After being forced to step down, the once-annoying nun eloped with me.

"The only thing we can do is get them to increase their investment in the north...sigh."

At this point, Theresa could only sigh helplessly, leaning back on the comfortable sofa to relieve the pressure on her shoulders from her heavy heart. She gestured to Finn and said, "Can't we let the ancient tree of the elves stand up and fight the Ice Calamity?"

Finn just stared at Theresa's chest with dead fish eyes for a while before shaking her head:

"No. Theresa, how long do you think trees can withstand extreme low temperatures? Even metals become brittle in the cold, let alone living trees."

Our oak trees, though capable of approaching the Ice Calamity, would absolutely freeze to death before even engaging it in combat... And don't spout any nonsense like "charge in and fight while it's burning," you yourself wouldn't actually let your soldiers perish, let alone our ancient elven trees.

"Sigh... we can't count on the oaks either. But to be honest... it seems like we really can't find any weapons to fight the Ice Calamity right now, can we? Apart from the immobile Colossus... how did we even manage to drive it north back then?"

"Go ask about Bayer Zans' war machines."

"Ah, but we can't replicate it right now, can we?"

"...Ugh."

Theresa, now known as Baselisa, has worked hard for a long time and is no longer the naive girl who thought, "We can achieve our goal as long as we work harder."

Just like in bed, what can't be done is simply impossible—although Bayer Gems currently preserves a large number of past research blueprints and technical books, frankly speaking, no one at Bayer Gems can replicate the massive war machines of the past.

After all, knowledge cannot be monetized in a short time. Even if that knowledge were given to the people of Eden, they still wouldn't be able to comprehend the exact structure of Bayer Zans' war machines...

Thinking of this, Theresa simply slumped onto the table and sighed.

"After all, who knows what those [resistance armor] and [gear mechanisms] were all about in the past... We have the technical books and blueprints, but we don't understand the materials... What can we do?"

Perhaps Elena could help us if she were here, but they're still in the Roman Demon Realm, and we don't know when they'll be back. Even if they do, the construction time for these war machines is a problem...

Even according to historical records, war machines capable of combating the Ice Calamity required at least two years to build... What could I do?

"So now is not the time to be affectionate. Besides, he's not here, so please don't try to be affectionate with me."

Seeing Theresa's dejected appearance, Finn simply shrugged, ruthlessly rejecting Theresa's attempts to charm her, while also hearing a knock at the door.

Knowing it couldn't be a maid coming to disturb her, Finn simply hummed softly and jumped off the chair. Ignoring Theresa's sigh and dejection, she opened the door herself.

"Sister Fen!"

"...I'm sorry, Your Majesties. Little Anna has been insisting on coming..."

Standing outside the door were Natalia and Anna, who had nothing to do. Unlike the utterly helpless Natalia, Anna, who was being led by the hand by her parents, seemed quite happy. While politely addressing Finn as "older sister" to win the elf's favor, she also glanced curiously at Her Majesty Theresa, who was slumped over the table looking bored.

Although she harbored resentment towards Her Majesty Theresa, the little princess already understood the principle that "politics is the art of compromise" and "allying with the enemy is the art of politics."

So, after rolling her eyes once, she broke free from Natalia's grasp, and amidst Finn's strange muttering, "Doesn't she hate Theresa?" and Natalia's sigh, the little princess went to Theresa, who was slumped over the table sighing—

"Aunt Teresa~ Here you go!"

Anna nudged Theresa's shoulder, and then, under Theresa's bewildered gaze, slipped an unopened candy into her palm.

"...Eh? Thank you, little Anna..."

Theresa blinked, feeling a surge of warmth in her heart – it wasn't easy, her rebellious child had finally accepted her as a mother, this was truly remarkable!

With tears welling in her eyes, she unwrapped the candy and popped the sweet, coarse pastry into her mouth, completely oblivious to the glint of cunning in little Anna's eyes...

Natalia, upon entering the office, could only sigh.

I really don't know what to say... Should I say that little Anna resembles the late emperor? Or should I say that she inherits more of the empress's bloodline?

To show such political talent at such a young age, I don't know whether to feel sorry for him or be proud of him.

The presiding judge muttered to himself, thinking that perhaps he should spend more time with Anna playing around... Just then, little Anna put her hand on the table and asked curiously what Aunt Teresa was dealing with.

In response, Theresa and Finn, who had returned to their seats, exchanged a glance and simply smiled, saying, "It's nothing for the children to worry about."

In response to Theresa's reply, the little princess simply puffed out her cheeks, then stood on tiptoe and curiously glanced at the documents on the table before saying in her childish voice:

"Why can't we ask Aunt Lalumia for her opinion? Aunt Teresa can contact Aunt Lalumia directly, can't she?"

Little Anna is one of the very few people in the United Nations who knows Lalumia's true identity. She is also the only child whom Yang Hao doesn't place high hopes on, but simply hopes that she will grow up safely and still be qualified to learn Lalumia's true identity.

Therefore, she was fully aware of the magical connection between Theresa and Lalumia, and knew that Theresa truly had the ability to indirectly inquire about Yang Hao's opinion through her link with Lalumia. Theresa and Finn had no need to worry about it themselves, so why not just ask?

Faced with Anna's curiosity, Aunt Theresa simply swallowed the candy in her mouth, shrugged at the nervous Natalia, then reached out and picked up little Anna, placing her on her lap before gently cradling her heavy chest behind Anna's head.

"Little Anna... if you want to become someone in power, a leader... you must listen carefully to what I'm about to say, okay?"

"Theresa spoke in an extremely serious tone," Anna said. Anna blinked, nodded slightly to indicate she understood and was paying close attention, and then she heard Aunt Theresa's reply:

"...If you want to become a person who stands tall and independent through your own abilities, if you want your people to live a better life, and if you want to achieve more..."

Therefore, you can't rely on other people's strength all the time. Do you understand?

Theresa gently stroked Anna's cheek, shrugged in response to Natalia's surprised gaze, and then, under Finn's understanding and approving look, continued:

"...Even if your father and I are husband and wife, that's still true."

If I had continued to rely on his contributions and his strength... then we definitely wouldn't have gotten to where we are today.

People love and respect me because I am their queen, and I will lead them to a better life—that's why they love me, they are willing to give their lives for me, and they are willing to become the cornerstone of the new world, simply because Yang Hao and I have the possibility of providing a better future.

But... that's not a reason for me to depend on him.

Because of Anna... this world isn't gentle enough to leave us facing only one dangerous situation at all times. We'll face many dangers simultaneously, and catastrophic events could fall upon us repeatedly at any moment... In such circumstances, no matter how powerful he is, he won't be able to handle everything. Just like now.

Perhaps he really can solve both problems at once.

But even the most upright man will eventually get tired, and even the most seemingly indestructible sky will eventually need someone to support it.

I don't want to be an insignificant flowerpot to him. I want to be responsible to my people. More importantly, the heavy responsibility I bear on my shoulders means I can never live a life like a decorative vase.

"...But, Aunt Theresa...doesn't this mean you're bound by people's pressure and responsibilities?"

"How could that be? This is the path I chose myself... how can you say I'm being 'bound'?"

The white-haired, gray-eyed empress subconsciously pursed her lips as she spoke.

Sometimes, Teresa would indeed fantasize about the past at night.

If I had truly abandoned Bayer Grindelwald back then...

If I had actually refused the flag bearer's request back then...

Will my life become happier?

It's obvious that it won't happen.

She refused a future where she would only be pampered by Yang Hao. The prospect of being pampered filled her with dread; the idea of ​​a relationship where she could only passively accept love without being able to reciprocate made her uneasy.

So... Theresa felt that she would ultimately choose to take this path.

Fortunately, Yang Hao was understanding.

The happiest thing is that he is willing to understand.

...The nun gently embraced the little princess in her arms.

This adorable baby is at the age where she is receiving moral education.

Theresa knew Yang Hao's expectations, and she also knew that the best choice was for little Anna to become a normal person again and live a normal life.

but.

Who knows if this is the happiest thing for little Anna?

"...So, little Anna."

"Yes..."

Theresa opened her mouth, hesitating whether to tell little Anna the weighty truth that even adults find incredibly difficult to grasp.

But after noticing that little Anna sat upright in his lap with a firm will, and that she was so well-behaved and serious that she didn't seem like a ten-year-old child anymore.

She smiled gently:

"...No matter what choices you make, you will have to bear the corresponding consequences and pressures, and you will be bound by them."

If you choose to be a normal rich girl, it means that you will be further and further away from us in the future, but for you, this is the easiest and most deserved future.

You can have the happiness of an ordinary person, and you will have the life pressures that an ordinary person should bear, but you will also be bound by the life of an ordinary person, and you may never be able to see your busy adoptive father again.

But at least, we will be the sky that will never collapse, we will support you and create a world of happiness for you throughout your life... and you will, like an ordinary person, gradually forget our existence in your happy daily life, and finally fall into a long sleep surrounded by your children and grandchildren.

This is the easiest future for you. Your adoptive father also hopes you can take this path... but that's not what I think.

...If you feel unhappy with that path, you can absolutely choose to become an independent and self-reliant woman and become the future empress, sharing the endless pressure with your adoptive father—just like Aunt Finn, Aunt Natalia, and I.

Don't become an ordinary child, don't become a woman who can only be loved but can't give. Begin to learn to shoulder the expectations of the people, begin to try to improve yourself, and finally begin to consider the future of the short-sighted people, playing the role of a balancer among the conflicted people, and ultimately leading them to a happier world.

Although this is a bit early for you... but as a child who is destined to become someone important, you... have no childhood to speak of.

This is one of the prices you pay to become empress. But it's only one of the prices.

By embarking on this path, you will have to give up many things in the future, whether willingly or unwillingly. Now you will have to give up the playfulness of childhood; in the future, you will have to give up the constant pampering you receive from us; and in the more distant future, you may even have to give up the right to shed tears.

Your shoulders will grow heavier and heavier. Because your decisions will not only affect yourself, but also your Aunt Natalia, us, and ultimately the future and survival of hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of people.

You will gain people's trust, but you will also be betrayed by your subordinates. Even in the future, we ourselves might become politicians who bully and betray you—this is not impossible. Because that's how it is at the center of power; no one can guarantee that we will be the aunties you know in the future.

You may doubt your ability to succeed. We can offer guidance, but ultimately, the choice to continue is yours. You will willingly shoulder layer upon layer of chains, you will willingly bear the pressure unseen by the public, and in the end...

Once you get through all of this... it doesn't matter whether you like it or not.

You will become an empress. Even if you feel unfamiliar with your future appearance, you will mature into a empress through pain. And once you become an empress... you will lose the power to choose to be ordinary.

So...Little Anna.

You don't need to give me an answer right now, but I hope you can think about it carefully, understand?

Is it to become an ordinary, happy child, and eventually live a peaceful life, but gradually drift away from us?

She must become an iron-willed and selfless empress, relying on her own abilities to become a leader recognized by us, bearing the pain and finally becoming the core of power in this country, while completely abandoning her identity as an ordinary person.

This is your future. Don't listen to your adoptive father's blind arrangements, because he feels he owes you too much and believes this is the happy ending you will absolutely accept.

You have to make your own choice... understand?

While there's still time.

Theresa stroked little Anna's hair. While little Anna was thinking, Theresa affectionately rubbed her cheek against her soft, smooth hair.

She knew that little Anna must have understood. Because little Anna was a bright child.

She knew that Yang Hao would be angry about this when he came back—but she also hoped that Yang Hao could understand her thoughts.

Anna is not a tool for Yang Hao to repay at will. Anna is a person. This lively and lovely child has the right to choose her own future.