I was raised in the simulator, and I’m really not a bad woman in Ark!

[Thérèse and Trésis, who were far away in Kazdel, were confused at first when they received such excellent equipment and supplies, but as more and more supplies were transported in an orderly manner, and they learned that these supplies came from Londinium and Victoria, they seemed to understand something, and after looking at each other, they continued to fight in the land of Kazdel.]

It seems that divergence three is the correct choice, but if it continues like this, will it end directly in a happy ending?

That way Theresa won't become a villain, and I'm afraid the reward for my first simulation will have to be sent along with it, right?

Sigh… This is a difficult situation, but Victoria was really interesting before. The nobles were so greedy that they fought with Gaul for more than a hundred years. Should we say that Terra’s excellent matching mechanism is worthy of it? I guess Gaul is not much better, right?

But what does that have to do with me now? Oh well... never mind, I can only hope that there will be a twist later that will make my first simulation reward look better.

Lying on the bed and watching the simulation content, although Ikaros thought so in her heart, in fact, the slightly raised corners of her mouth betrayed the girl's true thoughts that she was very satisfied with the current simulation results.

But the next moment, the faint smile on Ikaros's lips froze.

The simulation on the virtual panel continued to advance, bringing a turning point in the story.

[However, all this peace only lasted for two short years. ]

Ah, this is... a real twist? Come on, I'm just kidding, it's okay to end like this...

Looking at the sudden turn given by the system, Ikaros blinked his big watery eyes, feeling a little regretful for his casual complaint just now.

She actually believes in a happy ending and doesn't like tragedy, whether in her past life or this life.

But the simulation will not withdraw the deduced plot because of the girl's thoughts.

Chapter 1: The painting that belongs to the girl alone (5/)

[Even though you don't intend to take more benefits. ]

[But because you have always wanted to help Theresa and Theresis more. ]

[The military industry you run has performed too well in order to increase production capacity, and the products of the factory are too cheap and easy to use, which has led to you gradually becoming the most preferred supplier of the Victorian military in the past two years.]

[It even has a vague monopoly on the new steam armor industry. ]

[This touched upon the fundamental interests of many of the Grand Dukes, causing them to gradually unite without your knowledge.]

[In addition, with the sudden rise of the siblings Theresa and Theresis in recent years, they have gradually brought order to the chaotic Kazdel, and their forces have become increasingly powerful. The siblings have gradually gained a certain reputation and become one of the most likely candidates to rule the capital of Kazdel. ]

[Your behavior of shipping out "defective products" and secretly transporting steam armor, which no one cared about before, has gradually been exposed to the vision of some people. ]

[Those dukes coveted your military industry, so after noticing these things, they united without saying a word and exposed all your actions when you absolutely did not expect it.]

[They jointly wrote to the cabinet, using the excuse that they were aiding the enemy Kazdel separatist forces and fearing that it would be detrimental to Victoria, and revealed these things to the common people of Victoria.]

[Before you could use the intelligence and information you had to fight back, you were invaded by the bribed Royal Guards and taken directly to the Victoria Grand Court.]

[The whole process was smooth and flowing, just as fast as the division of your military industry. It was obviously premeditated.]

[In fact, you had anticipated what happened today when you first researched and promoted steam-powered armor a year ago, and you also prepared a backup plan, but it all happened too fast.]

[Or to be more precise, you were too concerned about the situation in Kazdel, and the illusion that they had not made any trouble for a long time had given you a lot of trouble, so you neglected to be on guard against these nobles...]

[You didn't expect that these old guys would unite to attack you, and you didn't expect that the Royal Guards, who usually move as slowly as snails, would act so quickly.]

[Even public opinion was mobilized by them.]

[You actually miscalculated. Apparently, because of your affection for Theresa, you overlooked the people's hatred for the Sarkaz, and also overlooked the importance of steam-powered mechas to Victoria.]

[So you were defeated and were stuffed into the empty courtroom by the Royal Guards to await trial the next day.]

[But you are not afraid, nor are you terrified. After all, you know that you have given Theresa and the others enough weapons, so even if you cannot deliver those supplies in the future, it doesn’t matter.]

[You believe that they have gone through the most difficult times, but the only pity is that you think you will be hanged tomorrow.]

[This makes you feel a little bit unwilling that you didn’t see the end of the game. 】

[However, what surprised you was that King Aslan took the initiative to come here to see you when dusk was approaching.]

[He came at dusk, wearing a heavy and luxurious crown, a combination of armor and court dress, and a head of short silver hair like a lion's mane, indicating his identity as the King of Aslan.]

[He frankly told you the plans of the Grand Duke to harm you, and expressed his willingness to protect you if you join the Aslan Royal Family. He also implicitly stated that Victoria would send troops to Kazdel next year under the leadership of a certain person to destroy their capital, and hoped that you would stop making fruitless investments in Kazdel.]

【King Aslan's words are sincere.】

[You can also see his sincerity and his undisguised admiration for you. ]

[But you don't like him, or maybe the disaster Aslan brought to your family made you discriminate against any Aslan equally.]

[Although you are grateful for his many-sided loosening of restrictions on your family, you also know that the man in front of you has made an indelible contribution to your smooth involvement in the military field and the successful transportation of so many supplies to Kazdel.]

[But your feelings for him are limited to this. You can be friends, but only friends. ]

[But in fact, it is also a point for you to break through. Perhaps you can use it a little to overcome the difficulties in front of you. ]

[Looking at King Aslan in front of you, you think and decide...]

[Disagreement 1: Be subservient to others for the time being, and use this Aslan to achieve your goal after overcoming the difficulties.]

[Disagreement 2: Show your own position, express your thoughts, and maintain your last dignity and pride as the Duke of Manchester.]

Two options, but still very important points of disagreement.

Ikaros looked at the options and began to analyze the situation in his mind.

After a brief hesitation, I chose Divergence 2.

There is nothing much to say. Ikaros would never choose disagreement 1. She doesn't want to be bullied, even if it's just a fake marriage in name only.

Although simulation is just simulation, reality is reality.

But Ikaros' heart rejects differences.

Ikaros would never betray her childhood sweetheart, and she also believed that the 'self' in the simulation would support her choice.

However, this time after making her choice, she did not choose to load the first-person perspective, but instead looked at the simulator panel and planned to browse the next simulation at the speed of light.

[You chose to express your attitude and thoughts to the King of Victoria. ]

[After all, you have more or less accepted him as your friend. You have very few friends, but even for the friends you do accept, you don’t bother to treat them with lies or falsehood.]

[Aslan was silent, but in the end he laughed up to the sky, and when he was tired of laughing, he nodded to you, and asked with a sigh, a little nostalgic, and a little unwilling: "Well... since we are friends, I vaguely remember that you didn't remember my name last time, so what about now? Do you remember my name, Manchester senior sister?"]

[You were a little confused about why he asked you this, but finally nodded and looked at him calmly and said: "Charles Henry Vincent."]

[This is the first time you said King Aslan's name, and when you said it, for some reason you saw relief in King Aslan's eyes.]

[He talked to you about many things, and finally left a bottle of sealed Originium solution before leaving. He said to you in a complicated tone:

"Since we are friends, I can help you one last time, Senior Sister. Take this solution during the trial tomorrow. Even though it means you will die in the end, it is better than dying in court tomorrow.

After all, you have unfinished business, right?

Huh——, actually, senior sister, if you choose to deceive me, maybe I can still bring you into the palace, foolishly think that I have won, and use the power of the royal family to protect you.

But unfortunately, you are just my friend after all...

And this time, too many people want you dead, including the citizens. That steam mobile armor has also touched too many people's hearts, so... I'm sorry, I can't help you much.

But if you are willing to believe me, then drink it in court tomorrow, and then I will have the Tower Knight throw you out of Victoria.

I can ensure that the final glory of the Manchester family will not be tarnished by others, but this also means that you will never be able to return to Victoria in the future..."]

[His tone was serious but also a bit helpless and exhausted. You could tell that he really had no other choice, and you didn't want to be inferior to others, so you thanked Henry for giving you a second choice and accepted the bottle of solution.]

[Although drinking this concentration of Originium solution is no less than suicide, compared to absolute death, this choice is not bad. ]

[If you die, then you have protected Manchester's last dignity. If you are not dead, you may still try to find Theresa and Tracy in Kazdel, see what they look like now, and give them the belated coming-of-age gift you originally prepared for them.]

【Seeing you accept the Originium solution without hesitation, Henry finally asked you again with a slightly bitter tone, like an old lion who had used up his last bit of strength, "Ha... Why, why would you rather gamble than choose me, Senior..."

"Do you... really like Sarkaz that much?"】

[Hearing Henry's unwilling words, you sorted out your complicated feelings and looked at the clear amber source stone solution in your hand under the dusk light. In a trance, you seemed to see the amber eyes of Theresa in your memory through it.]

【Through these beautiful eyes, you recalled your past with Theresa, the time you lived together. You recalled your first meeting, hugs, teachings, warmth and separation...

It also reminds you of your lonely and empty self in the past, and of Theresa, who seemed like another you but ended up bringing color back to your world.

Unconsciously, as if you had figured something out, a gentle smile appeared on your face that you had never seen before, like the glimmer of light from a melting glacier, like the breeze blowing through the willow branches in April.

【At this moment, you feel that you have probably figured it out. 】

[Actually... you've thought about this a lot over the years, but after failing to stop Theresa from leaving, you no longer viewed Theresa as a mere slave.]

[So when you think back on the past three years together, you realize some feelings and thoughts that you were unwilling to realize before.]

[And now, you have completely figured everything out and can now face and even talk about the things you used to think were false, cowardly, and rubbish without Theresa being around.]

[So, you slowly opened your mouth, with memories of the past and a hint of gentleness flashing through your eyes...]

[“Perhaps, it’s because she looks like me in the past.”

"Although at the beginning, I simply wanted to possess her, to force her to become like me, but as we got along, I found that we were indeed similar, but also completely different."

"She can hide in the shadows because of me, but her final destination will only be the brightly lit hall. She can disguise herself for her loved ones, but she will never forget her original appearance. It is she who makes me see again what I once had and what I longed for.

It showed me what it might be like if I hadn’t lost my parents, or lost my trust in others.”

"So I guess that's probably why I like her a little bit.

And my pride will not allow me to commit myself to anyone else except her."】

[You spoke softly, like a child sharing the most precious secret in your heart, gently shaking the small bottle filled with Originium solution, letting the refracted light spread all over your body, your long legs folded together, with a gentle and nostalgic smile.

The wind outside the window gently blew your silver hair, ruffling it on your face, and your soft light golden eyes in this empty and gorgeous courtroom drew a picture that King Aslan would never forget, but would never be able to touch. 】

Chapter 2 Let's end this, Theresa... (5/)

[Your smile at this moment is deeply imprinted in King Aslan's heart. ]

[But after coming back to his senses from your beauty, he only felt a deep sense of failure and dejection.]

[Although he was the owner of one of the most powerful countries in the world, there was no doubt that he lost to a Sarkaz girl.]

[Your smile from the heart is really beautiful, with the unique elegance of a Victorian aristocratic girl and gentleness. You are free and easy and show your true love for the person you miss.]

[But King Aslan knew that this smile did not belong to him, so he lost, completely lost...]

[Finally, Aslan's king left in despair. His back looked like a lion that had lost a fight among its tribes, looking dejected, powerless, and dejected.]

[You didn't say much when you saw this, but just watched him leave, and then quietly spent your last night in Victoria under the starlight shining through the glass at night.]

[On the next day, as in the deal with King Aslan, before the final judge pronounces your guilt, you will drink this bottle of concentrated Originium solution in front of the astonished eyes of the onlookers, judges and people from all walks of life.]

[The hot and thick solution flows down your throat into your body, and the agitated Originium particles quickly begin to erode your organs and body.]

[You can emotionally feel the Originium crystals spreading in your throat and stomach. You try your best to guide these Originium particles to spread to other places to ensure that your body will not crystallize immediately, so as to prolong your last life.]

[But this also consumed your mental energy greatly. At the last moment before you collapsed to the ground and fainted in sweat, you saw Henry. He looked at you with a complicated expression, just like when he left last night. Finally, your mind fell into darkness.]

[When you wake up again, you find that your throat has begun to crystallize, your stomach and the surrounding area have become the hardest hit by crystallization, and other organs inside your body have also shown a tendency to crystallize.]

[Even if you have the blood of Draco deep in your veins to resist the erosion of Originium, death is already approaching you. ]

[But there is not no good news. At least King Aslan kept his promise and drove you out of Victoria's land against all odds. He also left you with enough money to support your journey to Kazdel while driving you out of your coma.]

[Although... this funding was not originally included in your agreement.]

【But as you opened the purse, you saw a note inside, saying 'This is the best help from a friend. '】

【You are also relieved. 】

[Then you thanked him in your heart and set out on the road to Kazdel from the border of Victoria.]

[Along the way, thanks to your deepening infection, your Originium skills have also been continuously enhanced. ]

[Your perception of Theresa is countless times clearer than before. At the beginning, you could only vaguely sense Theresa's presence, but now, you can accurately locate the area where Theresa is, and because you often delivered supplies to Theresa and her group, you also know where their base is.]

[But at the same time, because your body is becoming more infected, you have to take more time to rest, plan your route to avoid more contact with the Originium, and use the most primitive method of bloodletting to rely on luck to curb the wild growth of the Originium crystals in your body. ]

[This caused your journey to be greatly slowed down. In addition, due to the war in Kazdel, no caravan was willing to go to Kazdel this time. As a result, you did not have sufficient funds and could only buy a skinny pack animal to move forward with difficulty. ]

[In many cases, you even have to walk with pack animals in order to carry supplies through the wilderness.]