The exam process was a breeze for Carlotta. Not only was she the first to complete the test, but she also achieved a perfect score.
When her teacher, Estelle Marlowe, saw Carlotta handing in her paper early, she initially had her doubts.
She didn't believe that Carlotta could have produced a satisfactory answer in such a short time and wanted to find something to criticize.
However, after going through the paper three times, Estelle couldn't find a single flaw.
Finally, Estelle put the paper down and said to Carlotta with a hint of complexity in her eyes, "You did very well. It seems you've been paying attention in class and have studied hard. You may leave early."
"It's all thanks to your excellent teaching," Carlotta replied politely before leaving the classroom under the envious gazes of her classmates.
....
As she walked out of the building, Carlotta noticed two people entering the academy late.
Were they tardy? She recognized one of them, Soren Carlisle, one of the two most prominent figures in the first year. The other was Soren's maid, Mary.
Carlotta didn't care whether they were late or not, as it had nothing to do with her.
She was about to head back to her dorm when Soren suddenly turned and walked towards her.
Carlotta had no choice but to stop. It would be rude to ignore a noble lady approaching her, and she didn't want to offend anyone.
Soon, Soren stood before her and asked with a smile, "Miss White, shouldn't you be in class during academy hours?"
As a noble, Soren exuded an aura that made it impossible to ignore her. She had golden hair and blue eyes, and although she wore the academy uniform, she was adorned with exquisite jewelry, rings, bracelets, a necklace, and a brooch.
Carlotta didn't know why Soren recognized her but casually explained, "Our Card Magic Class Two had an exam today. I've already submitted my paper, and Professor Estelle allowed me to leave early."
Soren didn't care about the answer. It was just an opening line. Her real question came next: "Miss White, may I ask what your relationship is with Mrs. Richards?"
"You mean the headmistress?" Carlotta thought for a moment.
She had been personally arranged into the academy by Dean Viviana Richards. Perhaps that was why Soren remembered her. It wasn't about Carlotta herself but about the dean.
Caerwyn Academy, though not as prestigious as the four great academies in the capital of Kestholm, it was still one of the top magical institutions, often referred to as the "fifth academy."
Being the dean of such an academy, Viviana Richards naturally held a high status and attracted much attention.
Carlotta chose not to go into detail about her connection with Viviana and simply stated, "The dean has been generous. When I shared my desire to become a mage, she helped me get into the academy and even covered my tuition. Life here turned out better than I ever imagined."
She didn't say much, but her words prepared gave the impression that she had a close relationship with Viviana.
Soren smiled and said, "Mrs. Richards is indeed very kind, but she's also quite mysterious. It's hard to meet her. Since you're familiar with her, could you please deliver this invitation to her?"
She gestured to her maid, Mary, a brown-haired girl with freckles, who stepped forward and handed over a gilded invitation.
Carlotta took the invitation instinctively but immediately felt a headache coming on.
Soren wanted her to deliver the invitation to Viviana because she couldn't find the dean herself? But Carlotta didn't know where Viviana was either!
Unaware of the real nature of Carlotta's bond with Viviana, Soren felt a sense of relief after finally delivering the invitation.
She smiled and said, "Thank you, Miss White. It's getting late, and I should head to class now. My teacher might get angry if I'm late."
Of course, Soren's teacher wouldn't be angry over her tardiness, but she didn't want to give the impression of being a noble who didn't follow the rules. She had only been late because of an incident on her way to the academy.
As she watched Soren and Mary walk away, Carlotta hesitated. The invitation in her hand felt like a hot potato, but there was no way to return it now.
Well, some things were hard to explain. Carlotta decided to take the invitation and leave.
...
The morning passed quickly, and by noon, the merchant's daughter, Avery Clarke, announced the results of the duel between the two first-year celebrities in the cafeteria. Amelia Fenwick had won.
As expected, Carlotta got back her bet of 1, 000 Orrae and an additional 500 Orrae, making a small profit.
The outcome of the duel sparked heated discussions among the students, with even some upperclassmen joining in.
Normally, the childrens of viscounts would attend one of the four great academies in the capital.
Although Caerwyn Academy was often referred to as the "fifth academy," it hadn't yet reached the same level of prestige. It was rare for nobles to send their children here.
It was unclear why the viscounts of the Carlisle and Fenwick families had sent their daughters to Caerwyn Academy, but it certainly made the student atmosphere more lively than in previous years.
Carlotta didn't participate in the discussions. Instead, she focused on her Card Magic studies in the afternoon.
In her previous life, she had lived in a world without magic, so she was determined to make the most of her opportunity to learn it in this world.
After a long day of classes, Carlotta studied until nightfall, only taking a break for dinner.
When she returned to her dorm, she washed up and went to bed.
As for the daily intelligence reports, although they refreshed at midnight, Carlotta had stopped staying up to read them immediately.
After realizing that the information wasn't always crucial, she decided to wait until the next morning to check the new reports.