Celitia snatched the two bottles of wine from Shanie's arms and placed them on the floor.

"You're all still young, so don't touch alcohol."

Shanie's eyes widened in indignation:

"What are you saying? You sound so old-fashioned—Lily, you're about the same age as us, aren't you?"

"Fine," Celitia helplessly changed her tune, "we're all still young, so let's not drink."

"No way!" Shanie strongly objected. "This wine was specially prepared by Her Highness, right?"

Suddenly mentioned by Shanie, Sophia finally snapped out of her dazed state and couldn't help but cough lightly.

"Drinking is a required course for every noble—we should train from a young age. Besides, this is a celebration. How can we not drink a little?"

Benita spread her hands: "I abstain from voting."

While saying this, Benita went into the kitchen, found four wine glasses, and placed them in front of each person.

Celitia was speechless.

Abstaining on the surface but actually agreeing, right?

Seeing all three in agreement, Celitia had no choice but to compromise.

"Then just drink a little bit, don't drink too much."

Shanie skillfully opened the bottle and poured each person a full glass of wine, sticking her tongue out at Celitia:

"I won't drink too much—don't underestimate me!"

Sophia raised her wine glass: "Come on, to today's victory, cheers!"

The four glasses clinked together, and Sophia took the lead, draining all the red wine in her glass.

Shanie couldn't let herself be outdone and immediately followed suit, even showing Sophia the bottom of her emptied glass.

Celitia: "..."

So those two hadn't listened to a single word she'd said just now.

Benita took a sip of wine and raised her glass to Celitia with a smile, as if saying, let's indulge just this once.

Fine... it was a rare opportunity after all.

Watching the three girls with faint red glows on their faces, the corners of Celitia's lips curved very slightly, incredibly gentle.

With the red wine going down, the atmosphere gradually became more intense, and the four girls opened their hearts, talking about almost everything.

"By the way, how are the rewards calculated this time?"

Shanie was most looking forward to the competition rewards, looking at Sophia with sparkling eyes.

"We'll use military methods, rewarding based on contribution," Sophia answered. "Don't worry, whether money or honor, you'll have whatever you want."

"Things I want?"

Benita had drunk about a glass and her gaze was becoming hazy.

"I heard that fulfilling wishes is also possible, but can my wish really be fulfilled?"

Sophia glanced at Benita.

"Promises of status and position, olive branches from certain lords... as long as you want it, Mother and I will try our best to make connections for you."

At this point, Sophia's voice paused slightly.

"Benita, what is your wish?"

"My wish..."

Benita put down her wine glass, folded her arms on her knees, and quietly lowered her head.

"I want... Mother to acknowledge me..."

Sophia was momentarily speechless.

Benita's status as an illegitimate daughter was never a secret in noble circles.

As long as she remained illegitimate, she could never gain inheritance rights and would always be looked down upon.

Of course, illegitimate children weren't unable to gain legitimate status—but this required the parents themselves to propose it, obtain agreement from the court and church, and publicly declare it to everyone.

Meilenn wasn't married and only had Benita as a daughter, but she had yet to do this.

Once inheritance rights changed, the impact on the family would be very far-reaching.

Meilenn originally wasn't the first in line to inherit; she had won in family struggles and inherited the count's position.

Sophia had once speculated that perhaps Meilenn had made some kind of promise to the family in order to gain power.

This matter was indeed beyond Sophia's power.

"Over all these years, there's only been one example of forcibly compelling the court and church to recognize someone's status."

Benita poured herself another full glass of wine, quietly gazing at the deep red liquid swirling in the glass.

All three present knew what Benita was referring to.

Sophia's father, King Gorman, had originally been an illegitimate son of a princess who had been lost among the people during the turmoil.

Gorman had ended the chaos with iron-blooded methods, seized the throne, and forced the court nobles and church to acknowledge his status.

But this was an exception among exceptions after all.

"Lily," Benita raised her wine glass, her gaze hazy, "do you know how much I envy you?"

"If... I also had abilities like yours... would I be able to..."

Celitia was silent.

She reached out and took the wine glass from Benita's hand: "Stop drinking."

Benita obediently released her grip, leaned back against the sofa, and quietly closed her eyes.

Realizing the atmosphere had suddenly become depressed, Shanie quickly turned the topic to herself:

"Before coming to school, Mom and Dad said I should find a way to marry a noble!"

"That's not impossible," Sophia said curiously. "Shanie, who have you taken a fancy to?"

"I don't want to!" Shanie giggled. "Unless you let me marry Lily, then I'd consider it!"

"Ah?" Sophia was stunned.

Come to think of it, the Goddess's teachings had never forbidden same-sex marriage, had they?

Although almost no one had ever done it...?

This... seemed to open up some line of thinking...

Celitia calmly stuffed a piece of bread into Shanie's mouth, blocking it: "Stop talking nonsense."

This skill at running her mouth was almost catching up to Erwin's, Celitia thought to herself.

Shanie chewed the bread and said unclearly: "I'm not talking nonsense—if Lily proposed to me, I really would consider it!"

Sophia's eyes widened: "Eh??"

Seeing that Sophia was about to take it seriously, Celitia stuffed another piece of bread into her junior sister's mouth, completely blocking it:

"Shut up."

"Mm, mmm mmm, mmm..."

Shanie raised her hands in surrender, indicating she couldn't eat anymore.

Seeing Shanie finally couldn't speak, Celitia turned to Sophia:

"Don't listen to Shanie's nonsense."

"Ah... okay." Sophia nodded blankly.

Why was she explaining this to her?

Was she worried about her misunderstanding...?

Thinking this, a trace of sweetness rose from her heart, spreading ripples in circles. Sophia couldn't help but smile.

Sophia didn't know why she was happy, but she just felt very, very joyful.

Her mood instantly soared to the clouds, and she poured another full glass of wine, immediately emptying the first bottle.

Celitia reached out to snatch it: "That's enough, Sophia."

"Not enough!"

The girl pulled her hand back, waving the wine glass at Celitia with a beaming smile and bright eyes.

Her cheeks were flushed with a rosy glow, like the evening clouds blooming in the sky at dusk, particularly beautiful.

Celitia's hand, raised in mid-air, paused slightly, and she was actually momentarily dazed.

After a long moment, she hurriedly pulled back her hand as if trying to hide something.

"If you get drunk... don't expect me to take care of you all, okay?"

"We won't!" Sophia boldly slapped the table. "Don't underestimate my alcohol tolerance!!"