Luna's sudden outburst left Celitia stunned, and she could only sheepishly close her mouth.
"It's one thing for Young Master Oral to hit me," Luna continued, "but you fool, why did you stand up for me? Now you've been punished. Are you at all aware that your body can't handle such strain?"
At this point, Luna was crying like rain, choking as she said, "Do you know how much it hurts me to see you like this?"
At the mention of this, Celitia's expression darkened, a cold light rising in her eyes.
"I couldn't watch that waste hit you."
Actually, at first, Celitia hadn't wanted to have a direct confrontation with Oral.
So even when she pushed him into the pond, she had used only underhanded tricks, making Oral truly believe it was his own fault.
Only when Oral picked a fight and slapped Luna in front of her could Celitia not stand by and do nothing.
Call it a flaw if you will, but Celitia was extremely protective of her own.
Provoking her was one thing; perhaps Celitia would temporarily endure it for certain purposes.
But touching people she cared about? Unacceptable.
What did being punished by her father matter?
For the former Commander of the Knight Order who had once ruled the battlefield, kneeling for those two hours was nothing.
If it happened again, Celitia would still dare to do the same.
Seeing Celitia's defiance, Luna pulled back the blanket and extended her index finger, lightly poking the purple-black bruising where the girl's knee met her calf.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow—!!"
The girl instantly teared up in pain, her face scrunched like a dumpling, all her toughness thrown aside.
"Now you know it hurts?" Luna was both angry and heartbroken. "Even if it's for my sake, you mustn't rush to defend me like that again."
"What about you? You're being punished too," Celitia raised her eyes to glare at her. "Father punished you with a day of confinement. How did you sneak over here?"
"Because I was worried about you..."
Luna secretly glanced at the door, lowering her voice, looking completely furtive.
"I snuck out. The master doesn't know. Besides, your place is secluded and others rarely come here, so we won't be discovered."
"Don't be so sure," Celitia gave her a sideways glance. "At the earliest today, at the latest tomorrow, Father should be coming to talk to me."
"The master is still angry. What would he want to talk to you about?"
Luna was confused at first, then intense worry rose in her eyes.
"Could it be about what Young Master Oral said..."
"Don't worry, Luna. Leaving home might not be a bad thing. Don't you think?"
Celitia gently patted the back of Luna's hand, her voice calm and firm.
"To be reborn from the ashes and soar in the sky, the first step is to leave this hell, isn't it?"
Hearing Celitia describe her home as "hell," Luna's eyes immediately reddened again.
Fortunately, at that moment, a knock at the door successfully stopped Luna's tears.
"Huh? Who could be knocking... is it Mother bringing dinner?"
Luna rose from the bed in confusion, walked to the door, and opened the not-very-sturdy wooden door.
Seeing clearly who stood at the door, Luna's expression instantly froze on her face, and she became so flustered that her words came out jumbled:
"Ma-Ma-Master! Why have you come here?"
"What? Isn't this my home? Am I not allowed to come?"
Viscount Herbert glanced at Luna. "As for you, appearing here, hmm."
Luna was so frightened by his final cold snort that she stood frozen at the door, not daring to move.
According to Viscount Herbert's punishment order, Luna should have been confined to her own room now.
Fortunately, Viscount Herbert didn't seem inclined to take issue with Luna.
He waited at the door for a moment, and seeing Luna still standing like a pillar without moving, he immediately became impatient:
"Move aside!"
"Oh, oh..."
Luna finally came to her senses, quickly making way. As Viscount Herbert walked in, she was about to close the door and follow him back.
"Get out!"
Viscount Herbert turned back and glared at Luna.
He thought this girl was truly not bright, completely unable to read the situation.
Finally understanding, Luna snapped out of her daze, hurriedly bowed to both of them, and hastily left the attic, tightly closing the wooden door.
Celitia watched everything and couldn't help but laugh softly:
"Luna may seem a bit foolish, but her heart is pure. That's her strength."
In Viscount Herbert's limited impression, this daughter had always been submissive, accepting whatever others said without her own thoughts.
This was the first time he had heard Celitia evaluate others, and Viscount Herbert couldn't help finding it somewhat remarkable.
Viscount Herbert couldn't resist carefully examining the girl lying in bed.
Her hair was disheveled, her cheeks flushed with an unhealthy redness, her lips pale, appearing gravely ill. Only those misty purple eyes shone brightly, not shying away from his scrutiny.
Viscount Herbert had always disliked Celitia's eyes, always feeling they didn't resemble them at all.
But at this moment, strangely, a trace of approval arose in Viscount Herbert's heart.
This child did possess a bit of his former spirit.
Viscount Herbert couldn't help saying: "You were quite bold today."
"I just figured some things out after falling into the water last time."
Celitia smiled, speaking slowly word by word. "If one only tolerates and accommodates, one will retreat further and further, ultimately allowing others to stab a knife into one's heart without even the chance to question it."
The former Sercis was like this, and so was the former Celitia.
After her rebirth, Celitia actually didn't have the mood to provoke others.
But that didn't mean those people could act recklessly in her face, forcing her to retreat again and again.
Viscount Herbert was stunned.
It was as if he was meeting his daughter for the first time.
The girl before him, though physically broken, exuded a quality of external gentleness and inner strength, revealing a persistent tenacity in her bones.
Even if crushed to powder, once buried in soil, she would eventually find an opportunity to grow fresh green shoots.
That astonishment and disbelief were quickly hidden by Viscount Herbert, not revealed.
He hadn't come to Celitia this time to care about her health or to discuss matters with her, but to directly inform her of his decision.
He couldn't let Celitia have a chance to take control of the conversation.
The hint of paternal warmth vanished without a trace, and the dignity of the family head returned to Viscount Herbert's face.
"In two more days, it will be the opening day of Samuel National Academy. At that time, you will enroll and must complete all arranged studies well."