The Silent Witch Gets an Education in Adult Society (It Was Very Educational) (11)

Lionel, who was escorting Tsetsilia, was a large man. The length of a single stride must have been more than twice Tsetsilia's.

This huge man was now walking slowly and carefully, matching Tsetsilia's stride.

It was like watching a large beast walk carefully so as not to step on a tiny flower at its feet.

Tsetsilia glanced up at Lionel and thought.

(...Am I being taken to his bed?)

Although relations before marriage were frowned upon in some regions, they were by no means unusual among the Empire's upper classes.

Tsetsilia's brother, the Emperor, probably thought that if she could ensnare Lionel, she should hurry up and throw herself at him.

Her brother often told Tsetsilia, "Use whatever you can."

(The only thing I possess besides my title is this body, after all...)

In the Empire, Tsetsilia was known as the Silver Moon Princess.

The moon was a fleeting presence that went unnoticed while the sun was shining. It was beautiful, but the name implied a lack of presence.

Her brother Leonhardt was like a black sun that burned everything to ash. Before his overwhelming presence, everyone else faded into the background.

Tsetsilia, on the other hand, had no particular qualities in which she especially excelled apart from her title as a saint.

Her appearance was beautiful, but she lacked glamour. Her bearing was acceptable, but not memorable.

...That was the Empire's Silver Moon Princess.

"Princess Tsetsilia."

At Lionel's words, Tsetsilia suddenly returned to her senses.

Lionel had stopped in a beautiful gallery lined with glass windows. The far end opened into a somewhat wider space, where a bench had been placed.

It was a quiet place with few people and little lighting, so the stars were clearly visible through the glass windows.

"Please."

Lionel offered Tsetsilia the bench, then sat beside her.

The large man sat awkwardly at the very edge of the bench. Thanks to that, Tsetsilia could sit comfortably, but she felt somewhat guilty.

Before Tsetsilia could invite him to sit closer, Lionel spoke.

"I'm sorry for taking you away without asking."

Lionel placed his hands on his knees and bowed deeply.

"Your Highness looks pale... You seem as though you might collapse. I imagine the fatigue from your long journey has caught up with you. There is a room where you can rest if you turn right down this corridor. I'll inform your guards, so please go and rest."

Tsetsilia's eyes widened.

Lionel's tone was filled with genuine concern for Tsetsilia's health. There was not the slightest hint that he had brought her to a room with any ulterior motive.

Should she accept his kindness and thank him? But she was here to ensure that her match with Lionel succeeded. She could hardly be permitted to do nothing but rest.

(...I have to tell him that I'm all right.)

But if she refused, would that mean she was slighting Lionel's concern?

Tsetsilia desperately considered what the correct response would be.

She had always lived by reading the other person's mood from their expression and tone, then choosing a safe, inoffensive answer that would not rock the boat.

And yet, looking at the sincere, guileless Lionel made even trying to gauge his mood seem terribly wrong.

"In that case, I shall take my leave... If there is anything I can do for you, please ask at any time."

While Tsetsilia hesitated, Lionel quietly stood, bowed, and began to walk away.

All Tsetsilia could do was silently watch his broad, imposing back as he left.

＊　＊　＊

(So this is what adult consideration looks like...!)

Monica, who had been watching the exchange between Lionel and Tsetsilia from the shadows, was utterly impressed by Lionel's thoughtfulness.

This must be what Melissa had meant by learning how the adult world works.

(Prince Lionel is amazing...)

As Monica secretly admired him, she heard footsteps behind her.

When she turned around, a large black-haired man was approaching. An Imperial guard—the 〈Mirage Mage〉 Kaspar Hütter.

Monica straightened her posture, and Hütter stopped and glared at her.

"I apologize for the delay in my greeting. I am the 〈Mirage Mage〉, Kaspar Hütter."

"...I-I'm Monica Everette, the 〈Silent Witch〉..."

When Monica bowed, Hütter snorted.

Although he claimed to be apologizing, his attitude was clearly insolent.

The eyes behind his glasses held unmistakable hostility and contempt. The previous exchange had apparently earned Monica his complete enmity.

"In the Kingdom of Riddle, can even children become Seven Sages?"

"........"

"Why would His Majesty the Emperor appoint such a child as a guard?"

Monica was used to being looked down on, and she did not particularly take offense.

However, Hütter's words brought something to mind.

She was here as one of the Seven Sages, appointed by the Black Lion Emperor.

If Monica behaved shamefully, it would cause trouble for the other Seven Sages as well.

So Monica clenched her fist tightly in front of her and looked up at Hütter.

"Yes. I am the guard His Majesty the Emperor appointed, so..."

Her heart was pounding noisily. Her clenched hand was clammy with cold sweat.

Even so, Monica took a deep breath and carefully chose her words so she would not bite her tongue.

"As for my duties... I will guard Tsetsilia-sama properly. I look forward to working with you."

Hütter stared down at Monica.

Surely she looked awful right now. She could not smile with the composure Melissa always displayed.

Even so, Monica did not look away. She met Hütter's gaze.

She had no idea how long they remained that way.

"Hütter? And 〈Silent Witch〉-sama, too..."

The faint voice belonged to Tsetsilia. Her eyes moved anxiously back and forth between Monica and Hütter. Given what had happened earlier, she was probably trying to be considerate.

The 〈Mirage Mage〉 bowed to Tsetsilia and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I was apologizing to 〈Silent Witch〉-dono for the delay in my greeting."

"...I see."

Tsetsilia quietly nodded, then looked toward one of the rooms along the corridor. It was the room Lionel had recommended for her earlier.

"I shall rest in that room for a while... And..."

Tsetsilia cut herself off and looked at Monica.

As Monica wondered whether she should wait outside the room as well, Tsetsilia said something she had not expected.

"〈Silent Witch〉-sama, would you mind speaking with me inside for a little while?"

Apparently, Tsetsilia wanted to speak with Monica alone.

Cold sweat ran down Monica's back.

(This is definitely punishment for what happened earlier...!)

Of course, Monica was in no position to refuse, so all she could do was tremble and say, "Very well."

＊　＊　＊

The guest room Tsetsilia invited Monica into was an elegant room furnished in white and blue.

Tsetsilia did not sit on the bench. She stood at the back of the room and stared intently at Monica. Monica nervously closed the door. Just before it shut, her eyes met those of the 〈Mirage Mage〉 standing in the corridor.

Hütter glared at her with sharp eyes. Monica shuddered with a frightened squeak and quietly closed the door.

"〈Silent Witch〉-sama."

"Y-yes!"

When Tsetsilia called her name, Monica stiffened, imagining she was about to be scolded.

But contrary to Monica's expectations, Tsetsilia did not have a stern expression. Instead, the delicate princess bent deeply at the waist and bowed her head to Monica.

"I am terribly sorry for the great discourtesy shown by a mage of my country earlier. I sincerely apologize."

Monica was so surprised by Tsetsilia's action that she was left speechless.

If anything, the ones who had certainly been rude were on Monica's side—Melissa, specifically.

Monica was about to tell Tsetsilia to raise her head when she noticed something. Tsetsilia's hands were trembling slightly. Her downcast face was deathly pale, and she appeared visibly unwell.

"...Tsetsilia-sama, um, are you all right?"

When Monica cautiously spoke to her, Tsetsilia shook her head with a pained expression.

"I'm sorry... It isn't anything serious..."

"But you're so pale... C-could it be poison...?!"

Whether Tsetsilia had been poisoned or was suffering from a sudden illness, there was nothing Monica, who was not a doctor, could do.

As Monica reached for the doorknob to call someone, Tsetsilia rushed over and clung to her.

"No! Please, wait! ...Wait, please..."

Tsetsilia wore a desperate expression. She cut herself off and began to groan in pain, then crouched down while pressing a hand to her stomach through her dress.

After taking several labored breaths, Tsetsilia looked up at Monica with tearful eyes and spoke in a faint voice.

"It's not poison or a chronic illness... It's always like this..."

"Huh?"

"Whenever I go out into high society, my stomach starts to hurt... When it's particularly bad, I even throw up what I've eaten... It's so shameful, isn't it?"

Tsetsilia apparently took Monica's astonished reaction as dismay.

Tsetsilia covered her face with both delicate hands and hung her head.

"...I'm sorry. Someone like me becoming crown princess... Of course the people of the Kingdom of Riddle would be ashamed..."

"U-um!"

Monica instinctively opened her mouth.

Tsetsilia looked up at Monica, her tear-damp lashes fluttering.

Monica stammered and blurted out the words that came to mind.

"I'm really bad at appearing in public too... During the interview for the Seven Sages, um... I hyperventilated and fainted... So I understand how you feel, Tsetsilia-sama..."

The moment the words left her mouth, Monica paled, realizing that she had said something terribly insolent.

The burdens borne by Tsetsilia, a member of the royal family, and Monica, an ordinary person, were completely different.

Monica was ashamed of her own thoughtlessness in blurting out that she understood how Tsetsilia felt.

(Ugh... I want to disappear...)

As Monica turned bright red and fidgeted with her fingers, Tsetsilia lowered her eyes and murmured.

"...I've hyperventilated several times too. Of all things, I hyperventilated at my older brother—His Majesty's birthday celebration... I managed to cover it up at the time, but His Majesty was terribly exasperated with me."

As Tsetsilia gradually let her innermost thoughts spill out, her complexion began to improve ever so slightly.

"...Honestly, I don't want to appear before people at all. I'd rather stay in my room and knit lace..."

I understand. I understand completely, Monica thought, nodding enthusiastically.

"Tsetsilia-sama, you're amazing. You even greeted His Majesty so confidently... You're much better at it than I am..."

Having said that, Monica suddenly lifted her head and pressed both hands to her cheeks.

Tsetsilia looked puzzled by Monica's sudden strange behavior, so Monica hurriedly explained.

"Um, well... If I say 'someone like me'... my cheeks get pinched!"

Tsetsilia's eyes widened, and she tilted her head.

"........Who does that?"

"An older woman I know..."

Monica had only just had her cheeks pinched without mercy.

As she remembered the pain and rubbed her cheeks, she heard a small giggle.

Tsetsilia was covering her mouth and giggling softly.

Monica was drawn into her laughter and let out a silly little laugh of her own.