Chapter 1512: Chapter 943: Theresa’s Dream (Finale) (2)
She lowered her head, clenched her hands tightly, her lips pressed firmly together...
Silence.
A long silence.
"I’m sorry..."
A moment later, Theresa repeated in a low voice.
"Child, it’s okay, you have no need to apologize."
The old woman shook her head.
Theresa bit her lip and also shook her head:
"No... I must apologize..."
As she spoke, she raised her head and looked at the old woman, apprehension gradually turning into determination:
"I am Theresa, Theresa von Trass..."
"I was once the Empress Theresa II of the empire..."
After finishing this sentence, the girl seemed to have used up all her strength, and as if finally revealing the secret she had kept buried in her heart, her whole body relaxed instantly.
What followed, however, was tension, infinite tension, as she lowered her head, curling up again, ready to face the wrath of the old woman.
But the imagined anger did not come.
Instead, there was an old, rough, but very warm hand.
Gently placed on the girl’s head.
"I know."
The old woman’s calm voice came from above.
Theresa was stunned.
She raised her head to look at the old woman, only to find her gazing gently at her.
"I recognized you the first time I saw you; I once saw you from afar during your coronation..."
"I don’t have much power, but for a very long time, I have never forgotten a face I have seen, even though ten years have passed, you haven’t changed much except for growing taller..."
"So... I recognized you long ago."
Eye of True Vision!
Looking into the old woman’s eyes that were as deep as the starry sky, a name flashed through Theresa’s mind.
It was a gift that appeared extremely rarely, often among those with mythical bloodlines.
Maniya City was once the place with the most descendants of myths, though the probability was slim, it wasn’t impossible.
"You... don’t you hate me?"
She couldn’t resist asking.
The old woman shook her head, sighing:
"It’s all in the past, though I lost my daughter, didn’t you also lose everything?"
As she spoke, the old woman lamented:
"Empress Maria II was a good ruler, tirelessly fighting for the rights of us commoners during her reign, it was well-known fact, yet the power of the nobles and the church was too immense..."
"As for you, ten years ago you were only thirteen or fourteen years old, and were also stripped of power by the nobles, even if I resented anyone, it should be those nobles..."
After hearing the old woman’s words, Theresa was slightly shaken.
She looked up, eyes filled with disbelief:
"But... but... I heard..."
"Heard that after the great revolution all the blame was placed on the royal family and the Royalist Party’s nobles, right?"
The old woman smiled.
She gently sighed:
"It was just the conspiracies of some ambitious individuals and leftover nobles, to divert the public’s anger."
"As early as three years ago, the Life Church published many archives from the end of the empire, revealing the ugliness of the nobles and at the same time letting us commoners understand that the Trass royal family was not so contemptible as rumored."
"Besides, you lost everything as well, even if there were grievances, they were already settled a long time ago."
At this, the old woman smiled:
"Now, we are all just members of the Maniya Republic."
Theresa stared blankly at the old woman.
Gradually, tears filled her eyes.
"Could I... truly be forgiven?"
She choked out.
"Of course, no one harbors resentment against you, I don’t, no one does, the past is past, what we need to focus on is the future..."
The old woman said gently.
As she spoke, she lightly patted the girl’s back:
"Child, you are no longer Theresa II."
Upon hearing her words, Theresa’s body trembled.
She finally couldn’t hold back any longer and cried in the old woman’s embrace.
Heart-wrenching, just like the night the kingdom fell while she was nestled in her teacher’s arms.
But that time was the sorrow of a nation’s fall, this time, it was a complete farewell to a past filled with guilt and fear.
Even the shadow that the Legendary Mage Daniel couldn’t dispel for the girl, at this moment, finally shattered.
...
When Theresa left the tower, it was already evening.
The number of tourists in the Imperial Palace had decreased significantly, and they wandered around, observing everything with curiosity and excitement.
No one noticed the young girl; they brushed past her without even turning their heads.
At that moment, Theresa finally realized that perhaps all this time... she had been the one to put shackles on herself...
"Feeling better?"
A familiar voice came from behind.
Theresa’s heart stirred as she turned around, seeing Feng smiling at her.
Her gaze was somewhat complicated.
"You... you always knew?"
the girl asked.
"Of course, the only one who couldn’t move forward was you."
Feng smiled.
As she spoke, she waved her hand gently:
"See the true expressions of everyone when they know your identity!"
With Feng’s gesture, Theresa felt a gentle power flow into her mind.
At the same time, when she faced the noble guide and was recognized, the eyes of those tourists flashed in the girl’s mind once again...
No resentment, no hostility, only curiosity and excitement.
Just like seeing something rare.
Further away, two wealthy merchants held magic cameras, eager to come over for a photo.
Theresa’s eyes widened in disbelief.
These details, she had been so anxious back then that she hadn’t noticed.
"Oh, Theresa, here’s your ID card, I’ve had someone handle it for you, it’s a resident card of the Maniya Republic."
Feng smiled as she handed over a Magic Crystal Card.
Theresa hesitated for a while but eventually accepted it.
Yes...
It’s all over.
The Empire had faded into the dust of history with the wave of revolution, and past grievances had dissipated with the changes of the world.
People bid farewell to the past, let go of hatred, and embraced a beautiful future.
And she, too, should step out of the shackles of fate and mind, to face a brand-new tomorrow.
Taking a deep breath, the girl gripped the Magic Crystal Card tightly.
Her gaze showed a hint of relief, finally... gradually becoming firm again.
"Lady Feng."
"Hmm?"
"Could you tell me more about the Life Church and the aftermath of the Great Revolution?"
"You’ve figured it out?"
"Yes... I need to revive myself, to face tomorrow with a more uplifting posture, to face the dreams in my heart..."
"Dreams? So... you’ve already found them?"
"No... Lady Feng, my dreams have always been there, they have never changed."
As she spoke, the girl looked into the distance, her gaze firm:
"And that’s to bring happiness to the people..."
"But you are no longer the Empress."
Feng smiled.
Theresa also laughed.
This time, however, it was a carefree laugh:
"I know... But, what does that matter? Being a puppet Empress was just a shackle; by letting everything go, I have gained freedom. This time, I will strive not as the Empress but as a commoner to work towards my dreams, and even as a commoner, there is much I can do... Don’t forget, I’m a Mage! A genius Mage!"
"Then, I’ll be waiting with anticipation."
Feng said with a smile.
The golden sunset scattered, casting their shadows long and far...
The girl’s gaze was bright like never before.
Suddenly, an excited voice came from afar:
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
It was Felix, a fallen court noble.
He was panting heavily, drenched in sweat, his face full of excitement:
"Your Majesty! I finally see you!"
Theresa withdrew her gaze.
Her eyes fell on Felix.
No anxiety, no anger.
She merely smiled gently, shook her head, and said:
"No, sir."
"Theresa II is dead, I’m a citizen of the Maniya Republic, you can call me Lady Theresa."
