Theresa snapped back to her senses, paid the driver, and got out of the car, standing at the entrance of the residential complex.
She smoothed out her clothes and combed through her long hair with her fingers, intending to leave a good impression on Kiana and Cecilia.
"Theresa, you took your sweet time. I've been waiting here for ages."
Lierre appeared silently behind Theresa.
"Y-you! Who are you? And what did you mean just now?"
Theresa was startled. She nimbly dodged to the side to put some distance between them, her eyes warily fixed on Lierre, who had appeared behind her like a ghost.
To have someone get so close without her noticing—when had her vigilance become so weak?
The person before her clearly looked like she was still in elementary school; perhaps it was just an accident.
It was too abnormal, something wasn't right.
"Explaining is too much trouble. Here, watch the VCR!"
Lierre suddenly whipped out her phone, clicked on a pre-prepared audio file, and cranked the volume to the max.
Cecilia's voice rang out: Um, I respect your sexual orientation, but... this child is a bit too young. You two aren't exactly a good match. If you're really in a hurry, why don't you consider Theresa?
Theresa stood frozen after listening.
"Ahem, let's get reacquainted. My name is Lierre. I've already jumped beyond the three debts and am not within the five insurances. I'm currently looking for a wife and want to taste the bitterness of love."
Lierre pulled out a marriage application form, stepped back in front of Theresa, and scribbled her name in the husband's column. Then, she handed the pen to Theresa. "Come, sign here. Once you sign, we'll be a legal couple."
Nearby passersby couldn't help but stop and watch.
"Good lord, do kids play this hard nowadays?"
"They probably just think it's fun. They don't know much at that age."
"Look, the two of them are so cute. I want to go give them a hug..."
"Huh? Is that little twin-tailed loli in the back with them? I wonder where the guardians of these three are. They've got a lot of nerve, aren't they afraid the kids will be kidnapped?"
Lierre brought over Bronya, who had long since woken up, and introduced her:
"Look, this is the child I rescued from that murderer Cocolia. She suffered so much at the hands of that wicked woman, poor thing. I plan to adopt this poor child so that we'll have an heir in the future."
Bronya: "..."
Could you please not abuse the captive.
She really wanted to protest, but she wasn't sure where the vanished Cecilia might be hiding to ambush her, so she didn't dare to act rashly.
Theresa's face changed colors several times as she held the marriage application. Looking at Lierre and the soul-crushed Bronya, she finally squeezed out a sentence after a long pause:
"Are you people from Anti-Entropy? To go as far as forging Cecilia's voice to deceive me, and even wanting me to sign... sign this kind of nonsensical thing! Don't go too far!"
By the end, Theresa's cheeks were flushed.
She was fuming.
She felt like Cocolia was humiliating her!
"You actually don't believe me! It looks like I'll have to produce some evidence!"
Lierre directly dialed Kiana's number. "Kiana, come down quickly. Your second aunt is here to visit you!"
When Kiana came down with Raiden Mei and saw the marriage application in Theresa's hand, both of them were so shocked they covered their mouths.
Inside the rented apartment.
With Kiana's explanation, Theresa gained a detailed understanding of the events.
She gently closed the family photo album that Kiana treated like a precious treasure and looked at Kiana with a complex gaze.
She didn't say much.
Theresa patted the back of Kiana's hand and said, "I'll take good care of you. Kiana, what are your plans for the future? Will you continue to follow your 'Auntie' Lierre, or will you come back to St. Freya Academy with me?"
After saying that, she gave Kiana's so-called 'Auntie' Lierre a depressed look.
This girl could not only miraculously summon Cecilia but had also spun a beautiful fairy tale for Kiana.
However, as long as Cecilia was around, this lie wouldn't be easily exposed, and she felt a sense of relief because of that.
Theresa didn't want Kiana to get hurt.
Because she was also the daughter of Siegfried and Cecilia.
Now that Kiana's whereabouts were exposed to Anti-Entropy, she believed Schicksal would take action within a few days as well.
To protect Kiana, Theresa's best option was to take her to St. Freya Academy. Not only could she watch over Kiana at all times, but she could also oversee her studies—two birds with one stone.
"Why go through all that trouble? I'll just bring Kiana, Raiden Mei, and..."
Lierre grabbed Bronya, who was quietly trying to put some distance between them. "And this 'daughter' I just snatched. We'll just go straight to St. Freya Academy together."
"Bronya does not want to be your daughter," Bronya refused.
"Don't be shy."
"Bronya is not being shy. Please do not treat Bronya this way. Bronya does not want to become your toy."
"Tsk, so disobedient. I'll have to go find the Olenyeva sisters when I have time."
"...Please ignore what Bronya just said."
To protect her sisters, Bronya resolutely chose to sacrifice herself.
What a weird conversation.
Kiana mentally complained, then said dismissively, "I'll follow your arrangements."
She wanted to stay with her family.
Raiden Mei didn't raise any objections because only Lierre could provide answers regarding her current physical condition.
"Um, I've been curious since a moment ago. What exactly is your relationship? Why are you holding a marriage application?"
Kiana felt like her brain was a bit of a mess. She looked at Lierre and Theresa with a confused expression, hoping they could provide an answer.
Theresa's gaze flickered. She stammered, unable to give a clear response.
"Watch the VCR!"
Lierre slammed her phone onto the table with a pa.
"So Mom wanted to set you two up..."
After listening, Kiana wore an expression of sudden realization.
That's not the main point!
Raiden Mei mentally complained: Shouldn't the main point be that both of them are girls!
"Actually, I have another reason. I have a mysterious feeling, as if once Theresa signs her name, the time I can summon Cecilia will be extended by half an hour!"
Lierre was talking sheer nonsense with a straight face.
"Really?!"
Kiana looked pleasantly surprised.
"Don't be afraid. As long as we don't submit it, this thing is just a scrap of paper. Don't feel too much psychological pressure!" Lierre added, looking at Theresa.
"This, this, this..."
Theresa's face was stiff, but under Kiana's puppy-dog gaze and her own longing for Cecilia, she gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and signed her name.
It shouldn't matter; even if it was submitted, official institutions wouldn't approve it.
Lierre took several photos of the paper with her phone. Then, she tapped around on the screen and sent one of the photos to someone.
[Old man, cough up some gold!]