Sophia picked up Celitia who was lying on the ground and vigorously shook her shoulders.

"Celitia! Celitia! Wake up, what's wrong with you?"

After calling several times without awakening the unconscious girl, Sophia's muddled brain barely managed to squeeze out a bit of calmness.

Right, she had learned healing magic. Though she wasn't very skilled at it, perhaps it could have some effect.

Seeing the girl's breathing becoming increasingly faint, Sophia quickly mobilized her magic power and cast a minor healing spell on her.

As a faint white light enveloped Celitia's body, the purplish tint of her lips slightly improved, and her trembling body calmed somewhat.

Greatly encouraged, Sophia urgently said to Celitia: "Hang in there, I'll take you to the hospital right away!"

With that, Sophia prepared to lift the girl in her arms.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her wrist. The fingers were long and thin, with pronounced knuckles. The grip wasn't particularly strong, yet it pinched Sophia painfully.

"...Don't go... put me down..."

Celitia had awakened at some point and heard Sophia's words, expressing strong resistance.

The curse was her secret, and Celitia didn't want anyone to have the chance to know about it.

As long as she didn't die, everything would return to normal after enduring this night.

"No!"

Sophia had never been an obedient person.

"You're so ill, why are you still trying to act tough? Don't worry, I'll call Colton over too and have him examine you!"

Colton was originally a professor at St. Cassia Academy but had been recruited by Sophia to become the dean of Samuel Academy. He should be somewhere in the academy now.

However, upon hearing Colton Smith's name, Celitia became even more resistant. She had no desire to become a research subject for that professor.

"I said... no...!"

Celitia struggled forcefully in Sophia's arms, her frail limbs bursting with strength as she pushed her away hard.

Caught off guard, Sophia fell backward, while Celitia, due to the opposing force, fell in the other direction, crashing heavily to the ground again.

Celitia felt as if her body was about to fall apart from the impact, yet she stubbornly crawled up from the ground and stood shakily.

Holding onto the railing, she headed outward without looking back.

Sophia anxiously called from behind: "Where are you going?"

Celitia had no strength to answer her, otherwise she would certainly have retorted "None of your business."

The effect of the healing spell quickly faded, and another wave of severe pain spread from her chest. Celitia clutched her chest tightly, her legs giving way as she fell forward again.

This time, Celitia didn't fall onto the cold, hard floor but into a warm, soft embrace.

Sophia had rushed over one step ahead, catching her just in time.

The warmth and fragrance from Sophia's bath had not yet dissipated. A young woman's delicate scent filled Celitia's nose, like a faint lavender fragrance, very pleasant.

But Celitia's reaction grew stronger.

It was as if a lingering monster crawling out of a dark abyss had suddenly crashed into a pure, warm embrace.

What if she also infected Sophia with this strange curse...

...Can't taint her...

"Don't touch me...!"

Celitia struggled even more forcefully this time. Even Sophia, who was prepared, almost couldn't hold onto her.

"Fine, fine, you want to struggle? You want to act tough?"

Sophia laughed in extreme anger, light appearing in her palm, and she directly cast a binding spell on Celitia.

The breeze gathered, transforming into faintly visible white ribbons that wound around the girl's body in circles, binding Celitia so she couldn't move.

"What are you doing?" Now it was Celitia's turn to be furious. "Release me immediately!"

"Of course I'm taking you for treatment!"

Having finally subdued this utterly disobedient sickling, Sophia lifted her horizontally, firmly holding Celitia in her arms in a princess carry position, and rushed downstairs.

As she ran, Sophia's mouth didn't stop.

"You think I want to touch you? Someone like you, this young lady should throw you from the fourth floor! Arrogant! Completely lacking in grace! Irritating! And ungrateful!!"

Sophia attacked Celitia with various harsh words, but received no response.

She hurriedly looked down to see Celitia had closed her eyes weakly, her long eyelashes trembling gently again and again.

The once intimidating aura from the dormitory had completely disappeared. The girl in her arms now seemed so fragile that she might crumble into powder at the slightest touch.

"Why... why don't you argue back?!"

Sophia quickly cast another healing spell, but this time, the effect was far less than before.

The body in her arms was as cold as ice. Sophia almost had the illusion that she was holding an ice sculpture.

After scolding her, Sophia quickly regretted it. This person was already so ill, why was she pouring oil on the fire instead of encouraging her?

"I-I won't scold you anymore, just please hang on!"

Fortunately, the academy's hospital wasn't far from the dormitory. Sophia sprinted all the way and finally arrived.

Since it was only the first day of registration, the hospital wasn't fully operational, with only one person on duty.

Sophia burst through the door like a whirlwind, swirling into the hospital, startling the dozing duty person:

"P-Princess Sophia?!"

"Mahee?"

Sophia recognized her, and her tense emotions slightly eased.

"Take me to a ward, she's sick, very ill, she's fallen unconscious, quickly treat her!!"

"Y-Yes..."

Mahee quickly led Sophia to a ward and settled Celitia on the bed.

She was a church nun who had served the goddess for many years and was proficient in healing magic.

After Samuel Academy was established, they had specifically invited Mahee to join.

A faint white light enveloped Celitia's body, and the warm holy light slightly smoothed the girl's tightly furrowed brow.

"This child has a weak constitution and has caught a chill. She just needs to stay warm, and she'll be fine with some rest," Mahee said gently to Sophia.

"Really?"

The image of Celitia trembling all over and collapsing powerlessly was still fresh in Sophia's memory, and she could hardly believe it.

"But... I saw her constantly clutching her chest, as if something was very painful."

"Perhaps there's still some discomfort somewhere. When she wakes up, I'll ask her in more detail," Mahee continued to comfort Sophia. "Your Highness need not worry."

The sound of footsteps came from outside, and someone arrived at the ward door, asking:

"What's happening? Why such a commotion suddenly?"

Sophia quickly turned around and saw a light-brown-haired young man wearing gold-rimmed glasses with an elegant demeanor. She felt as if granted a great pardon:

"Colton, come quickly and help take a look!"

Colton smiled: "With Miss Mahee here, why would you need me?"

Despite his words, Colton still came over and, as Sophia requested, examined Celitia's condition on the bed.

The magical energy he sent out to probe seemed to encounter something. Colton's brow furrowed imperceptibly, and his gold-rimmed glasses reflected a gleam of light.