"Even if Father really gives you a hard time..."

At this point, Ariel hesitated slightly and reached out to gently pat Celitia's hand.

"I'll still be there, and I'll speak up for you."

Touching the girl's hand, her fingertips sliding across the skin and feeling that coolness, Ariel's heart unconsciously skipped two beats, and she nervously withdrew her hand.

She inadvertently recalled the intertwined dance figures of Celitia and Sophia at the ball, and their tightly clasped hands.

Come to think of it, throughout the entire ball, she hadn't danced a single dance.

If she had known, she should have at least invited Celitia to dance once.

Would there be such an opportunity in the future?

Ariel thought to herself.

"Thank you." Celitia smiled at her.

Looking at the girl's smile, for some reason, Ariel felt a strong sense of loss in her heart.

The carriage slowly entered the palace. Celitia and Ariel got off and walked into the side hall for dining together.

The aroma of food faintly wafted from within, making Celitia unconsciously more nervous.

"Miss Ariel, Miss Celitia."

A maid near the entrance came forward to greet them and led the two inside.

They walked side by side into the hall. Sophia heard the commotion and looked over joyfully at the two: "Lily, you're here!"

When she saw Ariel walking shoulder to shoulder with Celitia, Sophia's expression immediately darkened:

"You're here too, Ariel."

Even knowing that this was the year's last family dinner and that Ariel, as an adopted daughter, would definitely come.

But this didn't prevent Sophia from being very displeased the moment she saw Ariel.

Sophia was hardly a good-tempered person. She found an excuse and deliberately mocked Ariel:

"Hmph, last night, someone declared that they would definitely find the criminal perpetrator, but ended up with nothing and had to slink back to rest."

Sophia snorted through her nose, crossed her arms, full of disdain. "Now you actually dare to walk beside Lily—how thick-skinned!"

That's right, the actual reason was because Ariel had actually come together with Celitia, which directly doubled Sophia's displeasure.

Not feeling at all that she was getting jealous over nothing, Sophia raised her chin and glared at Ariel provocatively.

Hearing Sophia's words, Ariel was immediately stunned.

Last night, Ariel had indeed gained nothing. It was Marianne who persuaded her to go back and rest, lest Ariel's anger cause her to beat up everyone who looked suspicious.

Ariel not only had high standards for others but always had even higher standards for herself. At this moment, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed and flushed.

For her, fighting was fine, and going to war was fine too, but having Ariel investigate was really asking too much of her.

Her face turned red and white at once. Looking at Sophia's smug expression, Ariel couldn't help but feel a flame of anger rise in her stomach.

"I did hear that your magic theory exam this time barely passed."

Ariel glanced at Sophia sideways, frustrated that iron wouldn't become steel. "You clearly put most of your time and energy into the academy, but are you really studying properly, Sophia?"

Compared to studying, Sophia probably spent more time playing with classmates, right?

Recalling what Marianne had announced at the ball about being a "destined pair," Ariel's heart inexplicably filled with thick sourness.

What was this all about?

During study time, just study properly!

"Who... who told on me?! If I catch them, I'll make them pay!!"

This time it was Sophia's turn to blush. "Magic theory is difficult in the first place, and those few days I was busy preparing for the ball and had no time to review!"

Ariel sneered coldly: "Can't learn means can't learn. Always making random excuses."

"That... that was just an accident! Besides, what right do you have to lecture me?!"

Sophia was so angry she lost all composure, glaring at Ariel and almost wanting to fight her.

Celitia was caught in the middle, watching the two whose eyes were about to cross from glaring, and found it both amusing and exasperating:

"I say, stop arguing."

How could they manage to fight over such trivial matters?

Celitia sighed inwardly.

With Celitia between them, Sophia leaned over her shoulder and continued glaring at Ariel:

"I'm not like someone who busied themselves all night only to accomplish nothing!"

Ariel disdainfully turned her head away: "I also wouldn't be like someone who almost failed such a simple test!"

"I said, you two have really had enough."

Celitia quickly grabbed Sophia and pulled her in another direction.

"Stop arguing and let's prepare for dinner."

While being involuntarily pulled forward by Celitia, Sophia didn't forget to turn back and roll her eyes at Ariel, her meaning obvious:

Look, when Lily breaks up fights, she takes me away, not you!

"..." Ariel understood.

Although she felt deep down that Sophia's smugness was very childish, Ariel still felt quite displeased.

Why were her emotions acting a bit strange?

Ariel pondered to herself.

Here Ariel fell into thought, while over there Sophia was pulled away by Celitia, temporarily ending the sisterly war.

Celitia sighed inwardly: Was getting along between sisters really such a difficult thing?

Speaking of which, the relationship between herself and Ileana had also gotten worse as they grew older.

So she absolutely couldn't acknowledge the relationship, and absolutely couldn't let Sophia know!

Reaching this conclusion, Celitia's resolve became even firmer.

Gorman and Marianne were sitting at the dining table not far away, leisurely drinking tea, naturally taking in the entire farce.

Already accustomed to Sophia and Ariel's squabbles, neither had any particular reaction.

Gorman leisurely ate a bite of pastry and commented with great interest:

"Why don't you add fuel to the fire and let them fight? I'd like to see what level Sophia and Ariel have reached now."

Celitia's mouth twitched.

Really, this was way too much fear that the world wouldn't be chaotic enough.

She suddenly felt that Gorman being hunted for offending the demon leader didn't seem strange at all.

Gorman said demons liked to have fun, and Celitia felt he was no exception.

"What fighting? It's clearly a wonderful evening for family reunion—how can there be fighting?"

Marianne reproachfully glared at Gorman. "With Celitia in the middle stopping them, maybe the relationship between Sophia and Ariel will get better."

Seeing his wife speak, Gorman immediately changed his tune and agreed:

"Indeed, our family needs someone like Celitia. As for whether as a daughter-in-law or as a daughter—"

Seeing Gorman about to start talking nonsense, Marianne glared at him again, successfully stopping the train.