Book 7: Chapter 7: Non-Flag Triangle. (1/2)
Ever since Monica heard that Minerva's students were coming to the chess tournament, she has not been able to sleep well. Waking up on the morning of the competition day was just as terrible, and she woke up just as the sun was rising. The cold voice of the boy whom she believed to be her friend was echoing in the back of her ears.
—You'd be better off holed up in an isolated mountain cabin.
Monica sniffed softly and pulled the blanket over her head. Then, a thud sound came across from the room. She slightly rolled up the edge of the blanket and peered towards the sound.
”Oh, this should be good, right? There, I've done my turn.”
”What a tricky position. Well, how about this?”
”Ugh, gggghhhh… this is… this is…”
A beautiful woman in a maid's uniform and a black cat were sitting together around a chessboard on the attic floor.
She had assumed that they were playing chess, but instead, she saw black and white pieces alternately stacked high on the chessboard.
Nero, the black cat, dexterously held the pieces with his paw and carefully placed them on top of the stacked pieces… but they lost their balance and fell apart.
”Damn, I knew it, play this game using my cat paw was going to be tough.”
Nero was tapping the fallen pieces with his paw in frustration, while Louis's contracted spirit, Lynn, was cleaning up the scattered pieces unperturbed.
”…what are you doing?”
At Monica enquire, Nero brazenly held up a chess piece and said.
”We're playing chess!”
”In this game, players play by piling up black and white pieces alternately, and whoever makes them collapse loses. Currently, I have won seven games in a row.”
Realizing this was not the chess game she knew, Monica smiled wryly and got out of bed. Given that Lynn was here, perhaps it was already time to make the usual routine report?
As Monica sluggishly getting dressed, Lynn, still cleaning up the chess pieces, spoke.
”Sir Louis told me there will be a chess tournament today and a school festival in four days. Since there will be many outsiders coming in and out, he had ordered me to accompany you on guard duty.”
During the chess exchange matches, all the student council members, except for Monica and Elliot who will be taking part as players, would be in charge to receive students from other schools. Sure enough, with Nero and Lynn guarding Felix, Monica could concentrate on her chess without any worries.
Ever since after what had happened in Casey's case, Louis's caution was to be expected.
”Um… Lynn.”
”Yes.”
”After that incident… What happened to Casey?”
Casey, who had attempted to assassinate Felix, was supposed to be executed, but instead was taken into custody by Louis on the condition, she must explain all the details honestly.
But should Casey refuse to be interrogated… Monica, who knows how merciless Louis can be, couldn't help but felt a shiver.
”Miss Casey Groove, daughter of Count Bright, complied with the interrogation. In that matters, Sir Louis has already been in contact with Count Bright in secret.”
Casey's father, Count Bright, has stated that he was entirely responsible for the incident and has stubbornly denied any connection to the Randall Kingdom.
However, Louis suspected that the Randall Kingdom side was also behind the assassination plan and was investigating the source of the assassination magic tool, the [Conch Flame].
”Miss Casey Groove has been sent to a convent in the northeast just the other day.”
”I, see…”
Monica's heart wrenched every time she remembered Casey's sorrowful voice.
Casey felt indebted to the Randall Kingdom. So when she discovered that Duke Crockford was planning to invade Randall, she was determined to stop him.
Sooner or later, when Felix becomes king… Duke Crockford, Felix's backer, will probably drive Felix to attack the Randall Kingdom and eventually start a war with the Empire.
The Empire itself was formidable, but with the recent reign of a young emperor, the regime has been unstable. This had provided him a perfect opportunity to make a move on them.
That being said, Monica can't just sit back and watch Felix get assassinated.
…I don't know which path should I choose.
None of each side was completely united.
Some work for their personal fortune, some for the national interest, some for their ideals, some for peace, some for further development… A whirlwind of thoughts, ideals, and desires. This is what politics is all about.
Even after becoming one of the Seven Sages, Monica kept away from political affairs and secluded herself in her cabin. She firmly believed that staying away from politics was the best thing to do.
But things can't be the same anymore.
The political struggles that Monica had turned a blind eye to until now were quietly coming to her doorstep.
…why does His Highness, who is such an amazing person, always follow Duke Crockford words?
Everyone knew Felix was very capable.
It was also a well-known fact that he was at the mercy of his maternal grandfather, the Duke of Crockford. Even Monica, who was not familiar with politics, had overheard about it.
… Does His Highness want to go to war with Randall and the Empire… is he really fine to let this country be engulfed in a war…?
Monica still couldn't grasp the person named Felix Ark Riddile.