Man proposes, but the heavens dispose.
Amelia had hoped Ron would be caught and captured by the Security Office. Being killed on the spot for resisting would have been an even better outcome.
But she hadn’t expected that after being caught off guard by the Security Office, Ron would still manage to escape.
‘I’m still too green. My plans often have loopholes, just like back in Rhine City… But, now isn’t the time to dwell on that. I need to think about the next steps.’
Amelia pondered.
She trusted Eileen’s judgment. Since their stalker was a Mid-Rank Apostle, Eileen could certainly handle them. Taking him down wouldn’t be a problem.
The problem was how to take him down without causing too much commotion.
“We’re here.”
Verna spoke softly.
The White Maple Forest lay ahead, and the three of them walked inside.
As they entered, Amelia whispered, “Verna, us suddenly showing up here at this hour will likely raise the suspicions of our stalker. We need to do something to sell it.”
“Then what should we do?” Verna asked quickly.
As someone with designs on the Title of Grand Duke, Verna was adept at figuring things out on her own. But ever since meeting Amelia, she had come to feel that Amelia possessed extraordinary wisdom, always providing the most effective solutions. She’d unknowingly grown accustomed to letting Amelia do the thinking.
“We can do this…”
Amelia slowly outlined her plan.
==========
Ron was indeed puzzled.
Why had Amelia and her group come to the White Maple Forest at this time?
This highly unusual behavior sparked a flicker of vigilance in Ron, preventing him from attacking rashly. Yet he knew he couldn’t stay at White Maple Academy for much longer, and delaying felt increasingly risky, fueling a sense of agitation.
By now, Ron had also reached the forest. Using the trees as cover, he cautiously approached the three girls.
“This is it.”
Voices came from up ahead.
“Bennett would never guess we hid the item here.”
“With this, Bennett won’t dare defy us.”
Verna and Amelia’s voices drifted over respectively.
Hearing this, Ron couldn’t help but feel curious.
He naturally knew exactly who Bennett was. As the Second Prince and the most likely successor to the Grand Duke, Bennett’s importance in the Luban Duchy was obvious. What were these two young ladies plotting against him?
Curiosity piqued, he moved closer and caught sight of Amelia and Verna.
They were crouched beside a tree, apparently digging in the ground.
Were they digging up something that could make Bennett bow his head?
Just as Ron was wondering, Amelia exclaimed with a delighted look on her face, “Found it!”
Found it?
Found what?
Ron instinctively craned his neck, wanting to see what exactly they had dug up.
But…
Had he extended his head out too far? Why was it floating above the two girls? Why could he see a vast expanse of the White Maple Forest below him?
And that headless corpse standing behind a tree… why did it look somewhat familiar?
And behind that headless corpse, why was a maid holding a sharp sword?
As these fleeting thoughts flashed through his mind, Ron’s consciousness plunged into darkness. His severed head fell to the ground, rolling several times with a gurgling sound.
“Done.”
Amelia stood up and turned to look.
Verna stared at Ron’s head. “That was the Mid-Rank Apostle? He’s… dead, just like that?”
She glanced between Amelia and Eileen.
Everything she and Amelia had just said and done was a performance for Ron. The goal had been to instinctively focus his attention on them, allowing Eileen to launch a surprise attack and end the fight as quickly as possible.
But the sheer speed of the resolution still shocked Verna.
This was a Mid-Rank Apostle, after all. Even with the element of surprise, Eileen, as a fellow Mid-Rank Apostle, dispatching him so effortlessly was still astonishing.
‘If only Eileen were my subordinate.’
Verna couldn’t help but think.
Amelia, on the other hand, was completely used to it by now.
Anyone ambushed by Eileen was unlikely to survive, especially since she had purposely had Verna help her put on a show to draw Ron’s attention.
There had been people in the past who’d survived Eileen’s ambushes. For instance, Aaron of the Red Moon Society, but he had been fleeing a chase at the time, his vigilance at its absolute peak—no wonder the ambush failed. Another example was Mord, Dwight’s guard. In that case, there were no extra factors, which simply proved that Mord’s strength was among the best of the Mid-Rank Apostles.
“Let’s dispose of the body first.”
Amelia looked at the corpse with extreme composure and directly produced a vial of Corpse-Dissolving Fluid.
Dealing with bodies was practically routine for them by now. They quickly finished disposing of Ron’s corpse, and then the three of them hastily left the White Maple Forest.
Class time was about to start. To avoid suspicion, they headed to the academic building just like the other students.
On their way, they brushed past several constables, who were clearly searching for something.
‘The Security Office can’t find Ron. I wonder what they’ll do. Sigh, the plans I make are always full of surprises. This isn’t something I’m happy about.’
Amelia sighed inwardly.
She wished she could become the kind of person others described as a perfect strategist, but the truth was she was just an ordinary transmigrator. How could she truly possess flawless, all-seeing wisdom?
After returning to the academic building, Amelia and Verna parted ways. Eileen, as usual, stayed to wait outside the building.
When Amelia entered the Harp Class, she was given the expected news that classes were temporarily suspended for the day. After a short while, she left the academic building again.
“Eileen, let’s head back.”
Amelia smiled when she saw Eileen.
Regardless, with Ron dead, the troublesome matter should now be completely off her back.
That was what Amelia thought.
But as she and Eileen returned to the dormitory, she immediately sensed something was wrong.
Why were there so many people outside her dorm?
Looking ahead, Amelia’s brow furrowed slightly.
A luxurious carriage was parked there, flanked by two orderly rows of guards clad in red armor.
If Amelia remembered correctly, these were the Red Armor Guards of the Luban Duchy, originally dedicated to guarding the castle. However, after Dwight’s death, the Red Armor Guards had been dispatched to protect the various princes.
As this thought crossed her mind, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a figure stepped out.
It was a young man with long red hair, dressed in a black formal suit. He had a refined, elegant appearance and a faint, perpetual smile on his lips.
“Miss Lily Hicks,” the young man said as he emerged from the carriage, smiling. “Might I have a moment of your time to discuss something?”
Amelia glanced at the bullet comments upon hearing this.
[Who’s this?]
[Seeing that familiar red hair, plus the Red Armor Guards… must be one of the princes?]
[Never saw this guy in the original plot, anyway.]
Amelia had hoped the bullet comments would reveal his identity, but after scanning a few lines and finding nothing, she had to ask herself. “Who are you?”
The young man seemed taken aback by the question, apparently not expecting the girl before him not to recognize him.
But he didn’t seem to mind much. Keeping his smile, he said, “I am Bennett Luban. You may have heard of me.”
Amelia understood immediately.
This was the Second Prince, Bennett!
But what did the Second Prince want with her?
“Miss Lily, may I come into your dormitory and speak with you privately?” Bennett asked with a smile.
“Very well.”
Amelia couldn’t refuse.
Bennett was the most likely successor to the Grand Duke in the Luban Duchy. Flatly refusing him could easily invite trouble.
Besides, him coming directly to her clearly meant he had a reason. Without knowing the specifics, it was best not to make things worse.
Amelia began walking towards her dormitory with Eileen.
“Wait!”
A voice called out from behind.
Amelia turned to see Verna running toward them with her guard.
Verna had previously told her guard not to follow her, but after Ron’s identity was exposed and constables were searching everywhere in White Maple Academy, her guard had taken the initiative to protect her for safety’s sake.
As she ran over, Verna felt a chill in her heart.
Why was Bennett here? And why did it look like he was looking for Amelia?
Unlike her, Bennett had never been abroad. He wouldn’t have met Amelia and shouldn’t be able to recognize her the way she had.
Multiple thoughts flashed through Verna’s mind as she reached them, and though she wasn’t tired at all, she bent over, feigning weakness and panting for a moment.
“Verna, do you need something?” Bennett looked over and asked.
“Brother Bennett.” Verna looked up and flashed a sweet smile. “I heard you’d come to White Maple Academy and rushed right over. After all, we’re siblings. How could my older brother visit and his sister not come to see him?”
Bennett had also once studied at White Maple Academy, but he had already graduated, so he naturally had no usual reason to be here.
[That smile is so sweet… Tsk tsk, Verna’s never this sweet normally.]
[Fake it, keep faking it. They’re all a bunch of schemers.]
[Calls him ‘Brother’ with one breath and plots against him with the next. Verna is definitely not someone to underestimate.]
Faced with Verna’s current performance, the viewers couldn’t help but vent through the bullet comments.
Bennett, of course, had no idea what Verna was really thinking. In his mind, Verna was just a harmless little sister.
“I have some business right now, Verna. Let’s talk later.”
“Let me come along. I’m very curious why Brother is looking for Lily. You might not know this, Brother, but Lily is my lifesaver.”
“Lifesaver?”
“Yes. Remember when I was captured before? It was Lily who accidentally discovered me and notified the Security Office, leading to my rescue.”
“Hmm, since she’s an acquaintance of yours, you can come along too.”
Hearing this, Bennett didn’t refuse.
Verna let out a breath, instructed her guard to wait outside, and followed the others into Amelia’s dormitory.
She didn’t know what Bennett wanted with Amelia, but Amelia was an indispensable piece in her plan to become Grand Duchess. She didn’t want any unforeseen trouble to befall her, so she naturally needed to keep an eye on things.
Inside the dormitory, the four of them entered.
Although Bennett and Verna hadn’t brought their guards in, Amelia had brought Eileen. It was, after all, her dormitory, and Bennett had no objections.
After taking a seat on the sofa, Bennett wasted no time and spoke directly. “I came to find you, Miss Lily, primarily to ask about Ron… or should I say, Weber Jopar.”
“Teacher Weber? He only became our Harp Class teacher today. I’m not very familiar with him.” Amelia hastily distanced herself.
“Is that so? Please don’t lie to me, Miss Lily. I hope to hear more—and more truthful—words.” Bennett smiled at Amelia.
He was in charge of investigating Dwight’s death, and the Red Moon Society was an unavoidable part of that investigation. Thus, Ron was a crucial link to investigate. And after looking into Ron, he felt that Amelia also needed to be examined.
“I’m not lying.” Amelia put on an innocent expression.
“Brother Bennett, could there be a misunderstanding? Teacher Weber only arrived at the academy today. How could Lily possibly know anything about him?” Verna also piped up, feigning confusion.
Hearing this, Bennett leaned back, his tall frame sinking into the soft sofa. He chuckled lightly. “Verna, there are many things you don’t know, so it’s understandable you’re confused. Let me explain the situation.”
“Please do, Brother Bennett.” Verna adopted a docile demeanor.
“You see, that man Weber Jopar, his real name is Ron Jopar. He’s a member of the Red Moon Society,” Bennett said gravely, his expression very serious, as if revealing a huge secret.
Verna cooperated perfectly, covering her mouth with one hand, looking utterly shocked. Even her body trembled slightly, giving off a sense of palpable fear.
Watching Verna’s acting, Amelia felt vastly inferior.
Why hadn’t she noticed before that Verna had such talent for performance?
Bennett, satisfied with Verna’s shock, continued, “Members of the Red Moon Society must be thoroughly investigated. I can’t afford to overlook a single detail about Ron. And you, Miss Lily, are someone who had contact with him.”
