131: Incomprehension
Jasmine placed the book she had been holding and flipping through for so long without reading a single word back onto the shelf. She glanced at the cabinet with some trepidation. The person hiding inside still hadn't responded. Jasmine was somewhat afraid that her words might have provoked her. After all, in order to make the other party understand that she truly cared about her, Jasmine had revealed nearly all of her embarrassing history up to now!
And actually, before Jasmine spoke, she had already prepared herself to be beaten up by a humiliated and furious Lina rushing out. She hadn't planned to fight back either, only silently casting two layers of relatively subtle protective magic on herself.
But... Lina didn't come out.
『Even like this, you're still unwilling to give me any response?』
『Do you really... hate me to this extent? My Lina?』
Jasmine felt only a severe pain in her heart, as if it were being sliced by a thousand knives. She couldn't even tell whether this was her "condition" acting up again or simply heartbreak.
"...Thank you, Miss Evelia, for being willing to waste so much time for me. I'm truly grateful that you listened until now... Now that the words buried in my heart for so long have finally been spoken, I feel much more relaxed physically and mentally."
Jasmine shook her head and spoke to Evelia with a somewhat forced smile. But no matter how strong her exterior appeared, the deep loneliness in her eyes was impossible to conceal.
"It's fine... I'm happy to be able to help you, Miss Jasmine."
"In that case, shall we go down first? You've been away for so long. If you don't go down soon, Miss Amya will probably get anxious~"
"Cough, it's fine. She's not some creature that can't live without me! Hiding here just means she gets to take less advantage of me!"
"Pfft! So the relationship between you and Miss Amya really is special, isn't it? There's no need to feel shy about it~ It's not something shameful!"
"I... I'm going down first!!! I'll wait for your news about Victor!!!"
"Alright~ Don't worry. The evidence gathering will be completed quickly. Even if it involves cross-border investigation, it's the same. Don't underestimate a Saint's influence!"
Watching Evelia's fleeing figure, Jasmine chuckled softly. But soon her brow was once again covered with thick worry. She slowly walked to the doorway, about to step out. But in the end, Jasmine still couldn't help herself. She turned her head to take one last look at the cabinet below the bookshelf.
Still no response.
Jasmine pursed her lips tightly. For a moment, she really wanted to directly call out or even reach in to drag Lina out of the cabinet. But she didn't dare... She feared that doing so would completely shatter her already nearly broken relationship with Lina. At that point, if her heart ached again, her already dwindling lifespan might be cut even shorter.
All her thoughts, all her sorrow, all her concern, all the feelings and words she wanted to share and speak to her, at this moment all transformed into a soft sigh, like a river of wandering spring water flowing toward the distance.
Let it be, let it be.
Jasmine walked out the door and readjusted her emotions, making her voice sound as normal as possible, not revealing any sobbing or heaviness. She then took out her mobile phone from the inner pocket of her nun's habit, opened her contacts, and found the contact at the very top labeled "Pope"... She pressed the button marked with the call symbol.
"Ring—ring—ring—"
"Hello? Is this Jasmine? How are things going in Wangyou City? Any news about your sister?"
After the phone briefly "rang" twice, the call was quickly connected. An aged but solemn voice came from the other end. However, the voice's owner spoke in a quite gentle tone, like an elderly person treating their grandchildren, full of concern while also faintly carrying a sense of doting.
"Have you been taking your medicine properly lately? Has your condition deteriorated any further?"
"Mm, I'm fine, don't worry Grandpa. But as for Lina..."
Hearing the elderly person on the other end expressing concern for her, Jasmine's originally sad face once again radiated a gentle and strong expression. She first put on a tone of being safe and sound to put him at ease, then mentioned Lina. She hesitated slightly before saying, "Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find Lina yet. But fortunately, I can now basically confirm that Lina is indeed hiding in Wangyou City... Please believe me, Grandpa. I will definitely find Lina before the destined moment arrives, and clear up all the misunderstandings from the past with her!"
"Sigh... That matter back then is still my fault... I didn't anticipate that Howard would hold such a large place in Lina's heart. If I had directly told Lina the truth back then, perhaps you two sisters wouldn't have ended up like this..."
"Grandpa, you don't need to blame yourself. Your choice not to tell Lina the truth was correct. I understand that child... She wouldn't accept the truth and reality. If she really knew everything, she would probably do something even more extreme."
Seemingly worried about being heard by someone in the room behind her, Jasmine lowered her voice as she walked downstairs and spoke to the elderly person on the phone.
"And Grandpa, I have something extremely important to handle on my side right now as well. Can you help me investigate someone? He's called Victor, a retired bishop of the Church... Mm, I need to know the list of all children transferred from the Christian Orphanage he manages to monasteries for study within the past five years. Yes, the more detailed the better..."
……
There was no more movement outside the door. Lina crawled out of the cabinet in a daze. Her body was numb from curling up in the narrow cabinet for so long, and even walking normally felt uncomfortable. But right now, she had no mind to consider her own situation. Her entire attention had already been completely captured by Jasmine's final words.
She said, I am her most important younger sister.
She said, for my sake, she could give up everything she has, only wishing that I could be forever happy and blessed?
Lies, these are absolutely lies. Jasmine, someone who could commit such terrible acts, a woman who could push me into the abyss for the sake of power, how could she possibly have such thoughts!?
Therefore, this must be her lie, something she deliberately fabricated to deceive Sister Evelia. Absolute lies!!!
"But... if they're lies, why would I..."
Lina's voice gradually developed a sobbing tone. Bean-sized tears uncontrollably poured from the corners of her eyes. Finally, like a collapsing tower, Lina crumbled to the ground in a dejected heap, sitting with her legs folded beneath her. She raised her head, her beautiful golden eyes full of bewilderment and incomprehension.
"Why does my heart ache so painfully once again?"
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