Episode 9 of *Secrets of the Silent Witch* kicks off with a shocking twist as Casey herself openly confesses to attempting Felix's murder. Then, Monica steps forward to elucidate the intricate details, including how the Spirit King was summoned and the method employed to bypass Louis’s barrier—an act that deeply wounded his pride.
Monica then poses a critical question: what fate awaits Casey? The prognosis is grim. Guards are poised to interrogate the young girl, resorting to mind-manipulation magic if necessary. Considering she attempted to take the life of a royal family member, the ultimate punishment—the death penalty—looms ominously.
Quick-witted, Monica proposes a deal to Louis. As a supporter of the first prince, Louis's reputation would be tarnished if it became known that his allies had tried to assassinate the second prince. Even Louis is taken aback by Monica's strategic maneuver, given her general disinterest in political intrigue. Nevertheless, he eventually agrees to her terms.
Under the pact, Louis will remain silent about the incident, and Casey will be spared the death penalty. However, she must admit to her crimes and agree to live out her days in a convent, forever banished from civilization. It's the best Louis can offer.
Upon Casey's acceptance, the moment arrives for her to bid farewell to Monica. She offers neither thanks nor apologies for her actions. Instead, she imparts a piece of advice to the witch: not to shed tears for her foes and to erase her from memory. Yet, Monica, her eyes brimming with tears, vows never to forget Casey.
As Casey is being led away, she does find it in her heart to apologize for one thing. She had wanted to teach the timid girl the arts of horse riding and embroidery.
Following this, Felix sets out to investigate the barrier, prompted by Wildianu's revelation that someone had summoned a Spirit King. As he listens in, Felix catches Louis lost in thought, mumbling to himself about the incident. Amidst his ramblings, Louis mentions that the Silent Witch was the one behind the summoning.
That revelation takes Felix by surprise, unveiling a fresh facet of his character. He is utterly captivated by her exquisite magecraft, unable to fathom that she stands so tantalizingly close. Little does he know, she's even nearer than he could ever anticipate.
A few days pass, and Lana strikes up a conversation with Monica, lamenting how unfortunate it is that Casey had to abruptly depart from the school due to a family emergency. Noticing Monica's somber mood, Lana attempts to shift the topic and lift her spirits. She suggests that Monica can borrow one of her dresses for the grand ball following the school festival.
With her confidence somewhat restored, Monica gears up for her next endeavor. She steps into her inaugural horse-riding lesson. Alas, her debut is far from auspicious; she tumbles off the horse almost immediately.
Fortunately, Felix is present too. He takes the reins alongside her, offering guidance as they meander around. The boy is taken aback by her choice, prompting Monica to explain that she has a friend she's eager to tell about her newfound equestrian skills.
Next, the witch embarks on her first chess lesson. Elliott is her partner, eager to atone for employing castling in their previous match without first teaching her. He admits it was a shameful act, but Monica sees no reason to harbor resentment. She's elated simply by the prospect of learning more about the game. Thus, they both agree to give it their all.
As they engage in the game, Elliott is struck by how Monica reminds him of Felix during his childhood. Despite being destined to lead, the prince seemed to excel at nothing. He constantly leaned on his servant for assistance in various pursuits, including horse riding.
Elliott harbored resentment towards him for that reason, leading him to play a prank one day. He placed one of Felix's books atop a tree, using a crow's supposed interest in it as a pretext. However, when Felix attempted to retrieve his book by climbing, the branch gave way, and he sustained serious injuries.
Even though it was Elliott's doing entirely, he stepped in to shield Felix when an adult laid blame. Felix, clueless about tree-climbing, saw no cause for anger.
Upon witnessing this resemblance, Elliott finally grasps why Felix goes to such lengths for Monica.
Later on, the girl drags herself back to her duties, her exhaustion so profound that she finds herself on the verge of dozing off atop Cyril's back. Yet, in a surprising twist, it is Cyril who offers the apology. He lays the blame squarely on his own shoulders, chastising himself for not having inspected the ropes thoroughly beforehand, an oversight that led to both her and Casey sustaining injuries. Indeed, the weight of responsibility for the incident extends even to the school, which casts aspersions upon him.
Monica comes to a stark realization: by compelling Louis to remain silent about the assassination attempt, she has inadvertently shifted the blame onto an innocent party. Burdened by the knowledge yet powerless to divulge the truth, she is overwhelmed with emotion, her tears flowing freely. The girl persists in her apologies, each one a heartfelt plea, until finally, her body succumbs to the overwhelming fatigue, and she collapses.
