Life has dealt a heavy hand to a weak demigod like me.

Sprinting might be a way to reduce contact with the ground and reduce pain, but under the continuous pain, it was too difficult for her to keep herself unaffected.

After running a few steps, she fell to the ground.

At that moment, she felt a pain as if her whole body was pierced. Under this pain, she could hardly get up again.

The extreme pain even made Theresa's will escape, and she became vaguely dull. In this state, she could not feel much pain, but she also lost her consciousness.

Where am I?

What to do

pain...

it hurts...

Get out of here...

Trivial thoughts flashed through her mind, but she was unable to move forward according to her own will.

She was not a warrior and did not have a strong will. For a long time, Theresa was just a young lady from a wealthy family who had not encountered many setbacks.

Even when the Kingdom of York encountered misfortune, she was well protected because of Charles and Doug.

Perhaps, she has the awareness to face everything.

But sometimes, mere awareness is not enough.

-

Chapter 317 Chapter 197 I also want to protect them...

Steam calendar year 1753, summer.

Moroston, a side hall of the royal palace.

"Hey, why did you ignore me just now? Do you look down on me?" A child dressed in expensive clothes looked down at Theresa, who had her head lowered and her gaze averted.

"I...I...just didn't hear..."

"Huh! Do you think I will believe it?" The child looked a little angry.

"You, like your arrogant father, are disregarding the honor of our Augustines family!"

"Today I will let you know that the honor of a noble cannot be tarnished."

As he spoke, the child waved his fists, ready to teach this "arrogant and rude" person a lesson.

But just as he rushed forward, just as Theresa was at a loss with tears in her eyes, a wine glass hit him on the head from a distance.

"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts..." The boy who was originally arrogant suddenly squatted on the ground, covering his head and crying.

"Tony, you are bullying others again." A dissatisfied voice came from the corner of the side hall.

Perozzi, who was about the same age as Theresa, came out.

"Who, who bullied her? She was arrogant and rude first!" Tony saw a trace of fear in Peroz's eyes as he held an unopened pure gold dagger used by children.

"Are you questioning what I saw and heard?" Peroz rushed towards him, waving the dagger in his hand.

In an instant, Tony didn't care about etiquette and ran out crawling.

“佩罗兹，你这个家伙我一定不会放过你的，我要...我要..我要让我爸爸去找你爸爸提亲，然后等你嫁给我后天天揍你！”

Hearing the other party's "harsh words", Peroz reached out and scratched his hair helplessly, "What an idiot."

Then she walked up to Theresa and said, "I remember... you are Uncle Doug's child."

"I've already driven him away. Don't be afraid."

"Actually, you don't have to be afraid of him even if I don't come. Tony looks tall and strong, but he hasn't exercised much. His strength might not be as great as yours."

Teresa was so frightened that she hugged Perozzi and sobbed for some reason after hearing his comfort.

Peroz was a little flustered for a moment, "Don't cry... If someone sees me, they'll think I'm bullying you..."

"I, I didn't want to..." Teresa said, unable to control her emotions. "You're such a coward... But never mind. It's my kindness that made you meet me. If any kids dare to bully you in the future, just tell me my name and I'll protect you," Peroz said confidently.

Protect me...

Theresa watched as Peroz hugged her tighter.

This wasn't the first time they met, but it didn't take long for them to truly become friends.

Steam calendar, 1760, spring.

Severus Manor.

"Are you ready?" Doug asked seriously, looking at Theresa who looked a little nervous at the moment.

Theresa couldn't help swallowing as she looked at the potion in front of her, which smelled like sewage and was mixed with some disgusting-looking substances.

"Don't be distracted!" Doug shouted.

Theresa quickly stood up and nodded.

"You haven't awakened our bloodline in your body, but compared to the bloodlines of other families, our bloodline isn't a very powerful force. It just allows us to be more flexible and relaxed when controlling our magical power."

"Compared to bloodline, the level of extraordinary characteristics and potions are the most important."

"As my daughter, I hope you can achieve success in this area."

Theresa nodded seriously, then picked up the cup of strange-looking potion and drank it.

A strange smell burst out of her along with a power she couldn't describe.

In an instant, she couldn't control her body and fell to the ground.

Doug reached out and held her steady, then sighed and carried her to the bed.

"It's just that I can barely bear a Sequence 9 potion..."

"Don't you have any talent for this?"

Doug's tone was regretful.

"It's okay, I will protect my sister." William, who was standing next to Doug, said seriously.

"That's all I can do..."

"But if it were you, you would definitely be able to protect your family like me." Doug looked at William with a little pride in his tone.

Protected by my brother?

Theresa, lying in bed, was not unconscious, but she just couldn't control her body.

But after hearing what his father and brother said, his will to fight against darkness slowly faded.

Steam Calendar, 1767, Summer.

Rocks Manor.

Looking at the busy Charles and the increasingly chaotic situation, Theresa began to wonder whether she could help her father and Charles Peroz.

"What's wrong? You seem a little unwell?" Charles reached out and pinched Theresa's cheek and asked with a smile.

"I just feel... it's kind of useless for me to help with everything..." Theresa looked a little depressed.

Charles put down his chopsticks.

"Don't say such things anymore. Even though you're lazy and greedy and seem to have nothing to do at home all day..." Before Charles could finish his words, Theresa pounced on him with her teeth bared.

Ciel lifted her into his arms, smoothing her hair as he spoke seriously, "But it is precisely because of your existence, because of the people we need to protect and fight for, that I, your father, and everyone else can unleash our greatest strength."

"Don't think too much. I will protect you."

Ciel's smile dispelled some of her thoughts.

Compared to most people, Theresa feels that she is very lucky.

With a wealthy family background, he dotes on his family, friends and loved ones.

From childhood to adulthood, she seemed to have no need to struggle or work hard for anything.

She really enjoys the protection of her friends, family and lovers.

But can you really enjoy everything with peace of mind?

Is she really only able to silently stand behind them and be protected by them?

Are you willing?

Theresa felt a little shaken.

Am I really willing to continue like this, unable to help at all and only relying on their protection, or even watching them get hurt because of me, but I can't do anything?

How could I be willing?

How could she be willing?

She has always been protected, and she also wants to protect others...

so...

Even if there is only the slightest chance, she will seize it as long as there is such a chance.

Theresa slowly got up from the ground.

pain...

It hurts...

So annoying...

I have to face it all by myself, without the ability to ask others for help like before.

It’s so annoying... You’ve already decided to enjoy all the conveniences at ease, so why do you have to get up again?

So annoying...

In such an environment, I can't think of any way to solve the problem.

Theresa's body trembled, either from pain or... excitement! ?

yes...

Now I have nothing to rely on.

so...

She wants to be someone who can be relied upon by others.

Does it hurt?

It hurts!

The piercing pain caused cold sweat to break out on her forehead.

But for her at this moment, pain is nothing. Compared to standing still and continuing to enjoy the convenience of being protected by others, she would rather overcome all obstacles and endure all the pain to become a force that can protect... and help them.

I don’t know how much time passed, or how many steps I took.

When Theresa took another difficult step, all the pain disappeared.

"Did I pass?" She murmured softly, looking around blankly.

But the next moment, she suddenly felt darkness in front of her eyes... No, it should be said that she fell into a void.

My eyes are clearly open, but I can't see anything. I have limbs, but I can't touch my body.

Or even if you touch it, you can't feel it.

She could take steps forward, but she couldn't tell the direction, and couldn't even tell whether she was moving forward or backward.

This empty sense of alienation is not complete darkness, but a kind of... a kind of... when you open both eyes and cover one eye, what the covered eye "sees" or perceives.

For a moment, Theresa was a little overwhelmed.

She tried hard to overcome the discomfort and continued to walk forward.

But the further she moved forward, the more uneasy she felt inside.

sink?

rise?

go ahead?