Listening to Gorman's explanation, Celitia remained speechless for a long time.

Her hands unconsciously trembled slightly—that was the joy of this body finally finding its own kind.

Her bloodline was instinctively recognizing it, a feeling from instinct that left Celitia unable to find reasons to refute it.

If we went back a few months and let "Sercis" and "Celitia" before their fusion view this separately, their reactions would only be more or less the same.

"Sercis" would think: Well you bastard, even though you became my father, in the end you still have to entrust the country to me, don't you?

"Celitia" would only think: So the parents who caused me so much pain all along weren't my biological parents—how wonderful.

But the current Celitia was no longer who they used to be.

Her lips trembling slightly, Celitia remained silent for a long time before finally struggling to utter a sentence:

"Then... what about Sophia?"

Gorman said with certainty: "Sophia is naturally also my daughter."

Celitia's face instantly turned deathly pale: "So Sophia and I are twins?"

If she and Sophia were blood-related sisters, Celitia truly didn't know how she could face her.

Fortunately, Gorman's next words rescued Celitia from infinite terror:

"Twins? No, you've misunderstood. I'm very certain that Marianne only gave birth to one child at the time."

Her tense body suddenly relaxed, and Celitia felt that her back was soaked with cold sweat.

"Although I don't know what exactly happened then," Gorman continued, "what's certain is that you and Sophia were switched by someone using some method right after birth."

"Switched?" Celitia murmured.

"Yes, it's hard to imagine what kind of person could have such far-reaching influence."

At this point, anger flared in Gorman's eyes. "Now that over ten years have passed, finding him might be very difficult—but we absolutely won't let him go."

Celitia wasn't very interested in what happened back then.

What was done was done. No matter how much they traced back, for them now, it couldn't be undone.

Celitia only stared firmly at Gorman: "Then how do you plan to treat Sophia?"

"Sophia, like Ariel, is a good daughter I'm proud of." Gorman answered, "Have you met Ariel? Well, even if you haven't, you should have heard of her reputation."

Celitia was immediately alarmed, her expression changing drastically: "You plan to acknowledge me and then make Sophia an adopted daughter?"

"What's wrong with being an adopted daughter?"

Gorman didn't understand why she was suddenly so agitated.

"I've never neglected or mistreated Ariel because she's adopted. Of course it would be the same for Sophia."

Celitia almost screamed in breakdown: "It's not the same—!!"

"What's different?"

Gorman couldn't understand Celitia's reaction.

"Whether it's you, Sophia, or Ariel, you're all our important daughters. There's nothing different."

Celitia took a deep breath, letting her chaotic heart calm down again.

"Of course it's different. Have you considered Sophia's feelings? All these years, Sophia has worked so hard. Even knowing her abilities are ordinary, to be worthy of her position as heir, she's always pushed herself to work desperately."

Celitia's voice gradually became choked as she spoke.

"She's such a proud person, supporting herself with this determination for so many years… If one day you tell Sophia she's not your biological daughter and doesn't need to bear those responsibilities, have you thought about how devastated she would be?"

Without even needing much empathy, Celitia could feel Sophia's emotions.

The ugly duckling could become a white swan because it was originally a white swan.

But what if the ugly duckling was really just an ugly duckling?

Only then did Gorman, who had maintained his composure throughout, finally show a guilty expression:

"I understand what you mean... Although for us there's no difference, Sophia would definitely find it hard to accept."

"Since you know Sophia can't accept it, then please don't say such things anymore."

Celitia's voice grew cold, showing no joy at being reunited with her biological father.

"We've lived this way for over ten years, so we can continue living this way in the future. No changes are needed."

Gorman disagreed:

"All these years, losing you has caused you a lot of harm. For this, we want to compensate you properly. Moreover, facts are facts. No matter how much Sophia can't accept it, she should face reality bravely."

"I don't need any compensation." Celitia said flatly. "Or rather, if you really want to compensate me, then not revealing all this to Sophia would count as compensation."

Gorman looked at Celitia with incomprehension.

From his perspective, no matter how he looked at it, this matter only had benefits for Celitia.

Acknowledging her biological parents, becoming the daughter of the King and Queen, transforming into the first in line for succession to the throne.

For how many people would this be an irresistible temptation?

Moreover, Gorman remembered that many years ago, there had been rumors that Viscount Herbert suspected his eldest daughter wasn't his biological child, leading to his wife's death from accumulated depression.

From this perspective, Celitia's father might not treat her well.

Celitia shouldn't have any attachment to that family.

So was Celitia's unwillingness to accept them entirely for Sophia's sake?

Thinking of this, Gorman couldn't help but sigh:

"It seems your feelings for Sophia are genuine. On this point, I can be at ease."

"Does Your Majesty mean," Celitia glared at him, "you agree not to tell Sophia about this?"

"Even if we don't tell Sophia," Gorman didn't answer directly, "we should at least tell Marianne. You are her flesh and blood."

"This..."

Celitia couldn't refute for a moment.

She was very conflicted inside.

Celitia could ignore Gorman, but Marianne had always treated her well.

For a mother, children were a bond that could never be severed.

Could she really let Marianne not even have the chance to know who her true blood was?

But Gorman didn't give her a chance to struggle, calling out toward the back:

"Stop hiding, come out, Marianne."

Celitia was startled and looked in the direction of Gorman's gaze. Sure enough, she saw a small door open from a corner of the bedchamber, revealing Marianne's face.

"Your intuition is still so sharp, Marianne." Gorman laughed. "Seeing me keep Celitia alone, you already had a premonition and came to eavesdrop? This hardly befits a Queen's conduct."