Feeling the movent of new life, unconsciously, a faint smile appeared on Celitia's face.
"So mischievous. Perhaps she'll be a child who won't let people rest easy in the future."
"Perhaps."
Marianne gently stroked her belly, her face filled with the soft yet firm radiance that belonged to a mother.
"But I love her deeply. Whatever kind of future awaits, I want to create it for her with my own hands."
Hearing this, Celitia felt her heart warm slightly.
Living in the Herbert family for sixteen years, she had endured cold looks and hardly enjoyed any parental love. Every day she opened her eyes to a hopeless future.
Not only "Celitia"—whichever version of herself had been blank regarding these things.
She had refused to acknowledge her biological parents, refused to admit her true identity, refused their compensation...
Although these were all decisions she had made without hesitation for Sophia's sake.
However, to say she held no resentnt at all would definitely be false.
But at this mont, listening to Marianne's words, that last bit of resentnt in Celitia's heart gradually dissipated.
Even across sixteen years, Celitia could still feel how unreservedly Marianne loved her.
The mix-ups in reality were already beyond help.
But in this illusion, could all of this be corrected?
Celitia had initially been sowhat hesitant about whether to maintain the status quo.
By this point, it had finally completely transford into determination.
She stood up again and looked around: "Queen Marianne, let clean the room."
Marianne said gently: "It's fine—it was cleaned just yesterday."
"Let do it. Rooms should be cleaned every day." Celitia was very insistent.
She went to the utility room to get a broom and wandered around the room, carefully cleaning the dust.
Cleaning in na, but actually examining carefully.
From the outer room to the inner room, after going through the entire room, Celitia still found no traces of magic.
Just like when she first arrived, there really was nothing abnormal here.
Looking at the bedroom with no abnormalities, Celitia pondered silently.
So perhaps the problem wasn't here?
After all, Marianne didn't necessarily have to give birth in this room, nor did the exchange necessarily have to happen imdiately after birth.
As Celitia thought about this, so anxiety inevitably arose in her heart.
At this ti, Ariel entered carrying a plate of strawberries and placed it on the table beside Marianne.
"That's enough. I'm feeling much better." Marianne waved at them. "You two go rest for a while."
"Yes."
After bowing to Marianne, Ariel pulled Celitia and quickly walked out of the inner room.
"When I went out just now, I investigated a bit. Mother's due date isn't until next month." Ariel said softly. "Perhaps it's not mother's side that has the problem. Why don't we go check on Lady Liana's side?"
Having checked so many tis and still finding no clues, Celitia couldn't help but develop so doubts.
Could this ti really only be targeting Liana, with Marianne just happening to get caught up in it?
Anyway, there should still be so ti, so Liana's side should also be properly monitored.
Celitia nodded thoughtfully: "Then let's find an excuse to go see Lady Liana."
Hearing her speak so distantly, Ariel couldn't help but feel so heartache welling up from her chest.
If she were like herself—an orphan from childhood with no mory of her birth parents—that would be one thing.
But soone with experiences like Celitia's, even having "parents" and "family," for her it was nothing more than a suffocating burden.
If she really was an unfortunate "exchanged" child, who were her biological parents, and would she feel confused about it?
So details and doubts, Ariel instinctively didn't dare think deeply about.
But she thought none of this mattered.
Unconsciously, Ariel gently patted Celitia's head.
The soft, fluffy sensation ca back like a furry, soft little animal, which didn't match her usually stubborn and sharp-tongued appearance.
Just like the heart wrapped beneath that strong exterior was also so soft, longing to receive love and support from others.
"It's okay. Whatever the truth about your background is, it makes no difference to ."
Ariel said gently.
"You are you—unique, shaped by everything you've experienced. That's enough."
Celitia was slightly stunned.
She didn't know how much Ariel had speculated or whether she had discovered the truth from those scattered clues.
But Celitia didn't want to explain or cover up, only answering very softly:
"Thank you."
At this mont, commotion suddenly ca from outside.
"Countess," the blonde maid standing guard at the door inquired, "why have you co?"
"Dorothy, is Queen Marianne inside?" ilenn asked.
The maid nad Dorothy answered: "Her Majesty is resting inside. Do you need sothing, Lady ilenn?"
"I'm a bit bored today, so I ca to see Marianne."
ilenn entered the room, and seeing Celitia and Ariel, couldn't help but frown: "Who are you two?"
Ariel was a bit nervous, still thinking about how to answer without making ilenn suspicious, when Dorothy had already explained first:
"Her Majesty hasn't been feeling well recently, so I specifically found two maids to give Her Majesty massages."
"I see," ilenn relaxed. "I've long said Marianne should move around more—that way her lower limbs wouldn't always be uncomfortable."
"ilenn?"
Marianne heard ilenn's voice, stood up from the reclining chair, ca over to greet her, and complained: "How did you co by yourself? You're not very mobile—you should be careful."
ilenn didn't care:
"You're just too cautious, hardly moving around at all. That's why your body gets weaker and weaker."
"Look, the weather is so nice today. Why don't we take a carriage out for a walk and enjoy the spring scenery?"
Marianne was startled: "Now?"
"The spring equinox is such a good day." ilenn smiled. "Don't hesitate—let's go, Marianne."
ilenn took Marianne's hand and was about to lead her outside.
Seeing the two walking out of the inner room one after the other, Celitia didn't think twice and blocked their path, blurting out:
"No!"
Celitia instinctively felt that if Marianne went out, sothing would definitely happen.
No wonder she hadn't detected any abnormalities before - they were waiting here.
ilenn narrowed her eyes, her expression extrely displeased:
"You're just a maid—what right do you have to question your master's decision?"
"But, Lady Countess, Her Majesty is unwell and just said she wanted to rest."
Celitia replied calmly. "Since that's the case, you should be considerate of Her Majesty rather than forcing her to go out."
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