Silent Witch

Book 13: Chapter 5: The Smiles Showdown

At that moment, Monica turned pale when Felix visited the tearoom, but Bridget didn't change her expression and greeted Felix with a bright smile.

"Oh my, it's rare for Your Highness to visit the tearoom."

"I think the rare thing is this combination. Since when did you two become so close that you're having tea together?"

"Why, we're both student council members. There's nothing strange about it, is there?"

The conversation between the handsome man and the beautiful woman, who were the pride of the academy, was a very picturesque sight.

However, Monica couldn't help but feel her palms sweating at the mind games going on behind the scenes.

Th-this is amazing

If she were to interrupt, she might accidentally reveal something. Monica silently watched the exchange between the two.

"The student council meeting is coming up soon, isn't it? I'd like to give you a little lecture for that."

"Oh, when Monica was invited to the club president's tea party, it was decided that you would accompany her."

"Yes, we were discussing the arrangements for that."

Monica was simply impressed by Bridget's smooth excuses. If it were Monica, she would have either come up with a nonsensical excuse or hesitated and stammered.

Felix shifted his gaze from Bridget to Monica and smiled pleasantly.

"Are you prepared for dealing with the club presidents?"

"Y-yes, well, um"

As expected, Monica hesitated, and Bridget covered her mouth with her fan and chuckled.

"Honestly, before we even get to dealing with the club presidents, there's a problem with your etiquette. Miss Norton, did you not take the tea party lessons seriously?"

Monica flinched when Bridget gave her a cold stare.

"H-h-h-how h-horrible of m-m-me"

"I'll thoroughly teach you tea party etiquette for a while. Be prepared."

Oh, well done. Monica was impressed inwardly.

If she were told this way, it wouldn't be unnatural for Bridget to invite Monica to a tea party in the future.

Isabelle, who plays the role of the villainess, is quite a good actress, but Bridget's acting is even more natural.

In these situations, Monica can't help but be impressed by how intelligent she is. At least it's something Monica could never do.

Across from the carefree Monica, Felix was looking at Bridget with a wry smile.

"Your guidance sounds strict. How about I help out as a guest if you're practicing for a tea party?"

"We're not at a stage where we can show it to Your Highness yet. I don't like to show half-baked results."

Felix smiled gently at Bridget, who implied that he should leave.

"The most important thing in a tea party is to enjoy the conversation, isn't it? Don't you think it would be easier if you had someone to talk to?"

How many people could refuse when the student council president, who is at the top of this academy, says so with a gentle smile?

If it were Monica, she would have definitely been won over by that smile.

However, Bridget covered her mouth with her fan and giggled.

"Oh no, Your Highness. Girls' talk is supposed to be a secret from men."

"Something you can't tell me?"

"Yes, like who we're interested in."

Bridget narrowed her eyes slightly and lifted her lips seductively.

It was the kind of smile that would make most men stagger under her charm.

Th-this is amazing It's like a sparkling smile showdown

Monica couldn't help but wonder what a smile showdown was, but when she saw Felix and Bridget interacting, that was the word that came to her mind.

Both Felix and Bridget know how to use their beauty well.

Sandwiched between the two of them, the plain Monica could only blend into the background.

However, Felix would always give a brilliant smile even to such a background character.

"Someone you're interested in? Monica, is there someone you're interested in?"

"Huh!?"

Monica, who was suddenly asked a question, let out a strange cry and started sweating profusely.

H-h-how should I answer this? What is "someone I'm interested in"? The person I'm most interested in right now is His Highness, who is full of secrets. There's no way I can say thaaaat!

As Monica was holding her head in her hands, Bridget smiled and chuckled.

"She was telling me about the time I first got flowers from a boy."

Bridget traced the yellow rose arranged in the vase and looked at Felix with a meaningful gaze.

"Your Highness, do you remember the color of the flower you first gave me when we were young?"

Bridget was testing Felix Ark Ridill, who was in front of her.

How would Felix respond? Would he pretend to have forgotten or?

In front of Monica, who was holding her breath in suspense, Felix took out a white handkerchief from his pocket.

A handkerchief? What is he going to do with a handkerchief?

Felix folded the handkerchief thinly, rolled it up, and shaped it into a rose, then handed it to Bridget.

"Unfortunately, I only have a white handkerchief with me now Ah, after all, blue suits you best."

Monica couldn't tell if this was the right or wrong answer. However, since she saw Bridget pursing her lips in regret under her fan, perhaps this was the correct answer.

Bridget immediately smiled brightly and accepted the white rose made of the handkerchief.

"Oh, you remembered? I'm glad."

"It's better made than before, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's very well made. Your Highness has always been skillful."

"Not really, I just practiced a lot when I was little."

To an outsider, it was a heartwarming conversation reminiscing about the past. However, Monica could feel the intense battle of nerves going on beneath the surface.

Bridget was deliberately bringing up their childhood, waiting for him to make a mistake.

As Monica held her breath, watching how this battle would unfold, Cyril's voice calling out to Felix came from the hallway.

"Your Highness, are you here? There's an urgent matter I need to confirm"

Felix turned his gaze toward the door and shrugged his shoulders, looking slightly disappointed.

"I'd like to be invited to the next tea party as well."

"When Miss Norton acquires the manners of an average person, I'll be happy to."

With that exchange, Felix left the tearoom.

Listening to the sound of the door closing with a thud, Monica let out a deep breath even though she hadn't done anything.

"H-He sure is a smooth talker, as always."

Bridget crushed the rose made of a white handkerchief and muttered spitefully. Still, why is it that the angry face of a beautiful woman has such power?

"It's frustrating, but it seems that man has thoroughly investigated His Highness's childhood."

"Ah, um, if that person the real Highness, and because of an illness or something like that, his personality changed or something like that"

"What kind of pathogen would have to get into his head for that innocent Highness to start spreading cold words and smiles?"

""

It seemed that Bridget had a stronger aversion to the current Felix Ark Ridill than Monica had thought.

After a moment of hesitation, Monica opened her mouth.

"Ah, um, well. I'm planning to infiltrate the Duke of Crockford's mansion on Sheffield's festival day."

"What did you say?"

"If you know anything about the inside of the Duke of Crockford's mansion, Lady Bridget, could you tell me?"

If, as Bridget had deduced, the real Prince Felix was in the Duke of Crockford's mansion, then the more information they had about the inside of the mansion, the better.

That was the intention behind her suggestion, but Bridget pressed Monica and said something unexpected.

"Take me with you."

"Wha?"

"I'm saying that I will also infiltrate the Duke of Crockford's mansion."

"Eh, whaaaat!?"

Monica almost fell out of her chair.

This lady, who seemed like the epitome of a sheltered young lady, would infiltrate on her own? That was ridiculous.

"Ah, ah, um, the infiltration is, well, we're going to blend in as gardeners, so Lady Bridget"

"If I can meet the real His Highness, I don't care if I have to pretend to be a gardener, a groom, or a traveling performer."

Even after that, Monica tried to persuade Bridget with all her might, even though her words were clumsy. However, she was unable to persuade Bridget, who had made up her mind to meet the real prince.

On that day, Monica learned firsthand just how terrifying the power of a girl in love can be.