Reborn After Betrayal: The Frail True Princess Decides to Give Up

Chapter 250 : Hooked Another One?

"But I—I'm no match for Lady Saintess!" Shanie panicked."Don't be afraid. Miss Ariel will have proper restraint. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Shanie."

Erwin smiled and nodded at Shanie. "Only by fighting opponents stronger than yourself can you feel the gap, benefit from it, and then advance to higher levels."

Hearing Erwin say this, Shanie finally nodded.

She felt an indescribable excitement activating within her:

"Alright! Then please give me your guidance, Lady Ariel!!"

The two each took a wooden sword, left the house, and went to the open space in the courtyard.

The remaining three watched from the perimeter.

In the distance, swords flashed as the two fought back and forth, neither gaining clear advantage.

Erwin pulled Celitia a bit farther away to one side and began whispering:

"I say, girl, how did you even get involved with Ariel?"

"Ariel is Sophia's sworn sister. It's normal for me to know her." Celitia didn't think much of it.

"You know that's not what I mean. This woman is as fierce as Joan. Aren't you afraid she'll recognize you and then—"

Erwin made a throat-slitting gesture, the implication clear.

"It's not that easy to recognize me. She wasn't that familiar with the former 'Sercis.'"

Celitia rolled her eyes at Erwin, still holding a grudge. "Not everyone has your fake illness routine!"

"True," Erwin said mysteriously, whispering in her ear. "After all, you've already hooked her, so naturally you don't need to worry!"

"What do you mean hooked?" Celitia's eyelid twitched. "Don't talk nonsense. Ariel and I are just ordinary friends."

"You silly girl, I'm not blind. Ordinary friends don't interact like that!"

Erwin was exasperated, reaching out to firmly knock Celitia's head.

"I saw everything. Just now under the tree, she picked the leaf off your hair and helped arrange your hair!"

"What's wrong with that?" Celitia was completely oblivious.

Erwin was speechless: "You—didn't you used to have several female confidantes? When did you become so dense?"

"Wait, explain clearly," Celitia's eyes widened. "When did I ever have many female confidantes?!"

"Sigh, forget it, forget it. I won't argue about that." Erwin waved his hand. "Just now in the house, she also leaned very intimately close to your ear to whisper!"

"When did that happen?" Celitia had no memory of it at all.

"Is your head filled with ocean water or wood?!"

Erwin stared at her incredulously, almost wanting to cut open this fool's head to see what was inside.

"I think your head is the one filled with all sorts of nonsense!"

Celitia was very disdainful. "You're perpetually single and have never been in love, yet you're trying to guide me!"

"Bah! When I was a handsome young man, plenty of women chased after me!!"

"Come on, are you going to say that the women chasing you included that Saintess Joan?"

"With your silly brain, you want to trick me into talking? Live another fifty years first!"

"Hmph, people with no romantic experience have no right to lecture me!"

The two went from whispering to arguing, their voices loud enough for Benita to hear.

"Um," Benita quickly came over to mediate. "Mr. Erwin, Lily, what's wrong?"

Celitia and Erwin looked at each other and tacitly stopped arguing.

"Just joking around with the little girl." Erwin coughed.

Celitia nodded along: "That's right."

"Really...?"

From their earlier posture, Benita had even thought the two were about to roll up their sleeves and fight.

But they stopped arguing just as quickly.

Perhaps, as Shanie said, the two really did have a good relationship.

Only then did Benita feel relieved.

On the other side, Shanie and Ariel had also determined a winner.

The wooden sword in Shanie's hand was knocked away by Ariel, leaving her empty-handed, standing in place.

Ariel's sword pointed at Shanie's chest, then slowly withdrew.

"Amazing! Truly worthy of Lady Saintess!!"

Despite losing, Shanie was still extremely excited.

"Very good," Ariel was quite appreciative. "When I was your age, I wasn't as good as you."

Shanie was immediately overjoyed: "Really? Lady Saintess isn't just flattering me, are you?"

"Really," Ariel nodded. "As long as you work hard and keep persisting, one day your achievements will definitely not be inferior to mine."

"Then I thank Lady Saintess for your praise!"

Shanie bowed to Ariel, saying seriously: "After I continue practicing hard for a while, I'll ask Lady Saintess for guidance again. Please don't refuse me then!"

"No problem." Ariel readily agreed.

"You're finally done fighting," Erwin chuckled. "Why don't you come inside to rest and have some snacks?"

Shanie lowered her head and sniffed her clothes: "I worked up a sweat—so smelly! I want to go back and take a bath first..."

Erwin didn't mind: "No problem, no problem. Go back then. You should have asked all the questions you wanted to ask anyway."

"Teacher, why don't you come back with us?"

Shanie invited enthusiastically: "We have so many people today, and dad is hosting everyone. There might even be a bonfire party!"

"Hahaha, I'm just an old man—I won't intrude on you young people's world."

Erwin waved at them with a smile. "Go on. Since you've had enough excitement, let this old man enjoy some peace and quiet."

"Alright..." Shanie was a bit disappointed.

After saying goodbye to Erwin, the four walked back together.

As they walked, Ariel's steps gradually slowed down.

"Are you going back?" Celitia asked.

"It's about time. The matters in Paril Village are basically resolved, and I've visited Teacher Joan."

Ariel thought: "If I head back now, I can still reach Cassia before dark."

"Ah, is Lady Ariel leaving so soon?" Shanie looked disappointed. "I thought you could stay and play a bit longer!"

"Ariel is different from us—she doesn't have winter break."

Celitia explained for Ariel: "She is the Saintess after all. There are many affairs in the church waiting for her attention."

Ariel's gaze silently watched Celitia.

She clearly knew Celitia was speaking for her, helping to politely decline Shanie.

But for some reason, Ariel felt a bit uncomfortable.

Did she really want her to leave so quickly?

Thinking this, Ariel, who had already planned to return directly to Cassia, suddenly began to hesitate.