That night after the tea party lesson in the courtyard ended, Monica was working on her report in her attic room.
Getting point deduction was a matter of fact after serving coffee at the tea party. Since Lana and Casey negotiated a lot with the teacher, the teacher didn't deduct all her points, instead, they made her write a report.
Beside Monica, who was writing her report, was Nero licking a cup of coffee with plenty of milk poured in. In his cat form, Nero dexterously clutching a small cup with his paws, sticking his face into the cup.
"Phew, this thing is not bad. So this is what a grown man tastes like."
Grown men won't pour so much sugar and milk into their drinks.
Exasperated at his comment, she finished her report then put back her quill pen at its place, then let out a deep sigh.
Recalling her tea leaves that had thrown into the trash can, Monica was certain it was an intentional act to harass her.
These things will keep occurring from now on, won't they?
Their hatred toward Monica will keep increasing day by day for sure.
But, what Claudia did hurts her head even more.
"Nero…"
"Oh, what's up?"
"I just wondering… maybe someone knew my true identity as the Silent Witch…"
Raising his head from the cup, Nero with his whiskers smeared in milk, said.
"Wanna do night escape?"
"Why did you always make such a decision?"
"Well, if your identity discovered, Lululu Lunpa will kill you, won't he?"
"…It's Louis. Please remember it, will you?"
While Nero was licking his cup, Monica pondered.
If her identity discovered, she will be forced to end this undercover mission.
Louis might give her a smile of indignation, but she will back to her quiet daily days, hiding back herself in the cabin, reading and calculating formula as she pleased. Without worrying about her social life.
…Even so, why she can't honestly happy about that?
"Um… My identity hadn't been discovered for certain… So I guess I will keep an eye just to make sure."
Feeling Monica's unwillingness, Nero narrowed his golden eyes, then said, "Oh, really~" in a teasing manner.
"If this you a while ago, you would have cried out, ‘I had enough~ I can't~ I wanna go home~'"
"Ugh… W-Well… you might be right… but…"
While Monica fidgeting with her finger, Nero leaped onto Monica's lap, tapping at Monica's thigh. His gesture was like that of humans who consoles their acquaintance.
"Why but? If you've got a little bit of an attachment to this place, I don't think that's a bad thing."
"…is that… alright? …yeah, you right…"
Nero was right. For Monica, this school was no longer a place filled with only bad memories.
Although not many, she has friends, who would lend her a hand when she's in trouble. That was something new for Monica, who had previously shut herself off from socializing.
But, that timid and clumsy ‘Monica Norton' was only her temporary identity.
Eventually, when her mission is over, Monica will leave the school and return to her life in the cabin.
When that happened, she would never see the people she had met at this school as "Monica Norton" again.
…and Monica will return back to be Monica Everett of the Seven Sages, Silent Witch.
＊ ＊ ＊
One week after the tea party.
Monica was completely at loss.
As soon as lunch break came, Monica hurriedly left the classroom. Even though she was the first one to leave the classroom, she still couldn't let her guard down.
After looking around restlessly, Monica took a large stride to leave the school building.
This should be fine… right?
Thought Monica while raising her gaze, but then she saw a figure with black hair stood in the shade of a water fountain, only to make her let a little gasp.
It was Claudia. When she standing near the water fountain, her figure was like a figurine, but when she noticed Monica, she only turned her gaze, staring intensely at her.
She's been like that all this week.
Claudia would appear wherever Monica went, only to stare at her from a distance.
She never came close or talked to her. All she did was looking at her, which was made her behavior would only look creepier.
When Monica hurriedly trying to head to the back of the school building… *bam* she bumped into someone and fell on her butt.
"I-I'm sorry…"
While holding her nose that bumped into, Monica raised her gaze, then found Glenn looking at her with widened eyes.
"Monica, are you okay?"
"I… I'm sorry…"
Even in her apologizing, Monica still trying to find a place to hide. And Glenn, who looked at Monica's state, muttered, "Oh!" as if he had figured something.
"You're being followed by someone, aren't you?"
"W-Well… something like that…"
"Alright, let me help you!"
Glenn held Monica lightly by his side, chanted a short incantation, then kicked the ground.
With Monica in his arm, Glenn floated up with a flight spell, jumped onto a fairly thick tree, then released the spell.
"Now they won't catch you so easily here! This is my favorite place to take a nap!"
"Thank… Thank yo—"
Just when Monica about to thank him.
She saw someone down walking toward the tree. It's Claudia.
She walked near the tree then quietly passing by… or so they thought, instead she stopped her foot right in front of the tree where they're up there.
In a spur moment, Monica used her no-chant spell to create a wind gust aiming at the tree not far from her. By swaying that tree a little should have to move Claudia's attention.
And Claudia was staring at the swaying tree below the tree where's Monica up there.
"… is it just my imagination?"
Claudia muttered to herself, then went deeper into the backyard of the school building.
After making sure her figure disappeared, Monica sighed out quietly, and Glenn relaxed his brows then looked at Monica.
"Are you being bullied by that person?"
"N-No… I'm not being bullied by her… I'm just being followed by her…"
"In that case, you'd better speak up clearly! If you feel uncomfortable saying it, I'll say it for you, okay?"
"T-Thanks… but, I'm fine…"
Since no real harm has been done, she can't denounce Claudia yet.
What's more, Claudia might be aware of Monica's true identity. If she cornered Claudia, she might tell everyone that Monica was the "Silent Witch," and it would be a disaster.
She's probably trying to keep an eye on me to see if I'm really the Silent Witch…
If Claudia was completely sure, she wouldn't be monitoring Monica like this.
Then, it's better to stay quiet until Claudia gives up.
Afterward, Monica asked Glenn to take her down from the tree, being asked, "wanna grill some meat with me?" but politely declined before heading back to the school building.
In the end, She used all her lunch break time. Although she's used to skipping her meals, after having run away from Claudia all this time, she was completely tired.
I wish to enjoy my meal peacefully, thought Monica as she let out a sigh, but a few girls stood in front of her classroom, blocking her way into.
"May I have your time, Miss Norton?"
The person who approached Monica was a blonde-haired young lady who seemed to be in the same grade. Because Monica can't recall her face, they should probably from a different class.
Monica was taking precautions but only to be responded with a smirk from that young lady.
"I am Caroline Simons from the house of the Count Norn. I'd like to invite you to my tea party."
"Tea… party?"
"Indeed. Class ended a little early today, doesn't it? So, before you do your student council work, why don't you come to my tea party? I've been wanting to get along with you for a long time."
Judging from the atmosphere, the leader of this group should be Miss Caroline. Monica didn't know much about the house of Count Norn, but they should be a prestigious family in their own right.
So, unless Monica's got something important to do, she won't be able to refuse her invitation.
No, I don't wanna go, suppressing her whining thought, in a shaky voice, Monica responded to her.
"As… As long as it won't interfere with my duty on the student council…"
"Of course. It won't take a long time."
Caroline smiled happily and asserting, "Right, everyone?" while exchanging looks with the girls around her.
The other girls looked at Monica observantly, while affirming Caroline's words.
A blatant look of disdain in their eyes spoke more eloquently than anything else, treating Monica as a shabby girl.
If she could, she would refuse her invitation. But she can't create any ruckus that would make her stand out in the school.
Okay, I'll be fine, just drink the tea without saying anything needlessly until the end. I will be fine…
While Monica desperately thought those words to herself, a pair of blue eyes like lapis lazuli was gazing intensely at her figure, and Monica hasn't noticed it.
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