Silence lingered in the room as Elana's movement revealed the man sitting quietly in the shadows of the hall.
Ulrich had excused himself from the dining hall barely five minutes ahead of the sisters. Yet, in that brief window, he had somehow managed to change into a fresh, impeccably tailored set of clothes, intercept Elana, brief her on his exact expectations, and take his seat behind the desk, all before the girls even walked through the door. His efficiency was almost frightening.
"Lord Ulrich..." Esther muttered. She clearly had not expected to see him again so soon, and a shy nervousness flickered across her face.
"Wh—Why are you here again?" Hermione asked, biting her lip to keep herself from outright shouting the question.
Ulrich slowly shifted his gaze toward her. "I believe I mentioned that I will be personally overseeing your progress over the coming month," he said. "I must ensure none of you embarrass the Rubenhart name when the day arrives."
