Time flew by quickly after the day Monica revealed her true identity in the student council room.
Monica skipped classes to hole up in Count Anvard's workshop, working on the magic tool. In her free time, she returned to Serendia Academy to receive lessons from Bridget in the student council room.
Bridget's special training taught Monica how to conduct herself befitting one of the Seven Sages.
It was similar yet subtly different from the etiquette classes at Serendia Academy.
"At Serendia Academy, they teach ‘a lady should never put herself forward, but remain modest and gentle'. However, that is merely the conduct expected of a young noblewoman. So, you better consider the conduct required of one of the Seven Sages as separate."
Bridget declared this at the start of the training sessions.
The stage Monica would be performing on was the Supreme Council, which gathered the highest authorities of the Ridill Kingdom.
There, Monica would face skilled political players like Duke Crockford, so acting demurely like an exemplary lady would only get her devoured.
Moreover, a petite, soft-spoken girl may be outright ignored. Even among the Seven Sages, the Silent Witch was often looked down upon simply for being a young woman.
"What's needed is a confident demeanor. If you want those around you to acknowledge you belong here… first, you must convince yourself that you belong."
For Monica, who often felt out of place no matter where she went, Bridget's advice was difficult to follow.
When Monica looked down doubtfully, Bridget used her fan to tilt Monica's chin up, showing no mercy despite knowing her identity as one of the Seven Sages.
"Nobles use every means possible to convince those around them that they belong——their speech, appearance, accessories, servants, connections, lineage, wealth… They utilize all these to have their worth acknowledged. So we too must employ every available means."
One such means was bearing and speech.
Although Monica had improved in her stuttering lately, she still often trailed off or mumbled.
Thus, Bridget provided thorough guidance on voice projection and enunciation, while not neglecting to point out issues with Monica's posture and gait.
After the training session reached a good stopping point, they took a short break. Elliot and Cyril returned to the student council room, both carrying stacks of documents.
"Got quite a few of those testimonies you requested. With this many, the council can't ignore them."
"Here's the revised strategy based on Claudia's advice. Check the details I've written on the maps."
Monica quickly received the document bundles from the two and scanned through the contents.
At Monica's request, Elliot, Albert, Eliane, and other influential individuals at the academy had been gathering "certain testimonies" within the school grounds.
While each testimony carried little weight individually, together they formed a powerful weapon. Monica alone could never have gathered so many testimonies.
Meanwhile, she had asked Cyril and Claudia to thoroughly review the strategy, relay instructions to those who would take action on the day, and coordinate their efforts.
The Black Chalice was nearly complete, with Hubert providing the final touches.
…I wouldn't have made it this far without everyone's help.
Acknowledging this fact, Monica carefully reviewed each document one by one.
Those around her had put in so much effort to reach this point. As such, Monica had to give her all in response.
At the Supreme Council, she would conduct herself confidently as the Silent Witch of the Seven Sages and emerge victorious.
To that end, there was something Monica desperately wanted.
"What is it? Is there an issue with the plan?"
"N-No, it's just… you see…"
Monica fidgeted with her fingers as she glanced upward at Cyril. After squirming for a while, she seemed to steel her resolve and spoke up.
"…On the day of the council meeting, to help me act confidently… c-could you give me… a good luck charm?"
Cyril looked perplexed, while beside him, Elliot clapped his hands together. "Oh!"
He then narrowed his droopy eyes and grinned slyly.
"You mean the festival hair ornament, right?"
"Y-Yes, that's right."
The hair ornament she had received during the school festival had been carefully preserved as a dried flower, but it was so fragile that it might crumble if touched.
That's why Monica wanted a new "good luck charm"——a rose of the color of Cyril's hair, with a blue ribbon matching her own eyes.
"…If I had that, I feel like I could act as confidently as Lord Cyril, so…"
Cyril averted his gaze awkwardly. When his wandering eyes met Elliot's sly grin, he cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"Understood. I'll have one prepared by the morning of that day."
"…! Thank you so much!"
Monica Norton will not be attending next year's school festival. So she had thought she would never receive another festival hair ornament.
But to be able to get one last ornament before leaving the academy, Monica felt so fortunate as she savored this small happiness.
Observing this exchange between Cyril and Monica, Elliot leaned in and whispered to Bridget.
"Isn't that surprising? You're not going to say anything, Miss Bridget?"
"…Say anything about what?"
Bridget eyed Elliot while hiding her mouth behind her fan.
Elliot shrugged with a slightly mocking smile. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novel-fire.ɴet
"I thought you'd scoff at the idea of a ‘good luck charm' as mere self-indulgence."
"I've said it many times——for the success of the mission, any means is acceptable. Besides…"
Bridget trailed off, her gaze distant, as if reminiscing about something.
When Elliot prompted, "Besides?", she simply said, "It's nothing," and ended the conversation.
Besides… receiving a hair ornament from one's beloved must be a joyful thing, no?
When she closed her eyes, the image of a young prince offering her a rose made from his scarf resurfaced in her mind.
No doubt Monica had worn the same expression as herself back then.
Unlike Bridget, who had realized her first love that day, Monica seemed completely oblivious.
Which brings more happiness——being aware of it, or remaining unaware?
Bridget did not know the right answer.
However, she did know that even if love was unattainable, those memories could become priceless treasures.