Book 2: Chapter 10: His Highnesss Secret (1/2)
”Hey, Monica. Wake up.”
She heard Nero's voice along with the soft sensation of a paw pressing against her cheek.
Opening her eyes, Monica realized that she was lying on a clean bed. Her bed was surrounded by curtains and smelled faintly of disinfectant. It was an infirmary.
Rolling over on the bed, she saw Nero, a black cat, sitting on the bedside table. Animals were strictly forbidden here, so he must have sneaked in through the window.
”Nero, I just had an amazing dream. In my dream, I was appointed as treasurer of the student council…”
”Listen to me and be surprised, Monica. What you saw there was not a dream, but a reality.”
Nero then poked Monica's collar with his paw.
An unfamiliar decorative pin was pinned to Monica's lapel. It was proof of membership in the student council, similar to what Felix and the other student council members wore on their lapels.
Monica got up from the bed and stared at her collar.
”T-T-This is…”
”His Highness put it on your lapel. People love that kind of thing, don't they? The thing so-called authority.”
Nodding in approval, Nero then tapped Monica's thigh with a paw.
”At any rate, you did a good job. Now, as a student council member, you can proudly stand by the prince's side.”
”I-Is that so?”
Considering the fact that she had to protect the second prince in secret, her appointment as treasurer was a great blessing, but… Naturally, no one would like the idea of a dull girl like Monica being elected to the student council.
At that time, Monica was mostly crawling on the floor, so she didn't see the faces of all the student council members. Despite she was lying flat on the floor, she could still feel their cold hostility.
Especially the vice president, Cyril Ashley, who looked like he was about to use offensive magic.
”T-They would definitely harass me… like put thumbtacks in my shoes, hide my writing utensils, and pour water on my uniform… No, I really don't want to go to class anymore…”
”Oh, I've read such situations in novels! But, are you sure they would go that far?”
”Why do you look so happy?”
Just as Monica wailed in a sorrowful voice, Nero's ears perked up.
”Hey, someone's coming.”
With that, Nero quickly hid under the bed.
I wonder who that might be? Could it be the infirmary staff?
As Monica was thinking about this, the curtain surrounding the bed was drawn up.
It was not the infirmary staff, but Felix.
Monica reflexively pulled the blanket over her head. She knew it was rude, but she couldn't help it because her body moved on its own. It's called defense instinct.
Felix didn't look uncomfortable but rather smiled in amusement.
”Oh, you're awake? I'm sorry for coming without notice. I thought you were still asleep.”
”Tha… Tha… Tha…”
”Hm?”
”I-I think that would be disrespectful of me.”
When Monica squeezed out the words with a dying look on her face, Felix only responded with ”Oh,' in a smile before sat down on Monica's bed and crossed his legs.
Monica wanted to open up some distance between them, so she wrapped herself in the blanket and moved to the very edge of the bed, but… She lost her balance then fell off the bed.
”Kyaah!”
Fortunately, since she was wrapped up in a blanket, she didn't get hurt, but it still hurt.
At the same time, when Nero, who was hiding under the bed, gave her a look as if to say, ”What are you doing?”, it felt hurt too.
Wrapped in the blanket, she wondered if she should just crawl under the bed, but then she heard a voice above her.
”Little squirrel, why are you wrapped up in your blanket so tightly? Are you getting ready for your winter hibernation now?”
”Y-Yesh, b-because today is so c-cold.”
Unfortunately, the season has just changed from summer to autumn, making it a very pleasant time to spend outside.
Still, Monica clutched the blanket and insisted desperately that she was wearing it because she was cold.
Then Felix wrapped his hand to the blanket that had been wrapped around Monica's.
”Oh, you poor thing. Okay, then let me warm you up.”
Monica quickly let go of the covers and backstepped herself from Felix, but… Using an unfamiliar backstep caused her legs to tangle up before she rolled off to the floor.
Once again, her eyes met with Nero's under the bed. I want to cry.
Still, she couldn't stay crawling on the floor forever, so Monica hiding behind the bed before got up sluggishly to look up at Felix.
”Um, Your Highness…”
”You can call me student council president, Felix, or whatever you want. Because from today on, you're a student council member like me.”
Felix's words brought reality to Monica's mind.
Monica touched a decorative pin from her lapel and shakily told Felix.
”T-The role of treasurer… is too much for me…”
”Are you unhappy with my decision”
His voice contained just a hint of chilliness, which made him seem much more intimidating.
Feeling like she was about to burst into a thousand pieces, Monica shook her head, but Felix held out Monica's hand while smiling then said, ”Then, I take it as an acceptance.”
Then he turned Monica's palm up and placed something on it. It was a baked sweet filled with nuts.
”Here's your reward for today. You did well.”
”I'm afraid that would not—hmph!”
Felix picked up one of the sweets and popped it into Monica's stuttering mouth.
Remembering that she hadn't had lunch yet, Monica munched on the sweets in silence. The sweets were a little hard as many nuts there, but it was filled with honey, which was a new taste for her. It was the first time she had tasted such a delicious treat.
Monica, who has a tendency to concentrate on her food once she starts eating, forgot that she was supposed to decline his offer to become treasurer, instead, now she was focused on savoring the sweets.
”Is it good?”
In response to Felix's question, Monica nodded her head as she munched on sweets.
Felix gave Monica more sweets to take in her hand and then quietly stood up.