"Lily!"

After Her Highness the Princess and Her Majesty the Queen had left one after another, Luna finally found her chance and spoke up eagerly.

"How are you feeling? Are you uncomfortable anywhere else?"

The three maids crowded in front of Celitia, filling the space by the bed completely, each wearing identical expressions of worried concern.

"There's nothing wrong anymore." Celitia shook her head. "After resting for another day or two, I should recover."

With the weight lifted from her heart, Luna's eyes gradually reddened. She sat down beside the bed and gripped Celitia's hand tightly.

Holding that frail, weak hand, Luna's own hands trembled constantly, still unable to recover from the terror of nearly losing Celitia.

"I'm sorry for making you all worry."

Celitia gently placed her palm over Luna's hand, patting the back of her hand again and again.

Feeling that slightly cool temperature in her palm, Luna finally gained some sense of reality.

Her Lily was still here, hadn't left her.

Large tears poured from her eyes, and in an instant, Luna was sobbing uncontrollably.

"You're still apologizing to me," she said through her tears. "What exactly are you apologizing for? What need is there to apologize?"

"No, it's just..."

Celitia was at a loss for words.

She had clearly wanted to comfort Luna, but somehow had achieved the opposite effect.

She couldn't stand seeing people cry the most, so she could only frantically withdraw her hand and clumsily use her sleeve to wipe away Luna's tears.

"Stop crying, Luna. It's all my fault, okay?"

Luna looked up through her tears, glaring at her as she asked: "Then tell me, where exactly was the fault?"

"This—" Celitia was instantly speechless.

Usually Luna would be appeased with a bit of coaxing, but who knew she would suddenly be so serious about it.

Where was there any fault?

For the entire incident, even if it happened again, she would dare to do the same thing.

"If the price of protecting me is you getting hurt and sick, even nearly losing your life, then I'd rather not have it."

During the night when Celitia was unconscious, Luna had stayed awake all night, constantly keeping watch by the bedside without moving a step.

Looking at that pale, weak face, her heart felt as if it had been subjected to a thousand cuts.

Luna thought that if Celitia never woke up again, she probably would have lost the will to live as well.

"I'm very happy that I'm important enough in your heart, but could you please move yourself up a bit higher in the order of priority? If something happened to you because of me, I would never be able to forgive myself for the rest of my life."

This wasn't the first time.

Last time they had talked it out properly, asking Celitia not to stand up for her anymore, but she hadn't listened at all.

Celitia's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she finally honestly lowered her head.

"I... I'll be careful."

This incident might have caused quite a psychological shadow for Luna.

Just as she herself had said, there were things that shouldn't be done, but had to be done.

But she also had to consider the other person's feelings.

She always... subconsciously ignored these things, acting on her own every time.

For once, Celitia began to reflect on herself.

Gidi had been listening for a long time and mustered up courage to persuade:

"The situation at that time was critical, and Miss Celitia was also forced into a corner with no other choice."

That moment when she stepped forward, Gidi remembered until now and couldn't forget it.

If someone treated her the same way, Gidi might have been moved enough to pledge herself on the spot and remain devoted for life.

"So, Luna, don't worry too much about it. Now that both of you are fine, isn't that the best outcome?"

Rebecca sighed deeply as well:

"Yes, as long as both of you are safe. Let's just let this matter pass."

At this point, Rebecca remembered something, and her expression gradually became worried.

"It's just that, given Madam and the young master's personalities, they absolutely won't let Lily off. Even with the protection of Her Majesty the Queen and Her Royal Highness, they can't provide protection for a lifetime. And moreover—"

Rebecca hesitated to continue.

This time, whether it was herself, Luna, or Gidi, they had all thoroughly offended the Herbert family.

They were legitimate servants of the Herbert family, and their slave contracts were still held by the Herbert family. They would have to return someday.

When that time came, who knew what novel methods Aloque and Olar would come up with to torment them.

Celitia understood what Rebecca hadn't finished saying.

"You don't need to worry too much. Her Majesty Marianne has already issued punishment, so we probably won't see my dear stepmother and brother for quite a while."

Although Charles remained at home to reflect, given his personality, he probably wouldn't have the courage to trouble them again.

However, to be safe...

"During this time, I will request Her Majesty Marianne and Her Highness Sophia to let you temporarily remain in the royal palace."

Celitia spoke slowly, her tone firm. "I've already thought of a way. When the time comes, I will definitely help you regain your freedom and leave the Herbert family with dignity."

The three maids looked at each other, their eyes full of disbelief.

It felt like a meat pie had fallen from the sky and hit them on the head, leaving all three dizzy and dazed.

Gidi was absolutely overjoyed: "Really?!"

"What method?" Luna's expression changed. "Lily, you're not planning to do something dangerous again, are you?"

"It's not dangerous," Celitia comforted her. "I just plan to participate in an academy activity. The rewards are quite generous, and I can take the opportunity to make my request then."

"Really?" Luna asked suspiciously.

In Luna's eyes, Celitia's credibility had already approached zero.

"Really!" Celitia assured her. "If you don't believe me, you can ask Her Highness Sophia."

"What about yourself?" Luna stared at her intently. "After making such a scene with your family to protect us, what will you do in the future?"

"Of course I'll leave that so-called home," Celitia smiled. "Participating in this competition is just to take another step forward, isn't it?"

Unexpectedly, Celitia could actually twist the reasoning back to the legitimacy of participating in the competition, leaving Luna momentarily speechless.

"Luna, I've figured it out. I still have many things I want to do."

When she was first reborn, Celitia had been disheartened and only wanted to find a place to hide and live carelessly.

But in the end, she had gained people she wanted to protect and things she wanted to accomplish.

If seeing their smiles was her wish, and hoping for her safety was their wish...

Then she would hold her head high and work hard to create a new life.

What happened yesterday had dealt Celitia a blow, but it had also given her hope.

Her current self was too weak. Such a her couldn't protect the people she wanted to protect at all.

So...

Investigate the source of the curse, reclaim her former power, and for the sake of those wishes, step by step, find her original self again.

Of course, she wouldn't forget those who had brought her pain either.

These hands had once been empty.

But she would definitely be able to grasp the future she wanted.

Celitia faintly showed a smile.

Luna saw all of her expressions and suddenly felt that compared to before, Celitia seemed to have changed again.

She had less coldness and dejection, and more gentleness and vitality.

No matter what Celitia wanted to do, she would definitely stand by her side and always stay with her.

Luna slowly tightened her grip on her hand.

"Then the first step... let's start with not being stubborn and properly recovering your health, okay?"

Rebecca and Gidi also nodded repeatedly: "That's right, no matter what you want to do, don't make us worry anymore."

Why are they still hung up on this...

Celitia's face fell, and she hugged her quilt and burrowed into it, only revealing a pair of pitiful eyes.

"I know, I'll rest right now. Is that okay?"