I'm on the Ark, and I start out as Gretchen.

W then stared at Gretchen, who had already woken up, opening her mouth several times as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent...

"Hey, what's wrong?"

Seeing W looking somewhat insecure after her rebuke, Gretsch asked a question with a hint of doubt in her eyes, as if she already knew the answer.

"...Do you remember what just happened?"

Looking at Gretchen's innocent face, W paused for a moment, organized her thoughts, and then asked in a calm tone.

As for why it was "as much as possible," it's because W almost unconsciously curled her lips into a sarcastic smile just now.

"???)? Is Da Bu Liu talking about the time you pinched me just now?" After hearing W's question, Gretchen touched her jaw, which still had a red mark on it, with a puzzled look on her face.

"..."

Looking at Gretchen's innocent face, W suddenly became speechless again. At the same time, her hand subconsciously went to her chin, as if to cover it.

She didn't even need to look to know that there were definitely a few red marks on her jaw, or even some bruises... After all, the little girl's strength was really great.

"Hmm...? Never mind, Daburu, you can't bully me again next time, I'll really get angry, and the Knights will be very angry too..." Gretsch looked at the silent W, tilted her head and said seriously.

The little girl naturally noticed W's actions and the mess she had made on her face, but... having already vented her anger, she decided to stop there for now.

"……it is good."

Seeing Gretchen, who was completely different from before and now innocent and adorable, W didn't choose to be stubborn and nodded in agreement.

The little girl's reaction almost confirmed W's suspicion that she had two personalities...

Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to explain what just happened.

"So, is there anything else you want to know, Da Bu Liu? Like I said before, I'll tell you if I know the answer..."

Greta looked at W, who was now completely subdued in the face of her personality, and asked with a quick smile in her big eyes.

Upon hearing this, W remained silent for a moment before lowering her head and asking in a barely audible voice:

“Um, little… Gretchen, I’d like to know, is what I see in your paintings an illusion?”

This was the first time W hadn't addressed Gretsch as "little guy," a term often used in a provocative and teasing way.

"Well……"

Although W spoke very softly this time, Gretchen, who was sitting next to her, heard it very clearly and fell into deep thought.

This is a difficult question for the little girl to answer... because everyone uses different colors, so the effect of her paintings is different. Some are actually depictions of the future, while others are merely nightmares...

Normally, if someone sees only inner fear in Gretchen's paintings, she can still offer some comfort by telling them it's all fake.

but……

"..."

Thinking it over, Gretchen slowly raised her head, looking intently at W, or rather, at the unique color behind her...

A deep, dark red tinged with a faint warm yellow was slowly reflected in the little girl's beautiful, sparkling purple eyes.

Long before, Gretchen had secretly marveled at the uniqueness of the color W... but at that time, she only thought that warm color was someone's hidden softness in their heart.

But now, the little girl has a different feeling and understanding.

"Ok?"

Looking at Gretchen, who hadn't answered her question but instead suddenly looked at her with a serious expression, a hint of confusion and bewilderment flashed across W's face.

Not only W, but also Ines and Hadley, who had been watching Gretsch since she first "awakened," tensed up again upon seeing her inexplicable actions.

After all, who can be sure that the previous situation won't happen again?

Under W's inexplicable and questioning gaze, Gretchen slowly came to her senses, then looked earnestly into her golden eyes and said:

"Not necessarily... Da Bu Liu, your color is special. It's a warm color, like someone is protecting you."

"..."

W fell completely silent. She had just asked Gretsch this question because she still harbored a sliver of hope, not entirely believing what the previous "Gretsch" had said…

But now, the little girl's words completely extinguished any sliver of hope she had, as her face grew paler and paler.

"I should have known..."

At that moment, she slowly covered her chest with one hand and lowered her head, making it impossible to see her expression.

'I've always been here...'

The princess's gentle words seemed to echo in her ears once more...

“???)?”

Seeing W suddenly become completely withdrawn, Gretchen was slightly taken aback, a hint of confusion and helplessness flashing in her eyes.

.

Did she say anything hurtful just now?

After thinking it over and over again without coming up with a solution, the little girl could only conclude that she might have misled him too much before.

P.S.: I don't want to write anymore, it's really hard to describe and control... I'll try to finish Xiaoshi as soon as possible. Another all-nighter... I haven't even washed up yet.

Give it a push.

Chapter 107 w: Hmph, Your Highness is truly cunning.

"..."

After calming herself down a bit, a hint of helplessness flashed in Gretchen's eyes as she looked at W...

Then, the little girl suddenly stood up, stepped forward, opened her arms, and gently hugged the girl who was withdrawn.

Gretchen's sudden action silenced Ines, who was about to say something, and made her stop moving.

Even Hadley raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression showing some surprise. It really wasn't his fault; that "Gresch" from earlier had left a very deep impression on him.

This makes him feel somewhat unaccustomed to seeing this innocent and kind little girl now.

Finally, the two looked at each other, stood up in unison, and left the campfire.

As they left, they also temporarily dispersed the other mercenaries in the vicinity.

However, Ines and Hedley didn't stray too far. While making room for W, they also kept an eye on the situation and ensured her safety.

"..."

Faced with the sudden hug, W trembled slightly, but did not respond, remaining immersed in her own emotions.

"What is Da Bu Liu sad about?"

group: 543659389

Gretchen didn't mind W's silence. Instead, she reached out her small hand and gently stroked W's silver hair, asking in a soft voice.

"..."

But this time, W still didn't respond to Gretchen. Because she had gotten used to it, used to keeping everything to herself... used to not confiding in anyone.

Furthermore, W doesn't like to expose her vulnerable side to others...

"Don't be so sad, Da Bu Liu. If you keep acting like this, the people who are protecting you will also be sad." Facing W, who still didn't react, a hint of helplessness and guilt flashed in Gretchen's eyes. Then she comforted him in a different way.

It can only be said that the little girl didn't expect... this operation to be so effective, leaving the person feeling somewhat guilty.

"...?"

This time, W finally made a move. She lowered her hand, slowly raised her head, and gazed at Grey's exquisite face so close to hers, and at those eyes that seemed to hold a galaxy of stars.

W suddenly didn't quite understand what the little girl had just said. "Wasn't the painting already destroyed by her?"

Finally, she remembered Gretchen's last words... and then a deeply hidden hope flashed in her golden eyes.

"Um……???)?"

Gretchen was initially caught off guard by W's action, but after noticing the confusion in her eyes, she also became puzzled.

To be honest, I've been struggling to keep up with the little girl's thoughts ever since she started acting withdrawn.

"Exactly, what you just said was also..."

Looking at Gretchen, who was still holding him with a puzzled expression, W explained softly in a calm tone and hoarse voice.

She was now completely at a loss for words when facing Gretchen, not only because she was somewhat afraid of the person from before, but also because... this little guy in front of her might actually be able to turn things around.

"So that's what you were talking about... That person must really like you, Da Bu Liu, and has been protecting you all along. He even changed your color." Upon hearing this, Gretchen paused for a moment, then glanced behind W again before explaining.

At that moment, the little girl belatedly realized that she seemed to understand why she hadn't been able to keep up with W's thoughts earlier. It seemed she had misunderstood something from the very beginning…

"...But didn't I destroy the painting?"

After hearing Gretchen's explanation, W paused for a moment, then asked in a slightly hoarse voice.

Having heard Gretsch's words and with Gretsch's confirmation, she thought Theresa had vanished forever along with her as she destroyed the painting...

But now, after hearing Gretchen say this, she suddenly realized... it wasn't as she had thought before.

“???)”

With W's question raised, Gretchen's earlier guess was completely confirmed. Indeed, there had been a misunderstanding...

But thinking about it carefully, the little girl felt that she couldn't blame W, after all, what she said before was also very vague in order to trick people... It's not hard to understand why she was misunderstood.

“No, that’s not it. Although my paintings do possess magic… they can’t create such a magical bond. That bond is… unique to you, Daburu…” Gretchen’s expression became serious as she said this.

Honestly, this was the first time the little girl had ever seen anything like this. Although she didn't know if it was unique to her, it didn't stop her from marveling at the princess's power.

"I might see him again..."

After hearing Gretchen's explanation, W instinctively asked a question... but she fell silent after only saying half of it, and then stared blankly into the eyes of the person in front of her.

Because at that moment, W saw... in Gretchen's beautiful purple eyes, she saw her own reflection and a warm color that was incongruous with her own yet felt very familiar.

She understood what it was almost without thinking...

"Hmph~ Your Highness is truly..."

"How cunning!"

With a barely audible groan, W slowly closed her eyes and lowered her head again... letting herself nestled in Gretchen's arms.

However, unlike before, a faint smile appeared on the corners of her mouth again.