Chapter 1511: Chapter 943: Theresa’s Dream (Final)
Theresa kept running... running...
She didn’t know where she wanted to go; she only knew she wanted to escape from this place.
Even staying here for a second seemed to bring back the night when the revolutionaries breached the Imperial Palace.
The girl kept running... running...
When she stopped, gasping for air, she had unconsciously reached the highest tower in the Imperial Palace.
It was her favorite place to stay when she was young, hiding in the tower’s attic to cry whenever she was sad.
Every time, it was her aged grandmother, Maria II, who would eventually find her in the attic, gently stroking her head and comforting her not to cry, to be strong.
Her grandmother was a competent Empress, but also a kind grandmother.
But now, everything was gone.
Grandmother was gone, home was gone, even her identity was lost.
She could only live incognito, waking up from sleep countless nights, dreaming of the night the country was lost.
No hatred.
After traveling with her teacher, she came to realize that the fall of Holy Maniya was inevitable.
However, she didn’t know how to face the hatred of the angry populace.
She didn’t know what kind of trial she would face if her identity was made public.
The girl hid in the attic, curled up, and cried incessantly.
Fear, confusion, sadness...
All these emotions intertwined, making her want to escape from this world.
"Don’t cry... with red eyes, you’re not as pretty."
Her grandmother’s kind voice came, causing Theresa to slightly tremble.
A handkerchief came into view.
She slowly raised her head, seeing her grandmother holding the handkerchief, looking at her curiously and nervously.
Theresa was in a daze for a moment; her grandmother’s figure disappeared, replaced by an old woman.
Judging by the clothing, she seemed to be a commoner.
Seeing the girl raise her head, the old woman smiled kindly and said:
"Child, when you’re sad, just think of something happy."
Theresa blankly looked at the old woman, hesitated for several seconds, and finally reached out her hand.
At this moment, she was reminded of her grandmother.
"Thank you..."
The girl choked out.
The texture of the handkerchief wasn’t good, with patches on it, but it was washed very clean.
Theresa wiped her eyes, hesitated for a moment, and said:
"Thank you, I’ll wash it before returning it to you..."
After speaking, she silently chanted a spell and cast a cleaning spell.
Seeing the glow of the Magic, the old woman’s gaze had a hint of nostalgia:
"Cleaning Magic... it’s so nostalgic."
Theresa was slightly taken aback:
"You... are also a Mage?"
She didn’t sense any fluctuation of Magic Power in the old woman.
"No, I’m just an ordinary person."
The old woman shook her head.
"Then how do you recognize the cleaning spell?"
Theresa was a bit curious.
This old woman reminded her of her grandmother, and the trepidation within her had unknowingly dissipated a lot, replaced by wonder.
"Daughter... my daughter was, she often used cleaning spells to help me with the cleaning."
The old woman said, her smile filled with pride.
Theresa was dazed for a moment, slowly nodding.
The old woman said no more, standing quietly by the window of the tower, looking out.
The sunlight cast on her hunched back, projecting a thin shadow on the ground.
Following her gaze, Theresa saw the distant view of the Imperial Palace, and farther away, the intersecting streets and districts.
Here, she could overlook all of Mania, also her favorite place to gaze into the distance as a child.
Prosperous, peaceful, wealthy.
"Isn’t the scenery beautiful?"
Noticing Theresa’s gaze, the old woman smiled and asked.
Theresa nodded.
Beautiful.
Of course, it’s beautiful.
Her favorite thing since childhood was the scenery here.
"I also think it’s beautiful..."
The old woman sighed.
Theresa’s heart was stirred:
"Are you... a tourist too?"
"Yes, I’m old and can’t walk much, it took quite an effort to climb up here."
The old woman patted her back, self-deprecatingly.
"Alone? Where’s your daughter?"
Theresa was a bit puzzled.
The old woman was silent.
Just when Theresa thought she might have said something wrong, the old woman spoke again:
"She’s gone."
"Gone?"
Theresa’s eyes widened.
The old woman nodded, sighing:
"Almost ten years now... During the Great Revolution, she joined the resistance, and when attacking Dorolia Castle, she died. Until her last moment, she was still holding the banner of revolution high..."
As she spoke, the old woman looked at Theresa and smiled:
"Seeing you, I thought of her. If she were still alive, she might also be as skilled as you are now. Your cleaning spell seems far superior to hers."
Listening to the old woman’s words, Theresa was slightly shaken.
At that moment, she seemed to return once more to that terrifying night, only this time, alongside the fear, was a strong sense of guilt.
"I... I’m sorry..."
The girl lowered her head.
The old woman smiled and said:
"What are you apologizing for? I’ve long since let it go."
Having said that, the old woman looked out the window again, sighing:
"The Lord Priest of the Life Church said once, revolution... always involves sacrifice. It is through the efforts of countless martyrs that today’s peace and happiness were achieved..."
"I am proud of my daughter."
Hearing the old woman’s words, Theresa’s gaze was quite complex.
