away.

He, of course, wanted to see her face. He wanted to see it desperately. Just… not like this. It wasn’t fair. He didn’t want it to be like this, although maybe that was his selfishness talking.

ZZZ

Everything was going well, Felix thought. The diplomatic mission was going as expected, and he had even got to speak to Lady Everett about magic. She had even given him some corrections. It was more than he could hope for. He had yet to see her face or hear her speak, but he decided not to think about it.

One thing he didn’t anticipate was Lady Everett’s necklace. For some reason, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

What kind of necklace was it? Who had given it to her? Her attendant? Someone else? Was it just as precious to her as Monica’s necklace was to her?

He vividly remembered the day Monica had told him the necklace was her treasure. He hadn’t been able to believe it at first, and when it finally registered, he hadn’t been able to stop himself from pulling her close and almost demanding her to always wear the necklace.

He wanted her. So much. He had given her the necklace because he wanted one person to remember him. Remember Ike. It was just like her to think of the necklace as one of her treasures. Duke Crockford would never approve of Monica for multiple reasons, and he’d never force her into that position anyway. Even though he knew he couldn’t keep her, he found himself falling for her more and more.

… Not that she was his. She didn’t return his feelings. Not yet… was what he tried to tell himself.

To take his mind off Monica and Lady Everett’s mysterious necklace, he forced himself to focus on hunting. He had put together a hunting game to deepen his friendship with the other party. The problem? Neither of his bodyguards knew how to ride a horse.

He decided to allow Lady Everett to ride his horse. At the moment, she rode behind him, holding on tight to him. He expertly guided the horse through the forest, keeping an eye out. Feeling hands desperately holding on to him, he looked back at her.

“Are you scared?”

She didn’t confirm nor deny it, so he decided to take matters into his own hands. He stopped the horse before turning around.

“Pardon me.”

Felix lifted her off the horse by her waist, Lady Everett desperately pulling her hood down to keep her face hidden. He placed her in front of him, feeling pleased with himself. It was nice to have her close like this. His thoughts went to Monica. Last he heard, she didn’t know how to ride either. He hid his amused smile behind his hand, already imagining her reaction if he got her onto a horse with him.

Maybe one day.

Almost immediately, Lady Everett began to protest by flapping her hands in the air, probably worried she’d get in the way of his hunting. She didn’t need to worry, though, as he didn’t plan on doing any hunting. She didn’t protest after that, her body tense.

Until he guided the horse under a low tree. One of the tree’s branches caught her hood, causing her to reach out for it and try and pull it away. Of course, she was a little frantic while doing so, probably panicking at the thought of people seeing her face. If she continued, she might rip her hood, and that was the last thing he wanted.

He reached out for the hood, his fingers brushing against hers, causing her to freeze. Not for the first time did he notice that Lady Everett had small hands. “Allow me.” She nodded, letting go and bowing her head, her body trembling with fear. She reminded him of Monica.

Felix felt bad for her and gently pulled her hood away from the tree branch, looking it over before looking back at her. Much like before, he saw her light brown hair, pale neck, and that golden chain. He cocked his head, studying it.

Now that he was closer, it almost looked familiar. He could’ve sworn he had seen a necklace just like this. He thought for a few moments before the answer came to him.

Of course. Why didn’t I realize it sooner? It looks like Monica’s necklace.

He gently pulled the hood back into place, Lady Everett bowing her head, most likely thanking him. His mind wasn’t on her, though. That necklace… It couldn’t be the same one, right?

Impossible.

While he couldn’t say for certain he had bought a unique necklace, especially since he had bought it in the entertainment district, he didn’t think it was likely Lady Everett had the same necklace as Monica.

It was probably just a coincidence.

ZZZ

Things with the cursed dragon could’ve gone a lot worse.

Felix owed Lady Everett his life, although in doing so, she had hurt her left hand.

It wasn’t all bad. Lady Everett had slipped up during their conversation, so he now knew she was involved with Serendia Academy. Was she part of the staff? Or maybe a student? How long had she been involved?

Oh, he couldn’t wait to get back to the academy and start looking. He could easily ask the rest of the student council members to help with the search, too.

Nodding to himself, he made his way to Lady Everett’s room. He had already talked with her earlier after her treatment. He knew he should probably leave her alone for the rest of the night. Still… He couldn’t help but be curious.

Her necklace reminded him of Monica’s. More than likely, it wasn’t a necklace but a magic item around Lady Everett’s neck. If that was the case, he found himself becoming even more curious. He wanted to see it up close and study it.

Maybe he could ask the question under the pretense of being worried about her.

He knocked on her door. When no one responded, not even her attendant, he knocked one more time, this time louder. Maybe she was asleep? Or in the bath? Disappointed, he began to walk away before pausing.

… Hang on. Her door was ajar. Someone could easily sneak into her room, and while he liked to think no one here would do that, an intruder could’ve easily snuck inside without anyone noticing. Not that she needed his protection. She could easily take care of herself if the way she took care of the dragon was any indication.

Still… He didn’t like the thought of someone breaking into her room. Maybe he should look just in case? He walked back over and opened the door.

Felix entered the room, quickly looking around. To his surprise, he didn’t spot any intruders. No, instead, he found Lady Everett’s attendant sitting at a desk and eating something while Lady Everett herself stood in front of a mirror near the bed. She froze for a few moments before slowly turning to face him, his eyes widening when he looked at her chest.

No way.

The necklace… The mysterious necklace he had kept thinking about looked just like Monica’s. This was too much of a coincidence.

Felix didn’t want to accuse her. Not her. Still… Something felt off. This was way too suspicious, especially after he had learned she was involved with Serendia Academy. “Sorry for barging in. I was worried when I saw the open door.” He took a step forward, his pleasant smile on his face, watching as she started to tremble. “Lady Everett, if I may ask… Where did you get that necklace?”

The Silent Witch wasn’t a thief. While he didn’t know her that well, he firmly believed she was a good person. Besides, it didn’t make sense for her to steal Monica’s necklace. The Silent Witch could just buy a necklace of her own. Something a lot more expensive than the one he gave Monica.

Then why? Why did she have the same necklace?

Lady Everett kept her head down, her hood covering her face. She didn’t speak, her body posture tense.

Her attendant, Bartholomew, immediately jumped into action and stood in front of her, shielding her with his body. “Barging in like that… You’re not being very gentlemanly, Prince Sparkly,” he spat, glaring at him. “Don’t you realize this is a lady’s bedroom?”

Felix didn’t avert his gaze, keeping his smile on his face. “I did knock,” he pointed out, ignoring the nickname. “As I said before, I apologize for barging in. The door was open, so I thought an intruder had come in.”

Bartholomew, the black dragon himself, scoffed. “You really think my master can’t take care of an intruder by herself?” He gave him a dangerous glare, and Felix got the feeling he was only holding himself back because of Lady Everett. “Did you hurt your head on the way back to your room?” he mocked.

Lady Everett finally moved, reaching out with a shaking hand and tugging the back of Bartholomew’s coat. Bartholomew looked back at her, and they seemed to share a wordless conversation. Felix found himself becoming a little envious of their relationship. It must be nice to not need words to talk to someone. He didn’t think he’d ever share that kind of relationship with someone.

Bartholomew clicked his tongue several moments later before stepping aside. “You better know what you’re doing,” he muttered to her.

Lady Everett took a step forward, her legs shaking.

“Why don’t we sit down?” Felix suggested, feeling bad for her.

Lady Everett paused before nodding, following him over to the chairs and sitting down in the one he had offered to her. Felix sat down across from her, his eyes glancing at Bartholomew, who stood behind her chair, glaring at Felix.

A tense silence enfolded the room, and while Lady Everett trembled in her seat and Bartholomew glared at Felix, Felix sat still, patiently waiting. He didn’t mind waiting.

Lady Everett was clearly willing to talk to him. She obviously had to have a good reason for having that necklace. Maybe she bought the same one somewhere?

She didn’t speak, instead reaching up for her hood, her hands shaking. Felix’s eyebrows raised. Was she… taking off her hood? What did that have to do with the necklace? His heartbeat started to race out of anticipation. Despite the circumstances, he couldn’t believe he would get to see the face of the person he admired most.

She paused at feeling Bartholomew’s hands on hers, his hands gently squeezing her own, clearly trying to reassure her rather than stop her. She took a deep breath before pulling down her hood.

No way.

Felix couldn’t hide his astonishment. Sitting in front of him clad in the navy robe only the Seven Sages were permitted to wear was Monica. Monica avoided his gaze, her eyes closed, trembling.

Monica was the Silent Witch?

How had he not realized it sooner? He had kept comparing Lady Everett to Monica in his mind but never made the connection. Who could blame him? No one would’ve ever suspected timid little Monica Norton to be Monica Everett, the Silent Witch.

Bartholomew grinned an amused grin at him, no doubt enjoying his reaction. Wasn’t that proof right there? He was the attendant and familiar of the Silent Witch.

No wonder the necklace looked familiar. It was his necklace, the one he gave to Monica.

It wasn’t the necklace he stared at, though. No, it was Monica herself.

Even if he still couldn’t quite believe it.

ZZZ

Monica trembled in her seat, tightly clenching her robe, her eyes closed. She couldn’t believe what just happened. Oh, she regretted not listening to Nero now. He had been right. Why didn’t she listen?

I… I need to say something. I need to apologize.

She needed to apologize for so many things. Like lying to him and… disappointing him. Although she still didn’t understand why, Ike had admired the Silent Witch. He had to be disappointed she was the Silent Witch.

Her mouth… refused to open. No matter how many times she tried, words refused to leave her mouth. She clenched her robe even tighter, ignoring the pain from her left hand, her heartbeat racing from the nerves.

Why? Why couldn’t she speak? She needed to.

She hated not being able to speak. Hated how she had ended up in this situation, even though she only had herself to blame. More than anything, she… hated this fear.

This fear that Felix would… start treating her differently. Would hate her because she had lied to him and disappointed him.

That was probably the scariest thing, and she didn’t even know why. Didn’t even know when she started feeling this deeply about him.

Was it because Ike was her friend?

Felix took a deep breath, Monica tensing in her seat.

Oh no. Here it comes. I’m sorry for lying to you. I’m sorry I’m the Silent Witch. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

“She doesn’t look well. You should fetch some water from the kitchen for her.” Felix clearly wasn’t addressing her, instead speaking to Nero.

Nero snorted behind her. “Oh, I get it. You want some time alone with her.”

Monica furiously shook her head. She was afraid. Afraid of being alone with Felix. Nero couldn’t leave her!

“I’m glad you understand.”

Nero clicked his tongue, already starting to walk away. “Well, I am a considerate familiar. Alright, I’ll go grab some real quick.”

Monica, who had her head down, moved her head up, her mouth opening. She still had her eyes closed, fearful of Felix’s reaction.

Nero, don’t go! Don’t leave me!

Unfortunately, those words refused to come out of her mouth. She closed her mouth and hung her head, unsure whether she had ever felt this scared before. She hated her inability to talk now more than ever.

Nero opened the door, causing Monica’s heart to drop. He was… really going to leave her alone with Felix. “If you hurt her, I won’t hold back. Black flame is wasted on you. No, if you hurt her, I’ll eat you myself. Slowly.” He shuffled out the door, leaving her alone with Felix.

Monica, who had frozen at his threat, started trembling anew, letting out a sound of despair. “Ahhh…”

Nerooooooo! Get back here! You can’t threaten His Highness like that!

Felix chuckled, clearly amused. “He doesn’t trust me at all.” His tone was light, as if Nero hadn’t just threatened him. He got up, his chair squeaking, causing Monica to flinch. “Monica.”

Her name. Not Lady Everett or Silent Witch.

She tentatively opened her eyes, looking up from her lap, her eyes widening at seeing him kneeling before her. She hadn’t even heard him approach.

“It’s alright.” His voice was soft. “I won’t hurt you.”

That wasn’t what she was worried about, but that was good to know.

She took a deep breath, trying once again to speak. “Um… I’m sorry.” Tears formed in her eyes, and while normally she’d try to wipe them away, as she had wanted to carry herself with dignity as the Silent Witch in front of him, she found she couldn’t anymore. He had already seen her in not only similar moments like this but worse ones, too. It was too late to try and pretend to be someone she wasn’t. She hung her head like a scolded child, her tears falling. “I’m... sorry for telling so many lies. I’m… sure you must be disappointed I’m the Silent Witch. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. I know you have your reasons.” Felix didn’t speak for a few moments. “His Majesty ordered you to, right?”

She nodded. Felix, like many others, knew that only the king could give orders to the Seven Sages. Even if Louis had been the one who asked her to guard Felix, the order had come from the king himself. She couldn’t have refused even if she wanted to. A thought came to her, causing her to pale and sweat all over. “Exe…”

“Exe…?”

“Will I be executed?”

Felix had found out about her identity. Didn’t this count as a failure?

Felix chuckled, reaching out and patting the top of her hand, causing her to stiffen at the touch. “I don’t see why you would. I’m still alive, aren’t I?” She tentatively looked up at him, Felix flashing her a gentle smile and reaching out with his free hand to wipe away her tears. “While I’ve already apologized for acting out on my own and not taking you with me, I should apologize again. I’m sorry for being reckless.”

She shook her head, hyperaware of his hand touching hers and how he… hadn’t pulled his hand away yet. “N-No need. I-I’m sorry for tricking you when we talked.” She had asked the Abyss Shaman, one of the Seven Sages, to curse her so that Felix didn’t find out her identity. She felt ashamed for trying to trick him and forcing him to listen to that unpleasant and hoarse voice.

Felix laughed, his laugh reminding her of Ike. He didn’t seem bothered at all. “I admit, I’m curious how you managed to do that. Can you tell me?”

“I-I asked Lord Abyss Shaman to curse me.”

Felix tilted his head, still smiling that calm smile. “Interesting. I didn’t know curses of that nature existed. Not that I’m an expert on curses or magic.” He almost looked embarrassed.

She shook her head a few times. While she didn’t fully know his circumstances, she knew one thing. This guy in front of her, Felix… no, Ike, loved magic. “I’m… not an expert either.” She didn’t speak for a few moments. “Ike…”

“Hm?”

“You…” She struggled to keep eye contact, tempted to pull away from him and fidget with her hands. She already knew she’d be bothering him by asking this question. It was a question she had been wondering about for a while, though. “You love magic. Why… do you need to hide it?”

“Because I’m not allowed to study it.” It was short and simple and something she had already heard before.

She didn’t know why she got the feeling he was hiding something from her. “Duke Crockford…” He kept his smile on his face, although his eyes narrowed briefly at the name. “B-Because you listen to him? Why?”

Felix didn’t speak for several moments, and Monica already knew he wouldn’t tell her anything. Just like earlier. “It’s complicated,” he finally said. “I need to listen to him to make my wish come true.”

She remembered the night of the ball. How he had talked about the stars and how her hair stood on end, listening to him. Back then, he had looked up at the stars with a flame of obsession in his eyes. She had felt a firm belief and madness deep within.

She felt torn. That part of her that felt curious about him wanted to know about his wish. She wanted to know why it was so important to him. Why he felt like he had to listen to Duke Crockford and why he felt like he didn’t have the freedom to find something he liked anymore.

At the same time, she didn’t want to know. Wanting to know about his wish was just plain curiosity on her end. Maybe even a selfish desire to get to know him better. She’d only be troubling him if she asked.

Did she want to go that far? Why would she want to? She couldn’t explain it well, but something about him drew her in, which she found odd, considering she had been afraid of him not too long ago.

Maybe because he was her friend? Because she wanted to make him happy?

She had a feeling he wouldn’t tell her even if she asked, so she racked her brain to find something else to talk about. What had they been talking about before?

Right. They had been talking about magic.

Monica hung her head again, belatedly remembering something. “Y-You must be disappointed.” He hadn’t said anything about her being the Silent Witch. He had to be disappointed. “I-I’m sorry.”

“Disappointed? Why would I be disappointed?” Felix gently squeezed her hand, causing her to jump. She hesitantly looked at him, her eyes widening at his soft eyes. “I just learned that the Silent Witch was by my side the whole time.” He reached out, brushing his free hand against the necklace, smiling that warm and soft smile from that night. Her chest felt warm, and she felt that soft fluttery feeling. “That she’s the bravest, smartest, prettiest girl I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.” He leaned in, kissing the peridot, causing her to flush.

Who… Who in the world was he describing? That couldn’t be her. It just couldn’t be.

He pulled away, keeping his hand on hers. “No, I’m not disappointed in the least.” He lowered his voice, his eyes on her necklace. “In fact, I’m glad the person I’ve been obsessing over and the person I’m currently obsessed with are the same person.”

She wasn’t sure she was supposed to hear that last part, so she decided to ignore it. None of it made sense anyway, so it was best not to think about it.

This was probably the longest he had touched her. The longest she had allowed him to touch her.

Desperate to keep her mind off it, she racked her brain, trying to think of something to talk about. Nero and the necklace popped into her head. For some reason, it didn’t even occur to her to pull away from him. “H-He tried to stop me.” When Felix looked up at her, puzzled, she glanced in the direction of the door. “T-Told me I shouldn’t wear the necklace, but I… I wanted to wear it.”

He smiled that warm and soft smile, his eyes soft and almost tender. She found it hard to breathe under that look. “I’m glad you’re wearing it.” He reached out, brushing his hand against the necklace again, his smile turning mischievous. “I’m also glad you kept your promise.”

Promise? What was he…? Ah, he had to be talking about that day in the Student Council Room where he had almost ordered her to always wear the necklace.

She opened her mouth without thinking. “T-This is one of my treasures. I just…” She didn’t know why she felt the urge to tell him how she felt about the necklace. “L-Like a charm. I-It gives me strength and… and confidence.” She found it hard to speak under his soft and almost tender look, causing her to turn her head. “T-That’s why I…”

Oh, this was embarrassing. Really embarrassing. She didn’t even know why she had done that. What was she thinking?

Felix reached out, gently grabbing her chin and forcing her to look at him before moving close, causing her to squeak. Too close! Too close! “While I certainly didn’t give you the necklace for that purpose, I’m glad you think of it like that. I hope you’ll continue to wear it and that it keeps giving you strength and confidence.” He had a strange light in his eyes, and she couldn’t tell what it was.

She pulled away from him and looked away, clenching her robe with her left hand, causing it to hurt. “I-I hope it does, too. E-Even if I won’t be around anymore.” She forced herself to say the words. After all, she was only delaying the inevitable by not talking about it. She found herself… sad and not ready to leave the academy yet. She didn’t think she’d feel this way, although it had more to do with the friends she’d be leaving behind than the academy itself. Including… him.

“Oh? Where are you going? Did something happen?”

Monica blinked, looking back at him. For some reason, he looked just as confused as her. “I-I… The academy…” She shook her head, tears forming. “I… can’t stay anymore.”

“Why not?” Felix let go of her hand, gently unclenching her left hand and stroking it. He reached out with his free hand, wiping away the tears. “You mean because of what happened?” She nodded. She didn’t blame him, of course. Him finding out she was the Silent Witch was all her fault. If only she had listened to Nero. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”

She shook her head, starting to tremble. “N-No, that’s, um, not it. M-My m-mission was…” Why couldn’t she speak? She needed to tell him. She needed him to understand.

Felix didn’t speak for a few moments before smiling his calm smile. “It’s alright because it’s you.” His voice was soft, his eyes softening at her wide eyes. “If I had a choice on who I’d want to guard me, I’d choose you. Every time.”

How… How could he say that? Was this because of what happened with the cursed dragon? He didn’t…

“Y-You don’t even know what I’ve done,” she tried to protest, some part of her wondering why she was protesting. No, she knew why. Felix had always caught on to people keeping an eye on him, and she assumed it was the same with guards. The important thing about this mission was to keep her identity a secret from him, and now that he knew, the mission was over. Why would he want to keep a guard around him, especially when he had never wanted them before?

“I know enough.” He smiled that soft smile, his eyes soft and almost tender. Why? Why did he keep looking at her like that? “You’ve been protecting me this whole time, haven’t you? Ever since we first met.”

Monica stared at him with wide eyes. Her mouth opened then closed. What… was she supposed to say? It was the truth, of course, but… “T-That’s… A-Are you sure?” She briefly tightened her grip on his hand, almost wincing at the pain. “A-Are you sure you… want me around?” She hung her head. “I-I’m not anyone special, and I thought you…” She swallowed, finding she couldn’t speak past the lump in her throat.

Felix chuckled, the sound causing her to look up, surprised at the amusement in his eyes. “Hate guards?” he guessed, a slightly mischievous smile on his face, causing her to think of Ike. “Hate people keeping an eye on me?” He hummed, stroking her hand. “I suppose you’re right.” His eyes softened. “It’s alright, though, because it’s you.”

“B-But…” Not only was he going to keep her secret, but she could also… return to the academy and continue her mission? She felt nervous. Nervous about staying at the academy and about these feelings for him.

When did this mission become so important to her? When did he become someone important to her? It was scary, and she felt the urge to run away. Run away from all these feelings… and him.

Felix didn’t say anything for a few moments, an unreadable look in his eyes before narrowing his eyes, causing her to tense. “You can’t run away. Not now.” Did… Did he just… read her mind? She shivered. Scary. “Besides…” He smiled a wry smile. “Assassins will still come after me when we get back from winter break.”

“Urk.” He had a point. No matter what she did, it wouldn’t change the fact that assassins would continue to try and kill him, and they likely wouldn’t stop anytime soon.

“You really want me to face those assassins by myself?” He reached out, grabbing the necklace and lightly shaking it. “This doesn’t mean anything to you? What about your promise?”

She groaned. Any thoughts of running away had disappeared. She… couldn’t do it. She couldn’t leave him behind, even if she knew he’d probably get another bodyguard. No. More than anything, she found she… didn’t want to leave him.

He grinned at her, amusement briefly appearing in his eyes. “Then I guess I’ll see you at the first student council meeting of the year?” His grin turned slightly mischievous. “No, wait. I guess I’ll see you at the New Year Ceremony first, won’t I, Lady Everett?”

She groaned again. It was official. She had lost, and he knew it. The fear from earlier returned, causing her to briefly close her eyes and let out a shaky breath. “A-Are you sure? This… doesn’t change things?”

She didn’t know what she’d do if they got back from winter break, and he started treating her differently. That was what she was afraid of most.

Felix studied her for several moments, Monica struggling to keep eye contact. “It doesn’t change how I feel about you. I trust my eyes, and I trust you.” He smiled that soft smile, his eyes soft. “More than you know.”

While she didn’t completely understand what he meant, she found herself breathing a sigh of relief. If he said it didn’t change anything then she believed him. She smiled a shy smile.

Felix’s eyes widened before softening. He gently squeezed her hand, leaning in to kiss the peridot.

She flushed, belatedly remembering everything that just happened and how… he still hadn’t let go of her hand. She pulled away from him, Felix allowing her to. She buried her face in her hands.

What… just happened? Why did he… keep holding my hand? This is so embarrassing!

He laughed, standing up. He should’ve been stiff from remaining in that uncomfortable position for who knows how long, but he didn’t look uncomfortable at all. “It’s getting late. I should get going.” He turned and walked toward the door before she could say anything else. She found herself getting up and following him, wanting to say something but unsure what. He opened the door before pausing, giving her a gentle smile. “Good night, Monica. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Monica clenched her fists, ignoring the pain from her left hand. She… needed to say something. Now. Something important. Her mouth opened then closed. She took a deep breath, trying again. “Ike… Thank you.”

… Really? That was the best she could do?

She wasn’t even sure what exactly she was thanking him for. For not treating her differently? For agreeing to keep her identity a secret? For talking to her and staying with her, even when she had surprised him and lied to him for so long?

Maybe she should’ve thanked him for everything. Like she had after their night at the entertainment district.

Felix didn’t say anything at first, watching her with that soft, almost tender look. Something flashed in his eyes, although she didn’t know what. “You’re very welcome,” he finally said, smiling that soft smile, the one she was half convinced only she knew about.

He left her alone after that, and she found herself collapsing to her knees. A lot had just happened, and she didn’t know how to process it all.

Someone knocked on her door, Nero poking his head in a moment later. He came inside the room, holding a glass of water, looking around. “So he finally left. Good riddance.” She wanted to say something. Tell him off for being rude. Before she could, he frowned at her necklace. “Well, could’ve been worse, don’t you think?” he asked rhetorically. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I told you. I told you this would happen.”

She groaned, hanging her head. He was right, of course. This was all her fault.

Everything that happened… Was it a good thing or not? She didn’t know, and she didn’t think she’d find out until much later.

Much, much later. She still needed to survive the New Year Ceremony after all.

She paled, belatedly remembering something. “Nero, what am I going to do? How am I supposed to face him at the New Year Ceremony?” She shuddered. “How am I supposed to face Mr. Louis?”

Nero stared blankly at her before shrugging and grinning at her. “You could always run away.”

… No, it was too late for that.

Louis had been scary the last time she forgot about the New Year Ceremony. She didn’t want a repeat of it, much less experience something scarier.

Besides…

Running away meant… running away from Felix, and she… couldn’t do that.

She couldn’t run away from him even if she tried. This was nothing like her favorite numbers or magical formulae, and that was what terrified her the most.

ZZZ

“Monica.”

Monica, who had been on her way to the Jade Chamber after meeting with Duke Crockford, froze at seeing Felix standing near the Jade Chamber. She had seen him earlier, of course, and while he couldn’t greet her like he normally did, he had winked at her when no one was looking, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. His eyes had softened when he caught sight of the necklace resting on her chest. Just remembering what happened made her want to hide her face in her hands.

As for Louis… She had somehow managed not to give herself away, despite her nerves. As far as he was concerned, Felix still didn’t know her identity, and that was good. It had made her inwardly breathe a sigh of relief.

She should’ve expected this. Should’ve expected Felix wanted to talk to her. That he’d find out about her meeting with Duke Crockford.

She had promised herself not to run away. Not to run away from the New Year Ceremony or away from him, even if this was the last place she wanted to be at right now.

She… couldn’t face him. Not right now. Not after meeting Duke Crockford. Not when she still remembered feeling that uncharacteristic fury. Not when she thought about her father.

Up to this point, she had numerous interactions with Felix, and she still didn’t know how to describe him or their relationship. It was a crazy thought, but she thought she had been… getting over her fear of him.

Meeting Duke Crockford and listening to what he said made the fear return.

Felix took a step forward, his hair disheveled. It was rare to see him like that. Did he run after her? “Monica, I heard what happened.” He took another step forward, causing her to tense. “My grandfather summoned you.” It wasn’t a question. “What did he want?”

She didn’t say anything, looking away from him. She didn’t want to talk to him. She couldn’t.

One of their past conversations came back to her. It was one they had not too long ago. They had been talking about magic, and she had asked him why he needed to hide his love for magic and why he listened to Duke Crockford.

Felix didn’t speak for several moments, and Monica had already known he wouldn’t tell her anything. “It’s complicated,” he finally said. “I need to listen to him to make my wish come true."

Was this wish of his that important? Was it worth being called a puppet by everyone around him? The worst part? She could no longer deny it. He was a puppet, one who’d listen to Duke Crockford no matter what.

Why? Why did that thought infuriate her? Why had she felt the urge to defend Felix, even when she knew it wouldn’t matter? Even when it was the truth?

Why? Why do you listen to him? Why is your wish so important to you?

She bit her lip to stop herself from voicing her thoughts. Even if she asked, he wouldn’t tell her anything.

Felix took another step forward, standing close enough to touch her, concern flashing in his eyes. “He made an unreasonable request, didn’t he? Tell me.”

She shook her head, walking past him, not wanting to talk to him. He grabbed her right wrist, causing her to stop. She didn’t turn around, keeping her face down and under her hood.

“Don’t run away from me.” His tone was stern and almost cold, and she found herself flinching. “I’m sorry, Monica.” His tone was gentle again. He… almost sounded apologetic.

She nodded, accepting the apology. She couldn’t help but notice that he hadn’t let go of her wrist.

Dread filled her. He still wanted to talk. Still wanted to find out what happened.

The longer she stood there, the longer she felt the urge to speak to him. She didn’t know where this urge came from, as it was one she didn’t remember having before.

Why did she want to talk to him? She didn’t want to talk to him.

Felix tugged on her wrist and forced her to turn around, her eyes widening at the desperate look on his face. Why did he look like that? Was that for her? Normally, she’d feel happy someone cared about her, especially if it was one of her friends. Not this time. This time, she felt uneasy and scared of his feelings for her. Scared of her feelings for him. “Talk to me.” His voice was soft. “Please.”

She stared at him with wide eyes. This was probably the first time she had heard him plead with someone. No, not someone. Her.

She was afraid. All she wanted was to be alone. That was what she truly wanted, yet she found herself swallowing painfully and opening her mouth. “W-Why?” she managed to choke out, tears forming in her eyes. “W-Why do you listen to him?”

Felix tensed, narrowing his eyes, something dark flashing in his eyes. “What did he say to you?” When she shook her head, he reached out, gently wiping away her tears. “Tell me.”

She couldn’t. She couldn’t talk to him. She bit her lip, tears coursing down her cheeks.

Felix’s eyes softened. “I know you might not believe me, but I care about you.” His tone was soft and gentle. “Tell me what happened.”

… No, that wasn’t it. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe him. The problem was… that she believed him. She knew he cared about her, and that was what frightened her.

She forced herself to take a deep breath. Again, words escaped her mouth without her permission. “W-Why? Why… do you listen to him?” She ended up repeating herself, but she didn’t care. That question was the one question she wanted an answer to most.

As expected, Felix didn’t say anything for several moments. He stared at her before sighing. “It’s complicated,” he finally said. “I told you that I have a wish, right? To make it come true, I can’t defy him.”

She clenched her fists, that fury from earlier returning. Why? Why is your wish so important to you? He killed my father. She bit her lip to stop herself from voicing her thoughts.

She didn’t like this at all. Didn’t like that Felix was still hiding secrets from her. Didn’t like that he was a puppet. Didn’t like that… Felix wasn’t doing anything.

Felix didn’t strike her as the type of guy to not do anything. She knew Duke Crockford was one of the most influential people in the kingdom, and a lot of people trusted him and gave him their support. Thanks to meeting him earlier, she also had a feeling it’d be difficult to defy him and not pay the consequences.

That wouldn’t matter to Felix. Felix would’ve done anything he could, even if it meant getting in trouble with him. … Or that was what she had thought. Just silently obeying and not doing anything? That... wasn’t Felix at all.

This… puppet in front of her wasn’t the Felix she knew, and she hated it.

More than that, she hated how she couldn’t stop this fear of him, even if she knew he wouldn’t hurt her and that he cared about her. No, knowing that only made things worse.

Felix gently squeezed her wrist, his eyes softening. Stop it. Stop looking at me like that. “What’s wrong?” he murmured, his low voice almost too low to be heard. “What did he say? I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s wrong.”

… No, he couldn’t help her, even if he knew what was wrong.

Monica pulled away from him and turned around. She didn’t want to talk to him anymore. This conversation was over. He reached out, this time grabbing her left wrist, causing her to hiss.

Felix immediately let go, stepping closer. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!” He walked in front of her, turning to face her, his eyes glancing at her left wrist, concern in his eyes. “Are you alright? It still hurts?”

She ignored him, walking past him.

“Monica—”

She turned around, tears in her eyes. “I know what he’s done.”

Felix’s eyes widened, probably astonished she had interrupted him. She had never interrupted someone in his presence before, much less interrupt him. “You—”

She stopped listening and took out her key, opening the door to the Jade Chamber and entering it, not looking behind her. No, she felt determined not to look back at him.

If she had, she would’ve seen a pale looking Felix.

ZZZ

Felix stared after Monica, his eyes wide, in shock at what just happened.

Did Monica… just interrupt him? She had never done that before. She was too timid to even try and interrupt someone. Not only that, but what she said…

“I know what he’s done.”

What… exactly did that mean? Did Duke Crockford tell her something?

His first thought was that she had learned the truth. The truth about who he was.

He didn’t know why that was his first thought. Only he and Duke Crockford knew the truth, and Duke Crockford wouldn’t tell someone, much less one of the Seven Sages.

If Monica hadn’t been talking about that, then what had she been talking about?

He didn’t like this. At all. Didn’t like Monica’s vague answer. Didn’t like how Duke Crockford summoned Monica.

No, he hated it. It was one thing to involve him. He had been prepared to do anything to make his wish come true, and he knew he could do that by listening to him, even if people around him mocked him and called him a puppet.

But now, he had involved Monica. Monica was his hero. He admired, respected, and liked her so much.

He wouldn’t let him get away with it.

“Master…”

He placed his hand on his pocket, silently letting Wildianu know he could hear him.

“What are you going to do?”

Felix frowned, staring at the closed Jade Chamber’s doors. The one place in the castle he couldn’t access. An image of Monica crying alone popped into his head. Was she crying right now? “There’s only one thing to do, and I’m done waiting.”

They needed to speed up their plans. He needed (and wanted) Duke Crockford out of the way.

He’d be able to prove to everyone he wasn’t just a puppet. That he wasn’t going to become a puppet king.

More than that, he found he… wanted to prove to Monica that he cared about her. Still… He couldn’t shake this uneasy feeling.

This sense that something was wrong. He couldn’t stop thinking about Monica’s last words.

“I know what he’s done.”

He felt like he was missing something. Something important. He didn’t like that Monica was suffering. That she was hiding something from him. Again.

… Then again, he was the same, wasn’t he? He was still hiding things from her.

No, this was worth it. Soon enough, he’d be able to prove he truly cared about her and make his wish come true.

Just wait a bit longer.