To be honest, Elashia really didn't care about those things.
After all, she was Elashia, not the "Elashia" from the game.
Having transmigrated here, she hadn't personally experienced those hardships in Radiant Emperor City.
Moreover, being completely familiar with the game's plot and characters, she could completely understand Alexandra and could also understand Ileina.
Before meeting the young girl Elashia, Alexandra had no idea what it felt like to be a mother.
So her feelings for "Elashia" naturally only developed after meeting her.
In the game, Alexandra's favorability toward "Elashia" also instantly maxed out only after meeting "Elashia."
After all, without even meeting, how could there be any feelings?
As for Ileina's side, Elashia was very clear—for her, her responsibilities were almost greater than everything else.
Her feelings for "Elashia" were ultimately just personal emotions, and her responsibility to the Holy Kingdom necessarily outweighed personal feelings.
Certainly Alexandra's conspiracy and Ileina's departure led to "Elashia's" corruption, but what did that have to do with her, Elashia?
Elashia really liked Alexandra and Ileina, and could completely understand them both.
And since Elashia could understand both of them, she naturally didn't want them to remain immersed in guilt toward the original owner, unable to extricate themselves...
Looking at Ileina and Alexandra whose eyes were filled with guilt, Elashia said urgently:
"Mother... Little Lena..."
"I don't mind, I really don't mind..."
However... the air remained silent.
Alexandra and Ileina just looked at her like that... the guilt in their eyes even deeper...
"Shia... you're always like this..."
Ileina looked at Elashia, murmuring under her breath.
She knew Elashia would say this.
After all, Elashia was just this kind of person...
Even though her heart was already hurt to the extreme, she would still act as if nothing happened in front of people she cared about...
Even though the harm she suffered was already severe to that extent, if it were someone else they might become psychologically twisted or even corrupted...
Elashia would cover her own wounds and was even unwilling to let the people she cared about see them.
But... just because Elashia covered her wounds caused by them and wouldn't let them see, could they really pretend nothing had happened?
Then what would they become?
"..."
While Ileina was immersed in her thoughts, Alexandra on screen looked at Elashia frantically trying to comfort them and also fell into silence...
Honestly, she had indeed made a very serious mistake.
When she truly met Elashia, with her two hundred plus years of experience reading people, she could see—Elashia trusted her very much and was very attached to her.
She knew that the feelings toward her in Elashia's eyes were absolutely not fake.
So... after meeting Elashia, she, who equally longed for this mother-daughter relationship, naturally accepted Elashia's feelings toward her...
But... after seeing what happened with Lucian and her daughter, Alexandra finally discovered—she, who had always been meticulous in everything she did, had indeed been blinded by her inner emotions when facing Elashia.
Indeed, when facing her, Elashia really was like a daughter she had raised from childhood, full of trust and attachment toward her.
But... did she really deserve it?
Alexandra could confidently say she deserved the Iron Empire people's love and the crown on her head.
As the Iron Empire's empress, she could proudly declare—she was the strongest Iron Emperor in history, who had contributed the most to humanity.
But... regarding Elashia, did she really deserve to accept her daughter's attachment as matter-of-factly as before?
Impossible!
Which child who suffered throughout childhood due to their mother's negligence could possibly have no resentment toward their mother?
Previously, immersed in her dear daughter's trust, she had never properly thought about this matter!
If not for Lucian's situation, she probably would have continued to be immersed in this happiness while ignoring her failures as a mother!
Even taking ten thousand steps back, even if Elashia really didn't care about this matter, could she really just brush this matter aside?
Whether as Elashia's mother or as the Iron Empire's empress, Alexandra absolutely couldn't do such a thing!
"My dear daughter..."
Alexandra softly called to Elashia.
"Mother..."
Elashia looked toward Alexandra on the screen.
Alexandra spoke in a tone Elashia had never heard before:
"Mama doesn't dare hope for your forgiveness... but Mama hopes you can give Mama a chance to make amends for her mistakes..."
?
Elashia was once again stunned by Alexandra's words.
What was all this about?
Forgive what?
Make amends for what?
Hadn't she said she didn't mind?
Looking at the extremely abnormal Ileina and Alexandra before her, Elashia was about to say something when her words were interrupted by the system's notification sound.
[System Task Issued]
[Task One: Do your utmost to make Alexandra and Ileina believe you don't care about those things—"Lena, Mother, I really don't care about those things..."]
[Task Reward: Interdimensional Gate (Spell)]
[Task Two: Helplessly look at Alexandra and Ileina, tell them you were indeed seriously hurt by past events, but more important matters are not about you—"Those past events did cause me great pain, but the important things now are not about me..."]
[Task Reward: Group Healing (Intermediate)]
[Task Three: Look at Alexandra and Ileina with hateful eyes—"Do you really think the mistakes you made against me can be made up for? You two heartless people! I will never forgive you!"]
[Task Reward: Warrior level increases by one]
This...
Elashia had originally planned to directly choose Task One as the safe option, but after carefully observing these three choices, she began to hesitate.
This choice... just like Ileina's previous choice, seemed completely reversed from previous system options?
Why did being worse to them make the task more stable...
Elashia thought about it and finally figured out this matter.
After all, she was Elashia, not "Elashia."
She hadn't personally experienced those things that were enough to corrupt a gentle and kind girl.
So naturally she felt nothing about the suffering the previous Elashia had endured.
But... although Elashia could not care about those things, could she really just brush this matter aside?
That was impossible...
Even if she, Elashia, could ignore this matter, could Ileina and Alexandra possibly act as if nothing had happened?