Silent Witch
Volume 13 Chapter 3: The (Self-Proclaimed) Pet Dog

A week has passed since the duel commotion.

The talk about the duel has settled down recently, and the dishonorable rumors about Monica and Glenn have somewhat subsided.

Felix, while looking at documents at his desk, muttered to himself that it was the right decision to rely on Eliane and Albert for the groundwork. Although the duel commotion cannot be considered a complete victory for the student council, at least they managed to keep Monica and it can be said that things have calmed down for now. However, there is another matter that Felix is struggling with, and it is not going smoothly.

—It was to find the Silent Witch.

“Your Highness,” Cyril, who is seated nearby, calls out to Felix with a serious expression on his face.

Cyril was holding a list in his hand. The list contains the names of the female students in this academy and the accompanying attendants.

“Regarding the search for the girl with the injured left hand…”

“Yeah, I know. This is troublesome.”

When Felix briefly looked around the classroom, he saw several female students intentionally showing their bandaged left wrists or dropping things on purpose while holding them with their left hands. Some even blatantly clutch their left hand and say, “Ouch…”

Cyril lowers his gaze to the list with a grim expression.

“By the way, all the female students in this class have already been investigated.”

“…I figured as much.”

Felix, showing an unusually disappointed expression, lets out a sigh.

The reason the search for the Silent Witch is difficult is that the number of “girls with injured left hands” has rapidly increased in the past few days.

“It seems there is a strange rumor circulating within the academy. It goes something like, ‘His Highness Felix wants to marry a girl with an injured left hand.'”

“Where did the rumor originate?”

“Apologies. We conducted an investigation, but there is no clear source…”

According to Cyril, the rumor itself has various variations.

Some say that His Highness is being targeted by assassins, and a passing noble daughter protected him and got injured. His Highness feels responsible and wants to marry that noble daughter.

While another says that His Highness was drawn to the girl who injured her left hand while protecting an injured animal.

There’s even a rumor that there was a prophecy that a girl with an injured left hand was suitable to be His Highness’s wife.

…It had many more, but the common point is that “a girl with an injured left hand is a candidate to be His Highness’s wife,” and the other details vary too much, making it difficult to determine the source of the rumor.

The decline in the discussion about the duel commotion is also influenced by this new “boom.”

It seems that it is difficult to uncover Lady Everett’s true identity from the injury on her left hand.

Felix secretly slumps his shoulders, thinking that this rumor was probably spread by the clever Lady Everett.

＊　＊　＊

Lady Bridget is amazing…

While walking alone in the hallway, Monica admires Bridget’s capability.

She has seen more than ten girls today alone who have taken off their gloves and wrapped bandages around their left hands. Monica could never have come up with the rumor Bridget spread, and even if she had, it would have been difficult for her to put it into action. The reason the rumor has spread so widely in just a few days is solely due to Bridget’s influence.

Monica’s left hand is gradually getting better, and she will be able to move it normally within a few days. As long as Monica doesn’t make any mistakes in front of Felix, she can manage to deceive him.

Lost in her thoughts, Monica becomes absentminded and accidentally bumps into one of the male students walking from the opposite direction. It was just a slight collision on her right shoulder, but the petite Monica easily fell on her backside.

*grunts*

The male student who bumped into her looks down at Monica with a displeased expression.

“Hey, isn’t she… one of the student council’s… you know, Hubert Dee’s mistress?”

“Yeah, the rumored one…”

“Doesn’t matter who it is, any guy would do, right?”

Monica flinched at the voices coming from above.

Although these rumors have mostly subsided, it seems that a distorted perception has taken hold among some students.

The male students looking down on Monica now have the eyes of customers choosing a woman in a brothel.

“Who would’ve thought that this plain little girl would be the one he fancies? Dee sure has weird taste.”

“Maybe she’s surprisingly skilled in that area.”

“Well, shall we give it a try?”

The conversation seems to be heading in an unsettling direction.

Still in a slumped position, Monica slowly retreated, but one of the male students stepped on the hem of her skirt.

“…Ah”

As Monica hurriedly tried to pull her skirt out from under his shoe, the boys burst into laughter, finding it amusing.

“Um… could you please… move your shoe…”

“Who do you think you are, giving us orders even though you’re not a noble?”

Monica’s voice trembled as she let out a small whimper, and the boys laughed again. It was as if they were laughing at a bug that had lost its legs.

Monica knew this kind of laughter. She had experienced it many times when she was with Minerva.

Back then, Barney had always come to her rescue, but now… Monica had to handle it on her own.

I-In times like this… I-I just have to shout…

Although she knew it in her head, her throat tightened and she could only let out a pitiful whimpering sound.

Still, Monica desperately moved her trembling lips.

“S-s-stop… please…”

“Mmm, mm, mm—hmm?”

At that moment, behind the boys, a familiar humming voice mixed with a song could be heard.

As soon as Monica heard that, the male student who had stepped on her skirt was kicked in the back of his knee, tumbling ungracefully down the hallway.

“What the… what the hell are—!?”

Hubert Dee twisted his shoe into the mouth of the shouting male student and grinned.

“Mm, mm, mm… Oh no, my foot slipped. If I put my weight on it… I might break a few teeth!”

The male student, whose mouth was blocked by Hubert, turned pale, and the remaining two male students started to retreat.

“Oh, whoops, my finger slipped this time.”

As his ring-clad finger snapped, a flame arrow encircled the two remaining male students.

This is the worst, Monica thought, turning pale.

Just when she thought she was surrounded by bullies, an even more malicious bully appeared. And not just any bully, but Hubert Dee, a particularly dangerous and vicious delinquent.

One of the male students targeted by the flame arrow screamed in a mix of fear and pain.

“S-Sorry. I apologize for touching your mistress. So…”

“Mistress? Hey hey hey, this one isn’t some cheap woman, you see?”

While Hubert continued to step on the man’s face, he turned his head and looked down at Monica.

“Hey, Monica. Say it like you’re ordering a pet dog—tell him guys to crush them. Then, your well-behaved mad dog will bite and kill those bad guys.”

“Stop… please! Please stop, Senior Dee…!”

As Monica screamed in a mix of fear and desperation, Hubert chuckled coldly.

“Stay, huh? It brings tears to my eyes to see such a kind owner.”

As Hubert removed his foot from the man’s face, a resolute voice echoed from behind.

“What are you doing over there?”

With her sparkling golden hair flowing, and without any companions, Bridget Graham approached, glaring at Hubert.

“Answer me, Hubert Dee. What is the meaning of this situation?”

“Just an accident, you know. My foot and finger slipped a little… right?”

As Huebert spoke, he looked at the male students, silently seeking their agreement, and they all nodded. Their faces showed their desire to escape from this place immediately.

Bridget stared at Hubert and the male students with a cold gaze.

“I see. If this is an accident, then take responsibility and carry those you involved in this accident to the infirmary.”

“…that’s what she says.”

As Hubert shifted his gaze to the male students, they all tried to flee. Two of them managed to leave the scene, but the one who had his face stepped on by Hubert was slow to react and got caught by the scruff of his neck.

“Alright, let’s go to the infirmary. I’ll giiiive you some attentive care.”

“Gyaah, please, let me go, let go!”

The male student, who had turned pale and was now screaming, behaved completely differently from before when he had acted high and mighty towards Monica.

Unable to bear it any longer, Monica timidly interjected.

“U-um… Senior Dee, please… don’t be violent…”

Hubert smiled smugly and, still holding the male student by the scruff of his neck, made a theatrical bow.

“As your command, My Queen.”

Saying that, Hubert walked towards the infirmary, humming a tune.

Watching Huebert’s back as he left, Monica let out a deep, long sigh.

As she brushed away the traces of her skirt with her finger while slumping down, Bridget reached out her hand to Monica.

“If that’s your pet dog, you should keep a collar on him.”

“I-I-I wouldn’t dare!”

As Monica timidly took Bridget’s hand, Bridget pulled her up to stand.

Standing closer, Bridget’s beauty really hit her. Not only was she gorgeous, but she had this amazing fragrance too. She just exuded this effortless grace and refinement that stopped anyone in their tracks. She was exactly what you picture when you think of a stunning beauty.

“Do you have time after this? Would you like to have tea together, Miss Monica Norton?”

Bridget proposed with a friendly smile.

However, her quietly shimmering amber eyes spoke differently. It’s like those eyes were implying…

…Today marks the end of our promised week.

Monica swallowed her saliva and nodded.

“I-I accept your invitation.”

“Well, that’s wonderful!”

Bridget intertwined her fingers together and smiled radiantly, appearing very lovely. But still, her amber eyes did not share the same smile.