The moment the aphrodisiac curse's effects ended and her mind cleared, Celitia wanted to flee this world overnight.

She covered her face with both hands, desperately hiding herself.

Oh god, oh god!

Goddess, what exactly had just happened?!

She had... in Sophia's hands...

Celitia felt that it was so embarrassing she didn't want to live anymore.

The dress and undergarments Sophia had removed were thrown at the foot of the bed. Celitia pulled back the covers and desperately burrowed inside.

She wrapped herself completely in the bedding, hiding her body and face, only revealing a pair of glistening eyes.

"Why are you so skilled?"

Sophia was stunned by her question, her face also flushing bright red, the blush spreading all the way to the base of her neck.

Not daring to look at Celitia, her gaze wandered left and right. "I... I... privately... collected some... storybooks and picture albums and such..."

During those days when she couldn't get Celitia's response and tossed and turned restlessly, Sophia had secretly asked trusted maids to collect some… things for her.

Hiding alone in her room to secretly look at uncle-related materials, relieving her loneliness and such... this kind of thing...

Was also extremely embarrassing...

Not wanting to continue this topic, Sophia coughed to cover her embarrassment and asked with concern:

"What exactly happened? I still haven't figured out what was going on..."

Celitia's eyes darted away, deflecting with a question: "How did you find me here?"

Had someone seen what happened between her and Bren?

Just thinking about this made Celitia extremely anxious.

"A mysterious voice told me, saying you were cursed and locked in a small room."

Sophia frowned as she answered.

"It was really strange. I didn't notice who was speaking at all, and I couldn't find anyone."

The image of that mysterious shadowy woman flashed through Celitia's mind.

During the time between Bren's disappearance and Sophia's arrival, she seemed to have seen someone too...

...But she couldn't remember at all.

The memory was missing from her mind, but her body retained a trace of feeling.

As if she had once been embraced in arms that were very warm, yet filled with pain and sorrow...

Celitia tried hard to remember for a long time, only feeling her brain aching, and couldn't help but hold her head tightly.

"What's wrong?" Sophia was startled and felt deeply distressed. "It's okay, Lily. If you can't remember, don't try to. Leave everything to me—I'll get justice for you!"

When she heard what that mysterious voice told her, Sophia was almost scared out of her mind.

Fortunately, when she found Celitia, she was just locked alone in the rest room with her clothes intact and no injuries on her body.

Perhaps someone had tried to harm Celitia, using vicious methods like "aphrodisiac curses," and Celitia had desperately escaped and locked herself up to hide.

Having worked out a logical hypothesis, Sophia became even more furious.

"Since I found you, I need to go back and tell Mother and Ariel so they don't worry. None of the guests who came to tonight's ball are leaving early. I'm going to have people investigate every suspicious person one by one."

Celitia hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping, silently lowering her head.

Those events were all interconnected, and Celitia didn't know which parts she could tell Sophia.

She didn't want Sophia to discover the terrifying self that even she couldn't see clearly.

Just staying by her side without knowing anything would be enough.

Hold onto her, hold onto her.

Such intense possessiveness, once it occupied her entire heart, could never be let go.

"I'm sorry..." Celitia said softly.

"Why apologize?" Sophia felt even more distressed. "Those terrible things—it's better to forget them. As long as you're not hurt, that's better than anything."

Hearing Sophia's words, Celitia lowered her eyelids slightly, her body hiding in the covers and curling up even tighter.

Sophia couldn't help but comfort her by stroking her head, brushing away the messy hair on her forehead.

Good thing she had arrived in time. Otherwise, with Celitia afflicted by an aphrodisiac curse and hiding alone, she would definitely have been very uncomfortable.

Remembering how she looked with her flushed face when she rushed in, and the intimate atmosphere when they were entwined moments ago, Sophia's breathing became erratic.

She quickly shook her head, casting away the suddenly rising fantasies:

"You must be very tired. I'll take you to the bedchamber—you can take a bath, change clothes, and have a good night's rest."

As she spoke, Sophia stood up from beside the bed to go pick up Celitia's clothes from the corner.

"Wait!"

Celitia quickly reached out and grabbed Sophia's wrist.

The covers hiding her body slipped down, once again revealing the girl's curves and large expanses of pearly white skin.

"Wh-what's wrong?"

Even though she had seen everything she should have seen and done everything there was to do, Sophia still couldn't help her heart racing and frantically looked away.

Celitia bit her lower lip sulkily and was stubborn for a while before speaking quietly:

"Then... what about the brooch?"

Sophia's mind didn't catch up: "Brooch? What about the brooch?"

"Her Majesty Marianne said in front of everyone," Celitia stared at her intently, "that as long as someone brought back the other half of the brooch, it would prove they were destined to be a pair with you, right?"

"R-right," Sophia was somewhat at a loss. "Mother did say that, but that half of the brooch was already given to you, and others can't find it, so..."

The hand gripping her wrist tightened slightly, and Celitia said seriously: "I want to go."

"Eh?" Sophia hadn't reacted yet.

"I mean, I don't want to rest now. I want to take the brooch to find Her Majesty Marianne."

Celitia explained, her cheeks and ears becoming even redder, but her gaze on Sophia didn't waver at all.

"I will... take responsibility for you."

"Eh—?!"

Finally understanding what Celitia meant, Sophia's eyes gradually widened.

Enormous joy struck her heart, leaving Sophia's mind blank for quite a while.

After a long moment, Sophia finally reacted, her cheeks flushing red, steam almost rising from the top of her head.

"Take responsibility for me? No matter how you look at it, I should be the one taking responsibility for you!"

Celitia said: "It's the same—"

"It's not the same!"

Sophia grabbed her wrist in return, pushed the girl backward, and once again pressed her against the bed rail.

Celitia's head hit the wall, making her slightly dizzy:

"Hey, Sophi—mmph!"

Sophia's kiss once again blocked her breathing.

The sweet fragrance of lavender and the fresh scent of lilies intertwined and merged into one.

Only after kissing the girl breathless did Sophia release her.

Her fingertips lingered reluctantly over that smooth skin as Sophia forcibly suppressed the impulse rising from deep within her body.

Don't rush. After all...

There would be plenty of time ahead.

Sophia stood up from beside the bed and went to pick up Celitia's clothes that had fallen to the floor.

Celitia slowly calmed her breathing, leaning against the wall and silently watching Sophia's back.

Her gaze swept over the messy room, and deep sorrow gradually surfaced in those misty purple eyes.

Sophia, Sophia.

Do you know—

If I choose to reach out my hands, I will never let go again.

Because I cannot bear the pain of losing again.

So no matter what, I will hold on tightly, tightly.

No matter what kind of price must be paid...

Please don't leave me.