The Speedrun Manual of Miss Witch - Chapter 227

“You’re finally here, Avena.”

Windsor took a few steps forward and directly held Avena’s hand, who was walking in front, and said with a smile, “Let’s go into the banquet hall first. Let the lady-in-waiting receive the others…”

Windsor deliberately didn’t show too much interest in the girl named Ciel, but the moment her hand met Avena’s, she seemed to feel a sharp and cold gaze. This made Windsor’s hand feel as if it had been electrocuted, and she released Avena’s right hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you again, Ciel,”

Windsor turned to look in Ciel’s direction. Just looking into the eyes under the mask made her heart tremble. “…I thought you weren’t coming.”

“Since it is a princess’s invitation, I will certainly visit,”

Ciel slightly lowered her head, no longer looking at Windsor before her, and said in a low voice.

“It’s a chance to see the world.”

“If you want to see the real world, you might need to prepare a few weeks in advance,”

Windsor controlled her gaze so it didn’t lewdly wander to where it shouldn’t. She said, “This is just a casual gathering of friends… If you don’t mind, please be sure to accept the invitation to the next evening banquet…”

After speaking, Windsor realized she had said too much. She looked up at Avena and said, “Of course, you too, Avena.”

Avena’s eyes at this moment were slightly narrowed… She seemed to sense that Windsor was being a little too enthusiastic towards Ciel.

Windsor thought Avena had some concerns. She quickly changed the subject and said, “Don’t worry, Forte won’t be here today. I specifically asked him not to come.”

She thought Avena was worried about Forte.

“No,”

Avena shook her head and dropped her forced smile. “I was just lamenting that it has been a long time since I’ve been here… It’s still the same as before.”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Windsor led Avena to the banquet hall. They would first enjoy a reception with drinks in the banquet hall, and then proceed to the dining room later. This was a relatively relaxed segment for socializing.

Ciel didn’t actually intend to attend the banquet. She just found an excuse and went directly to the restroom on the first floor.

This restroom had a secret passage that led directly to Forte’s secret room below… but Ciel had no intention of going to that secret room.

She just stood in the restroom for a while, waiting until there were no more footsteps outside. Only then did she wash her hands at the sink. After drying her hands, she opened the door.

Most of the palace servants were helping out at the banquet hall. The main hall was empty at this moment. After leaving the restroom, Ciel walked at her usual pace, unhurriedly following the path from her memory, and arrived at the underground passage.

She walked in the dark passage and soon stopped in front of a wooden door. Ciel directly raised her hand and knocked on the wooden door.

Knock knock knock—

A muffled knocking sound echoed. Soon, the wooden door was opened. The light from inside restored Ciel’s vision.

The one who opened the door was still that furry monster that crawled. After opening the door for Ciel, it quickly crawled away.

Ciel looked up and scanned the collection room. She immediately saw a tall, hunched figure in front of the operating table.

Lafayette.

Ciel walked in and closed the door.

At this moment, Lafayette also turned her head and looked at Ciel.

However, Lafayette didn’t speak. She didn’t even greet her.

【Acuity】

Sharp perception made Ciel notice that there were three pairs of eyes on her.

One was Lafayette, one was the furry monster.

And another… on the “wall” at the innermost part of the collection room.

Forte’s secret room.

It’s… Forte…

How is he here?! Didn’t Windsor say he wasn’t coming?

Lafayette also seemed to know that Forte was there. So, since Ciel entered, Lafayette hadn’t said a word.

That gaze put immense pressure on Ciel. A “Reborn” could control the speed of their heartbeat, but Ciel couldn’t…

If Forte noticed her nervousness, this simulation would completely fail.

Fortunately, 【Calm Mind】 allowed her to remain calm. She didn’t give herself away the moment she detected the third pair of eyes.

“Professor Lafayette.”

Ciel calmly walked to Lafayette’s front and reached into the pocket of her uniform dress, pulling out the bottle of “Physician” potion.

Ciel held the potion bottle and slowly said, “The potion you wanted, Professor.”

This was originally a potion Ciel had prepared for herself. At this point, she could only improvise.

Lafayette reached out and took the potion bottle from Ciel’s hand. She slightly frowned and said, “The quality is not right… It’s not perfect.”

“This is the best potion I could find in Ansu City.”

Ciel said, “I had prepared this for myself.”

“Heh heh heh… Then keep it for yourself.”

Lafayette laughed carelessly. “This quality of potion cannot allow me to continue my experiments. If there’s nothing else, please leave.”

“I will not refund the deposit.”

Ciel took back the potion bottle, put it back in her pocket, and said coldly.

“Heh heh heh…”

Lafayette just laughed and didn’t reply to Ciel further.

Ciel, holding the potion bottle, turned to leave. But as she walked to the door and reached out to open it… the wooden door was directly pushed open.

A tall man with white long hair stood outside the door, squinting his eyes, smiling, and examining Ciel.

“Your Excellency Forte?”

Ciel reacted quickly. She quickly lowered her head and stepped aside, avoiding direct eye contact with Forte.

“Haha… A friend of Professor Lafayette?”

Forte’s gaze lingered on Ciel for a moment, then he looked in Lafayette’s direction and said slowly, “I didn’t know… the Professor had such a young friend…”

Ciel’s right hand slightly curved, making a grabbing motion. If she wanted to, the next moment, the pocket watch would appear in her palm.

Lafayette remained silent. She looked up, through her goggles, at Forte, and also spoke slowly.

“Everyone has secrets, Forte… You do, and I do too.”

The atmosphere became silent again. After a long time, Forte slowly turned sideways, making way. He smiled and said, “I apologize, Miss Ciel… Please go back upstairs and enjoy the banquet.”

Their conversation on the ground level had not escaped Forte’s ears.

Ciel, keeping her head down, walked past Forte and quickly headed towards the ground level.

After watching Ciel leave, Forte looked at Lafayette again.

“There shouldn’t be any secrets between us…”

“Mother…”