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

But Theresa is Theresa after all, and the merciful devil has never disappeared, even if she is affected by the dream, but before she truly resonates with the madness bred in the final paranoia, or experiences a heart-wrenching tragedy like the one in the dream.

She will still be the gentle, loving princess with unrealistic ideals.

will not change.

Therefore, this thought only lasted for a brief moment.

And the eyes that had once been dull now had a bright look again, and a smile of envy and a faint blessing appeared on her face.

There was also a bit more helplessness in my heart.

What? How could I have such thoughts about this child’s childhood sweetheart?

Sure enough, the influence of the dream and memory was too great...

Theresa thought a little distressedly, calming down her fluctuating emotions, and finally stopped being silent after listening to Arturo's praise of Icarus for a long time.

"...I see. He really is an impeccable child."

"I hope that you can continue to support each other in the future as you have in the past, and continue to forge ahead on this land."

Theresa's gentle tone contained a silent blessing.

And a fleeting apology.

She apologized for the mean thought that had flashed through her mind earlier.

After all, it is better than robbing others of their beauty and destroying their warm happiness.

Theresa wanted to grow beautiful flowers on the barren wasteland with her own hands, and bring warmth and hope into the dark night.

She decided that what she needed to think about was not how miserable her childhood was.

Instead, he should think about how to make the misery of his childhood disappear forever in this land called Kazdel.

Likewise, Theresa clearly understood that she should not think about how to take Ekaros away from Arturo.

She could see that Arturo's attachment and affection for Icarus went beyond that of ordinary friends.

Therefore, Theresa, who also deeply loves the Archduke, would not want Arturo to bear the same amount of pain as she did when she lost the Archduke.

She was even willing to bless Arturo and Icarus, the black and white angels from Lateran.

Of course...the premise is that Ikaros really has nothing to do with the Grand Duke that he is attached to.

Otherwise, Theresa knew that neither she nor the twisted feelings in her heart that clearly did not belong to her would allow her to lose the pure white Grand Duke who should belong to her alone again...

Even if it means stealing someone else's love and destroying their happiness.

As long as it is confirmed that Ikaros is the Grand Duke.

Then Theresa would not be hindered by her own gentleness.

There will never be any hesitation...

Chapter 172 Theresa: To date someone, you have to conquer her best friend first, right Tutu?

"You really are as gentle and kind as the rumors say, Your Highness Theresa."

Everyone likes to hear nice words, and Arturo is not the kind of person who likes flattery, but in the face of Theresa's temporary and sincere blessings and recognition of Icarus.

Arturo still felt the joy and pride from the bottom of his heart.

After all, it was his childhood sweetheart who was recognized by the Demon King due to his own efforts. What's wrong with Arturo being a little proud? !

"Haha, you are also a very interesting person, Miss Arturo. I wonder if you would mind telling me more about the past between you and Miss Icarus? I am still very curious about your past as you are such a perfect match."

Theresa also smiled at the happy girl in front of her and suggested this.

In fact, she just wanted to know about Ikaros, but that would be too purposeful and too straightforward, so Theresa changed her way of saying it and successfully prevented Arturo from suspecting anything new.

"That's no problem, of course."

As mentioned earlier, Arturo has always been willing to share his past with Ekalos with others.

Not to mention that she was actually quite interested in the Demon Lady in front of her, and even wanted to compose a piece of music specifically for her.

Good communication is the basis of all this.

Afterwards, after receiving an affirmative answer from Arturo, Theresa and Arturo began to communicate more detailed stories about the past of Ekalos and Arturo like ordinary friends.

They had a very pleasant conversation, as if they were close friends who had met too late.

In the kitchen, Ikaros' face was already blushing as he listened to the two people's appreciation and boasting about his personality, interpersonal relationships, clothing taste, etc.

Because of him, Arturo's exaggerated description of himself through his natural filter and Theresa's unthinking but serious appreciation and praise formed a concerted effort that really touched the threshold of Ikaros's sense of shame.

Ikaros wouldn't care if others talked about her.

After all, outsiders are always outsiders. In Rutland's school, there are many people who like her, discuss her, praise her, and there are even many male and female Sakotas who confess their love to her.

But Icarus never cared. Even when someone painted the entire teaching building with confession patterns under the cover of night to express his love for her, and recited the confession written to herself in the radio station, Icarus would always be by Arturo's side, with a calm smile on her face, facing all kinds of looks from her classmates, and waited calmly for the matter to be dealt with by the teacher and the school.

Then he continued his and Arturo's daily lives.

But this time, both Arturo and Theresa were actually completely regarded as his own people in Ikaros' subconscious mind.

Therefore, the girl's sense of shame naturally rises as well.

Even after washing the dishes, he did not dare to leave his kitchen. After all, people were discussing how good he was. At first, it was okay. Not only did he not have a bad feeling, but he felt secretly happy. People all like to hear good things, and Ekalos is no exception.

But after saying too many nice things and exaggerating them, Ikaros began to feel a little bored.

"What should I do... I have to think of a way to stop Arturo from saying this. It's so embarrassing. I was never so good before..."

I listened to Arturo's description of how he had mastered music theory at the age of ten and achieved level 10 in piano at the age of twelve, and Theresa's gentle voice that came out of compliance.

Ikaros, whose face had turned red with shame, leaned against a corner of the kitchen where he could not be seen, one hand nervously grasping the clothes in front of his chest, and he was no longer as calm and gentle as before.

Like a simple and shy little girl.

You have to know that she relied entirely on her Originium skills to make her instructor feel that she was qualified. In fact, Ikaros only reached the tenth level of piano at the age of fourteen.

Therefore, when these old events were mentioned, Ikaros would naturally startle like a cat whose tail was caught, and then be overwhelmed by the shame that came over him.

However, Ekalos thought hard for a long time but couldn't think of any good way to proactively stop the two people from communicating about this matter.

Unless you take the blame yourself.

But that would make him seem guilty. Ekalos still had an idea of ​​his current condition.

Fortunately, Ikaros didn't have to stay in the kitchen in a dilemma for too long.

Because Arturo was talking animatedly and Theresa was listening with pleasure.

The door of Ikaros' room was knocked again, and Ikaros realized that this was an opportunity he could seize. He rushed to the door from the kitchen at lightning speed. It seemed natural, but in fact his legs were almost leaving an afterimage. After seeing who was coming, he quickly opened the door.

With that usual gentle and warm figure, he spoke slowly:

"Welcome back, Mama Luciana."

Then Ikaros looked at the amber eyes of the little Sarkaz girl next to Luciana who was looking at him expectantly.

"... and Little W."

"Welcome to my room."

The shame in his heart dissipated a lot after he saw his stepmother and the temporarily adopted W.

After all, his mother and Little W are here, so the conversation between Arturo and Theresa about himself should not continue.

"Well, I went to investigate a lot of things in the Tower of Babel. You know, Ekaros, this is really an interesting place. Then there are these notes from my communication with His Highness. There may be some sensitive content in them. When I have sorted them out in the future, I may have to trouble you again. Please."

Luciana noticed the slight blush on her daughter's face, but after smelling the lingering aroma of food in the air, she did not think much about it. Instead, she excitedly shared with Ikaros what she had discovered on the Tower of Babel. At the same time, she handed the small notebook in her arms to Ikaros, and the smile on her face was a little apologetic.

Ikaros took the small notebook that Luciana handed over first. After confirming that there was no sensitive content such as "future war plans", "palace secrets", or "succession disputes", he lowered the notebook back, gave her a gentle smile, and nodded.

"Sure, this time everything in Luciana Mama's notebook is not a problem. You've made progress, Luciana Mama."

Pinching the two corners of the notebook with both hands, she tilted her head and smiled as she handed the notebook back to Luciana. Although, logically speaking, Ikaros's movements and height made her look like a child showing off her grades to her mother.

But with the blessing of Ikaros's temperament and tone, this scene seems more like a loli mother feeling relieved that her naughty child has finally grown up.

It's just...it's weird.

However, both Arturo and Luciana have become accustomed to this strangeness.

Only Theresa and Little W beside her could not understand the contrast in the scene before them.

"Um... Miss Arturo." Looking at this scene, Theresa couldn't help but speak.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Miss Theresa? Is there a problem?"

Arturo withdrew his gaze from the door as if he was used to it, took a sip of the juice prepared by Ikaros, and was ready to help his "best friend" solve the problem at any time.

Theresa looked at the scene at the door where the identities of mother and daughter seemed to have been reversed. She took a deep breath, suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and asked, "That is, has the way Ms. Luciana and Ikaros interacted always been like that?"

"Yeah, what's wrong, Ms. Theresa, do you think there is any problem?" Arturo admitted it openly. People might feel ashamed after being asked this question, but Arturo just felt that his Ekalos was really amazing and his mother was so proud.

In addition, since he was no longer surprised by this, Arturo's answers even seemed justified.

This made Theresa feel a little unconfident, and she wondered if she was making a big fuss out of nothing.

Maybe... this kind of family structure is really prevalent in Rutland in recent years?

Arturo seemed to have seen the confusion in Theresa's expression. In order to prevent Theresa from thinking wrongly, he continued to explain:

"But don't get me wrong, Miss Theresa. The situation between Ikaros and my mother is probably a special one."

"In the past, my mother was actually quite reliable. In the beginning, she had always taken good care of Ikaros, whom she brought home from the battlefield. It was not until Ikaros got over his emotional problems and my mother began to pursue her own dreams that their relationship gradually became what it is now."

Recalling the gentle mother who was serious and responsible back then, and then looking at the Luciana who has become more lively after releasing her true nature.

Arturo said it was impossible for her not to feel sad, but she was at least half responsible for her mother's current condition, so she couldn't say much.

"I see. But Miss Ikaros was actually picked up by Ms. Luciana from the battlefield and brought to Lateran? That's really surprising."

After hearing this, Theresa's strange thoughts disappeared, but she was also surprised by Ikaros' experience.

After all, there is no trace of Ikaros's presence on the battlefield today.

Moreover, to be honest, Theresa is now a little disappointed in her heart.

Although different environments can change a person and have a great impact on his or her growth.

But the current Icarus is really very different from his Grand Duke, especially after seeing the scene in front of him, combined with what Arturo had told him before about Icarus' daily life.

Although Theresa could feel a hint of familiarity from Ikaros.

But Ikaros was still far from being the Grand Duke.

Therefore, Theresa couldn't help but become curious about Ikaros's experience when he was brought back to Lateran from the battlefield.

Perhaps from this past, I can guess whether Ekalos is really related to the Archduke?

While thinking in her heart, Theresa asked Arturo with a smile:

"By the way, Miss Ekaros really doesn't show any trace of war at all now."

"I don't know what Miss Ikaros looked like when she was brought back to Lateran by Ms. Luciana from the battlefield. I guess... Miss Ikaros must have been very pitiful at that time."

It seemed like a casual sigh, but in fact, Theresa's amber eyes had been secretly looking at the black-haired Sakta beside her, and she was silently thinking about something in her heart.

Arturo faced Theresa's tentative questioning and sighing. Because they had a very pleasant conversation before, her eyes were now focused on Ekalos, who was touching Little W's head and communicating with him.

There is no intention to hide anything.

Those past events had long been abandoned and forgotten by Ikaros, and even Ikaros himself would occasionally joke about her past.

Therefore, since Theresa wanted to know this information, and Arturo was still young and didn't know the evil of human nature because of Ikaros' protection, he naturally didn't mind telling Theresa a thing or two.

"Yeah... Ikaros was really like a little hedgehog back then." Arturo sighed softly, his eyes flashing with memories of the past, and he said slowly:

"I remember it was a rainy night when Ikaros first came to our house..."

Telling stories of the past that have been buried by time.

Arturo seemed to have returned to the past, to the day when he first met Ekalos.

It was pouring rain under the dusty sky. His father was restless because of his mother's departure. He himself fell into a whirlpool of mixed emotions because of the special empathy brought by his Originium skills. He could only find a moment of peace in the endless music performance.

The kitchen had not been used for a long time, and the living room was gradually covered with dust because no one took care of it. Although the once warm family portrait seemed complete, it seemed to be shattered with the sudden appearance of thunder.