"Forget it," Celitia sighed, "if you won't say, I can guess for myself."

Celitia remembered that it was Colton who had taken Kassy away, and he had even used some "skin condition" to test her.

As for the circumstances Kassy explained, assuming they were true, they still couldn't be separated from Colton.

As for Countess Meilenn... Benita's mother... what was her relationship with Colton?

Perhaps she could ask Benita to find out.

Kassy secretly observed Celitia, unable to read any emotion from her face, becoming increasingly panicked:

"Please believe me, Master. I've really been trying to help Master all along and absolutely haven't had any crooked thoughts! When Princess Sophia proposed that I go meet the Saintess, I agreed without hesitation!"

"Meet the Saintess? Ariel?"

Suddenly hearing an unexpected name, Celitia immediately looked up in confusion.

Saintess Ariel was the king's adopted daughter, nominally Sophia's older sister. She was twenty-two this year, six years older than Sophia.

Ariel had originally been just a humble orphan girl, but as she grew up, she displayed incomparable talent and ability.

She studied hard in the Church, gradually emerging, went to the battlefield at sixteen and became famous in one battle, later being consecrated as a Saintess and enjoying considerable prestige among the people.

But in recent years, there had been rumors in high society that the disagreements between Ariel and Sophia were growing larger, and their relationship was getting worse.

From this situation, Sophia shouldn't be likely to actively seek out Ariel.

"Of course it's for Master's sake. When it comes to research on curses, wouldn't it still have to be the Church's clergy?"

Kassy's voice carried a few traces of careful flattery.

"Both of us are bearers of this mysterious curse. If we're targeted by the Church because of this, there would definitely be a lot of trouble. However, for Master's sake, no matter what I have to do, Kassy is willing..."

Celitia just felt her head aching a bit and couldn't help frowning, reaching up to press her forehead firmly.

"Your courage has grown quite a bit... no, I should say it's always been quite big."

Originally intending to mock Kassy, just as the words came out, Celitia changed her tune and couldn't help but laugh coldly.

"Rather than worrying about being targeted by the Church because of the curse, aren't you worried about being recognized by Ariel?"

You have to know, when the three of them acted together that day, Ariel was present.

Kassy replied: "Princess Sophia has already promised me that she'll use a scroll to disguise my identity."

Sophia also knew that letting Kassy meet Ariel carried some risk, so when Kassy proposed having her identity disguised, Sophia agreed directly.

If Ariel really wanted to arrest Kassy in the name of the Church, Sophia could still find a way to help her escape.

"I'm just a small maid. That day I only briefly encountered Miss Ariel—I shouldn't have left too deep an impression on her, right? If I use a scroll to disguise my elf identity and do a bit of disguising, I think Miss Ariel shouldn't recognize me."

Speaking of this, Kassy's words paused slightly.

Moreover, even if she really was recognized by Ariel, Kassy didn't think anything would happen to her.

Ariel had always considered Sercis a major threat, dreaming of how to eliminate him.

From Ariel's perspective, no matter how you looked at it, she should be grateful to her, right?

Would she really arrest her to avenge an old opponent?

Of course, she didn't dare say this to Celitia, afraid she would get angry if she knew.

"For Master's sake," Kassy said softly, "even if I'm recognized by Ariel, I'm willing, and I absolutely won't implicate Master."

"Put away those hypocritical words of yours. You're just trying to leave yourself more escape routes."

Celitia's gaze toward Kassy became even colder.

"Colton, me, Ariel—we're all your escape routes. Whoever is useful to you, you'll cling to their coattails. You could even use these to check and balance each other—for example, using my secrets to threaten me while using this to make exchanges with Ariel, isn't that right?"

Kassy's face turned completely pale.

Under Celitia's cold stare, Kassy felt dizzy and for a moment didn't know where to start defending herself.

No matter what she did, would Master only interpret it with malice now?

Had it already... reached this point... That trust she had destroyed seemed to have turned into a sword piercing her own chest.

After a long while, Kassy finally spoke with tears in her eyes:

"Master said I want escape routes—I admit this. Of course I want to live. Once a person dies, there's nothing left… But what Master just said about threatening you and making exchanges with Ariel—I never thought of such things… Kassy isn't as smart as Master and is always very stupid. Master should understand me—how could I do such things?"

"Is that so? Then I hope you really think this way."

Celitia said flatly, her voice particularly calm.

"I was opponents with Ariel for so many years and understand her well. She's never been the type who can be threatened or seduced. If you still have any brains, don't play those little tricks in front of Ariel. Otherwise, either she'll slap your head to pieces, or you'll end up on the Church's stake."

Recalling Ariel's various deeds, Kassy couldn't help but reveal a trace of fear in her eyes.

"I understand," she said weakly, "Kassy will definitely listen to Master."

Celitia sighed.

Whether Kassy listened or not, Celitia actually didn't care much.

Even if Kassy spilled everything to Ariel, given Ariel's personality, she might not believe it.

Even if Ariel became suspicious about something, the first one to suffer would definitely be Kassy herself.

"When are you going to see Ariel?" Celitia asked.

Since Ariel had returned, given her relationship with Marianne and Sophia, she would probably inevitably encounter her.

"We arranged for this afternoon," Kassy answered obediently. "When Princess Sophia returns later, we'll set off together."

Celitia couldn't help but rub her temples.

Regarding this matter, Sophia hadn't mentioned anything to her at all.

She really still couldn't let it go and still wanted to help find a solution.

She didn't want her to know, probably because of the strong resistance she had shown toward the Church before.

Forget it, things had come to this point...

"Since you're going, I'll go with you," Celitia squinted slightly. "I also haven't seen Ariel for a long time."

"Eh? Go together?" Kassy was dumbfounded.

Sophia had specifically instructed her to keep it from Celitia and not let Celitia have a chance to know about their plan.

Kassy had agreed nicely, but then immediately spilled everything herself without even needing Celitia to interrogate her.

"This... this..."

Kassy wrung her fingers, looking troubled.

Just from Kassy's expression, Celitia could guess what was going on.

She could only say, this was truly worthy of Kassy... very much in line with her consistent style.

"What," Celitia glanced at Kassy coldly, "worried that when Sophia finds out you told me about this, she'll kick you out of here?"

Kassy nodded pitifully.

"Princess Sophia instructed me not to tell Master, but I was thinking wholeheartedly of Master, so I said everything. Master can't abandon me."