Chapter 66
After school, Felix was working in the student council room when Elliott and Monica arrived almost simultaneously. Apparently, both had been selected as players for the chess tournament and had been speaking with Professor Boyd about it.
The student council room happened to be empty except for Felix.
With the academy festival approaching, everyone else was busy negotiating with people from outside the academy and meeting with the heads of the various departments. Felix, on the other hand, was waiting for reports, so he had a little time to spare.
Just then, good news arrived: Elliott and Monica had been selected as players for the chess tournament.
Felix beamed at the two of them.
"I'm delighted that two student council officers have been selected again this year. Do your best as representatives of the academy. I'll reduce your workloads a little until the chess tournament."
"Th-thank you v-very much."
With the academy festival approaching, it was only natural for the student council officers to be busy, but Monica worked quickly, and Bridget, the other secretary, could cover Elliott's share, so there would probably be no problem.
Bridget was capable in her own right, but more than anything, she was exceptionally skilled at putting people to work. Her ability to efficiently mobilize department heads, committee members, and club representatives was almost enough to inspire admiration.
The busiest person at the moment was undoubtedly Neil from General Affairs. Felix was helping cover Neil's workload, but perhaps Cyril should help him, too. Until now, Cyril had been assigned as Monica's tutor, but once the chess tournament was over, there would be no problem taking him off tutoring duty.
As he considered the work assignments, Felix glanced at Monica and Elliott.
Monica was as awkward as ever, looking down bashfully and nervously twisting her fingers. The atmosphere around Elliott, however, seemed to have lost most of its thorns.
Elliott had not seemed pleased about commoner Monica becoming a student council officer, but lately, his attitude had softened a little.
(…Cyril, and now Elliott... Did something happen between them and little squirrel without my knowing?)
In Elliott's case, the chess class was probably the catalyst. Felix had wanted to recommend magic class to Monica, but she had chosen chess instead.
If only their school years had been shifted by one, he could have played chess with her too, Felix thought, secretly disappointed. He had taken the chess class the previous year.
"How strong would you say little squirrel is, Elliott?"
"She's pretty brutal. She's only played three times, but she forced me into a stalemate."
"Oh?"
Elliott was strong enough to be selected as the team's captain. Being able to force a stalemate against him was more than worthy of praise.
Felix suddenly had an idea. He took a chessboard and a complete set of pieces from the cupboard, then looked at Monica.
"Would you like to play a game with me? If you're competing in the chess tournament, there's no harm in facing a variety of opponents."
"N-n-n-n-n-no! N-no! I-I couldn't possibly i-intrude on Your Highness's w-work!"
"I'm free right now. Hmm… If you beat me, I'll grant you any one request."
At Felix's suggestion, Monica opened her round eyes wide. Her normally shadowed brown eyes caught the light and glittered a bright young-leaf green.
"R-really… I can ask for anything?"
"Of course."
As he nodded, Felix secretly felt his heart begin to soar.
Monica basically never asked anyone for anything. Even when she merely borrowed a quill, she fidgeted apologetically.
And now little squirrel was going to ask him for something!
What on earth would this little squirrel ask Felix for?
(…A mathematics book, perhaps.)
That was entirely possible, but he would not have minded. If his adorable little pet wanted something, he could certainly indulge her with a reward.
Felix remembered seeing Monica drinking chocolate with Cyril a short while ago.
Lately, his favorite little squirrel seemed to have grown strangely attached to Cyril. Before he knew it, she had even changed the way she addressed him from "Ashley-sama" to "Cyril-sama." And she still called Felix "Your Highness"!
In short, he was sulking because his favorite pet had taken a liking to someone besides him.
(Well, a mathematics book would be fine too.)
Giving her an exceedingly rare book and watching the little squirrel gape in astonishment sounded entertaining in its own way.
With that scheme in mind, Felix arranged the pieces.
Now then, he would have to lose artfully, without Elliott or Monica noticing.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Checkmate."
As Monica announced it, Felix studied the board and secretly smiled wryly.
(…Hmm. This is…)
Although he had indeed held back a little, Monica had won by an overwhelming margin. At this rate, he might not have needed to hold back at all.
(I meant to make it a closer match… Well, whatever. I planned to lose from the start, anyway.)
As Felix was thinking this, Elliott's cheek twitched as he glared at Monica, having watched the one-sided and overwhelming game.
"…I finally figured it out, Miss Norton…… That match we played at noon—you were holding back, weren't you?"
At Elliott's words, Monica looked aghast and shook her head.
"N-no! I-I wasn't holding back!"
Monica desperately denied Elliott's accusation…
"I gave it my all to bring about a stalemate!"
She had just incriminated herself.
"So you were aiming for a draw from the very beginning… You know what people call that? H-holding back."
Elliott groaned in a low voice and pinched Monica's right cheek. Her thin cheek stretched with surprising elasticity.
With her cheek pinched, Monica sobbed and tried to explain herself.
"I wanted to test the patterns that result in a stalemate…"
"So you used me as your test subject. That does it. I'm angry now. I'll tell Professor Boyd to switch the captain and lead-player positions."
"Nooooo! I-I'm sorrry!"
As he pinched Monica's sobbing cheek, Elliott wore the expression of the mischievous brat Felix remembered from long ago.
Although Elliott was now a man fixated on aristocratic propriety, Felix knew that he had been quite the mischievous boy when he was younger.
(Hmm, he's really enjoying himself.)
Felix watched Elliott, who looked oddly happy despite being angry, and smiled wryly.
"Secretary Howard, that's enough. You're going to stretch little squirrel's cheek pouches."
Elliott let go with a sullen expression. Monica sniffled and rubbed her reddened cheek.
"So, little squirrel, what would you like to ask me for?"
"A-anything is really okay, right?"
"Of course."
When Felix nodded magnanimously, Monica clenched her fist and spoke with an unusually resolute expression.
"I-I want you to stop calling me little squirrel!"
"…"
Still wearing a kind, cheerful smile, Felix silently reached for Monica's left cheek and pinched her fair cheek.
"Whyyyyyyyy!?"
"Wow, it really does stretch. Hmm, I could get used to this."
"It huuuurts!"
"Oh, sorry, Monica."
Felix let go in a flash. Monica sobbed pathetically, rubbed both cheeks, then opened her eyes as wide as they could go and stared at Felix.
"Y-you just now… W-wait, what…?"
"Yes, what is it, Monica?"
When Felix said this with a broad smile, Monica somehow managed the feat of turning pale even as her cheeks swelled red.
Still cupping both cheeks in her hands, Monica began to tremble violently.
"A-at least, c-could you call me Miss Norton or Treasurer Norton, like everyone else does…?"
"Your request was that I stop calling you little squirrel, was it not? You never specified what I should call you instead."
Felix replied matter-of-factly, and Monica finally went completely still.
Felix had no way of knowing, but at that moment, a mean-spirited 〈Barrier Magician〉 was cackling inside Monica's head.
──Ha ha ha, this is what happens when you fail to set the conditions precisely, my fellow classmate.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Monica bitterly savored the lesson that this was what it meant to win the game but lose the match.