Hearing Sophia mention her purpose, Charles coughed lightly.

Frank hurriedly got up from the ground and led the three maids from behind forward.

"The people Your Highness wants, I've brought them."

At this point, Charles's voice carried a hint of complaint.

"However, if Your Highness wanted servants from my household, you could have simply said so. Why make such a big show of it?"

Sophia let out a cold laugh:

"That's not how it is, Lord Charles. We're not taking servants from your household. Rather, these three people have become free citizens from now on and are no longer servants. Coming here specially to pick them up is also to celebrate for them. The so-called grandeur and show is meant to warn certain people not to have any crooked ideas."

Sophia's words were pointed, blocking Charles until his face turned livid, not knowing how to respond for a moment.

Seeing Sophia block Charles with just a few words, Celitia couldn't help but look at her with some curiosity.

To be able to speak so reasonably and with such evidence, had Sophia already rehearsed in her mind how to confront Viscount Charles?

Sophia held her head high, enjoying Celitia's gaze, very pleased with herself.

Celitia couldn't help but curve the corner of her lips slightly. Her expressionless face since returning to the Herbert home finally showed a trace of smile.

After holding back for a long time, Charles finally forced a smile: "Your Highness is right. I misspoke."

Sophia had brought people over—who exactly was being warned not to have crooked ideas? Did that even need to be said?

In the end, it was all for Celitia.

Charles's gaze fell on his daughter, whom he was beginning to find unfathomable.

Since Charles had entered the door, Celitia had maintained a state of complete indifference toward him as her father.

She neither stood to greet him nor asked after Charles's well-being, remaining calm and aloof, as if she had merely seen a stranger.

This made Charles very unhappy.

But at this moment, Charles had to soften his voice by three degrees and put on the appearance of a loving father.

"After the last incident, I haven't seen you. Even when I went to the palace to visit, I was turned away by Her Majesty Marianne... Are you feeling better, Celitia?"

Celitia raised an eyebrow.

Charles had come to the palace looking for her but was refused by Marianne?

Anyone could guess with their toes that he couldn't possibly have come to visit her.

Probably, Charles just wanted to approach her to get her to persuade Marianne to withdraw the punishment decision.

Celitia curved her lips slightly, said nothing, and only answered gently:

"Thank you for your concern, Father. My health is much better."

Her response made Charles's spirits lift, thinking Celitia intended to repair relations with the family.

"Your mother and your brother, while they did do wrong things, they have already been punished."

As Charles spoke, he became increasingly earnest: "No matter what, they are your family. Things cannot be done too absolutely, Celitia."

Celitia laughed in astonishment.

Weren't Olar and Aloque the ones who had done things absolutely?

Her initial thought had been nothing more than wanting to leave this family together with Luna and Rebecca.

This person before her was still thinking from his own perspective as always, never considering others' feelings.

Curious to hear what else Charles might say, Celitia softened her tone even more:

"Then, what insights does Father have?"

From Celitia's words, Charles became even more certain that she had softened.

"The family being in such turmoil does you no good at all and will attract countless criticisms. So many days have passed since the incident. Her Majesty Marianne should have calmed down by now. You should go request an audience with Her Majesty and ask her to withdraw the punishment decision."

At this point, Charles straightened his back with slight intimidation, his words taking on a more stern tone.

"Regarding the matter between you and Olar, he was at fault, but you were equally at fault. But since Olar struck first this time and you were also wronged, let's just let bygones be bygones. You must know that you are a daughter of the Herbert family. The family's prosperity and honor are inseparably related to you. I hope you can understand your position."

Celitia only found it amusing.

For sixteen years they hadn't remembered she was a daughter of the Herbert family, but now they suddenly remembered.

What, did they think she had value now and wanted to use carrot and stick tactics to control her?

"What kind of person I am and what I should do, I know clearly myself."

She raised her eyebrows slightly, suddenly showing her sharp edge: "I won't trouble you to worry about it, Father."

Celitia emphasized the words "Father" heavily, seeming respectful but clearly containing a trace of mockery.

"As for your suggestion just now, please allow me to refuse. I can distinguish very clearly between right and wrong, good and bad. I'm very grateful to Her Majesty Marianne and Princess Sophia for everything they've done for me. Of course I won't go against their good intentions and ask them to withdraw their decision."

The girl's expression was cold, her voice like ice. Facing the authority Charles deliberately displayed, she showed not the slightest sign of yielding.

"You—"

Charles stared at Celitia, unable to speak for a moment.

Only now did Charles realize that his earlier thoughts were completely wrong.

Celitia hadn't softened at all.

Rather, this daughter who had once been without opinions and easily bullied was no longer someone they could manipulate at will.

Celitia smiled very slightly, but there was no mirth in her eyes, as if a layer of frost had formed there.

"I know that with Father's capabilities, you'll always find a way to get Olar and his mother out."

Charles would definitely find a way to redeem Olar, and Aloque couldn't possibly just obediently serve jail time.

Someday, they would meet again.

"But Father should also understand their personalities... Rather than focusing energy on me, you'd better watch them more closely, lest they do something irreversible."

Charles's expression changed dramatically: "Are you threatening me, Celitia?"

"How could that be? That would be too unjust," Celitia smiled slightly. "I'm clearly just fulfilling my responsibility as a daughter of the Herbert family, providing Father with some advice."

Sophia was beginning to feel impatient.

Charles's earlier words had made Sophia very uncomfortable.

Even at this point, what he was thinking about wasn't caring for his daughter, but how to place her under his control.

Not wanting to say more to Charles, Sophia urged: "Let's quickly pick up our people and go, Lily?"

Celitia's gaze turned to the three maids standing dumbly to the side, very much at a loss, and her expression finally softened.

"Aunt Rebecca, Luna, and Gidi, let's go. Let's go home together."

The girl curved her lips slightly, her eyes slightly bent. The cold winter chill faded from her eyes and brows, as if suddenly spring had arrived with bright scenery and all flowers blooming.

The three maids looked at each other, all both excited and moved.

Luna was the first to rush over, tremblingly grasping Celitia's hand.

"Yes," she smiled through tears, "let's go home together."

Seeing their smiles, Sophia felt deeply satisfied and couldn't help but bloom into a smile as well: "Right, let's go home!"

The group left in grand procession. The hall immediately emptied, leaving only Charles and Frank, one sitting and one standing, still remaining in the hall with very heavy expressions.