Under a pleasant autumn sky, a gorgeous tea party was being held in the courtyard.
Even though it was a practical lesson, Serendia Academy has met up its expectation as a prestigious academy. The table arrangements were top-notch, and each table was decorated with beautiful flowers, an assortment that could be compared to a tea party at the royal palace. If it weren't for the students in their uniforms, she might have thought it was a hall in a royal palace.
The girls were happily talking to each other while savoring the tea they had brought.
When the teacher came to do grading, the girls would start to discuss tea, tea utensils, and seasonal flowers, but once the teacher left the table, the topic would change to recent fads and gossip about their love life.
Particularly, the topic they brought up in their discussions was mostly thing related to the student council president, Felix Ark Ridill.
"I'm sure His Highness will choose his fiance during his studies."
"Who would be the most suitable, I wonder."
"I've heard he's very close to Lady Eliane."
"I think Lady Bridget, who is also a member of the student council, would be a perfect match for him."
The names they gave for the second prince's potential fiance were all daughters who were at the top of this school.
And yet, somewhere in the back of their minds, they were fantasizing about being chosen as the prince's fiance.
It's something that every female student at this school dreams about at least once. How wonderful it would be if that beautiful face smiled at them, or if he reaches his hand out to them!
While these girls fantasizing about that, they would also satisfy their pride by citing and looking down on the most unworthy girl for their prince.
"Right, speaking of the same student council members… did you hear about that girl?"
When one of the daughters spoke in the lowered voice behind her fan, the other daughters' eyes naturally turned stern.
That girl—the girl who was elected to the student council despite being a transfer student. Monica Norton.
"I've heard that His Highness has been giving her some dance lessons."
"I saw her too! I heard she was dancing with Lord Ashley!"
"Who does she think she is, asking His Highness and Lord Ashley to teach her how to dance?"
"She must have been some conceited country girl who forced His Highness to help her."
"That girl doesn't even have a servant to make her tea. Does she not have any shame?"
"Just watch her. I'm sure she'll embarrass herself in this class."
Hiding their malice under their beautiful fans, those young ladies giggled at each other.
＊ ＊ ＊
The table where Monica was seated was filled with an odd atmosphere.
Rather, one girl was creating that odd atmosphere. The culprit, surprisingly, was not Monica. It also was not Lana and Casey.
It was Miss Claudia, the most high-ranking person in the group.
Claudia was a very beautiful girl.
She had straight black hair and beautiful eyes that looked like they were made of lapis lazuli. Her face looked like a masterpiece that God had painstakingly created, and her beauty was no less than that of the student council secretary, Miss Bridget.
If Bridget, with her golden hair and amber eyes, has a beauty that of a gorgeous, large-flowered rose, then Claudia was an iris flower of mystical beauty.
Such a stunningly beautiful young lady somehow had a gloomy air about her, as if her relatives had died.
Eventually, Claudia's maidservant handed out enough tea for everyone, and Claudia said with an eerie smile on her pale, lifeless face.
"…Please. Help. Yourself."
She smiled like a wicked witch offering poisoned tea to a good person who knows nothing about it.
But the next moment, Claudia's face became expressionless as if a thread had been cut. Despite her expressionlessness, the gloom and lassitude that she conveyed were strangely palpable.
Monica's worries about what would happen if someone laughed at her when they met were unfounded.
In the first place, this gloomy young lady has neither the energy nor the motivation to smile cheerfully. Her attitude was as if she found it too much trouble to even speak.
Though Monica was said to be a gloomy girl, Claudia was nothing compared to her.
In Monica's case, it was due to her fear of strangers and inability to talk, but Claudia deliberately exuded a gloomy aura from her entire body that made it difficult to talk to her.
That's why the atmosphere at this table was heavy and gloomy.
Monica, Lana, and Casey all drank the tea that was prepared for them in silence.
The tea had a nice aroma. However, due to the strange tension, she could barely taste it.
Ugh… this makes me feels uneasy…
"This tea is so good! Hey, which tea leaves do you use?"
The heavy silence was cheerfully broken by Casey, a lively young lady from the next class.
Sensing the subtlety of the situation, Casey smiled and spoke to Claudia in an effort to keep the mood alive.
"…It's the most popular tea in the kingdom. I don't think you need to ask."
"………"
Casey's dimples tensed as she smiled.
This time, Lana said in a particularly cheerful voice.
"H-Hey, I actually like milk tea. Do you have any milk?"
"…I'm not a fan of milk tea. Are you so stupid that you cannot understand that with your tongue?"
"………"
Lana's dimples tensed as she smiled.
The atmosphere in that place was getting worse and worse.
Monica's lips quivered as she sipped her tea, which she could barely taste.
Then, with an awkward air, Casey, who was second in order, excused herself to bring the tea she had brewed and distribute it to everyone.
Following her was a brightly colored tea prepared by Lana, the third in order. It was refreshing and had a fruity sweetness and freshness to it.
"Miss Colette's tea is delicious. It feels refreshing. I like it."
Monica nodded in agreement with Casey's words, and Lana put her cup in her saucer with a look of pride on her face.
"Well, I've ordered the finest tea of the season, of course."
Then, Lana gave a glance at Claudia. It was probably a retort to Claudia, who had prepared a plain tea.
The strong-willed Lana did not like Claudia's attitude and had been poking at her for some time now.
Monica could only watch on in flustered. Casey, the thoughtful one, somehow managed to keep the conversation going by appeasing Lana and changing the subject.
In the first place, the highest-ranking person is supposed to preside over such a tea party. Monica didn't know Claudia's identity, but judging from the order in charge of serving the tea, she was higher than Casey from the count's family and Lana from the baron's family.
In other words, Claudia should be the one to provide the topic and organize the whole situation.
However, Claudia, who was the heart of the matter, was indifferent, and when she opened her mouth occasionally, all she did was spoke nastily. It's hard to have a conversation with her.
"…if it started with the strongest flavors tea, it will numb the tongue."
Suddenly, Claudia blurted out.
Monica remembered the taste of the tea that Claudia had prepared and surprised.
A tea with a familiar flavor that doesn't have any strong traits… Did she offer it as the first one, so as not to numb the tongue?
Lana and Casey noticed the same thing and looked at Claudia with astonishment.
Having attracted so much attention, Claudia sipped the tea that Lana had prepared, looking as if she didn't care what she said.
"Flourendia's Golden Chips… This is the most valuable tea you can get this season."
"T-That's right."
When Lana bickered with her, Claudia still did not look at Lana but lowered her eyelashes then muttered.
"If this had been an occasion to entertain a distinguished guest, it would have been the best choice… obviously inappropriate at this gathering, though."
"Wha—!?"
"If only one person brings in an extremely valuable tea… the other participants might feel insulted."
Shaking and shivering, Lana's flushed red face turned pale.
Then, Casey called out to Lana in a panic.
"D-Don't worry, I never think that way! Right, Monica?"
"Yes, she's right… I also never think that way!"
As Monica struggled to squeeze out her voice, Claudia slowly turned her head to look at Monica.
Her doll-like blue eyes projected Monica's reflection without blinking.
"…If the daughter of the count says so, I have no choice but to agree.."
"Fueh!?"
The way she said it, it sounded as if Monica nodded because Casey had prompted her to.
Monica half-cried, shaking her head.
"N-No… I-I just…"
As Monica sobbed, Lana slammed the desk with her palm.
"Enough! Could you please stop with that attitude?! All you do when you open your mouth is sarcasm! The most inappropriate person at this table is you!"
Even though Lana shouted at her bravely, Claudia did not move an eyebrow. On the contrary, she looked away, as if Lana was not worth looking at.
"…You think you're worthy enough to make others speak to you."
"Hah!?"
As Lana raised her eyebrows and glared at Claudia, Claudia paused for a few seconds and then opened her mouth languidly.
"…Have you ever heard of [Silent Witch]?"
Of course, she knew, that person herself was already in front of you.
Monica's heart nearly stopped. Maybe it even stopped for a second.
"She is a genius magician who became the Seventh Sage at the tender age of fifteen. She had mastered the art of chantless magic, and in addition, had developed more than two dozen new magic formulas during her time at Minerva… however, she's famous for never having attended a conference."
It was because she was afraid of crowded places and had to run for her life.
"…furthermore, [Silent Witch] never uttered a single word during the ceremony when she was inaugurated as the Seven Sages."
This was due to her shyness and social anxiety issues as well.
Because Monica was so useless, her colleague Louis Miller, [Barrier Magician], took over all the greetings.
While Monica was sweating coldly, remembering the past, Claudia continued her words without hesitation.
"…Have you ever read the article on [Silent Witch]? If you read it, you'll understand her personality… She's a very intelligent and wise person. I'm sure she knew the value of silence."
I'm not intelligent or wise at all, I'm just a shy and gloomy person… I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…!
Sitting beside Monica who had turned pale and was shaking uncontrollably, Lana glared at Claudia without hiding her displeasure.
"Oh, so you're saying that intelligent people don't talk to stupid people?"
Hiiiek, no… you're wrong… I didn't mean it like that…!
Lana's remark was directed at Claudia, not at [Silent Witch], but Monica shrank back in fear.
Claudia only glanced at Monica, as if she didn't even hear what Lana said.
"That reminds me, [Silent Witch]'s name is Monica Everett… just like you, Monica Norton."
Monica cowered.
The sound of her heart was pounding loudly. Her unpleasant sweat kept flowing out.
With her eyes fixed on Monica, Claudia spoke up.
"You've been quiet for a while now because you don't want to talk to an idiot, do you?"
"I-I-I-I will… e-excuse myself… to prepare the teeh…"
Monica stood up, got out of her seat to flee from that place.
And Claudia's blue eyes kept staring at that small back of her.
No one noticed that since the beginning of this tea party, Claudia, who had always had a downcast look, had only looked at one person.
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