Silent Witch
Volume 15 Chapter 12: Preparation

Eliane Hyatt, the daughter of Duke Reinberg, could not hide her indignation at the letter sent from her family home.

Oh my, oh my, why my Father…

Currently, Serendia Academy is facing an unprecedented disturbance——no, this is not just a problem for Serendia Academy. It is a major incident that is shaking the entire country.

Although no one openly speaks of it within the academy, everyone has heard the rumor.

——That the second prince of this country, Felix Ark Ridill, the student council president of Serendia Academy, was assassinated and replaced by an imposter. This imposter is an imperial mage, the intruder at the chess tournament.

Eliane secretly seethed, convinced that this was undoubtedly a plot by the first prince’s faction.

Moreover, she believed that her great-uncle, Duke Crockford, would surely help Felix.

However, the letter that arrived from her family home did not mention Felix’s safety at all. Instead, it stated the following:

When the social season begins, the engagement between Eliane and the Third Prince, Albert Flau Robelia Ridill, will be announced.

What does this mean? Father has always said that I would become Felix’s fiancee, but this is as if…

It was as if her father had given up on Felix.

Eliane knows that her father, Duke Reinberg, is on intimate terms with Duke Crockford.

If Duke Crockford intends to help Felix, surely Eliane’s father, Duke Reinberg, would cooperate as well.

Yet, her father only informed her about her engagement to the Third Prince.

If this engagement was under Duke Crockford’s instructions, then…?

Could it be… Duke Crockford has abandoned Lord Felix? No, no, that’s impossible… After all, he is his grandson…

That’s right, as long as Duke Crockford is around, Felix will be safe. There’s no way he could be executed.

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The Third Prince of the Ridill Kingdom, Albert Flau Robelia Ridill, was seething as his attendant, Patrick, helped him get dressed.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, what is going on!”

In the past few days, Albert had heard rumors several times that the academy might temporarily close.

Apparently, the Second Prince, Felix Ark Ridill, had been assassinated and replaced by an imposter.

“The biggest problem is that no one is explaining the situation to me! The guys in the dorm are whispering from a distance, and on top of that, the letter from my mother only said, ‘Your engagement to the daughter of Duke Reinberg has been decided.’ That’s it all!”

As Albert ranted, Patrick calmly fastened Albert’s decorative buttons while saying,

“Isn’t Lady Eliane quite cute~?”

“I prefer a dignified woman like Miss Bridget! …But that’s not the point! This is not the time to be deciding my fiancee!”

If Albert stomped his feet, Patrick would tilt his head and say, “Well~”

“That’s precisely why they’re doing this now, don’t you think~?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Lady Eliane’s family, the Reinberg Ducal House, is very close with Duke Crockford~ Which means…”

Albert caught onto what Patrick was implying and snorted derisively, “Hmph.”

“…Are you implying that Duke Crockford wants me to become his backup plan?”

“If the second prince has truly passed away, then that’s likely the case, isn’t it~?”

Albert’s mother, Queen Phyllis, has already sided with Duke Crockford. That’s why Albert had no choice but to enroll at Serendia Academy.

He had thought Duke Crockford intended to keep him confined and out of the way, preventing him from interfering with the Second Prince’s ascension to the throne. But to think he would be made a spare for the Second Prince——what an insult, Albert fumed.

“But in the first place, was my brother Felix really assassinated and replaced by an imposter? That’s ridiculous! I’ve met him several times since the new semester started, and he seemed like the same ill-tempered brother.”

“Based on what you just said, you seem to have a worse personality than him~”

“You’re supposed to be on your master’s side!”

According to the rumors, the imposter posing as the Second Prince would be dealt with at the Supreme Council meeting in two weeks.

However, Albert would not be able to attend that Supreme Council meeting.

While the First Prince, being an adult, would attend, Albert, still a minor as the Third Prince, was not required to be present. Yet, the adults conveniently supported Albert as the next king candidate——an attitude Albert disliked.

As Albert grumbled his complaints, Patrick asked while adjusting Albert’s scarf,

“Don’t you want to become king, Lord Albert~?”

“……”

If Duke Crockford went ahead and supported Albert, the prospect of Albert becoming king would become a reality.

However, Albert had vaguely realized something.

“…I am not fit to be king.”

Watching his two older brothers take charge during the New Year’s ceremony, Albert was reminded once again.

Lionel and Felix were both excellent individuals, albeit with different approaches.

It wasn’t just about being skilled in martial arts or diplomacy.

His brothers were adept at captivating people’s hearts. They had a certain quality that made others think, “I want to serve this person,” or “I want to be of use to this person.”

And most importantly, they had the trust of those around them, who believed, “This person will find a way to help me when I’m in trouble.”

That was what Albert lacked.

“…I’ve never had anyone rely on me. Not even once.”

How could someone who is never relied upon become a king?

As Albert hung his head, Patrick tilted his head and said,

“Well~ But I don’t think that’s true~”

“You don’t need to comfort me. Anyway, let’s head to the school building.”

“Isn’t it a bit early for that~?”

“…I don’t really want to see many people.”

The rumor about the Second Prince being an imposter had already spread throughout the academy. Undoubtedly, there would be those who would cast impolite glances at Albert, the younger brother of the so-called imposter.

At the moment, Albert lacked the confidence to respond to such people with a nonchalant attitude.

As Albert and Patrick left the boys’ dormitory, Albert stopped after walking a short distance, spotting a familiar girl along the way.

The petite girl, wearing a high school uniform, seemed to shrink even smaller as she fidgeted with her fingers restlessly.

“Is that Monica?”

Monica Norton was one of Albert’s few friends.

Monica was a plain and unremarkable girl, but she served as the treasurer of the student council of the Senior Division, and her calculation abilities were remarkable. Albert, along with Glenn and Patrick, had sought her help several times with arithmetic assignments.

“Good morning, Monica. What’s wrong? Why are you standing here?”

“You don’t look very well~ Are you alright~?”

Albert and Patrick looked up at Monica with concern.

Monica was shy around people, and in crowded places, she would always look down with a tense expression. But today, her complexion was even worse than usual, and there were dark circles under her eyes.

No doubt the upheaval caused by Felix’s arrest had affected the high school student council as well, and Monica had likely been struggling.

As Albert hesitated about how to approach her, Monica bit her lip tightly, as if mustering her resolve, and said,

“U-Um… there’s something I need to ask of you, Your Highness Albert.”

“Me?”

It was rare for Monica to make a request.

Moreover, Albert, who had seldom been relied upon by others, felt a slight boost to his self-esteem and puffed out his chest with a gracious, princely demeanor.

“Very well. If it’s a request from a friend, I will do my best to oblige.”

“Th, Thank you so much… Then, could you come, to the student council room, after classes today?”

“…Huh?”

Instead of telling him the request now, she wanted him to come to the student council room after classes to discuss it?

Beside Albert, Patrick tilted his head and said, “But isn’t there a meeting between the new and old student councils of the Senior Division scheduled for after classes today?”

“Yes, and I’d like Your Highness Albert, to attend as well.”

Monica was part of the student council of the Senior Division. Surely they wanted to hear something from Albert regarding the incident with the imposter posing as the Second Prince.

In other words, Albert realized, this was not a personal request from Monica but a request from the student council of the Senior Division.

“To be honest, I doubt I can be of much help, but… very well. I’ll go to the student council room after classes.”

“Thank you so much!”

Monica bowed deeply and then turned and hurried away, her gait as clumsy as Albert’s.

As they watched her leave, Patrick said curiously,

“Huh~? Isn’t that the opposite direction from the school building~?”

“She probably forgot something in her dorm.”