Chapter 53: A Flood of Memories and a Stolen Kiss

“What?”

Hearing Bai Yu’s words, Cecilia’s eyes snapped open.

In that instant, her brain was inundated with a torrent of information, threatening to shatter her consciousness.

A tremendous agony surged through her entire body, and for a moment, she felt the world splintering into fragments, her own form disintegrating along with it.

Yet, she uttered no cry, merely clutching her head, her brow furrowed in pain.

“What’s wrong, Cecilia!”

Witnessing Cecilia’s distress, Bai Yu immediately grew anxious, supporting her shoulders to prevent her from collapsing.

“Your Highness…”

Cecilia’s eyes were wide, but no sound escaped her lips.

Before her, only the silver-haired girl looked on anxiously, seemingly speaking, though no words registered.

She could hear nothing but the chaotic surge of memories in her mind.

The girl’s image before her gradually blurred, and Cecilia’s eyelids involuntarily fluttered shut.

In that moment, the girl’s figure seemed to overlap with several others, her clothing shifting constantly.

There were uniforms she didn’t recognize, the princess dresses she frequently saw, and even a fleeting glimpse of a dark silhouette.

Though it was only a momentary shadow, Cecilia recognized what appeared to be a young man.

‘Your Highness?’

Cecilia couldn’t comprehend why she would associate Bai Yu with this young man, yet an instinct told her she was missing some crucial memories.

The young man’s shadow vanished as quickly as it appeared, as if it held no significance, its presence utterly negligible.

Finally, before Cecilia, Bai Yu’s figure grew even more diminutive, as though returning to the very first time they had met.

That was the moment she had been truly bestowed with the honor of a knight, vowing to forever protect her princess.

She approached the girl, solemnly kissing the back of her hand.

The girl still possessed long silver hair, but her more petite form gave her face a hint of baby fat.

The girl gazed at her with eyes of the purest innocence, untainted by any blemish; Cecilia swore to protect the girl who held such a gaze.

She saw it again: a life born in another world, destined for an inescapable fate.

Her mother’s death, her own suffering, ultimately led her to flee her family and seek refuge in a distant land.

“What, exactly, are these?”

Cecilia snapped back to reality, the visions instantly vanishing, leaving only Bai Yu before her, ceaselessly calling her name.

She felt her entire worldview crumbling; could the world she had lived in since childhood be a fabrication?

Or were these unknown memories the false ones? What truly were these visions?

If so, then everything she had done, every promise she had made to Your Highness, would it not all be a lie, a cruel jest?

She simply could not accept it; no matter what, she could not believe it.

“Cecilia…”

Bai Yu watched Cecilia with profound worry; though she wished for Cecilia to regain her memories swiftly, she recoiled at the thought of Cecilia enduring such evident pain.

“Moweila, what on earth is happening?”

Bai Yu questioned Moweila in her mind, for it was Moweila who had told her that calling Cecilia’s name could restore her memories, given that Cecilia was the only one other than Moweila to enter this dream world.

Furthermore, Cecilia shared an immense connection with Bai Yu.

[It’s likely she’s been inundated with too many false memories, causing a discrepancy in her understanding of dreams versus reality.]

“What does that mean?”

Bai Yu scratched her head, unable to grasp Moweila’s explanation.

[Alas, it means she can no longer distinguish between falsehood and reality. It seems that Outer God has burdened her with many memories that aren’t hers.]

“Then what can we do?”

Bai Yu’s concern finally solidified. If Cecilia couldn’t distinguish reality, how could that be acceptable? No wonder she kept calling her ‘Your Highness’.

“I don’t know. This situation can probably only be resolved by you… or by her alone.”

Moweila fell silent, acknowledging that this was a predicament beyond her ability to change.

“Your Highness, you have always been real, haven’t you?”

Cecilia’s voice trembled slightly, sounding as though she was immersed in a vortex of conflicting memories.

“Mm…”

Bai Yu was at a loss for words, only able to nod repeatedly.

“Your Highness.”

Cecilia gazed intently at Bai Yu, her face drawing closer and closer until they were almost touching.

“So, Your Highness, do you still remember our promise from when we were children?”

Cecilia looked at Bai Yu with expectant eyes, her hands tightly gripping Bai Yu’s small ones.

“This…”

Bai Yu was momentarily speechless; what could she say? She knew nothing of it.

Seeing the hopeful plea in Cecilia’s expression, Bai Yu felt too awkward to lie, so she simply lowered her head, unable to meet Cecilia’s gaze.

Observing Bai Yu’s silent bowed head, Cecilia seemed to understand something.

“I see, Your Highness.”

Cecilia cupped Bai Yu’s face, gently lifting her head to look into her own eyes.

Bai Yu was drawn forward by Cecilia until their faces were almost pressed together.

Before Bai Yu could utter a word, Cecilia’s lips met hers.

The sudden warmth made Bai Yu’s eyes widen; she could barely comprehend the situation, her mind feeling feverish, almost smoking.

As time stretched on, Cecilia did not release Bai Yu, and the two remained locked in an embrace, feeling each other’s warmth.

Amidst the warmth, a wave of drowsiness swept over Bai Yu, compelling her to close her eyes.

Cecilia, however, narrowed her eyes slightly, which were filled with adoration and longing for Bai Yu.

****

In the darkness, Bai Yu felt as if a long time had passed.

She didn’t know where she was, only that she was constantly groping through the gloom, ultimately becoming lost within it.

***

Early morning, sunlight streamed onto the girl’s face on the bed, causing her to blink involuntarily, her silver cowlick swaying gently.

“Ugh…”

The girl on the bed tossed over, but still couldn’t escape the dazzling glare.

“Hmph… Next time, I must remember to close the curtains before bed.”

Bai Yu sat up with a start, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

‘I think I had a very long dream just now, but I can’t remember it again.’

‘What day is it today?’

Bai Yu sat on the bed, deep in thought.

“Oh! Today, I think I’m supposed to attend some banquet with Mother!”

She thought carefully; yesterday, when Mother told her about it, she hadn’t listened at all, preoccupied with what pudding to eat that night.

“I’d better hurry, or Mother will be displeased.”

Bai Yu pouted helplessly; she utterly detested attending banquets, filled as they were with unknown people chattering incessantly.

If she had to pick the best thing about a banquet, she still thought the cake was the most delicious.

Bai Yu had the maid waiting outside help her change into her clothes, then, with a sullen expression, she went to find Mother.

She also didn’t forget to offer Mother a stiff smile, for she was still quite afraid when Mother lost her temper.