Aililan believed.
As long as everything was put on the table, as long as the misunderstanding was cleared up, wouldn’t that solve things?
As for Theresa, when Aililan was playing the game, she had indeed pursued her just for the sake of chasing after her. But now, with a living person standing before her, she put away that irreverent gaze and instead gave her respect.
Treating her as a friend.
Honoring her with respect.
Aililan asked if Theresa had gotten used to staying here in the secret room.
Theresa simply replied, “Everything’s quite fine.”
Aside from losing her freedom, every aspect of her daily life was well taken care of.
Like she’d said before, she was just a blind girl. If she kept clamoring for freedom, for fresh air every day, that would be rather clueless.
Having lived in the Slums, Theresa understood better than anyone how her current worry-free life was something many in the Slums would envy, yet could never have!
Her earlier anxiety—
It was only confusion about the future.
And also, about her own budding feelings, and her awkwardness when facing Aililan.
After the mood softened.
Aililan became much more talkative.
She spoke of recent interesting events in Atester City, and of customs in other places.
She spoke of distant mountains and lakes.
She mentioned some of her own initiatives, like bringing in a new Wine Estate, which could at least improve the lives of many people.
Theresa just listened quietly for a long time, then sighed lightly and said, “Perhaps those who have received your grace aren’t even aware. Even as a Saintess, you must have many difficulties, don’t you?”
Aililan smiled and said, “This is just what I ought to do, only what’s within my duties.”
“You’re always so merciful.”
“Because I am a Saintess!”
“So is it responsibility that supports you?”
“No, no, you’ve got it wrong. It’s that with greater power comes greater responsibility. You can see us Saintesses as repair workers on a great ship, always patching and fixing as we go.”
“Just as you’ve always been dedicated to the Slums? The virtue you practice is truly admirable.”
“I’ve already said, it’s within my duties, a matter of responsibility.”
“But your radiance and virtue—all those poor people you’ve saved will remember you for life.”
“Quite the contrary, it’s a road with no end. No one will be grateful forever. If one day they desire more and I can’t provide it, they’ll resent me.”
“How can that be? Clearly you…”
“Theresa, you need to understand: human desire has no end. Today the poor only want to have enough to eat. But once they’re fed, one day they may ask me: Why do people in the Inner City live better? Why can’t they have more? Why is this world so unfair?”
Theresa fell silent.
Just as Aililan had said, these were things she’d never considered.
Her eyes couldn’t see, but the feeling Aililan gave her was like a mountain—lofty and yet lonely.
Theresa asked, “Is there no solution to this problem?”
Aililan shrugged and said softly, “Actually, History has offered many solutions: launching War to divert conflict outward, reshuffling things internally, and so on.”
“Sigh.”
“What’s the point of talking about this.”
“Let’s talk about what kind of flowers you like instead. I’ll have people gather seeds for you to plant later.”
Theresa felt a bit dizzy.
Aililan’s grand narration was hard for her to fully grasp, but she sensed its cruelty. At the same time, it draped Aililan in a veil of sacred perseverance, making Theresa even more attentive, unable to pull away.
She said,
“Any flower is fine, but I have one last question.”
“What is it?” Aililan asked.
“Why are you so good to me? I’m neither noble nor well-educated, not even a talented person. Maybe… I’m not that pretty either. So, why?”
“……”
That did stump Aililan for a moment.
Theresa was truly a good person.
As for why she was “stolen by the bull”—on this, as the one involved and a former Player, Aililan had some authority to speak.
First, Theresa often asked Feng Aotian for help regarding Aililan’s issues, racking up lots of favorability.
Second, the original Aililan was unreliable; if she’d even tried a little, would Theresa have been so easily won over?
Third, as the heroine of a galgame, Feng Aotian was indeed skilled at winning over women.
But, to be a bit blunt, even after Theresa was “bullied away,” when she did those things with Feng Aotian, the one on her mind was still Aililan.
She was the only girl in the game who, after being “bullied away” by Feng Aotian, would say that being with Feng Aotian never brought her any happiness.
Taking a deep breath.
“Theresa, why would you think that? In my eyes, there’s no such thing as a noble or lowly birth. If you really insist, weren’t you once the Duke’s Daughter?”
“Besides, getting an education and acquiring talent isn’t something one’s born with. If you want, you can pick up books from now on and become a learned and talented girl.”
“And finally.”
“You are beautiful.”
Theresa’s eyes shifted slightly.
She truly was moved by Aililan’s words—that fluttering feeling in her heart.
But, but… Theresa lowered her head, only able to hide her growing emotions.
She was caring more and more!
A sense of not daring to reach for what she wanted, yet afraid to lose it, quietly spread through her mind.
After a while, Theresa suddenly asked, “Miss Aililan, you’re the Saint of Chastity, right?”
Aililan saw nothing odd about this and smiled, “Yes, the Saint of Chastity among the Seven Virtues Saints.”
“Saints of Chastity don’t get married, right?”
“Why do you ask?”
“N-no reason! I was just thinking, someone as holy as you, especially as the Saint of Chastity, can’t just marry anyone. There are a lot of bad women in this world—you should keep your eyes open, especially when it comes to… feelings, there’s no need to rush. After all, you’re the Saint of Chastity!”
Aililan scratched her head, saying, “What you said actually makes a lot of sense.”
Seeing Aililan agree with her,
Theresa finally breathed a slight sigh of relief, yet also felt a tinge of guilt rising in her heart.
Theresa had to admit something. The words she just said weren’t truly meant for Aililan’s sake, about keeping her eyes open. The real reason was only one:
[Weld the car door shut for now.]
She repented inwardly.
“Miss Aililan, I really am sorry.”
“Could you please forgive my selfishness? Because right now, I truly feel unworthy of you. I hope you can wait a bit longer for me—wait until I become better, more beautiful. I hope that one day, my talent and knowledge will make you look at me in a new light.”
By then.
She would open the welded car door once more.
And boldly, confidently,
Pursue the love of the Saintess.