"No, Elysia, you have to listen to me. My surname is the same as his. He has me in his heart."
"Yes, yes, Ah Hua, I know. Your surname is the same as his, happy now?"
"Elysia... you're really... I just think I should go find him."
"Oh dear, I already told you, now isn't the time! My dear Ah Hua, just be a little more patient~ Be good♪"
Uh... what are they doing?
Mei froze, watching the pink-haired woman push another woman named 'Ah Hua' out the door.
Without a doubt, the woman doing the pushing was the Elysia from the business card. The one being pushed out was, in all likelihood, one of her clients.
But what kind of professional psychologist pushes her own clients out the door?
Then again... judging by their interaction, they don't seem like an ordinary client and therapist. They seem more like friends?
Right, that would make more sense. After all, Kiana was the one who recommended this place; she wouldn't set her up.
After reassuring herself, Mei took a soft breath and stepped forward, interrupting them with a hint of awkwardness.
"Um... hello, excuse me. Are you Miss Elysia?"
Hearing the voice, the two women who had been pushing and pulling both stopped. When Elysia saw Mei, her eyes lit up.
"Hmph, that's right. And you are?"
"Er... my name is Mei. I'm the one who made an appointment over the phone yesterday."
"Oh, so it's you♪"
Hearing the name, Elysia's mood visibly brightened. She paid no more mind to the gray-haired woman and walked straight over to Mei.
"Just as I thought. I could tell from your voice that today's client would be a pretty girl, but seeing you in person is still quite a surprise~"
"Then please allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Elysia. As you can see, I'm a girl as lovely as a flower."
Seeing the friendly hand extended toward her, Mei hesitated for a moment before gently shaking it. "...Hello, my name is Raiden Mei."
"Mhm, what a lovely name. I'll be sure to remember it~♪"
Elysia withdrew her hand, the smile never leaving her face, and looked at the gray-haired woman beside her. "As you can see, Ah Hua, I have to get to work. Do you want to join?"
"No need, Elysia. You go on."
The gray-haired woman shook her head, giving Mei a deep, thoughtful look. Without another word, she turned and left.
She showed none of her previous reluctance to leave. In fact, she walked away rather quickly, yet her steps were steady, carrying the air of a martial artist.
She's a master... a master far more skilled than my father.
As a martial artist herself, Mei could tell from her gait alone that this was no ordinary woman. But that had nothing to do with her.
Mei pulled her gaze back. When she turned her head again, she saw Elysia was already standing at the door, waving at her.
"Alright, Mei, don't just stand there. I can see that you seem truly exhausted. Don't be shy, come on in♪"
"Okay, thank you for having me."
Although a part of her was still worried, with Mei's current financial situation, she could only afford a psychologist who charged 1,000 yen per hour.
However... Mei looked up and fell silent as she took in the interior, which was decorated in a way that seemed low-key but was, in fact, incredibly luxurious.
Judging by this decor and the shop's prime location, even if Miss Elysia worked 24/7, she wouldn't be able to cover the costs.
So, is this Miss Elysia actually from a rich family?
Though Mei thought this, she didn't say it out loud. She simply sat down in a chair, looking at Elysia with some apprehension.
"So? When do we begin?"
"Hmph, I didn't realize you were such an impatient girl, Mei. Don't be in such a rush. Relax. We have plenty of time, so let's take it one step at a time♪"
As she spoke, Elysia grabbed a disposable paper cup from the side and smiled. "Coffee? Milk? Milk tea? Or just tea?"
"Er... coffee is fine. Thank you."
"Hehe, you got it~♪"
Humming a tune, Elysia soon returned from the drink machine carrying two steaming cups of coffee and sat down opposite Mei.
She smiled and pushed one of the cups toward Mei. "Now, you can tell me what's troubling you, my dear young lady."
Troubles?
Perhaps...
Mei looked at the coffee before her. The brown liquid reflected her delicate yet weary profile, making her look exceptionally haggard.
"It's like this..." She moved her lips, hesitating, before slowly telling her story.
As she spoke, Elysia would occasionally interrupt her. Such an act might have seemed rash, but it didn't feel unpleasant in the slightest.
Because every time Elysia interrupted, it was to ask a question, to probe the gaps in Mei's narrative, guiding her to slowly fill in the blanks of her own hazy past.
By the end, even Mei couldn't help but stare at Elysia with her mouth slightly agape, a look of disbelief on her face.
If this Miss Elysia didn't already know her past, then her powers of observation and imagination were nothing short of terrifying.
"Miss Elysia... you..."
"Hmph, I told you I was amazing, didn't I?"
Feeling Mei's astonished gaze, Elysia gave a smug curl of her lip. The gesture, on her, looked exceptionally playful.
With that, she leaned back, letting her face fall into the shadows.
"So, what is it that you're truly worried about?"
What am I worried about?
Mei's expression dimmed. As if hypnotized by the gentle voice before her, she spoke her heart's true fear.
"I always feel as if there's a beast hidden inside my body. It lies dormant within me, and if I ever lose control, I'm afraid..."
"It will harm the very people I want to protect most."
The Herrscher persona, is it?
A smile of keen interest touched Elysia's lips, and a look of delight flashed in her eyes.
So this is what Fu Li was talking about. The second Herrscher of this era who is willing to fight for humanity.
"Hmph, I understand how you feel, Mei."
Her face broke into a brilliant smile. She reached out and gently took Mei's slender hand in her own.
"I understand. Your worries and your anxieties. You're worried others will leave you, anxious that they'll get hurt because of what's different about you."
"But you, Mei, you have to believe in that other you. She is you. She has the same feelings as you, the same sorrows as you, and the same goals as you."
"Perhaps her methods of achieving those goals are different, but she is still you."
"So what you need is not fear and dread, but acceptance and reconciliation."
"I believe that if it's you, you will definitely be able to reach a perfect balance with your other self."