069. The Wise Decision

The princess covered her mouth and began to sob silently. She cried even though her eyes couldn't produce tears. Her shoulders shook violently, accompanying the increasing intensity of her sobs. Compassionately, Anna embraced Nadezhda and let the vorshk cry on her shoulder. Everyone, even Yvette, appeared deeply moved by the girl's sense of responsibility.
"Jalu didn't die, Princess," Oswald spoke, breaking the silence only punctuated by Nadezhda's sobs. "Your screams saved that young man. We managed to bring him in time for help, thanks to you."
Nadezhda immediately lifted her face, displaying a look of surprise. In the gleam of her eyes, anyone could see the spark of hope.
"Where is he now, kind Sir?" she asked with a trembling voice.
"He's on his way back to his country," Oswald replied. "Jalu left early this morning."
Relief painted the beautiful princess's face. Nevertheless, a hint of disappointment lingered in her clear blue eyes. "Please tell him that I am deeply sorry for his loss," Nadezhda whispered, her voice trembling as she paused. Then, with a steely resolve, she met Andrei's gaze, determination gleaming in her eyes. "I am ready to be executed, kind Sir."
Andrei’s expression softened as he spoke, his voice calm yet firm. "Your mistake was redeemed by Commander Davorko and the vorshks who perished alongside our brother Bayu. We will honor his last wish by allowing you to live among us, as one of us—as a human."
Nadezhda’s eyes widened in disbelief. She glanced around, expecting judgment or disdain, but all she found were soothing gazes and warm smiles from the faces surrounding her. The kindness in their eyes left her momentarily speechless, a warmth she had not anticipated settling in her chest.
"As far as I know, Jalu never let anyone he considered a target survive," Pierre remarked, his deep voice carrying the weight of experience. "That beast of a man must have seen something special in you to let you live."
Nadezhda shook her head slightly, her voice quiet but firm. "What he did was an act of pure compassion," she said, her gaze lowering. "I am nothing but a threat to this peaceful world."
"Were," Pierre interjected gently, his tone softening as he looked at her. "You were a threat. Now, you’re just a young girl with so much to learn, and a future waiting for you."
Nadezhda looked at Pierre with a grateful gaze, her heart swelling with emotions she struggled to articulate. Words eluded her as she processed the overwhelming kindness of the people surrounding her—strangers who had chosen compassion over judgment. Unbeknownst to her, each of them had already explored the depths of her memory records.
"You won't need bone marrow from others anymore," Kusuma said gently, his voice soothing. "Our recovery team has perfected your self-healing system. And Jalu insisted we remove your tail, declaring that no princess should have one."
Nadezhda let out a soft chuckle, but it quickly morphed into uncontrollable sobs. Once again, she buried her face in Anna's embrace, seeking solace in the warmth and safety of the moment. For the first time, she felt the comforting presence of an elder sister—someone who understood her pain. The embrace enveloped her like a sanctuary, a stark contrast to the loneliness she had endured for so long.
To Anna, Nadezhda was not just a powerful vorshk; she was a young girl ensnared in the madness of a tyrannical king—her father. This understanding ignited a fierce determination within Anna to protect her. As she held Nadezhda close, Anna couldn’t shake the feeling that beneath the weight of her past, Nadezhda was merely an ordinary soul yearning for freedom and compassion. Their connection deepened, revealing the profound truth: a fragile spirit trapped in a twisted existence, desperately seeking a way to reclaim her humanity.
"Jalu left a letter that is only allowed to be read by you, Princess," Andrei said, producing an envelope from his pocket and holding it out to her.
"But... I can't read the writings of this world," Nadezhda confessed, her voice tinged with hesitation as her eyes fell on the unfamiliar script.
"He knows," the brown-haired man responded with a reassuring smile, gently placing the envelope in her hands. "Learning to read is essential to live as a human. I, Anna, and everyone here will be happy to help you."
Nadezhda stared at the letter, her eyes glistening with a mixture of gratitude and disbelief. A wave of warmth flooded her chest, the simple gesture stirring something deep within her. Without a second thought, she clutched the envelope to her chest, as if it were a precious treasure—a lifeline she had never expected. It was more than just words on paper; it was a promise, a beacon of hope she hadn’t dared to dream of.
Her heart swelled with reverence, and in a humble, almost instinctive gesture, she knelt down, bowing her head low. The motion was not one of submission, but of deep respect—a silent acknowledgment of the kindness she had been shown. After being tortured in uncertainty for an eternity, Nadezhda felt something other than despair. She felt hope, fragile yet luminous, blossoming inside her.
"Thank you, Sir... Thank you all so much! I truly don't deserve the kindness you bless upon me!" Nadezhda’s voice trembled with emotion as Andrei gently raised her arm, helping her to her feet. Her eyes, brimming with gratitude, darted from face to face, each person around her a beacon of hope she had never anticipated.
Pierre, standing nearby, leaned toward Yvette, who had been watching Nadezhda with an unusually soft expression. "How about it now, Miss Tautou?" he whispered. "It's hard to consider her just as a specimen, isn't it?"
Yvette’s demeanor shifted almost instantly, the warmth in her gaze evaporating as her features hardened into their familiar stoic mask. She shot a sharp glance at Pierre, the unspoken warning clear in her eyes. Clearing her throat with a deliberate formality, Yvette straightened up, drawing the attention of everyone in the bunker.
"It seems a decision has been made," she declared, her voice cool and authoritative once more. "For now, the Security and Confidentiality Council of the EPCU will be quite busy monitoring the developments of the Gugus Niskala."