Carissa nced at the young women, all dressed in borate outfits.


    The woman speaking wore a pale pink satin gown with delicate golden embroidery along the edges and a flowing turquoise blue underskirt that swayed as she walked. The outfit was youthful yet exuded nobility. Around her neck hung a delicate ne with intricate gemstones. A small blue sachet, embroidered with the letter ''Q'', was tied at her waist. At a nce, one could tell her status.


    The others were simrly dressed in expensive, borate attire. There was no doubt these were the troublemakers.


    They wereughing, but Carissa didn''t even smile.


    "You''re at the age whereughteres easily. Well, stand here andugh for two hours. You can leave once the time is up," she said in a calm, measured tone, though her expression remained friendly. When Carissa pped her hands, Mabel appeared from around the corner.


    She nodded and respectfully greeted, "Your Grace."


    ire, Lillian, Iris, and Mabel were all people whom Winona had left behind in the capital. ire handled investigations, and Mabel usually apanied her. Though most of the time, her help wasn''t necessary. Today was different.


    Carissa had agreed to let Rosalind handle things on her own, but now that the girls hade to her, she wasn''t about to let this opportunity slip by.


    "Mabel, keep an eye on them. Let themugh for two hours. Anyone who can''t manage to do so will be expelled from the academy," she instructed coolly.


    Jocelyn suddenly stepped forward to block Carissa''s path, her face cold as frost. "Who are you to kick us out? We''ve been properly enrolled with an invitation. We''re legitimate students."


    "You''ve broken the rules of Gracewood Women''s Academy. You''ve provoked and mocked the headmistress. You''ve earned your expulsion," Carissa calmly replied.


    Without another word, she turned and began walking away.


    "We didn''tugh at you. Don''t you dare take it personally! What''s there tough at?" Jocelyn snapped, clearly dissatisfied.


    Carissa turned back, her smile almost imperceptible. "I may not be the one beingughed at, but you will be. Once you''re kicked out of the academy, you''ll be a joke for at least a month." Jocelyn huffed. "My grandfather was the previous king''s tutor, my cousin is the queen, and my uncle is the Civil Minister who oversees promotions for Starhaven officials. What gives you the right-"


    Carissa interjected, "Your grandfather, cousin, and uncle may all be impressive, but what about you? What are you? You''ve achieved nothing. How dare you act up in front of me?"


    She turned to Mabel and added, "Don''t pay attention to anything they say. Just keep an eye on them. Let themugh to their heart''s content. Anyone who doesn''tugh enough-take them away. Don''t bother reporting to me." With that, Carissa turned and walked away.


    Mabel''s expression was stone-cold, and the small scar that ran across her forehead gave her a terrifying look when she wasn''t smiling. As her gaze swept over the girls, they instinctively shrank back.


    Jocelyn, still defiant, opened her mouth to protest, but Mabel''s cold voice stopped her in her tracks.


    "I''ll count to three. If you''re notughing by the time I''m done, I''ll have you thrown out. One... Two..." "Haha... Haha..."


    Mabel''s cold eyes and stern voice were too much for them to resist. By


    the time she reached "two", they had no choice but to burst out into forced, fakeughter. Within moments, their throats grew sore and they were all crouched on the ground, coughing and gagging.


    Mabel paid them no mind, continuing her count, "First warning. Second warning..."


    These noble girls had never been threatened in such a way before.


    Skilled in martial arts, Cassidy could not stand being humiliated. She saw Mabel as nothing more than a servant and thought it was outrageous that someone like her would dare to order them around. Cassidy stoppedughing, then stepped forward and raised her hand to p Mabel. "If I don''t teach you a lesson, you''ll never know your ce!"


    There was no change in Mabel''s expression as she swiftly grabbed Jocelyn and yanked her over. With a slight twist of her shoulder, the stap intended for Mabelnded heavily on Jocelyn''s face, sending her head snapping to the side.


    Jocelyn had never been struck in the face before. She screamed in pain, temporarily disoriented. She didn''t even know who had hit her. In a rush of anger, she swung her hand, only to end up pping Cassidy across the face instead. Both girls were stunned, too shocked to speak.


    Before they could react, Mabel''s cold voice rang out again, "Last chance. Laugh, or leave!"


    Jocelyn burst into tears, but even as


    she sobbed, she kept up the<pughter. She couldn''t afford to be expelled. Thoughing to Gracewood Women''s Academy hadn''t been her choice, her cousin had told her it would help stir up trouble. So, she couldn''t leave, no matter how much she hated it. Even if Carissa might not truly kick her out, she wasn''t willing to take that risk.