Ariel reached out and placed her hand on Celitia's forehead. A faint white light emanated from her palm, enveloping the girl's entire body.

After a moment, Ariel's expression changed.

"What is this? There's a familiar ominous aura about you—"

Familiar... that's right...!

Ariel suddenly realized where this sense of familiarity came from.

Wasn't this the same aura she had sensed from Kassy back then?

However, compared to that time, the aura on Celitia now was stronger and more ominous.

"I understand now—so besides Kassy, you also carry the same curse."

Having figured this out, Ariel was so angry she laughed instead.

"Very well, what exactly are you master and servant planning to do? Are you trying to test me? Then come with me. The purification ritual at the church is already prepared—you can take her place."

"I won't go... don't worry about me..."

Celitia struggled forcefully in her arms, but her wrists were gripped even tighter, leaving two distinct red marks.

"Let me tell you," Ariel sneered coldly, "what I hate most is having my plans disrupted by others. Since everything's already arranged, you're going whether you want to or not!"

Completely ignoring Celitia's resistance, Ariel scooped her up and held her firmly in her arms, striding purposefully toward the exit.

Being carried by her, Celitia felt a bit breathless, her chest uncomfortable and constricted, making her vision go dark.

She gasped for air several times, then suddenly began coughing violently.

"...Ugh... cough cough, cough cough cough..."

Unlike Ariel who was always robust and healthy, the girl's body was as fragile as a porcelain doll barely held together with broken pieces—just a slight touch seemed ready to shatter it again.

"Is it very uncomfortable?"

Realizing she might have been too rough, Ariel hastily adjusted her position, holding the girl's legs with one hand and supporting her waist with the other, letting her body lean against her chest.

The girl's arms draped limply over Ariel's shoulders, hanging softly down her back, almost completely drained of the strength to resist.

Now Ariel was getting anxious.

"Just hold on a bit longer. Once we reach the church, I promise you in the name of the Saintess that you'll be fine."

As she spoke, Ariel cast another healing spell.

Faint white light surrounded the girl's entire body, and the trembling form in her arms gradually calmed down.

Ariel exhaled in relief.

Good, it's working...

But the healing spell's effects probably wouldn't last long—they needed to get back to the church quickly.

Holding Celitia with both hands occupied, she simply kicked at the door that wasn't completely closed.

The door burst open with a bang, nearly hitting the nose of the girl standing at the entrance.

"Sophia?"

"Ariel?"

Both exclaimed in surprise simultaneously.

Then Sophia saw Celitia in Ariel's arms, and her expression immediately changed, worry clearly written across her face.

"Lily? Are you alright, Lily?"

As soon as Sophia said this, Ariel's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"You know about Celitia's condition?"

Sophia froze, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart, but she still tried to maintain her composure:

"Lily was sick today and not feeling well, so I specially rushed back from the palace to take good care of her."

"Not feeling well?" Ariel said coldly. "It's the curse acting up that's making her uncomfortable, isn't it?"

"She... she..."

Under the gaze of those golden eyes, the excuses that came to her lips had to be swallowed back down.

Sophia felt a wave of regret.

She had only been delayed by Fels for a while and couldn't make it back before dark—how did she end up being caught by Ariel at just this moment?

Without needing Sophia to answer, just watching her expression, Ariel understood everything.

The fire in her belly was about to become uncontainable:

"So Celitia knew, you knew too, and only I didn't know. You deliberately kept it from me, didn't you? Handing Kassy over to me—was that to let Kassy bear the risk in place of her master? And when Kassy wasn't willing, she ran away on the day the curse was supposed to activate?"

"Kassy ran away?" Sophia looked completely bewildered. "Why? The person who most wanted to resolve the curse should have been herself, right?"

Ariel paused, suddenly sensing something was off.

If Kassy didn't want to receive treatment, she had no need to tell Ariel about the curse herself.

She could have just told Ariel that she had some business today and couldn't return to the church.

Ariel was usually very busy and wouldn't pay attention to her, so naturally wouldn't notice.

But Kassy had confessed everything herself, all preparations were made, yet at the crucial moment she suddenly ran away—it didn't make sense at all.

"Forget it, whatever."

Ariel was too lazy to think through all these complications.

If she wanted to know what was going on, she could just capture Kassy and bring her back later.

Simple and brutal.

"Move aside," Ariel said to Sophia who was blocking the door. "I'm taking Celitia to the church."

"Sophia?"

Celitia had recovered a little by then, murmuring drowsily through her nose.

"Are you alright, Lily?" Sophia asked nervously.

"Sophia, I don't want to go anywhere." Celitia took a sharp breath. "Staying here with you by my side—that's enough..."

Sophia froze for a moment, immediately wavering. Her steps that had been about to move aside hesitated and remained in place.

"Do you listen to her that much?" Ariel frowned. "You don't even ask what I'm taking her to the church for, and you're planning to follow her opinion?"

"Sophia... don't listen to her..." Celitia said weakly.

Looking at Celitia, then at Ariel, Sophia found herself torn between the two.

Seeing this, Ariel's frown deepened:

"I know you're on her side, but you absolutely can't listen to everything she says. You're a princess—you should have your own opinions, make your own decisions, and have others follow your arrangements!"

Sophia was startled.

She knew Ariel was right; she was just too concerned about Celitia's thoughts and had become a bit flustered from caring too much.

Taking a deep breath, Sophia forced herself to calm down:

"What do you plan to do next, Ariel?"

Seeing the change in Sophia's expression, Ariel was finally somewhat satisfied, and her tone softened:

"I've arranged a purification ritual that was originally prepared for Kassy. Since she's missing, it's perfect for treating Celitia."

Sophia's inner conflict intensified.

Celitia's unwillingness to go naturally had her reasons.

But Ariel had no intention of harming anyone.

From a certain perspective, Sophia believed that within the entire church, Ariel was the only person she could truly trust.

This was also why Sophia had chosen to seek Ariel's help.

That's right—at a time like this, she couldn't unconditionally indulge Celitia just because she was afraid of making her unhappy. She should make decisions for her instead.

If Celitia didn't care about her own body, then she would care for her.

With this thought, Sophia gradually became resolute.

"Lily," she said, "this time, let's listen to Ariel."