Secrets of the Silent Witch (サイレント・ウィッチ 沈黙の魔女の隠しごと)

Two weeks?

She started chess two weeks ago?

And Robert is the best we've got…

I think…

It's checkmate.

That was insane! I mean, I don't get the rules, but still.

-Yes. -Huh?

I've looked over the scoresheet from your game, Miss Norton.

So you really were holding back against me.

No I wasn't, I promise.

You kept pulling out bold, unpredictable moves.

This game will go down in history.

But… That's not…

A concerto!

It's only when both sides are evenly matched

that the music can soar higher and give rise to a beautiful melody!

Your opponent was truly formidable in this game.

The reason you weren't able to show your true talent until now,

is down to our own lack of ability!

Oh, God!

Why did I have to be chosen as a representative?

I wanted to witness the moment this beautiful melody

was born from the stands!

-Miss Monica Norton. -Huh?

Marry me! But only on the condition of chess!

Gosh!

Romance is a melody that should stir the emotions more passionately!

No beauty…

There is no beauty in such a marriage proposal.

It's a musical catastrophe!

What exactly is a proposal made on the condition of chess?

I apologize for not explaining myself clearly.

I was moved by the way you play chess.

I want to play more chess with you.

But we go to different schools. We have nothing to tie us together.

But if we become engaged, we have a reason to meet during vacation.

We could play chess to our heart's content.

That's why I want you to become engaged to me.

This guy is so selfish it's almost impressive.

There's no musicality in this.

Oh, how ugly.

I'm the fifth son of a baron in the Kingdom of Landor,

and I'm a candidate for commander of an order.

I pride myself on having a secure future.

My family has no debts.

You can marry me without worry.

Engaged…

Sorry!

Miss Monica, I hadn't finished…

Huh?

Pardon me for intruding, but she is a member of our student council.

Don't you think you should speak to me about this first?

Such misconduct in social settings is intolerable.

As a member of the student council, I cannot overlook this.

Let go of me.

I need to find Monica!

Miss Monica!

I never saw that coming…

Huh?

So it was you after all, Monica.

Why would one of the Seven Sages pretend to be a student?

Was the rumor that you were holed up in a mountain cabin all a lie?

I…

Could it be that you're hiding your true identity

so you can relive student life?

What a luxurious little pastime…

You seem to be having quite a lot of fun surrounded by men, aren't you?

No…

Being all flirtatious, are we?

Even though you can't even have a proper conversation with anyone.

Trying to pretend you're fashionable?

I get it.

You're pretending to be a helpless, little student to ingratiate yourself

with the second prince, right?

Exactly the kind of thing you'd do.

Pretending to be powerless and cozying up to someone…

You're just like a parasite.

Weren't you aware of that?

Then let me tell you how it is.

You're a selfish person.

You're always thinking about yourself and couldn't care less about anyone else.

You don't have a single ounce of empathy

for anything that happens to anyone else, do you?

Is that what Bernie thinks?

Don't cry.

Someone as selfish as you

will soon be ignored by everyone.

Just watch.

I know that, Bernie.

No one pays attention to someone like me.

But even so, I was happy.

That's why I just wanted to be a friend you could be proud of.

Hey!

What's going on?

Could you explain please, mister?

Monica and I go way back.

We were reminiscing about the good old times,

and she got a little teary.

Let's go.

Sorry, mister.

I need to fix my friend's makeup, so we'll be going now.

Friend?

I wouldn't advise becoming friends with someone like her.

She pretends she can't do anything to take advantage of others.

What?

You're a terrible judge of character.

Maybe you should change those stupid oversized glasses of yours

to help see people for who they really are.

You'll regret it.

You watched the game, didn't you?

That girl is more capable and gifted than anyone else.

And yet, she puts on this helpless face, as if she can't do anything.

She hides her ability to get others to pander to her.

Hey, why don't you tell us how you really feel?

The truth is, you're jealous of Monica, aren't you?

You'll find out one day, sure enough.

When you realize how much she outshines you,

whether you like it or not.

When I have friends who are brilliant, I tell my father how wonderful they are!

You're just petty!

Oh, I see. I guess ordinary people don't get frustrated

when the gap between them and a genius is too wide.

Bernie!

If you're going to say nasty things like that about my friend…

I'll never forgive you!

You won't forgive me? What are you even saying?

I always relied on you, Bernie.

I hoped I could become someone amazing, so that you could rely on me.

Someday, I wanted to be the type of friend who was on your level,

so we could laugh together as equals.

But now, I'll stop trying to earn your praise.

I'll never…

expect anything from you again.

Men who cling to the past are totally uncool, by the way.

You said exactly what was on your mind.

Today, I feel just a little bit braver.

This corset's making me stand up tall,

and I was able to hold back my tears because I didn't want my makeup to smudge.

All thanks to you, Lana.

No, no, no.

I was the one who cut ties with her first.

Even if she was chosen as one of the Seven Sages,

I was the one who took care of Monica when she couldn't do anything.

And yet…

She should pay more attention to me, notice me more, even fear me.

I won't have this.