Bridget brought Monica to the most luxurious private tea room at Serendia Academy.
The table was already set with dishes, so Bridget must have prepared this room in advance… in other words, she had no intention of letting Monica escape.
A maid accompanied Bridget in the room, but after pouring tea into their cups, she left without saying anything. Now they were alone in the room.
"Please enjoy the tea first. It's the first harvest of Florendia."
"Um, Lady Bridget, what is the ‘secret of His Highness' that you want to know? What do you want me to help with?"
When Monica asked directly, Bridget took a sip of tea and sighed.
"It's a vulgar way of speaking to get to the point without preamble. It lacks refinement."
Saying that, Brigitte looked at the flowers arranged in a vase. Monica followed her gaze and looked at the flowers too.
The flowers were yellow roses with delicate petals like lace. It was not something easily obtainable this season.
Monica had learned in the past six months that the sense and wealth of the host were judged by the flowers and tea utensils arranged at the tea ceremony.
"Let's enjoy the tea party by admiring the flowers and teacups, and enjoying black tea, while you listen to my story."
Monica, who was not good at indirect expressions and probing, wanted her to get to the point quickly, but it seemed that Bridget had something on her mind.
As Monica silently took a sip of tea, Bridget smiled lightly and spoke.
"What do you think of Prince Felix?"
Monica let out a dumbfounded voice at the sudden question. If it were Monica from a while ago, she would have answered, "I think he's amazing with his face and body in perfect proportion." But now, Monica had too many thoughts about Felix and couldn't put them into words.
"To be honest, I don't really know."
At first glance, Felix was a charming prince who was well-liked and capable. But everyone knows that he is a puppet of Duke Crockford. Furthermore, Monica knows that he used to call himself "Eig" and secretly engage in night activities and that he is a big fan of the Silent Witch.
…There are too many different sides to him, and Monica doesn't know which one is the real him.
Bridget responded to Monica's ambiguous answer with a short "I see," and her gaze fell to the cup in her hand.
"If you had said that he is a perfect prince who is good at studying, sports, popular with people, and skilled in conversation, this conversation would have ended here, and I wouldn't have asked for your help."
When Monica looked at her with a surprised face, Bridget closed her eyes for a moment and then slowly opened them.
"He is frail, a crybaby, not good at studying or sports, below average in everything he does. Above all, he is extremely shy and timid in front of others."
Could it be that she is talking about herself… Monica wondered, and Bridget continued.
"…That's the Felix I know."
For a moment, Monica couldn't understand the meaning of those words.
Felix is below average in everything he does? Not good at speaking in front of others?
Monica couldn't hide her confusion, and Bridget started speaking with a slightly distant look in her eyes.
"I first met His Highness when I was seven years old. My first impression of him was that he was ‘unreliable and unsightly.' He could barely greet me. He couldn't look me in the eye. He just kept looking down and fidgeting."
Bridget's story sounded more and more like Monica's herself. It didn't feel like she was talking about Felix at all.
"He worked harder than anyone in his studies and sports. Yet, he couldn't reach the level of an average person. He would cry and say, ‘I'm sorry for not meeting expectations even though I'm a royal…' He was really timid, weak, and uncool… but… he was kinder than anyone."
When Bridget uttered the last words, her perfectly beautiful face seemed slightly tinged with sadness. Just by looking at her face, one could easily imagine the feelings she had for Felix.
"I thought no one believed he could become king. I thought so too. But… I thought he would be the one I wanted to be with, even if he couldn't become king."
It was her first love, and her voice murmured softly, tinged with a hint of loneliness.
When you see her face, you can easily imagine the feelings she had for Felix.
"Everyone simply assumed he wouldn't make it as king. I also thought so. But… somehow, I knew he was the one I wanted to spend my life with."
She murmured softly, "He was my first love," sounding somewhat lonely.
Monica was speechless at the sight of the perfect young lady expressing her emotions.
Furthermore, Monica, who couldn't understand love, didn't even know what words to say.
"…I was looking forward to the day I could meet His Highness. But, about ten years ago, His Highness fell seriously ill… and we couldn't meet for over a year."
According to Bridget, Felix was a weak boy in his early childhood. He was frail and would get a fever whenever the seasons changed.
That's why Bridget, upon hearing that Felix had a serious illness, was extremely worried.
She spent over a year in anxiety without even being allowed to visit him…
"I was so relieved when His Highness's illness finally recovered. But when I went to see him… he had changed into a completely different person."
Felix was always a shy boy who would blush when facing Bridget. Yet, when they reunited, the boy kissed the back of Bridget's hand with a graceful gesture and said:
"It's been a while. It's good to see you, Bridget. You've gotten even more beautiful since I last saw you a year ago."
If a girl heard such words from her first love, most of them would have their hearts flutter. But instead, Bridget felt a strong sense of unease. The boy in front of her was undoubtedly Felix Ark Ridill. He had grown taller after not seeing him for over a year, but there was no way she could mistake that face. However, Bridget felt a terrible sense of discomfort and even nausea.
Such words crossed her mind. But this was the Duke of Crocford's residence. Moreover, no matter how close they were, the other person was a royal. Such impolite remarks would never be allowed.
Bridget closed her eyes to the unease and continued interacting with Felix as before.
The Felix she met again after a long time had become adept at both studying and sports. He could now effortlessly lead a lady in a dance that he used to be so bad at, and his manners and escorting were perfect. His behavior was dignified, and everyone agreed that he was a prince suitable to be the next king.
Nevertheless, Bridget couldn't accept that Felix.
─No, no, no, he is not my prince!
With her naturally beautiful appearance inherited from her mother, Bridget quickly became the center of attention among the ladies in high society. To the noble ladies surrounding her, Felix spewed sweet words with a gentle smile. Furthermore, he made his diplomatic debut in his early teens, attracting attention from those around him.
It was around this time that the domestic nobles began to divide into the first prince faction and the second prince faction.
"The prince I knew was an introverted, shy prince who couldn't even have a proper conversation with a girl."
Bridget's description of the "old image of the prince" didn't sound like a compliment.
However, when Bridget spoke about the old Felix, her voice sounded like that of a girl talking about her beloved, and there was a hint of excitement.
But suddenly, Bridget's tone dropped.
"…And yet, he became such a shallow and frivolous man who casually spouts empty poems… How much have I endured, listening to those sickeningly sweet words?"
The delicate fan in Bridget's hand creaked and made an eerie sound. It was scary. Follow current novels on NoveI~Fire.net
Monica timidly intervened.
"Um, well… then, Lady Bridget, what is the ‘secret of His Highness' that you want to know?"
"I believe that the man who currently serves as the student council president in this academy, calling himself Felix Ark Riddil, is an impostor."
Bridget stated bluntly, and Monica understood why she couldn't confide in anyone about this.
Accusing the current Felix of being a fake in a public setting would be unthinkable. It was a statement that could even lead to charges of disrespect and execution without complaint.
With a trembling voice, Bridget revealed:
"I want to meet the real Prince Felix."
The claim that Felix attending this academy is an impostor is simply too ridiculous. No one would believe such an assertion.
But Monica knows. She knows that Felix has a hidden side. That he is hiding something. Above all, Monica has always felt a sense of unease about him having a middle name derived from the Earth Spirit King while his dominant attribute is water.
…Could he be a double?
Monica couldn't just dismiss this absurd story with laughter.
The words Eig said in the pleasure district flashed through Monica's mind.
──I must become a king.
What was the true meaning behind those words? If Eig is indeed a double… How did he feel when he uttered those words?
Pressing down on her pounding heart through her clothes, Monica spoke in a hoarse voice.
"…If he is a double… Where do you think the real Prince Felix is?"
"I believe that the real Prince Felix is still secretly recuperating at the Duke of Crockford's residence because he was weak of body.
The Duke of Crockford's mansion. It is the mansion where Monica plans to infiltrate in a month.
If there really is a genuine second prince at the Duke of Crockford's mansion… If Bridget's words are true, what will happen to Eig when that is exposed?
"…Lady Bridget, if we knew the current Prince Felix is a fake… Do you want to expose it publicly?"
"If that happens, Prince Felix's reputation will plummet, won't it?"
Yes, just as Bridget said, Felix Ark Ridill will lose his position in high society. In the worst case, both Eig and Monica could be charged with deceiving members of the royal family.
Bridget seemed to understand that as well.
"I don't want to expose the truth publicly… I just want to meet my prince."
Monica questioned herself.
What should she do… and what does she want?
Revealing Eig's secret will surely not be beneficial for her. He probably doesn't want Monica to know the truth.
…But still, I want to know.
The reason why he laughed and happily called Monica his nightlife friend, and yet sometimes showed a lonely expression as if he had given up on something.
…I want to know more about him.
This is probably the first time Monica has felt this way about someone.
And also, the first time she takes a step forward on her own.
Just as Monica was about to speak, the tearoom door was knocked, and the hurried voice of Bridget's maid could be heard.
"I apologize, My Lady. Prince Felix is… Ah!"
Before the maid could finish speaking, the door opened. The cold air from the hallway rushed into the tea room, slightly lowering the room's temperature.
"Hey there, you two. Mind if I join the tea party?"
Standing there was a person in the midst of swirling beauty, smiling gracefully.
It was Felix Ark Ridill.