Silent Witch

"How can a disgrace to our family like you become student council?! Just confess yourself! How in the world did you manage to win His Highness over?!"

Isabelle Norton, the daughter of Count Kerbeck, shouted in a voice that echoed through the hallway, then she slammed her teacup on the floor.

Monica gulped at the sound of shattering glass.

Isabelle also lifted up a stuffed animal that was displayed on the bedside table, and swung it up, before she slammed it against the wall followed by a muffled sound.

"Well, what's with the defiant look in your eyes? You seem to have no idea what you're getting into. Then I'll teach your body to make you understand!"

Isabelle then slammed the stuffed animal against the wall with all her might. Then, she wiped the sweat from her forehead with a fresh face. Her current face was filled with a sense of accomplishment, like a craftsman who had just finished a job.

"So, how my villainous act was?"

"Um…"

Monica was at a loss for a response but Agatha, Isabelle's maidservant who was cleaning up the broken teacups, nodded with a smile.

"You are impressive as always, Lady Isabelle! Your villainous daughter act was very brilliant!"

"Right? Right? Especially the part of saying "I'll teach your body to make you understand!" from the latest book. It was really something!"

"True! I've read it too! It's the scene where just as the count's daughter raises her fork to scratch the heroine's face, the prince comes to her rescue!"

"Yes! That scene is absolutely wonderful!"

Monica, who could not keep up with Isabelle and her maidservant's excitement, sipped the tea that had been prepared for her, then said.

"I think… slamming your teacup on the floor… is a bit too much…"

When Monica glanced at her teacup, Isabelle puffed out her chest with pride.

"Don't worry, it had cracks in it, to begin with! This is why I always keep chipped tableware in stock!"

"I-Is that so?"

"Oh, make sure to smash it on the marble, not on the carpet, so that the sound that it makes would resonate better!"

After hearing Isabelle's meticulous explanation, Agatha was, "As expected of Lady Isabelle! You really know how to give instruction!" while clapping her hands with a big smile.

After Monica told Isabelle that she had been appointed as treasurer of the student council, Isabelle was jumping in joy. Then she invited Monica to her room to have some tea with her.

As a wealthy student, Isabelle had her own room in the dormitory and brought three maids. Among the maids, Agatha was the most junior, who's apparently a reading buddy of Isabelle. She also happily cooperated with Isabelle's play of "the role of villainous daughter."

Is she okay with treating her lady as a villainous daughter?

Isabel and Agatha seemed to be really enjoying themselves, and Monica was secretly having a hard time wrapping her head around it.

Anyone who passed by this room would have mistakenly thought that Monica had been taken into Isabelle's room and was being abused. But wouldn't this ruin Isabelle's reputation?

Despite Monica's concerns, Isabelle put the stuffed animal back in place and sat back in her chair with a truly elegant posture.

"Well then, Big Sister Monica, let me say it again. Congratulations on becoming the treasurer of the student council. To be elected as a student council member just a few days after entering the school… as expected, you were really special!"

Isabelle was squealing while putting her hand on her cheek, but Agatha looked out into the hallway and signaled her lady with her eyes as she brought her finger to her lips.

"My Lady, Shh. If you speak too loudly, people in the hallway will hear you."

"Oh, you're right. Now, this may be less appropriate but congratulation on your assignment, Big Sister Monica. I was just happy as you."

Monica who was meddling with her cup, spoke, "Thank you…" in a faint voice.

Tipping her cup gracefully, Isabelle smiled graciously at Monica.

The gesture and the smile on her face made it hard to believe that she was the same person who had been swinging the stuffed animal around. It was the smile of a perfect young lady.

"Big Sister Monica, if you have any problems in school life, please let me know. On the outside… I might be a brilliant villainous daughter who would interfere with your life, but when there are no people, I will fully support you."

Monica nodded vaguely, wondering inwardly what did she mean by providing support while interfering with her…

Her response might have made her getting headaches, but what her classmate would do was more than that.

In fact, after being dragged away by Cyril, the student council vice president, Monica was skipping classes all day. On top of that, if her classmate knows that she's become a student council member… she can't imagine what they will do to her.

Although she felt no cold, her body was shivering, so she sipped her black tea.

＊ ＊ ＊

On the next day, from the moment Monica left her room, she was subjected to the stares of everyone around her in the dorm, on the way to school, and in the classroom. Apparently, people were aware of the fact that Monica had become a student council member recently.

Their gaze which until yesterday had been one of contempt for the bumpkin was now one of malice mixed with jealousy.

And that was malice and hostility that prickled against her skin.

Some whisper even had irritation and mockery mixed in.

I wanna go home…

Just thinking about that, it almost made her crying, but someone suddenly tapped her shoulder.

Surprised, her whole body frozen then shaking heavily.

She's afraid to turn around. That must be their signal to summon her before dragging her out to the back of the school then pouring a bucket of water on her… and now, her braid was held out which almost made her cry.

"Hey, you're going to wear that hairstyle today?"

The one staring at Monica with a discontent face was Lana Collette. Today, she had her hair neatly curled and hanging down from the sides. A flower motif hair ornament was pinned to the base of her hair.

On the other hand, Monica was so depressed about going to school this morning that she didn't have the heart to practice her new hairstyle at all.

At times like this, she tends to be more careless with her appearance, and her braids are more shabby than usual.

Seeing Lana's eyebrows furrowed in displeasure, Monica quickly apologized.

"I-I'm sorry… I couldn't practice properly…"

"Is that related to the fact that you were taken to the student council yesterday?"

"………."

"I heard a rumor that you've become the student council. Is that true?"

Instead of wearing the badge that identified her as a student council member, she placed it inside her pocket.

Lana's lips dejectedly pouted as Monica unconsciously put her hands in her pockets.

"Oh, you don't even want to talk to me?"

"I-It's not like that… I-I…"

Looking at Monica was mumbling while put her gaze away, Lana briefly spoke, "Hand."

Why did she hide her hands? As Monica alternated between her hand and Lana's, Lana grabbed Monica's arm absentmindedly and immediately rolled up her sleeve. Monica gulped.

Is her hand got injured? Did they do something terrible to her hands? While thinking something dreadful things Lana could think of, she gazed at Monica's wrist, then she exhaled with some relief.

"Sigh, I thought your hand was injured or something…"

"Huh?"

"Vice president Ashley used ice magic on you yesterday, didn't he? The ice handcuffs that were made to restrain you. That's why I thought you might have frostbite…"

Monica was touched as her tears were welled up.

Yesterday, when Cyril put the ice handcuffs on her, Monica put up a defensive spell as soon as she could, so to not get frostbite. However, Lana, who didn't know this, was worried that Monica might have suffered from frostbite.

It was like one of the fears she had until now was melting in her mind. Without her notice, she was crying while making a laughing face.

"Thank… you…"

Although Lana gave her a snort, her cheeks were slightly red.

"Well, I guess I'll have to braid your hair again today."

"Heh-heh…"

"Why are you giggling like that!? At least, you should learn to braid your hair yourself!"

"Hm, okay…"

Monica nodded her head, feeling strangely happy.

"So you had your friend did your hair yesterday? What a nimble hands."

That soft voice was coming from a person that she had heard so much yesterday even she was pretty sick of it.

Lana was surprised to hear such voices. Not just Lana, everyone was also surprised looking at the person that came into their class.

Turning around with a pale look on her face, Monica's eyes met Felix's, who was smiling at her.

His soft blond hair which was glistening in the morning sun, his mysterious blue eyes, and his neatly shaped face were making the girls screaming in shrill voices.

Those who were calmer didn't raise their voices, but they still looked at Felix with a passionate gaze. Despite her surprise, Lana also admired Felix's appearance.

"Good morning."

"G-Good moourni—"

"I'm sorry for barging in so suddenly this morning. I just wanted to give you the schedule for the student council members."

The surroundings stirred at Felix's words. Even Lana was staring at Monica with her eyes wide open.

I really want to disappear from this place right away…

Felix handed a piece of paper with a written schedule to Monica, who looked almost dying, before tracing her collar with his finger.

"Oh, where's your badge? You didn't wear it?"

"W-Well…"

Monica tried to ignore him by turning her head to the side, but Felix grabbed her by the chin and forced her to face him.

"Take out your badge."

After Monica took out her badge in fear, Felix snatched it up and pinned it to Monica's lapel with his own hand.

"You can't just take it off without permission, okay? Now you're a member of the prestigious student council, so you should keep up an appearance worthy of that."

I don't want to be a student council member. But to accomplish this mission, I don't have a choice but to do it.

More than that, the gazes that gathered at her felt so prickling.

S-Scary…

Also, the distance between them was so close. No, it's too close.

That's why, to escape from that reality, Monica started counting the number of Felix's eyelashes.

One, two, three, four… then she thought, His eyelashes got the same color as his hair, and surprisingly it was pretty long. How many matchsticks can be put on there? Two, no… perhaps three of them?

Along with counting the number of eyelashes, Monica also thought, to make it can support such matchsticks, she also had to consider the number of eyelashes needed to, the strength of each lash, the density of its growth. Not to mention, the angle of the lashes was also important.

Still escaping from the reality as thinking all of this, Felix's long eyelashes lifted in front of her, following by his blue eyes twinkled playfully, he then looked up at Monica.

"What are you up to, staring at me like that?"

"P-Puting… M-Matchstick…"

"Matchstick?"

"I was thinking about the best angle to put a matchstick on those eyelashes."

Her classmates, including Lana, who had been watching with breathless anticipation were, "Wha—, you idiot…" in paled faces.

But Felix's shoulder quivering after struggling to hold his laughter, and then he removed his hand from Monica's collar.

"You should ask your friend to make your hair pretty. Your hair was quite lovely yesterday. The ribbons looked good on you too."

Felix finger-combs a bit of Monica's hair and gives her a snappy wink.

"Well then, I'll see you after school. In the student council room."

After that, Felix left the classroom.

As for Monica, she sat on her chair weakly then took a deep breath.

She was so tired. Morning just has started but she was already this tired.

Now she just wanted to go back to her room and crawl into bed… As she was thinking this, Lana pushed Monica's shoulder and sat her down in a chair. Her eyes were blazing.

"U-Um…"

Monica nervously looked up at Lana, but the latter just snorted and held up her comb.

"Now my skills have been recognized by His Highness, I can't send you off with an inadequate hairstyle, can I? So prepare yourself. I will make sure to have your hair look very trendy, stylish, and cute."

"Please just make it like yesterday."