The explosion of an Originium bomb.
The passing of loved ones.
Disguising oneself amidst malice.
The self-sealed heart.
Until one found the meaning of self again and finally died without regrets…
The turbulent life of that Grand Duchess played like rapidly screened film images before Ecaros’ eyes.
In this dream, she saw the complete life of her sim-self, from the awakening of her Originium Arts until her death.
It was as if she had personally experienced it, yet also as if it were merely a true-to-life film.
And within this dream, Ecaros also clearly saw the change in ‘her’ feelings toward Theresa and the changes she herself underwent because of the other.
From the very beginning, where it was simply an intent to create another version of herself, to backing down time and time again, until finally being utterly incapable of going through with it, and ultimately reaching a sense of release…
The process of the simulated Ecaros raising Theresa was also, in fact, a process of gradually reaching reconciliation with herself and drawing a clear line with the shadows of the past…
Starting as a pitiable person who distrusted others, had isolated herself from the world, and had sealed off her own ‘self’s’ heart…
in this process, because of Theresa, who was similar yet different from herself, she bit by bit chose to reconcile with herself.
And consequently, she also gradually accepted Theresa.
Allowing her own desire—which had, at first, only been a malicious possessiveness—to gradually, truly transform into wanting to see Theresa become another version of herself.
And in the end, she chose to let Theresa walk a path belonging to herself.
Perhaps, at the very beginning, the simulated ‘Ecaros’ had only been acting out of simple, malicious curiosity.
She wanted an amusing toy.
She wanted to mold another twisted version of herself to share in the loneliness of one isolated from the world.
But that twisted emotion ultimately transformed into sympathy, pity, an inability to bear it, and ‘Ecaros”s anticipation to see Theresa walk a different path from ‘herself.’ After all, in this world, there are two kinds of unfortunate people.
One kind will force their misfortune upon others, dragging them into the same unhappiness as themselves.
And the other kind will try to prevent that misfortune from spreading and, at the same time, wish to pull the unfortunate out of the mire.
The simulated ‘Ecaros’ had thought she would be the first kind.
But in the end, she chose to become the second kind.
It was probably at that moment, when such a change occurred, that the simulated ‘Ecaros” feelings and attitude toward Theresa gradually shifted.
And led the final ending to become what it was now…
Theresa, most likely, had precisely because of this silent transformation of ‘Ecaros,’ gradually come to regard her as her own final belonging.
…
Haah…
Truly a complex set of feelings.
This was the first thought that surfaced in Ecaros’ heart after sorting out the feelings between her sim-self and Theresa.
But thankfully, Ecaros knew that she herself would not need to experience these things.
The only regrettable thing was, probably, the ending Theresa chose in the end, after fulfilling her mission.
But it couldn’t be helped…
After all, although the Sarkaz don’t show it outwardly, each and every one of them is, in truth, more stubborn than the last.
Either they do not give their heart easily, or once they have given it, they will absolutely never lightly abandon the belonging they have found.
And the Sarkaz King is no exception…
Unconsciously, she recalled Theresa’s final ending in the simulation.
The image surfaced once more in her head—Theresa, in ‘her’ embrace, tightly clutching ‘her’ clothes, sobbing, burying her face into the fabric, absolutely refusing to shed tears before the eyes of others.
Despite knowing it was only a simulation, Ecaros’ heart still couldn’t help but ache.
If I ever get the chance in the future…
I’ll go and meet the Queen in reality…
Probably because of regret and pity, such a thought arose in Ecaros’ heart.
And after this thought arose, the dream that had been helping Ecaros strengthen her Originium Arts and the corresponding techniques of manipulation also came to an end.
However, just as she was about to leave the dream, Ecaros suddenly felt a flicker of doubt arise in her heart.
Clearly, within the simulator, hadn’t she only experienced a portion of the first-person perspective?
Then why, in this dream, had she seen the entirety of it?
Unfortunately, no one would answer Ecaros’s doubt.
And when she woke, the sense of dream and reality brought on by the dream also made her forget this question.
…
“Nn…
How long was I…
asleep?” “Wait, why is Arturia here?
Hiss—oh, right.
It seems I heard the sound of the door lock being turned before I fell asleep…” “So that means…
Arturia was waiting for me for a long time…” Awakening from the dream, warm sunlight filtered through the curtains, spilling in threads over Ecaros’ body, bringing with it a cozy, lazy warmth.
Making the girl instinctively want to stretch.
But before stretching, Ecaros first caught sight of the black-haired girl sprawled by her bedside, emitting faint breaths.
The snapped string of memory reconnected at this moment, letting Ecaros recall the details before she had fallen asleep.
It also made her realize that the girl before her had waited for her for at least over five hours.
And very likely, it had been the kind of waiting where she hadn’t left her side for even a step.
It had even led Arturia to accidentally fall asleep beside her.
This made Ecaros feel both touched and somewhat helpless.
But more than that, she felt warmth and happiness.
After all, it had been her own accident that had caused them to miss the outing they’d planned together in advance to shop and buy some maintenance equipment for their instruments.
Yet in the end, Arturia had stayed by her side the entire time without leaving.
Having a friend like this—Ecaros, who had awakened her past-life memories—might not have felt much in the past, but now she truly felt happy from the bottom of her heart.
And she had to admit, Arturia looked very beautiful when asleep as well.
As expected of someone who, even amidst enormous controversy, could sweep in vast amounts of the Doctors’ cash.
If it had been her past-life self seeing such a beautiful girl, she’d probably have been transfixed, trying every way to bend her, right?
Thank goodness, in this life, I’m not a lesbian.
Gazing at the side of Arturia’s face in slumber, Ecaros recalled a great deal of information about Arturia and couldn’t help instinctively pondering what her past-life self might have done.
In the end, she couldn’t help but feel grateful for her current self’s pure and pristine heart.
However, after confirming that Arturia was indeed asleep, Ecaros no longer paid excessive attention to her slumbering friend.
Instead, she began to study the enhancements to her Originium Arts brought about by her talent.
Very soon, the girl was stunned.
And the reason she was stunned was very simple—the Originium Arts that, in the past, she had to laboriously exert herself just to use without worsening her infection…
in her hands now, she could wield them with ease.
And the degree of her infection barely changed at all.
Even the Originium crystals on the inner side of her thigh had calmed down considerably, making Ecaros feel that just this reward alone had already made this simulation worth it!
Then there was the enhancement to her Originium Arts…
This enhancement, she had to say, also gave Ecaros a considerable surprise.
Though it wasn’t as convenient to use as her sim-self’s in the simulator, it had still greatly strengthened her power.
At the very least, her original ‘Dream’—which could only be used to create an instantaneous dreamscape and suppress the inner desires of people—could now, after casting, influence the five senses of others!
Didn’t this mean her combat power had just shot up like crazy?!
It seemed the simulation’s rewards were pretty good.
Next week, she might as well do another simulation!
Having briefly assessed her own condition, Ecaros nodded in satisfaction.
But suddenly, she felt a faint itch at her nose—the urge to sneeze.
Then, glancing at the time, she found it was nearly twelve noon.
Although she was fairly confident in her ability to stay warm, Laterano in September wasn’t actually as warm as one might imagine.
At least, that was what Ecaros thought as she carefully and quietly slipped out of bed.
Feeling the sensation on her skin exposed to the slightly cold air, Ecaros had originally intended to dress herself first.
But thinking of Arturia, she instinctively turned to look at the girl sleeping soundly, sprawled over her bedside.
If left like that, she might catch a cold in this weather…
Unable to help feeling somewhat worried, Ecaros let out a faint sigh.
Instead of opening her wardrobe first, she walked barefoot on her fair little feet over to Arturia’s side.
Gently, she lifted the girl’s light body and placed her on the bed.
Carefully, she removed the little rabbit slippers—her own—from the other’s feet and finally tucked her into her own warm little nest of blankets.
Only then, looking at Arturia, now pillowed on her pillow and sleeping in her bed, did Ecaros reveal a relieved and satisfied smile.
With her back to Arturia, and without any trace of embarrassment, she slipped off the nightgown she wore, revealing large expanses of snow-white skin, and began to dress.
Afterwards, just as she had done many times in the past, Ecaros put on a white dress and stockings and expertly headed to the first-floor kitchen to prepare lunch for the two of them.
Although the morning’s shopping trip had been missed because of her, the afternoon’s charity performance at the nursing home with Arturia absolutely could not be neglected.
Ecaros knew full well how important every single performance was to Arturia—how precious they were.
Thus, she absolutely would not allow herself to hold Arturia back.
They ought to support each other and move forward together—whether in the past, the present, or the future.