Time passed imperceptibly.

Not knowing how much time had elapsed, Celitia suddenly started and awoke from her dreams.

Lifting her heavy eyelids, she saw white gauze curtains, like the top of some bed.

The hard bed board behind her was uncomfortable against her back; a cotton quilt covered her thinly-clothed body.

Her mind was foggy and blank.

Where was this? What had happened?

After a long while, Celitia finally remembered what had occurred before she fell unconscious.

Right, she needed to find Sophia!

As reason returned, Celitia jolted and tried to get up from the bed.

Her hands attempted to support her body, but just as she applied some force, she was forced to stop.

Only then did Celitia discover that her hands were bound with a white cloth strip, firmly tied to the headboard.

She pulled hard, but the knot at her wrists only tightened further.

What was this...?

Celitia struggled to lift her head and examine her surroundings.

The place she was in seemed to be a maid's rest room, with a simple small bed and cleaning tools placed in the corner.

The white curtains were missing a long strip—apparently the source of the cloth binding her hands.

Through the gap in the curtains, Celitia could see the night outside.

The palace in the distance flickered with lights, standing tall in the darkness.

It seemed she hadn't been kidnapped elsewhere and was still within the royal palace.

Celitia's anxious heart relaxed slightly.

The room was very quiet with no other people present.

It appeared that mysterious black shadow woman had hypnotized her, dumped her here, and disappeared.

Her hands were bound, but her mouth wasn't gagged.

Had she deliberately left room for her to call for help?

Perhaps, as the woman had said, she really didn't plan to harm her.

She had simply been caught up in this incident targeting Sophia.

But regardless, she had to tell Sophia everything and warn her to be careful.

"Is anyone there? Can someone help me?" Celitia tried calling for help.

She shouted several times, her hoarse voice echoing in the room, but received no response.

No good—it sounded very quiet outside; there might be no one passing by nearby for now.

She had to think of something herself; she couldn't always rely on others to rescue her.

She could only hope not too much time had passed and she could still make it to find Sophia.

Celitia struggled to turn over, climbed up from the bed, and used her teeth to bite at the cloth strip binding her hands.

After biting at the cloth for a while, she only managed to loosen it slightly.

At this rate, how long would it take to untie the cloth completely?

Indescribable irritation rose in Celitia's heart.

"Ah...!"

Her chest suddenly ached as if electrocuted. Celitia involuntarily cried out in pain, her body curling up abruptly.

A strange sensation spread throughout her body, something seeming to surge in her chest, flowing everywhere like electric current.

Her whole body trembled involuntarily, but for some reason, Celitia felt that her originally weak and powerless limbs suddenly had strength.

What was happening?

The puzzled thought flashed through her mind, but the current Celitia had no time to think further.

Her teeth tore a small crack in the cloth strip. Celitia pulled hard with both hands, and with a teeth-grinding tearing sound, the cloth broke and scattered at the headboard.

Celitia didn't know how much force she had used in that struggle, only seeing a deep red mark left on her wrists.

It was completely unlike the strength the current her should be able to burst forth.

The stabbing pain in her chest continued, her wrists burned painfully, but Celitia seemed to feel nothing as she quickly climbed up from the bed.

Rushing to the door, Celitia tried the handle and found the door was indeed locked tight.

Damn it—!

Cursing silently, Celitia turned and ran to the window.

Though the window was also tightly closed, fortunately it could still be opened from inside.

But the key issue was... this was the second floor.

Looking down at the grassy ground below, Celitia took a deep breath.

If she could successfully break her fall the moment she landed, she should be able to minimize the damage.

She could only gamble.

Having made up her mind, Celitia stepped on the windowsill and put one foot out the window.

Just as she was about to jump down, a shocked voice came from below:

"Celitia? What are you doing??"

It was actually Ariel.

Even halfway through the ball, no one dared invite Ariel to dance.

Even though she wasn't attending as the church's Saintess, just looking at Ariel's stern face plus her usual reputation was enough to make people keep their distance.

The Saintess should just be worshipped from near her altar.

Anyone wanting to approach her would face too much pressure.

Ariel had sat with Marianne for a while, but gradually felt uncomfortable facing the nobles' flattery.

Taking advantage of everyone going to dance in the ballroom, Ariel came out alone to stroll in the garden.

Faintly, Ariel seemed to hear someone calling for help, so she approached to investigate.

She had just walked over and looked up when she saw Celitia stepping out the window and jumping down without hesitation.

Ariel was so frightened her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. Her legs powered up as she leaped into the air, spread her arms wide, and firmly caught the falling Celitia.

She nimbly kicked off the wall, borrowed the force to change direction, and landed steadily on the grass.

"Are you crazy? What were you jumping from a building for?"

Without time to catch her breath, Ariel angrily scolded.

Heaven knows how terrified Ariel had been seeing Celitia jump from the building. Even after catching her, her heart was still pounding non-stop.

"Ariel?" Celitia gripped her hand tightly, "What time is it now?"

"What happened to your hands?" Seeing the red marks left by the cloth strips on the girl's hands, Ariel's expression changed instantly, "How did they get so marked up? Did someone kidnap you?"

"What time is it now?" Celitia didn't answer, repeating the question, "How long has it been since the ball started?"

Seeing Celitia's insistence on asking, Ariel had to answer: "It's already past halfway."

Celitia calculated—it seemed not too much time had passed since she fell unconscious; perhaps there was still time.

"Put me down," Celitia said firmly, "I need to find Sophia."

Ariel frowned: "What exactly happened?"

"I'll explain when there's time," Celitia had no time for explanations, "Right now I need to find Sophia."

"I'll go with you. Sophia should still be in the main hall."

Out of trust in Celitia, Ariel didn't continue probing further.

She set Celitia down, and the two hurried toward the main hall.