Episode 3 of "Secrets of the Silent Witch" kicks off with Monica diving into an investigation, tracing the origin of a dislodged flowerpot, only to unexpectedly stumble upon a confrontation. A clique of her classmates is bullying Selma, Aaron's bride, effectively barricading the stairs that the reserved witch yearns to ascend.
Lana, ever perceptive, swiftly identifies the scene and dashes up alongside Selma, determined to secure their passage. Yet, she seizes the moment to retaliate with sharp remarks, stirring up trouble.Caroline, one of the bullies, snaps in frustration and shoves Lana. Though Lana remains steady on her feet, Monica, trailing behind, loses her balance and plummets down the stairs.
More accurately, she glides. As gravity pulls her into its embrace, Monica's mind races in slow motion, contemplating the best maneuver to safeguard her dignity and evade humiliation. Despite her best efforts, she careens downwards at breakneck speed, ultimately crashing into the student council's vice president. Fortunately, he displays a commendable concern for her welfare.
Seizing this twist, Caroline points fingers at Lana, shifting blame onto her. Monica's pulse quickens, mindful of the power dynamics where aristocrats can effortlessly tarnish one's reputation. Haunting images of a public burning from her childhood, perhaps linked to her father's past, flash through her mind. Gathering every ounce of courage, she utters that she was the one who stumbled, shouldering the blame solely upon herself.
Afterwards, she delves into the chamber where the enigmatic individual had hastily discarded the pot upon her and Felix. Within its confines, she uncovers an array of telling clues, indicating that the perpetrator had reserved the room in advance and required an additional pot for their scheme. Armed with these discoveries, she confronts Felix, accusing Selma of being the culprit. Despite Selma's vehement denials, Monica presents a plethora of compelling reasons for her suspicions. She reveals that Selma had booked the room precisely during the time of the incident and uncovers Selma's soiled gloves discarded in a nearby trash bin. Defenseless, Selma descends into hysteria, pleading with them not to separate her from Aaron.
The just course of action would undoubtedly be to condemn her entire family to execution for their attempted assassination of a noble. However, Felix leans towards a more lenient punishment, suggesting that expelling Selma from the academy would suffice. Monica, somewhat relieved, turns her attention to the accounting reports, only to find numerous discrepancies within them. Impressed by her prowess, Felix promptly appoints her as the new student council treasurer.
Within mere hours, she meticulously scrutinizes five years' worth of documents, astonishing Felix and the council. When granted permission to voice her observations, she candidly criticizes their laxity, which irritates Cyril, their vice president. Sneaking into her room at night to scrutinize her notes, Cyril concedes her accuracy but also notices an oddity in her handwriting. As he exits, a throbbing headache ensues, and his eyes glow with a sinister red hue.
The subsequent day, Felix assigns Cyril to assist Monica in familiarizing herself with her duties, noting his past experience as treasurer. Though initially intimidated, Monica is compelled to endure his tutelage. To her surprise, Cyril goes above and beyond to aid her, commending her exceptional abilities. He chastises her not for her errors but for her reluctance to embrace her formidable talents with pride. The previous day, he had even interrogated students to uncover the truth and meted out punishment to Caroline.
Monica finds herself elated yet unable to shake off the lingering echo of a cruel remark once hurled at her by a boy, preventing her from ever feeling truly proud. Soon after, an argument ensues between her and Cyril, who urges her to raise her voice, a feat beyond her current capabilities. As night descends, Cyril embarks on his mission to convey a stack of documents to Professor Thornless. Along his way, a peculiar feeling washes over him, causing him to hesitate momentarily. Nevertheless, within the blink of an eye, he resumes his steady march forward.
