Volume 1 Chapter 150.2

Volume 1 + Chapter 150.2: It’s All Self-Inflicted

Without the slightest hesitation, as if memories had been awakened, the password was entered smoothly. It was a combination she had long known by heart, requiring almost no thought, her fingers typed it in naturally.

With a soft “click,” the lock’s protective mechanism was finally undone, emitting a slightly rusty sound, as if years of silence had been abruptly broken.

The lid of the box creaked open slightly, revealing the secrets within.

Vivian’s heart was filled with doubt and curiosity. She hadn’t expected such precious things to be hidden inside this dilapidated box.

The decay on the outside of the box and the intact state inside formed a stark contrast, as if they were two completely different worlds.

Although the box’s exterior was damaged, the inside remained remarkably well-preserved, as if meticulously protected by magic.

She gently moved aside the stacked clothes. First to catch her eye were several silk dresses, each folded neatly, the fabric light as a feather, soft as clouds.

These dresses didn’t appear lavish, yet they carried an elegant demeanor, seeming anything but ordinary.

Vivian casually picked up one, carefully feeling the texture of the dress.

This seemingly simple dress made her unable to help but widen her eyes. Though it lacked excessive decoration, its simple lines and subdued color scheme gave her a strange sense of attraction.

Vivian scrutinized the dress, an odd feeling involuntarily welling up in her heart. She couldn’t help but reach out to touch the soft fabric. Her fingertips gently traced it, as if she could feel the hidden memories within.

The design of the dress was simple, yet it exuded a noble sense of elegance. And what surprised her most was that the size clearly matched her figure from two years ago.

She clearly remembered that she had just become the Saintess back then, with a slim figure and a slender waist, clothes tailored at that time suited her best.

As the Saintess, Vivian’s clothes were always privately tailored, enough to fill hundreds of wardrobes, each precisely fitting her body requirements.

She was quite sensitive about her figure, especially regarding the sizing of custom-made clothes, she could spot an ill-fitting garment at a glance.

Unexpectedly, this dress was exactly the same as her figure from two years ago, without any discrepancy, as if it were tailor-made for her.

Vivian’s heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and a flicker of doubt and shock appeared on her face—who had prepared this dress for her?

A wave of shock swept through Vivian’s heart. The dress before her not only matched her figure from two years ago, but it also made her think of Eve involuntarily. No one else could remember her body measurements so precisely, even her exclusive clothing designer sometimes made minor mistakes in details.

Eve, however, never made a mistake. Every piece of clothing fit perfectly, as if tailor-made for her.

As Vivian continued rummaging through the box, the questions and astonishment in her heart grew heavier.

Almost every dress was made stitch by stitch by Eve. Starting from the year Eve left her, until she turned eighteen, there was one for each year.

The fabric, design, and even details of each dress seemed to tell of Eve’s meticulous care, as if she had never left her side.

Vivian’s fingertips touched these dresses, and a complex emotion surged in her heart.

Eve had obviously put great thought into preparing these for her. Yet, that deep affection also felt like a sharp blade piercing her heart, leaving her inner self unable to find peace.

Vivian held the exquisite dress, waves of bitterness washing over her heart. She couldn’t help but marvel, even the Empire’s top clothing designer couldn’t achieve Eve’s level of precise understanding of her figure.

Without a ruler, without actual measurements, relying solely on years of observing and memorizing her figure, Eve had managed to deduce the size of each dress so perfectly.

Every dress, whether in fabric choice or style design, appeared so novel and unique, without the slightest hint of being outdated. On the contrary, they seemed more modern than many high-end fashions, even more exquisite than those made by the Empire’s most famous designers.

Holding that dress, the emotions that suddenly surged to Vivian’s heart could no longer be contained. She lowered her head, warm tears silently sliding down, quietly dripping onto the soft fabric of the dress, as if Eve’s care was once again gently enveloping her.

Her tears quietly fell on the dress, not only a remembrance of the past, but also a silent response to that warm care.

But the next second, as if remembering something, she hurriedly reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, seemingly afraid her tears would stain the dress in her arms.

And the box didn’t only contain clothes. There were also several of Vivian’s once-favorite pastries, the kind that could be stored for a long time, carefully wrapped in dry oil paper and neatly arranged in a small compartment.

Vivian stood there quietly, looking at those long-expired pastries, a strange sense of loss filling her heart.

Although these pastries were still relatively intact, two years had made them no longer suitable for consumption. The stale smell they emitted reminded her that the wonderful times of the past had passed with time, becoming untouchable.

She sighed softly, feeling somewhat regretful—those pastries represented Eve’s former thoughtfulness and care, yet now she had missed the chance to enjoy them.

She began to blame herself. Why hadn’t she returned here earlier? Everything was still here, so why had she always ignored it? Why had she even let the Church dispose of this courtyard at a low price back then?

Over the years, Vivian had never thought of returning to this place.

Whenever she thought of it, her heart was always filled with unbearable, painful memories.

But now, standing here and seeing all this, a strangely warm emotion welled up in her heart. So these memories weren’t as heavy as she once believed, on the contrary, they were all moments of past happiness.

Vivian stood still, her heart beating increasingly fast. The faint sounds growing clearer in her ears seemed like someone was walking slowly towards the courtyard gate. She was suddenly startled, the vigilance in her heart making her immediately feel uneasy.

Instinctively, her hand tightly grasped the edge of the box, wanting to immediately take it and flee this place. But she knew very well that the box’s weight far exceeded her ability to carry it.

It was heavy, seemingly having an irresistible weight. Even with all the urgency in her heart, her body couldn’t keep up with her thoughts.

In that instant, Vivian realized she was in an extremely unfavorable position. If discovered, she would not only lose face but might also invite unnecessary trouble. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

To avoid being found, she quickly put the box back in its place, swiftly darting to the corner of the courtyard and hiding in the shadows. She held her breath, her heart pounding like thunder, afraid the slightest movement would expose her hiding spot.

“Phew, it’s finally cleaned up. Now we just need to take these things to the dump.”

Leah’s voice was clear and carried a trace of relief. Looking at the mountain of clutter before her, she didn’t seem to find it troublesome, on the contrary, she was full of motivation.

She adjusted her sleeves, her expression composed, as if she considered these tedious chores a pleasant pastime.

“Thank you, Sister Mira, for helping me clean.”

Although covered in dirt, Leah’s innocent little face beamed with a bright smile, as if all the fatigue and discomfort couldn’t conceal the joy in her heart.

Mira smiled and shook her head, saying softly, “It’s nothing, just a small favor.”

Hidden in the darkness, Vivian’s gaze was fixed on Leah, but an indescribable emotion surged in her heart.

She had originally only known that the house had been bought, but she hadn’t expected it to be Leah—this dirty little girl before her—who had purchased this place that once belonged to her.

Vivian couldn’t help but feel her heart tighten. That strange sense of loss and imbalance surged up, as if something had been ruthlessly taken away.

She gently bit her lower lip, restraining her complex emotions, silently watching everything.

After all, Leah’s mother was lost and found again, while her own mother would never return… There was always an illusion that her own mother had actually been taken by Leah, which made her feel very displeased.

But she was powerless. Everything, all the past, was what she herself had personally abandoned. She had left here so decisively back then, abandoned this time that once brought her warmth and laughter, and now she lingered here again, unable to turn back. The guilt and remorse in her heart surged like a tide, almost suffocating her.

She couldn’t blame anyone, because everything was the result of her own choices.

“Leah, how was this box opened?”

Mira’s voice interrupted Vivian’s thoughts. Her gaze turned to the box. The familiar box was now open, the dresses inside piled somewhat messily, as if someone had rummaged through it.

“It really is.”

Leah also noticed the box and squatted down to examine it carefully. Her face was full of curiosity. “There are dresses inside. How come there are so many beautiful dresses?”

She touched the silk-like fabrics in amazement, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Mira looked down at those exquisite dresses one by one, but felt somewhat puzzled: “Why are these sizes all somewhat different? It seems like they were made for different people…”

Her brows slightly furrowed. Her gaze lingered on the dresses for a while, some questions also arising in her heart.

“But they’re not my size. They’re beautiful, but I can’t wear them.”

Leah said somewhat regretfully.

“Anyway, dresses picked up can’t be worn casually, right? But they are indeed beautiful.”

Mira said with a smile.

At this moment, Vivian, hiding in the dark and observing, felt her heart leap to her throat, afraid that these dresses would be taken away by them.