Chapter 6: Stubborn Mule

Time had passed by quickly. It was about time she returned to the palace but the issue was black cat! She didn't plan on revealing her cards to her enemies yet. She cleared her throat.

"You must be full now"

Just as she asked that, he had already taken a bite of another cookie he had picked in that moment. He was fast!

"Oh, did I eat too much?"

Monica rubbed her temples and sighed.

"I'll be direct then. Nel, secretly send me back to my palace. You are my servant on the surface at least"

"Servant huh…I'm sorry but it is not possible right now"

He hesitated as it was too much trouble. She sighed again.

"It means it would have been possible if it wasn't right now. Why is that?"

"I can't tell you that"

This was the end of her patience; he had rejected her too many times today.

"Fine then but you will keep what I am about to do a secret."

Nel perked up. He had been curious of how she had been secretly going in and out of the palace without anyone knowing. To be precise, he wanted to know who exactly was helping her in the process.

Monica reached out to grab his hand but he reflexively pulled it away. He realized what he had just done as soon as he had done the deed.

"Ah, it was a reflex action."

He felt a little embarrassed and offered her his hand. Monica held it tightly and began chanting a spell. A scroll appeared in her free hand. Then she slid open the scroll and chanted another spell which caused them to teleport.

In an instant, they appeared in her bedroom. The bedroom was empty until they appeared.

It took a while for Nel to process the fact that the Princess could use magic. He had never imagined that a useless and uncivilized Princess like her could use magic, maybe it was the effect of reading all those books.

He was still immersed in his thoughts when Monica casted another spell. This time it was a binding spell. He had lowered his guard and now he was paralyzed.

"Alissa will arrive as soon as I ring the bell. Before that, lets sign a magical contract."

Monica smiled. He flinched; it was her sadistic smile!

Magical contracts were special contracts that offered complete secrecy regarding a matter and must be obeyed. However, they were expensive and could only be made by strong magicians. The stronger the magician who made it, the longer it will last and with stronger side effect to defying it. He wanted to avoid getting into such a contract but there didn't seem to be a way out of it. He couldn't even move his tongue as the vines were covering his mouth.

Monica noticed him trying to struggle while she was searching her drawers to find the contract she had made while practicing a few days ago.

"It's futile, you won't be able to move your skeletal muscles in the area where the vines are touching."

She found a small stack from the end drawer. Alissa must have put them there as they seemed important.

"Now, which one should be better. For five years, decade, two decades…lifetime? What should be the side effects…losing ability to speak, going blind?"

Monica was wondering which of her practice contracts to use while shadow was surprised that the side effects were so serious and those were all long-term contracts.

After some time, Monica had decided on which one to use. She loosened the vines on him, so he could talk and move one of his arms to sign. As soon as his hand was free, he pulled out a trench knife from under his sleeve and cut several vines. Monica reacted quickly as well and sprouted vines that surrounded him in all directions. Since only his hand was free, he couldn't do much damage and now was covered in a vine ball with just his face popping out.

"Isn't this too excessive?", Nel complained.

Monica scoffed. She was angry but also amazed by his quick reflexes.

"You do realize what you just did, right?"

"Yes, I tried to avoid entering a contract"

"That's not it. You just attacked your master"

"Excuse me?"

He did cut the vines but he never attacked her. She was just angry at him.

"Those vines were produced by your master; they are a part of me"

Nel gave her a disgusted look. Technically, it was true as they were made from her magic. In this moment, he deeply regretted not doing background check on her and relying on rumors. He left her alone because that's what "he" would have wanted.

Monica held the magical contract and read out its contents. Everything was set but now there was just one issue. Magical contract required full name and only worked if both the parties used their real names.

"What is your full name?"

Monica asked in a serious tone. In the past, people had gotten away with fraud by using fake identities but now there was way to prove whether they were using the real name or not.

"I already told you my name"

He didn't want to reveal his entire name just for a contract.

She doubted it was really his full name but she decided to give it a try. She began chanting a spell. The contract paper started glowing. She read out the contract while stating her name as a contractor and then asked him at the end.

"Do you agree on the stated contract, Nel?"

"I disagree. It is unfair."

He rejected the contract. This time Monica really wanted to teach him a lesson but decided to give him a chance.

"So, you won't agree to contract? I don't trust you otherwise. What exactly do you think is unfair?"

"You forced me to reveal my face, then you also asked for my name and now you need my full name. My job does not allow revealing my identity"

"I am your master and I give you orders. You are defying me right now. Also, there was no other way to return. You willingly refused to help me and delightfully learned my secret. Bear the consequences."

"I am not a knight; I never pledged an oath of loyalty to anyone."

Monica thought he was lying; it wouldn't be possible for Harold to trust someone with such tasks if they didn't take an oath of loyalty. However, she knew there were also other ways to go about it.

"Then what do you suggest? I won't hesitate to use you as my guinea pig, my patience is running low."

"How about trusting my words"

Monica stared into his eyes. Was he joking with her right now? He had a determined gaze.

"I will keep it a secret", he reassured her.

"Your eyes are pretty"

For a moment, Nel couldn't comprehend what just happened. Then the next moment, his ears started turning red. Monica chuckled inwardly.

"Although covered right now. But I noticed before, no matter how many times I look at your face, it's beautiful. But for some reason, it also irks me"

Nel who had been looking shy just a moment ago was now crestfallen. His emotions were very easy to read.

"Fine. I won't turn you into my guinea pig"

Nel looked at her with questioning eyes. He wondered what made her change her mind.

"Knock, knock"

Alissa asked for permission to enter.

"I'm am busy right now. Come later"

"But Princess, the Queen is here"

Monica jolted; she didn't expect this. The Queen never came to visit her neither did she ever invite her to her tea parties. As a Princess, she couldn't reject the Queen who had a higher status. However, since she never cared about such a thing, she could ignore her but that is what she would have done in the past. Right now, she needed to know her intentions and not create any trouble that would fuel more gossip.

She sighed and covered Nel with her blanket. Then she casted an invisibility spell. Now, the mess she had created, had temporarily been cleared.

"Come in and get me ready"

Alissa came inside with the other maids. They swiftly got the Princess ready.

As soon as she was ready, she came down to the drawing room where Sofia was waiting for her. Monica entered and greeted her.

"It's been a while, child."

Sofia smiled and Monica got seated. She was surprised to see her smile. The smile didn't mean anything good for her because the only times she had seen her smile was whenever she had created trouble. At other times, she always glared at her or completely ignored her.

Monica inwardly scoffed at Sofia's choice of words. She called her a "child" because to her she was just a spoiled girl with no manners who had yet to mature.

"Yes, I had to get ready"

Monica chose her words carefully. This vixen was always waiting for her to make mistakes she could highlight in front of others.

"No dear, I didn't mean that. It is my fault for coming unannounced. I meant the founding ceremony."

The founding ceremony; the latest trouble she had caused at.