Silent Witch

After returning from her recuperation, she's been attending the class for a whole week, and for the first time, she was going to eat her lunch at the cafeteria.

Since Casey, who from the next class, had taken the trouble inviting Monica to have lunch together and Lana's also going to tag along, Monica nervously accepted her invitation with a nod.

Speaking of the school cafeteria, all she could remember was the school cafeteria at Magician Training Institute Minerva where she's been enrolled into.

Minerva had a system where the students choose the menu at the reception desk to get a wooden tag after paid the bill upfront. Which later brought to the counter to exchange for a meal of the chosen menu. The menu selections changed daily by three different sets of meals, and additional bread and soup were available for an extra charge.

As such, she thought that the cafeteria at Serendia Academy would also have such a system, but it was very different from what she had imagined.

To put it simply, the school cafeteria of Serendia Academy was a high-class restaurant. Once the students stepped into the cafeteria, they would be guided by waiters into seats, given a brief explanation on the menu, and had their meals brought onto their table.

The students were not required to pay, since all of the cost has been included in the school fees.

The best thing was one could even request their meals delivered directly to their own room in the dorm.

T-This is so amazing…

Even at Minerva where Monica's enrolled which many of the students came from nobilities had provided many facilities, it still can't be compared to what Serendia Academy had. Everything here looked so extravagant.

Monica felt restless at the unused cafeteria while being escorted by the waiters to her seat before quietly sat down next to someone. She's been looking down until now, so she thought the ones who sat at the table were only Lana and Casey, but when she raised her face, she saw them sat across the table.

…then, who's the person sat next to her?

Awkwardly turning her head, She met the gaze of Claudia Ashley's beautiful blue lapis lazuli eyes.

"Wait, why are you sitting there too?!"

Lana yelled at Claudia in angry, but only to be brushed nonchalantly before Claudia's getting closer to Monica.

"…oh my, aren't we friends, Mo.Ni.Ca?"

Monica's whole body stiffened as she let out faint voices.

Claudia stroked Monica's cheek with her white-gloved fingertips. For some reason, she felt as if a snake was crawling on her skin.

"…Monica, I did save your life, didn't I?"

"Y-You did."

"…you do appreciate what I did for you, don't you?"

"…I-I do."

"…then we're friends, aren't we?"

"Y-Yeah."

After convinced the stiffly nodding Monica to agree, Claudia smiled triumphantly.

While Lana's vein popped up on her forehead.

"That's just coercing!"

And Casey was "now, now" tried to calm down the angry Lana.

"Come on, let's stop this edgy atmosphere and talk more calmly, shall we?"

"…oh, please, I don't intend to make the atmosphere this edgy. It just the girl over there making a fuss all by herself… right?"

Lana gritted her teeth at Claudia's obviously provocative tone.

Casey looked at them both in turn with an exasperated expression.

"You two, please let Monica choose her own food. Oh, Monica. I recommend this fried fish. It comes with a delicious special sauce."

"Also, this and this…"

To tell the truth, Monica, who earned a good income as a Seventh Sage, was not troubled by money. Therefore, she didn't mind any of the dishes on the menu. In fact, since she didn't know much about food, she would be very grateful if someone could recommend something for her.

When everyone had finished ordering, Casey opened his mouth to mediate the delicate atmosphere.

"Say, we are going to observe the elective course this afternoon, right? Have you guys decided which course you want to take yet?"

Since the start of the second year of high school, the students could take elective courses in addition to the regular basic courses. Among more than twenty courses, they can choose two to take.

Horseback riding, sword fighting, and spear fighting were popular among boys. Musical performance, embroidery, and poetry were popular among girls. Other courses such as sociology, herbology, and foreign languages were also available for both boys and girls.

With such a wide variety of courses to choose from, Monica still hadn't decided which one she wanted to take. It would have been nice to have something like advanced mathematics, but there was only basic math in the academic subjects.

As Monica clammed up, Lana opened her mouth.

"I would perhaps choose musical performance course, but considering my future, I would also like to learn two languages. Maybe if I learn some languages, especially Southern Continent Commercial and Ouka, I could be useful for my father's work."

"How wonderful. I think I'll go for embroidery… that's the only thing I'm good at. I'll hold off on the other one. What about you, Miss Claudia?"

Casey casually swung the conversation to Claudia, and Claudia said with a gloomy smile on her beautiful face.

"Herbology and basic spell casting… might come in handy to shut those idiots up, don't you think?"

Casey hoped Claudia doesn't say things like that with an evil smile, as if having already poisoned a few people.

As for Monica, who was saved by Claudia's emergency treatment a week ago, she couldn't say anything about it.

"Have you decided yet, Monica?"

Asked by Lana, Monica was stuck for words.

Serendia Academy offered a strong curriculum in languages, law, and liberal arts, but was somewhat weak in areas such as advanced mathematics, physics, and biology.

In other words, subjects in which Monica excels were few and far between.

When it comes to basic spells casting, she definitely excelled at it…

…I can't even say that my magic formula is listed in a basic spells textbook…

Being too good at magic-related matters, on the other hand, would likely get her into trouble.

"…I haven't… decided… at all… yet."

Monica answered while kneading her fingers, which made Casey grin.

"So, how about you come with me to look around the courses? I haven't decided on one yet, and hopefully, I could get to know some new courses that I wouldn't normally encounter."

"…please guide me well…"

When it came to observing the courses, it was natural that she would run into a group of people she had never met before. For Monica, who was very uncomfortable with this, Casey's offer was very much appreciated.

As she patted her chest in relief, the waiter brought the meal to her. In front of Monica was a beautifully colored fried fish, salad, bread, and soup lined on her table.

Casey, who ordered the same thing, split the bread in two with a beaming face, put the vegetables and fries between them, and took a big bite.

When Claudia saw the way she was eating, her brow furrowed.

"…that is how the laborers eat."

"At home, we all eat like this. When we took rest after farming."

Casey didn't care if Claudia looked dumbfounded or not. That kind of strength to not care about the eyes of the people around her was something Monica envied.

Casey gulped down a piece of bread and wiped her mouth with a napkin before saying.

"Besides, in my hometown, nobles and workers are equal. We all have to work together to get food."

"So, how did you end up at this school?"

"I don't mind if you say, ‘How could a poor aristocrat pay for school?' In fact, that's what I think."

Instead of being menial, Casey spoke casually.

She probably didn't think of her circumstances as unfortunate.

"I was really lucky to get into Serendia Academy. A kind person with whom we have a connection has offered to help us. My father says I should go and meet His Highness, but… You know, I'm sure your father will tell you this at least once. Like ‘Go catch His Highness' eye' or something."

Claudia and Lana shook their heads at Casey's blurting.

"…I have a fiance."

"My father was like, ‘What if my pretty Lana catches His Highness' eye?' Well, it's unlikely, isn't it?"

At their words, Casey muttered, "I envy you…" and then glanced at Monica.

"What about you, Monica?"

"Oh… huh?"

"Has anyone ever told you that? That you should catch the attention of His Highness."

Monica was at a loss for words. If anything, it was Monica's duty to escort his highness.

"Well… uh… I'm afraid so…"

Barely answering that, Casey didn't seem to be particularly bothered by it and gave an ‘I see,' and then took another bite of bread.