After Lily left, it was time for dinner.
The red moon hung high in the sky, casting a clear light that made the courtyard appear very bright.
Doris had the maid bring out the dinner, and the lavish spread made Carlotta's eyes light up.
Beef stew with carrots, onions, and celery.
Salmon roasted with butter and sprinkled with spices.
Steamed lobster with a special sauce.
Cream of mushroom soup made with fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced, sautéed in butter, and then mixed with cream, milk, and flour.
And a vegetable salad made with lettuce, spinach, and chicory, dressed with oil, vinegar, and salt.
Just as Doris had said, the dinner did not disappoint Carlotta.
After enjoying the meal to her satisfaction, Carlotta and Doris discussed the Elven Knight Pathts for a while before preparing to return to the academy.
Throughout this time, Carlotta never saw Viscount O'Connor or any other members of Doris's family.
She didn't ask, but as she came and went from the mansion, she faintly felt that the place was somewhat desolate.
Once they boarded the carriage back to the academy, Doris gave Carlotta two bottles of Mana Surge potions.
"Miss White, I really appreciate all the help you've given me today. I feel like the path ahead for my Elven Knight Path is smooth, and I might not encounter any obstacles for a long time. Please accept these as a token of my gratitude."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Carlotta was delighted to see the two bottles of Mana Surge potions.
Crafted by the alchemy master Lily, these potions were far superior to any Mana Surge potions available on the market and would surely provide her with considerable assistance.
The two continued their conversation, which was not limited to just the Elven Knight Pathts.
The carriage moved steadily through the streets of the imperial capital, Kestholm, at night.
The streets were not deserted, and occasionally, the pleasant sound of piano music from a café drifted through the night air.
...
Hans Hotel.
In the hotel at night, three people sat by the window, from where they could clearly see the entrance of Caerwyn Academy.
Bram Vortiger, a bald man who looked quite fierce, impatiently said, "They haven't returned yet?"
The two beside him shook their heads.
There were five of them in total.
Earlier, when they saw Carlotta leave Caerwyn Academy, they immediately sent two people to follow her from a distance, hoping to strike when she was alone.
As for when Carlotta was in the carriage, they dared not make a move. The guards protecting the carriage were formidable, far beyond their capabilities.
"Damn it, we finally got a chance to catch the target outside, but she's with a noble lady. We can't make a move," Bram couldn't help but complain.
"Don't rush. We've already prepared our tickets to the Sun Moon Federation, and they're open-ended. We can board the ship anytime. We have a complete retreat plan, so we can afford to relax a bit," said Ulric Branswode, who was sitting beside him, quite composed.
He was a man with a thick beard, looking very rugged.
Hearing Ulric's words, the third person, Garran Holtvik, couldn't help but laugh, "Speaking of which, those two officials were quite efficient. Not only did they pay us well, but they also arranged the tickets perfectly. They probably don't know that even if they didn't offer us anything, we would still deal with Carlotta White."
Bram thought of the couple, Lucius and Jemima.
Some things in Caerwyn Academy couldn't escape the notice of those who kept a constant eye on the academy.
They naturally knew about the conflict between Carlotta and Bernard, and they also knew that Lucius and Jemima had come to the academy to cause trouble but left without success.
It was said that Lucius and Jemima had been warned not to act recklessly.
But they could easily guess that the couple wouldn't let it go, so they quietly approached them, offering to help deal with Carlotta White in exchange for a considerable sum of money and tickets to the Sun Moon Federation after the deed was done.
Lucius and Jemima agreed, and this cooperation was silently established.
Now, with a clear retreat plan in place, all that was left was to eliminate Carlotta, which was why Bram was feeling a bit anxious.
"Carlotta White is back."
Suddenly, Ulric spoke up, bringing Bram back to the present. He looked towards the academy entrance.
A carriage had stopped at the academy gate, and Carlotta and Doris got out one after the other, entering the academy together.
At this moment, the two people they had sent to tail Carlotta returned and reported the situation.
"Still no chance to make a move," Bram said, somewhat disappointed, wondering how long it would be before his opportunity finally came.
...
Carlotta wasn't surprised by the safety of the journey. Bram and his gang were known to prey on the weak and avoid the strong; it would be strange if they dared to act.
Shortly after entering the academy, she parted ways with Doris, as their dormitories were quite far apart.
The dormitories for these noble children were located near the faculty dormitories... strictly speaking, they were converted from the faculty dormitories.
Doris was also in a good mood, humming a tune popular in the imperial capital as she slowly made her way to her dormitory.
However, she hadn't gone far when she noticed someone blocking her path.
"Camella? Is there something you need?" Doris recognized the person.
She was quite familiar with Camella, having met her at many banquets, so she walked over with a smile.
But Camella's expression was grave as she said, "Doris, you've done something wrong."
Doris looked puzzled: "What are you referring to?"
Camella snorted: "You know what I mean."
"If you don't tell me, how would I know?" Doris was both amused and exasperated, genuinely unaware of what Camella was talking about.
Camella stared into Doris's eyes before saying, "Carlotta White is already in a relationship with Sister Amelia. I suggest you not try to interfere; it's not appropriate."
Even though Doris had seen much of the world and was more mature than her peers, she couldn't control her expression upon hearing this news, her eyes widening in shock.
Carlotta and Amelia were in a relationship?
There was such a thing?
After the initial shock, Doris quickly defended herself: "Don't misunderstand, I have no intention of interfering. I invited Miss White solely to discuss the Elven Knight Pathts."
This was her genuine thought.
Although the Wendell Empire was quite open regarding sexual orientation, heaven knew she was of conventional orientation.
Camella gave Doris a deep look, "It's good that you don't have such thoughts. But regardless of the reason, taking Carlotta out alone isn't proper. You should avoid giving the wrong impression."
Doris sighed, "I wasn't aware of this before... I understand. Next time I discuss the Elven Knight Pathts with Miss White, I'll be sure to invite Amelia as well, or perhaps you."
Camella nodded, satisfied with this response.