The Psychotic Girl’s Revenge

On the screen, a cartoon ship slowly appeared in Paige’s view. On the ship, a prince stiffly stood, gazing out over the ocean. Enrico’s deep voice echoed in the room as he narrated:

“The prince sailing by picked up the foam, cradling it in his hands, gently caring for it. The foam fell in love with the prince and swore to become human, so she could stay by his side.”

Paige listened, puzzled by this retelling.

She decided not to question the content anymore and focused on watching Enrico, who was sitting at the foot of her bed, telling her the story.

The puppeteer behind the screen clearly wasn’t very skilled; everything was chaotic. A colorful castle suddenly fell on the ship, and two little figures in lavish clothes stood atop the castle walls.

“The foam found a witch to turn her into a human, paying the price of losing her voice and enduring the pain of walking on knives. But when she stood before the prince, he no longer recognized her as the foam and married a princess instead.”

Paige was taken aback. She realized that Enrico was telling the story of the Little Mermaid backward.

On the screen, a storm broke out, shaking the castle on the ocean, and the prince and princess were separated and fell.

“The foam, sacrificing with her own blood, caused a great storm, sinking the entire castle and throwing the prince who once sweet-talked her into the sea.”

Enrico’s version of the story was far more violent than any fairy tale she had ever heard.

Paige quietly watched everything collapse on the screen.

The foam was gone. The humans were gone. In the end, only the vast ocean remained, along with the stiff appearance of the mermaid.

His voice, still as captivating as ever, murmured, “The foam’s legs turned into a fish tail, and from that day forward, she roamed the ocean freely, never caring for the human world again.”

The Little Mermaid’s story was short. Even when told backward, it wasn’t long.

Paige watched Enrico’s shadow behind the screen. Her long lashes fluttered as a hint of sadness crept into her eyes.

When she read this story as a child, she always felt sorry for the Little Mermaid. Despite all her efforts, she ended up as nothing but foam. Now she realized that telling the story backward brought a sense of resolution.

“If only everything could go back to how it was.”

Paige spoke softly, a bitter smile forming at the corners of her lips.

If life could be told backward, there would be no regrets. The mermaid would always be a mermaid, and Peak Club would always be Peak Club.

She stared at the little mermaid on the screen, curling her legs beneath the blanket and hugging her knees as her eyes dimmed. “Enrico, I really miss them.”

Enrico set down the puppet stick, stood up from behind the screen, and walked over to sit by her side.

“Every time I close my eyes, I see the fire at River Town. When I open them, I think of everyone laughing and playing at Peak Club…”

Paige’s eyes reddened, and her voice choked with emotion. “I kept telling everyone that walking this path meant being prepared for the worst. If they couldn’t handle it, they didn’t have to stay in Temple in Heaven. But now, I realize that I’m the one who can’t handle it.”

She had repeated this mantra over and over, but it was clear that it was herself who struggled to accept the current situation.

Enrico remained silent, listening to her.

She let her arms fall, releasing the tight grip on herself as she leaned into him, resting against his solid frame.

Only when she leaned on him did she feel that even if the world collapsed, she could still rest for a little while.

Enrico let her lean against him. Paige closed her eyes, and a single tear silently rolled down her cheek. “I know I have to keep going on this path. Otherwise, I’d be letting down even more people. But, Enrico, can I really make it to the end?”

How much further could she go like this?

Could she really continue to lead everyone in rebuilding the slums, going head-to-head with all the dangerous forces that lay in their way? What if another River Town incident happened?

She was scared.

Truly scared.

For the first time, Enrico heard uncertainty in her voice about the future.

Once, she had fought him so fiercely over rebuilding the slums, stubbornly standing her ground. Now that he was no longer her obstacle, she seemed to lose her nerve, questioning herself.

Enrico lowered his head, looking at her face, and gently wiped away her tear with his warm thumb.

“Paige, you’re the leader of Temple in Heaven, not a god who controls life and death.”

She couldn’t take on all the responsibility herself.

Paige’s lips trembled slightly.

“I’d actually prefer it if you couldn’t go on. Then, you could stay with me, safe and sound.”

Enrico’s deep voice softened. “But I know that if you, Paige, can’t make it to the end of this path, no one else can.”

Paige was deeply shaken. She looked up at him, stunned.

“You’re not the kind of person to hesitate or second-guess yourself.”

Enrico playfully pinched her chin. “If you’re really so afraid of hurting others, then forget it. Dissolve Temple in Heaven and come trouble me instead. I’m not afraid of being troubled by my woman.”

Paige burst into tears, but this time, she smiled. The bitterness remained.

She wasn’t oblivious. She knew that excessive self-doubt was pointless, but once trapped in that mindset, it was hard to escape.

She understood Enrico’s efforts to cheer her up, with the shadow puppets and the pictures of everyone in Temple in Heaven.

It was enough.

Really, it was enough.

Enrico telling her a fairy tale like this… She couldn’t let him worry any longer.All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

Paige wiped away her tears and said, “Don’t worry. I won’t fall into despair.”

“I won’t believe that until I see it with my own eyes.”

He didn’t trust her promises anymore.

Paige looked toward the puppet screen and couldn’t help but ask, “Where did you get this? It seems like a children’s toy, not a proper puppet show.”

Enrico’s eyes flickered for a moment, but he remained calm. “Jaden bought it. I’m not sure where from.”

“Oh.”

Paige didn’t doubt him.

Seeing her interest in the toy, Enrico turned the puppet box toward her. “Do you want to try it?”

“I’ve never done it before.”

Paige looked into the box and saw that the puppets were all cartoonish.

She carefully sifted through the pieces and picked out a special pair of puppets, a scholar and a princess, both dressed in bright red. The puppets looked festive and playful.

Paige delicately raised the princess puppet with the rod, pressing it against the screen. The dim light cast a warm glow over the princess’s red wedding dress, making her seem shy, as though waiting for her scholar.

She moved the rod, making the princess adjust her appearance.

“It seems like a wedding story.”

Enrico sat beside her, casually picking up the scholar’s rod. He glanced at her, a dark glint in his eyes. “Let’s act it out.”

Paige looked at him, a bit surprised.

“Come on, first bow to heaven and earth-“