Chapter 49: Circumstances Behind The Chocolate

After school, for the first time in a week, Monica showed up at the student council room, and Felix was watching her as he lowered his brows.

"Miss Norton, I haven't seen you around halfway through the course observation… where have you been, I wonder?"

Monica winced and decided to make the same excuse she had made to Casey.

"U-Um, you see, I went to the restroom, and on the way, I… was invited into the chess class."

To be precise, she was not invited but was dragged in forcibly by Elliot.

After that one match with Elliot, the course observation period was over, so Monica couldn't visit the other courses.

Felix seems to get a bit surprised when he heard her mentioned the chess class, so he turned his gaze to Elliot Howard, who was doing some assignment in the back.

"Speaking of chess, I remember Secretary Howard was picking up such a course."

Elliot was quietly going through the paperwork, probably pretending not to hear.

Elliot and Bridget, who clearly weren't pleased to have Monica as a student council member, treated her as if she were air or something non-existent when she was in the student council room.

But today, Elliot was a little strange. The way he ignored her was very obvious as if he had disgruntled towards someone.

D-Did I do, something wrong or say something rude, again?

As Monica was breaking out in a cold sweat, Cyril Ashley came back from the archives room and stared at Monica.

"You're not forcing yourself, are you?"

"I-I'm not. And I'm sorry for the inconvenience… of taking a w-week off."

The last time she saw Cyril was in the infirmary after Monica had been poisoned and collapsed.

It has been a while since the time he had shouted at her on how he was going to tie her up with a rope if she ever tried to escape from her bed.

After done staring at Monica's face intently, Cyril then crossed his arms and snorting haughtily.

"I've got to take over your work for the past week you've been absent. So, be prepared, because I'm going to give you a thorough work today."

"Y-Yes!"

Monica nodded tensely with tears in her eyes and took the bundle of documents that Cyril handed to her.

She then moved to her work desk to check the week's worth of documents, but there was nothing particularly unusual to note—in fact, all the work had been neatly organized. All Monica had to do was to read the contents.

The meticulous, detailed handwriting probably belonged to Cyril. He had taken over Monica's work for a week.

Determined not to cause him any more trouble, Monica refocused her concentration on the documents.

As expected, the thickest document was things related to the school festival which held on next month. As she was looking over the draft budget, a voice came from behind Monica.

"Hey."

Not realizing that it was directed at her, Monica kept her eyes fixed on the draft budget.

Cyril, who was working on something else besides her, looked at her in exasperation.

"Monica Norton. You're called out."

"W-Wha?"

After letting out some silly words, she turned around and saw Elliot standing behind her.

Elliot seemed to have a bitter look on his face when he turned his gaze down at Monica.

"Miss Norton, do you have some time after this today?"

"Eh? Um…"

When she heard about the after-school call, ‘would it be what they called love confession?' but Monica didn't have the nerve to get excited about it.

This might what you call when someone calling a person out in a place where absolutely no one around, only to abuse that person and beat her/him up later. Perhaps, he's planning to take her badge again.

As Monica unconsciously clutched the badge on her lapel as she cast her head down, Cyril interrupted him.

"Make it another day. She has a week's worth of work to catch up on today."

"Well, okay. I'm sorry for interrupting your work."

Strangely, Elliot looked relieved and went back to his seat.

As Monica watched his back, Cyril whispered to her.

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"Did something happen between you and Secretary Howard?"

"I-I'm not sure… but during chess class, I might have said something rude."

She just played one game of chess during the course observation. However, Monica might not have noticed, but there was a great possibility that she had made Elliot displeased.

…but playing chess seems fun. I'd like to take that course.

Unlike mathematical equations, the opponent in chess is a human being. Therefore, a strategic aspect of the game cannot be won by just calculating probabilities. And that kind of aspect was what made Monica's got interested in it.

"Are you not going to take the magic courses?"

At Cyril's sudden words, Monica's hand that was holding the pen trembled.

Why do Felix, Cyril, and everyone else want to encourage Monica to pick up the magic course?

"I think it's too difficult for me… what about you Lord Ashley, did you choose the practical magic as your elective course?"

"I currently taking up an Advanced Practical Magic course."

Advanced Practical Magic was a special elective course that required students to complete a certain number of courses.

"Advanced Practical Magic is only available to those who have excelled in Practical Magic in their first or second year. If you wish to pick up that course, you must have completed both Practical Magic and Elementary Magic within your first or second year."

"I see…"

"In other words, if a second-year like you want to take Advanced Practical Magic course next year, you have to pick both an Elementary Magic and Practical Magic this year."

"Oh…"

As Monica vaguely responded to him, Cyril tapped his fingers on the desk and eyed Monica.

"So let me ask you again, are you not going to take the magic courses?"

"Um… Well…"

Monica was an undercover student at the academy who was hiding her true identity.

Even if it's just an elective course, whenever there's magic involved, she's got a feeling she's going to slip up. Especially when magic formulas are involved, she might inadvertently get carried away.

"I will not pick up the magic courses…"

"I see…"

After a short murmur, Cyril returned to his work, and Monica decided to concentrate on the documents in front of her.

＊ ＊ ＊

After the day's student council works were settled, Cyril made a suggestion to Felix.

"Treasurer Norton and I will be staying behind to finish things up. I will lock the door."

"Okay. I'll leave it to you, but… make sure not to stay up too late."

"I will."

Once Cyril nodded, the rest of the student council members began to leave the student council room.

All that remained in the room were Cyril and Monica.

Monica looked at the documents on her desk and tilted her head.

I wonder what kind of task to have us staying behind?

To tell the truth, Monica couldn't think of any duties that required her to stay behind.

The week's duties have been taken over during normal duty hours, and today's duties have been completed.

"Um, Lord Ashley. Do these tasks were related to the school festival?"

"It's not. Clear your desk and wait a moment."

"O-Okay…"

Why the desk should be cleared when the tasks need to be done?

Despite her doubts, Monica did as she was told, put the documents back on the shelf, and sat down on a chair to wait for Cyril to return.

Apparently, Cyril had left the student council room. Could it be that he has something to bring from the other room?

Restlessly fidgeting her fingers on her lap, Cyril came back with something in both hands.

In Cyril's hand was a white cup. It was not a kind of elegant cup used for a tea party, but just a plain white cup that was a bit thick and chunky.

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Cyril placed one of the cups in front of Monica and sat down across her.

"Drink this."

Monica looked at the cup that was placed in front of her. It contained a light brown liquid. The color was lighter than coffee and the scent had faintly sweet. Monica had smelled this scent once before.

"Is this… chocolate?"

"Yeah."

Chocolate is a popular delicacy among the nobility. It is a drink made by grinding cocoa beans and mixing them with sugar and milk. It has a distinctive flavor and is more expensive than coffee.

Monica had been given a drink of chocolate once before… but that chocolate was supposed to be more sludgy.

Lifting the cup fearfully, the liquid inside shook. It looks lighter and silkier than the one Monica had drunk before.

Cyril sipped his cup with a nonchalant look on his face. Monica imitated him and sipped from the cup.

"……..!"

Monica rounded her eyes in surprise.

The light texture and mild sweetness were unlike any other chocolate she'd had before. It wasn't sludgy, and the sourness characteristic of cocoa was milder.

Preparing a drink of chocolate took more work than coffee. Coffee beans can be stored to some extent just fine after they've been ground, but cacao beans have a high-fat content, so they can never be stored even after being ground. In other words, to make this kind of drink, grinding it first was a must. Since it involved that much effort, chocolate was not popular as coffee.

However, this chocolate did not have the thick texture characteristic of fat.

"This chocolate… has less fat?"

"That's right. The beans are processed by removing the fat from the beans and grinding them into a powder, by using the latest technology."

If cacao beans could be preserved in powder form, it would be a very revolutionary invention. It will be easier to store than ever before, and easier to drink because it will be dissolved in water or milk.

As Monica secretly admired it, Cyril glanced at Monica with one eye.

"I heard about your incident from Claudia. You drank the poisoned bitter tea that the daughter of Count Norn prepared for you."

"…y-yeah…"

The bitter poison was put into a cup of tea, but instead of spitting it out, Monica drank it while still thinking, ‘Is this sort of drink?'. As a result, it ended up becoming a commotion.

As Monica shrank from the memory of that incident, Cyril stated in a strong tone.

"Because you usually don't eat enough of the good food, it ended up that way. You should have improved your diet. You cannot afford to bother His Highness again, like the other day."

"I-I will… I'm sorry…"

"In other words, this is for His Highness. You got it!?"

"Y-Yes!"

In response to Monica's shaking of her head, Cyril nodded and tipped his cup, saying, "As long you understand.'

"You've been elected by His Highness for your abilities… Then again, there's no guarantee that someone jealous of your ability won't cause an incident like what the daughter of Count Norn did."

Cyril was absolutely right. Originally, Monica was supposed to be the one guarding Felix, but instead, she was being helped by him.

"You should at least learn to defend yourself. Don't let His Highness keep handle it for you."

"…yes."

Monica hung her head in shame and thought absentmindedly.

Has Cyril ever been jealous of someone else, too?

…he shouldn't, shouldn't have.

Being a part of the second prince's entourage would attract a lot of admiration and envy. There would be no small number of envious people.

And now, Monica was in the same position as him.

"Um, Lord Ashley. T-Thank you, very much. For the other day, and, uh, for this chocolate too…"

Cyril snorted as usual and blurted out, ‘Just taste it and drink it.'

Monica nodded her head and drank the warm chocolate to relish it.

Cyril, who had been staring at such Monica, suddenly opened his mouth as if he had remembered something.

"Let me tell you one thing, don't tell His Highness about today. Especially about this chocolate…"

"Um, Lord Ashley…"

Cyril glared at Monica with a deep crease between his eyebrows when Monica interrupted him with a freaked-out expression.

"What?"

"His Highness…"

"What about His Highness?"

"…is behind you."

Cyril's expression vanished from his face.

Behind Cyril, Felix was standing there with a broad smile on his face. The way he eliminated all signs of his presence was as good as that of an assassin.

"How can you have a tea party without me?"

"Y-Y-Your Highness!"

"I never thought I'd hear that stuttering way of speaking from anyone other than Miss Norton."

"Ah, no, this is… just…"

Cyril became unusually pale and flustered. His gaze in particular was flickering over the cup in his hand. It's as if he wants to hide the chocolate from Felix.

In response to such Cyril, Felix smiled with his usual gentle smile.

"You don't have to hide it from me. I wouldn't mind having something like that, you know?"

"U-Um… but…"

Cyril's panic was like that of a criminal who has been found in possession of illegal drugs. Why was he getting so flustered?

"I'd like some of those chocolates. Could you make some for me too?"

When Felix said this, Cyril gave a ‘yes' answer with a somewhat relieved look on his face and left the room at a brisk pace.

Looking over his back, Felix let out a sigh.

"You don't have to be so uptight."

Unsure of the meaning of the exchange between Felix and Cyril, Monica asked Felix with trepidation.

"Oh, um… is this chocolate, actually, something I shouldn't drink?"

"No, not at all. In fact, it's become a trend among the nobility in this kingdom lately."

Then why was Cyril so flustered?

Monica tilted her head, but Felix said it was nothing.

"As for the technique to remove fat from cocoa beans, it was invented by a scholar from the neighboring Kingdom of Randall."

The Kingdom of Randall was a small kingdom located between the Kingdom of Ridill and the Great Empire to the East.

How did Cyril's flustered behavior have anything to do with what the scholar there had invented? Monica had no idea, but Felix then told her.

"The mother of my elder brother Lionel is the Princess of Randall."

Finally, Monica understood why Cyril had tried to hide the chocolate from Felix.

There were three princes in this country, but each had a different mother.

The mother of the First Prince Lionel was the Princess of Rundall. As a result, many members of his faction naturally place importance on the connection with Randall.

Cyril was probably worried that his fondness for the latest technology of Randall's chocolates would make His Highness think he was a person of the first prince faction.

"Whenever I show up at a tea party, no one offers me chocolates made with Randall's techniques. I mean, what's the harm in something that tastes good?"

After saying that, Felix snatched the cup out of Monica's hand and took a sip of the chocolate.

The prince himself sipped from a cup that someone else had sipped from, a spectacle that would make Cyril's eyes widen.

However, to Monica, Felix's current actions seemed to be an indication of his openness.

"…being royalty must be tough."

"Yeah, really."

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Felix's profile, as he muttered, lacked his usual calmness… there was a coldness in his face as if he was looking down on the ridiculousness.

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