"Um... about those memories you mentioned,"
"Everything that's happened since you first boarded the train, I know all of it," Theresia said.
"Then... what about before?" Tian An was still primarily concerned about the memories of her previous life; after all, there were many memories she herself couldn't recall clearly.
"Does Little Tian An want me to know? The stories of your previous world?"
"You know about that too?!"
"Me? I'm omniscient, you know~" Theresia adopted the tone of a certain cat.
"I...." Honestly, Tian An hesitated. It wasn't that she didn't trust Theresia; on the contrary, she trusted Theresia too much.
Those memories....
Being seen hugging a life-sized figure to sleep, nearly getting the police called...
Buying Theresia merchandise only to receive a defective product, yet only daring to type out counter-arguments against the seller's unreasonable behavior...
Accidentally waking up her roommate by talking in her sleep and then being grilled about who Theresia was...
She believed Theresia wouldn't say anything if she knew, but Tian An herself would mind!
And then there was that crappy life from before.... forget it.
"If Theresia wants to look, then go ahead," Tian An had given up on herself, melting into a puddle.
"It seems you haven't quite made up your own mind yet. No rush, I'll wait for your answer." Theresia understood psychology all too well, no... she was naturally gifted in psychology.
"Little Tian An, aren't you going to introduce this world?" From the beginning until now, Theresia hadn't shown any surprise about not being in her original world, as if everything was already expected.
"Uh... before answering that, could Theresia answer a question for me first?"
"Of course." As Theresia's gentle voice sounded, Tian An found her consciousness arriving upon a void-like ocean. She stood on the surface of the water, yet didn't sink.
"Here." A nimble hand patted Tian An's head, then pinched her cheek.
Tian An turned her head excitedly and saw Theresia standing behind her in her original form, smiling at her.
A soft light emanated from her body, her pure white dress seeming to soothe the heart as it drifted with the invisible air.
Tian An stared, captivated. She gazed into Theresia's beautiful eyes and simply stopped moving.
"Little Tian An? Tian An?" Only when Theresia waved a hand did she snap back from her daze.
"Hm? I'm here."
"So, what did Little Tian An want to ask?" Theresia placed her hands characteristically in front of her abdomen. If one looked closely, they could actually see that the black rings she originally wore on her fingers were gone.
"Theresia.... have you found the answers you were looking for?" Tian An asked tactfully.
"Mm... I found them. I found all the answers." Theresia's reply was exceptionally quick. Faced with such a question, she seemed to hold no hesitation.
"I imagine you've already received your answer as well, haven't you?" Theresia was well aware of the implications of such a question; rather, it was a question she herself had resolved.
Tian An had indeed received her answer. The Highness before her was the one who had already reached her own grand finale.
Presumably, she had also seen that Amiya in the white dress.
But.... why did Theresia's body and soul seem to originate from different points in time?
One was from the time of the Babel assassination, the other was from the plot that emotionally devastated everyone last year (not really).
Rub... rub, rub rub...
Could it really be a time paradox?
Pinch... pinch, pinch pinch.
The Theresia before her was leaning down, gently rubbing and pinching Tian An's cheeks back and forth with her hands.
"Mmph.... Mmph? Mmph?" Tian An only then realized she had zoned out again.
"Little Tian An really likes to space out, doesn't she?" Theresia squinted her eyes, stroking Tian An's head as if petting a cat.
"I didn't..." Tian An was about to refute when she heard someone calling her.
"Theresia! Come out, meeting time!"
It was March 7th's voice, calling for Tian An.
"Go on." Theresia didn't give any instructions, just gave her a gentle push, and Tian An's consciousness returned to reality.
"Oh! Coming!" Tian An glanced back at the doll, then opened the door and ran out.
"Theresia, we've been calling you for ages! We thought you fell asleep," March 7th said with a hint of complaint.
"My bad." Tian An proactively went over and patted March 7th's head, catching March somewhat off guard.
Tian An was in a great mood right now; you could probably slap her twice and she'd compliment you on how loud it was.
"What's wrong with Star?" Tian An asked curiously, seeing Star squatting in a corner, drawing circles.
"Her? She was saying Theresia and I teamed up to trick her into sleeping with me, and then I sorted her out," March 7th said with her hands on her hips.
"Everyone!" Just as March 7th finished speaking, Star suddenly teleported onto the sofa.
"No wearing shoes on the sofa, Pom!" Pom-Pom jumped up and down, shouting angrily.
"Actually, I don't like you guys."
"Huh?"
"I've never felt happy being a Nameless trailblazer."
"..."
Star spoke with righteous conviction while putting on an expression of complete indifference.
"I think you've been pulling too many stunts lately, you're starting to believe your own act," March 7th retorted.
"Alright, Star, stop clowning around for now. We have actual business to discuss. Besides, if you keep stepping on it like that, the Conductor is going to be unhappy, you know," Himeko walked over, holding a steaming cup of coffee, with Welt following behind her.
"Okay~" Star, who had been giving a speech just moments ago, instantly sat down乖巧地 on the sofa.
"Theresia is here too, so we can begin," Himeko confirmed everyone was present, then spoke to Pom-Pom.
"Fine, seeing as it's your first time on the train, this Conductor will forgive you for now." Pom-Pom put the small broom in his hand aside.
"Passenger Himeko, we're about to make the jump."
"Mm, that's why I gathered everyone, to explain the situation," Himeko put down her coffee cup and said slowly.
"I remember the upcoming route should pass by Jarilo-VI. It's been so long, I wonder how that planet is doing," Himeko said, as if remembering something.
It got frozen over.
Tian An answered silently in her heart.
"How did Little Tian An know?"
"Whoa, Theresia, you're still here?" Tian An was startled internally.
"I am always here."
Theresia replied.
"So, everyone, please prepare yourselves. While the warp jump isn't dangerous, caution is still necessary," Welt also sat down on the sofa.
"I need to go back to my room and organize the data bank," Dan Heng said with his arms crossed.
"I want to sleep...." Star was already wilting on the sofa, her voice weak and listless.
Right, after experiencing so much without rest, even a Little Stellaron Spirit would...
"Without Theresia's embrace, I feel so tired...."
I take back what I just thought.
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Life is a performance, and every day is a live broadcast.