Sophia frowned.

"Margaret, what do you mean?"

She thought Margaret was referring to her forcibly extending the registration time.

This matter was indeed Sophia's oversight, but from Margaret's words, what she cared about didn't seem to be this.

"I once invited Celitia to participate in the competition, and she refused me. Everyone saw this."

Margaret smiled coldly.

"After all, she has no adaptability, so I can understand that choice. But why did Celitia change her mind after just a few days?"

Her gaze sharply fixed on Sophia. "The answer is simple. Her Royal Highness wants to build momentum for her little lover! Not only extending registration time for this, but also trying to manipulate the competition results to elevate her little lover's status!"

Sophia: "..."

This classmate, isn't your imagination running a bit wild?

She wished Celitia would just stay obediently in the royal palace. Forget about participating in competitions—it would be best if she didn't even come to school.

Also, why did this girl keep saying "little lover"?

Uh, wait... little lover...?

It seems... not entirely unacceptable?

Because of that particular term, suddenly starting to let her imagination run wild, Sophia spaced out and didn't immediately refute Margaret.

Celitia turned her head, glanced at Margaret indifferently, and commented:

"A head full of wild fantasies."

"Heh, wild fantasies?"

Margaret had long found Celitia displeasing to the eye, and immediately turned her attack on her.

"Regarding your behavior, one must think more about it, otherwise you might suffer losses someday. I heard that you beat your brother so badly he couldn't get out of bed, and even somehow sweet-talked Her Majesty Marianne into sending your family members to prison instead!"

Celitia frowned slightly.

Margaret actually knew about this matter. Had Lady Herbert approached her side?

Because of Margaret's words, the people below began whispering again:

"She looks so gentle and weak, yet she was so ruthless to her own brother?"

"And she could convince Her Majesty Marianne to protect her—what kind of scheming methods must that require..."

"You really can't judge people by appearances..."

Margaret listened to the students' discussions, a satisfied smile forming at the corners of her lips.

If she could ruin Celitia's reputation, not only could she get rid of this eyesore, but she could also strike at Marianne and Sophia who were protecting her—killing two birds with one stone.

"A sacred place like the academy should never have admitted someone with such moral deficiencies."

Margaret continued loudly, "However, Samuel Academy values talent above all. If you truly are a person of ability, it's not impossible to let you stay. Since you want to participate in this competition, it's perfect timing to prove your abilities to everyone. If your side wins, you can naturally stay. But if you lose—"

Margaret sneered, drawing out her tone, "pack up your things and get lost back to wherever you came from!"

The girl's gaze provocatively fixed on Celitia.

"How about it? Do you dare to bet, Celitia?"

Celitia's calm gaze flickered slightly, and she looked Margaret up and down with some curiosity.

In her previous life, she had experienced countless battles and campaigns, each one a gamble.

Betting on timing, terrain, and people.

She was never afraid of gambling.

"Interesting."

A smile formed at the corners of Celitia's lips, like a sharp blade that had drunk deep of blood but been sheathed for a long time, suddenly drawn with its edge fully revealed, unstoppable in its sharpness.

"I accept your proposal."

Her voice paused slightly.

"But if I win, nothing changes, yet if I lose, I have to drop out—this bet is rather unfair. Let me think. Oh right, Miss Margaret, didn't you just spout nonsense about abusing privileges?"

Celitia said unhurriedly.

"If you lose, then for your words and actions, you should publicly apologize to Princess Sophia. How about that? What unspeakable things you've done behind the scenes, you know perfectly well in your heart. Everything that deserves an apology must be apologized for before the goddess to Princess Sophia."

"You—"

Margaret's face instantly flushed red.

Celitia knew!

The tricks she had pulled before the opening ceremony—she definitely knew!

Otherwise, how could she say such things!

Celitia put away her smile, her eyes slightly raised with a flash of disdainful expression.

"It seems Miss Margaret feels very guilty and doesn't dare bet with me."

"Nonsense!"

Provoked by that challenging gaze, Margaret immediately shouted.

"What wouldn't I dare? Let's bet! Let's bet!!"

"Very good. Then today, all the students present are our witnesses."

Celitia said no more, picked up the pen, quickly filled out the form, and handed it to Andrew.

Andrew took it in a dreamlike state, his mind still on the bet just made, unable to come back to his senses.

What should he say—Celitia truly was the most prominent figure in the entire school...?

She had just made a bet with Margaret like that??

Not just him—the scene was dead silent, and everyone including Sophia was still standing there stunned.

Celitia tugged at Sophia: "Let's go, sit in the back and wait for the grouping results."

Only when she spoke did people react, and the place erupted in chaos.

"What what? What happened??"

"A bet between both sides? If Margaret wins, Celitia drops out?"

"And vice versa, Margaret publicly apologizes to Princess Sophia?"

"My god, I never thought participating in a competition would let us witness such explosive drama!!"

Margaret was used to being the center of attention, but today's attention truly made her furious.

Apologize?

She had to publicly apologize?

Even if Celitia died, she would never have that ability!!

She angrily turned and left, not even wanting to hear the grouping results.

Charlotte followed behind Margaret, hurriedly asking:

"Margaret! Are you really going to bet with Celitia?"

In terms of betting, Charlotte was truly the one who had suffered losses, leaving her with some psychological trauma.

Now, she inexplicably had a premonition that Margaret was going to crash and burn.

After all, the bet contents were somewhat similar, making it hard for Charlotte not to recall past events.

Although they now stood on the same side, if Margaret really crashed because of the bet, Charlotte felt a bit secretly pleased.

Let Margaret experience what she had felt back then—then she wouldn't be alone.

"You think I'll lose?!"

Margaret suddenly turned around, glaring fiercely at Charlotte.

"I'm telling you, Charlotte! Celitia won't have a chance, not even the slightest chance!!"

Margaret couldn't accept the consequences of losing the bet.

Compared to Celitia dropping out, Margaret's apology sounded light and airy, completely incomparable to the other side's weight.

But Margaret understood in her heart that at Samuel Academy, she undoubtedly represented the Brienne family.

If she publicly apologized to Sophia, it would be equivalent to showing all students that the Brienne family had lost to Sophia.

Then all the schemes she had painstakingly executed to enter the academy and obstruct Sophia from winning people's hearts would be declared completely wasted.

How ruthless.

This woman had completely grasped her thoughts.

She absolutely could not lose.

No matter what methods she used, she could not lose.

As long as she didn't lose, she wouldn't have to apologize to Sophia or admit to everything she had done.

Margaret clenched her teeth, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Sophia, Celitia—you forced me to this!