After the meal, Tina returned to her own room, while Irene was arranged by the maid to rest elsewhere.
After all, as honored guests, it wouldn’t do to have two unrelated people crammed into one room—basic hospitality etiquette.
That said……………………
Tina could already guess that it wouldn’t be long before someone came knocking.
“Knock, knock knock—” Just as she expected, hesitant knocking came from outside, as if someone had lingered by the door for a long time before finally deciding to come in.
Oh dear, who could it be? So hard to guess.
“I’m coming, I’m coming.”
Tina opened the door to see Irene clutching a pillow, lips pressed tightly together, looking very nervous.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m afraid of the dark, so I want to sleep with you.”
“Huh? You’re afraid of the dark?” Tina put on a serious face but was barely holding back laughter, “Let me ask you, isn’t it pitch black when you wear an eye mask?”
“Umm… what you said makes sense.”
After thinking carefully, Irene realized the excuse she had made up to sleep together was a bit too foolish. Since that was the case, maybe she should go back and reconsider.
“Never mind, never mind.” Tina pulled the dejected girl back before she could leave and comforted her, “If you need anything, just say so. You don’t have to find an excuse.”
“Really?”
Hearing such warm words, Irene’s sadness immediately vanished.
“Yeah, yeah, since you want to sleep here, come on in.” Tina patted the soft bedsheets, inviting Irene up.
Sleeping alone might feel big, but two people would be just right.
Not.
Tina had thought they’d each take half the bed, but instead, Irene lay in the middle, pushing Tina to the edge with no space left.
So Tina could only lie on her side, trying not to fall off.
“Hmm…………… why are you hugging me?”
Feeling two hands around her waist and something pressing against her back, Tina was puzzled.
But after asking and waiting a long time with no reply, she only heard steady breathing behind her.
Alright, Irene had fallen asleep. Maybe it was because she’d never slept in such a comfortable environment before, or maybe she felt safe now. In any case—
Youth is wonderful; just lay down and fall asleep.
Tina couldn’t sleep, left alone to her wandering thoughts.
Today was the first day after the simulation ended, yet the system remained silent on whether the simulation’s results would carry over into reality.
She wanted to know if the bad things she had done before had actually left a mark on history because that would greatly affect her future life, even threaten her personal safety.
There was actually a good method to find out right now—a simple test.
She could try to locate her own Puppet and attempt a remote connection.
If she could still sense it, that would prove the event had truly happened in history, not just a simulation as the system claimed.
If she couldn’t sense it, then it would mean that the historical Lia had no connection with her and that she was on an alternate IF timeline.
“Let’s give it a try.”
Tina focused, searching through the many drifting streams of magical energy for the one uniquely hers.
The surrounding magical environment was chaotic, but the witch’s aura was quite distinct—like searching for a splash of brilliant color in a colorless world.
Soon, she found it.
Following the special line, Tina traced it from Valencia all the way to Keliville, and finally, she successfully connected to the Puppet.
Objectively speaking, this wasn’t good news.
Because it meant Lia should know her. If they met in the future and she was recognized, it would definitely trigger a disaster.
A disaster not for those around her, but for herself.
On the other hand, Tina also had access to an extraordinary network of connections.
Though she couldn’t make use of it yet, having it was better than not. Just in case one day she might need it.
Maybe she could even go kneeling to plead, saying something like, “Please, if there’s no Lia…,” and so on, to save herself from death.
At this point, she might as well see what Lia was up to.
Tina adjusted the clarity of her vision slightly. The Puppet hadn’t been used for six years, but it still felt carefully preserved.
Necessary.
“Your Majesty, these are the documents you need to sign tomorrow.” A secretary placed a thick stack of papers on the desk.
“Hmm, I know.” Today’s queen was still working overtime, her meticulous demeanor radiating the unique charm of a mature woman.
“By the way, about the auction in Valencia, Your Majesty…”
“Is there anything worth noting?”
Lia was indifferent. Her palace didn’t need so many rare treasures—things that could only be admired but lacked practical value had no place there.
“The main thing is that the king there has invited all the heads of state to attend, hoping Your Majesty can grant him an audience.” The secretary repeated the exact words she’d heard during the handover.
“Oh, have they all agreed to go?”
“Your Majesty, as far as I know, the top representatives from three countries have confirmed, and the others are preparing to follow.”
“Alright, I don’t know what tricks they’re up to, but since it’s come to this, I have no reason not to go.”
Lia set aside her finally completed work and stretched as she stood.
“Help me prepare the itinerary. We leave in a few days.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After completing her daily handover tasks, Lia changed into her night robe and sat by the window, quietly admiring the full moon on the horizon.
Valencia? Auction? What exactly is that old king scheming?
Gathering the leaders of various countries must mean there’s an ulterior motive.
No matter what, she was only reluctantly going along—after all, the other kingdoms wouldn’t take a young queen like her seriously.
“Hm? Who’s there?”
Lia vaguely sensed a gaze, but when she looked behind her, no one was there.
Was she just hallucinating from exhaustion?
She felt as if the Puppet on the bookshelf had moved slightly, but when she looked closely again, it was still.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve held you to sleep. Tonight……………”
Tina, seeing Lia leaning against the bookshelf, instantly understood her thoughts and immediately cut off the connection, returning to her own perspective.
Phew.
A moment later and she would have been picked up—she had no desire to be treated like a pillow and tossed around repeatedly.
Well, though here she was already being used as a pillow by Irene.
This feeling of being hugged by one girl while thinking about another was truly strange.
Could this be the legendary guilt? Kind of thrilling, actually.
If Lia found out that after faking her own death and deceiving her, Tina was two-timing her, she would probably be punished severely.
Such a thing must never happen. She would have to avoid Lia at the auction at all costs.
Once that period passed, it should be safe.