Celitia wasn't surprised at all by Viscount Herbert's words.
In fact, from the moment she woke up, Celitia had been waiting for Viscount Herbert to come find her.
Now, it played right into her hands.
"Since it's Father's arrangement," Celitia spoke softly, "your daughter will naturally obey."
Viscount Herbert was surprised again.
This daughter had always been frail and sickly, never going out, extremely afraid of contact with strangers.
Even with the household servants, if she wasn't familiar with them, she didn't dare speak to them.
Viscount Herbert had thought Celitia would cry and beg him to withdraw the arrangement. He had even prepared how to refuse her.
Who would have thought Celitia would agree so readily? Viscount Herbert even felt a sense of helplessness, as if he had punched a cotton ball.
Seeing Viscount Herbert's confusion, Celitia smiled and explained:
"Since Oral is unwilling to go, and Father is troubled by this, as the eldest daughter of the family, I naturally should protect my brother and help Father solve his difficulties."
This string of words was said so matter-of-factly that even Celitia herself almost believed it.
It was just pretty talk, but there was no harm in saying it.
"Very good, it's rare to see you with such filial piety."
Viscount Herbert was very pleased, looking at Celitia somewhat differently.
It was rare for this daughter, who lacked presence and was generally disliked, to appear even slightly favorable in his eyes.
"Then the matter is settled. In two days, you will take your luggage and report to the academy."
At this point, Viscount Herbert pondered for a moment, thinking that after all, Celitia was his daughter and represented his face, so he offered a few pieces of advice.
"After you go there, remember to keep a low profile in both your behavior and actions, and never easily take sides."
Recalling Celitia's crisp slap in the morning, Viscount Herbert's mouth twitched slightly, and he became a bit concerned.
"If you face any grievances, remember to endure. Never offend those you shouldn't offend. Otherwise, you must bear the consequences yourself. Don't expect me to clean up your mess!"
Celitia continued to smile: "I understand."
She had no interest in provoking others, provided they didn't provoke her first.
Seeing Celitia so sensible, Viscount Herbert was very satisfied and couldn't help chatting with her a bit more.
After some conversation, Viscount Herbert's heart, which had been quite unhappy since the morning, finally brightened from gloomy to sunny.
He thought to himself, who would have expected that after Celitia fell into the water and became seriously ill, she would wake up so much more likable.
Oral had also fallen into the water and gotten sick, so why hadn't his brain shown any improvement?
Just thinking about his unaccomplished son gave Viscount Herbert a headache, and he left with a mixture of long and short sighs.
Celitia remained lying in bed, looking at the closed wooden door, her face deep in thought.
During her adventurer period, when the relationship between the Kingdom of York and the Kingdom of Lansca wasn't so tense, Celitia had traveled to Cassia, the capital of the Kingdom of Lansca, and was not unfamiliar with the place.
Celitia had never heard of any "Samuel National Academy," only knowing that the "St. Cassia Academy" here was very famous.
Colton Smith, whom she had met this morning, was a well-known professor at St. Cassia Academy.
Why a new academy was suddenly established, why Viscount Herbert was so troubled about enrollment—it seemed there was much hidden behind the scenes.
Celitia curled her lips into a cold smile.
It didn't matter.
For her, any enrollment was just a stepping stone to leave this home.
Anywhere would do.
○
Celitia spent two days recovering, and both her injuries and illness were almost healed.
She didn't have many things to pack, just a small bundle that contained most of her personal items.
What truly concerned Celitia was Rebecca's health, as she wouldn't be able to see Luna and Rebecca for some time.
Therefore, for two full days, she was busy making medicine in her room.
Of course, Luna was very worried about Celitia leaving home alone to go to some unheard-of academy, but Celitia had made up her mind, and Luna couldn't dissuade her.
When everything was ready—no, there was still one person Celitia needed to deal with.
That was Celitia's stepmother, Oral's birth mother, Lady Herbert.
Lady Herbert had been sulking for these two days.
Her stepdaughter had slapped her precious son in front of her, and her husband had only punished her by making her kneel for two hours—the same punishment as her son, which was essentially no punishment at all. How could she bear this?
But Celitia had been cooped up inside and hadn't gone out, plus Viscount Herbert was watching, so Lady Herbert hadn't found an opportunity to make trouble.
"You still have the nerve to come see me?"
Staring at Celitia's serene smiling face, Lady Herbert spoke with hatred.
"Before leaving, I naturally had to come bid Mother farewell, and also to withdraw some money."
Hearing the strong hostility in Lady Herbert's tone, Celitia's smile remained unchanged, her composure steady.
Actually, Celitia didn't want to approach Lady Herbert, but she had no choice.
Although Viscount Herbert had instructed Celitia to enroll at Samuel Academy, he hadn't given her a single copper coin for tuition or living expenses.
Celitia had approached the steward, but the sum was considerable, and he didn't dare make the decision himself, saying he needed Lady Herbert's approval.
Lady Herbert was the mistress of the house and managed the family's accounts, so Celitia had no choice but to come to her.
"You want money?"
Lady Herbert knew that her husband had pushed the enrollment matter onto Celitia.
Although she was relieved that her precious son didn't have to leave home, it didn't mean she had forgiven Celitia.
"Since Charles said you should go, I naturally won't withhold the money from you, but I must vent my anger first!"
She spoke with a cold laugh, rising from her chair, walking to Celitia, a gleam of viciousness flashing in her eyes as she raised her hand and swung at Celitia's face.
However, contrary to Lady Herbert's expectations, her self-proclaimed quick and vicious slap didn't connect.
Lady Herbert couldn't even see clearly how this frail girl, who looked like she could be blown over by the wind, had dodged her slap.
Disbelieving, she stepped forward again and swung another slap, only to feel a pain in her wrist as it was caught.
The hand gripping her wrist was pale and slender, seemingly without strength, yet it felt as if it had pinched a vital point, causing Lady Herbert such pain that she couldn't exert any force.
"Let go of me!" Lady Herbert screamed hysterically.
"Please calm down, Mother," Celitia smiled with pursed lips. "I'll let go when you're calm."
"Fine, I won't hit you! Just let go!!" Lady Herbert was in so much pain that tears were about to fall.