Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 141

The Five Powerhouses Who Match the Unwilling Bride 

Chapter 141 The Weight of a Name 

Finished 

Jean hadn’t been in this world for very long before she awakened primal power. As the female lead, however, all her attention and devotion had gone to Julian. She had no real ambition of her own, and Julian himself had never wanted her to draw too much attention, so he helped her conceal the truth. 

Tylissa‘ gaze flickered. So aside from Jean, there’s yet another lucky exception–Ava. 

“You probably don’t realize how fortunate you are, Ms. Ava,” Tylissa said softly, a faint crease forming between her brows as she lowered her head to hide the disappointment in her eyes. 

That d*mn system. All it ever gave me was things like ‘slender hands,‘ graceful figure,‘ flawless complexion,‘ ‘doe–like eyes–completely useless traits. Aside from slightly boosting my charm value, they served no real purpose at all. 

Ava didn’t understand why Tylissa would say that. To her ears, it sounded like someone speaking from a place of privilege without realizing it. 

The girl had been born a lofty darling of fate, raised in luxury and abundance, while Ava herself had struggled to survive by scavenging through trash heaps. And now this princess was saying she envied her? 

“Ms. Tylissa, there’s really no need to envy me,” Ava replied calmly. “Your mother was a hero–a powerful Awakened. As her daughter, I’m sure you’ll awaken one day too, and become just as remarkable.” 

Tylissa choked slightly. She could tell Ava genuinely meant it, and that sincerity only made the weight press harder on her chest. She hated hearing anyone mention her so–called ‘mother‘ around her. 

Over the years, she had rarely visited Jean’s grave. When she was younger, every visit ended in tears, followed by a serious illness once she returned home. After that happened a few times, her family stopped allowing her to go. Now, she wouldn’t go at all. 

Tylissa was grateful that there were no photographs of Jean left behind–not in the family home, not even online. Jean had been extremely socially withdrawn and disliked having her picture taken. The only photo she and Julian had ever taken together was their marriage registration picture, and it had been lost during the war, along with Julian’s life, swallowed by mutant jaws. 

“Ms. Ava,” Tylissa said slowly, watching Ava’s face with meticulous care, “you really resemble the people of the Central Lineage from ancient Terran times. Black hair, dark eyes, warm golden skin–features once considered emblematic of an entire civilization. 

“Back then, the Central Lineage believed themselves descended from the earliest founders of humanity, a culture that endured for thousands of years. It wasn’t until Terran was destroyed and they were forced to migrate into deep space that modern humanity, as we know it today, came into being.” 

She paused, never missing even the slightest shift in Ava’s expression. “When I saw you coming downstairs earlier, I honestly thought I was looking at a beauty from a bygone era. 

“The silk dress suits you perfectly–striking, elegant, unforgettable. No wonder the Capitol Planet Museum was willing to lend you one of its crown–jewel bracelets as an accessory. That’s why I said earlier–it felt as if I’d known you for a very, very long time. There was a sense of familiarity I hadn’t felt in ages.” 

By now, Ava had a fairly clear idea of what Tylissa was trying to do. She had been testing her from the very beginning—first suspecting she came from a post–apocalyptic world, and after realizing that didn’t add up, shifting to the idea that they might have come from the same original timeline. · 

THU 

15 

G 

6 

||| 

O 

Г 

1/2 

16:47 Thu, Jan 15 G MI. 

Chapter 141 The Weight of a Name 

14 

Finished 

Ava smiled lightly. “I’ve heard before that you’re widely read, fluent in ancient Terran languages, and exceptionally talented. Now that I’ve seen it for myself, I’d say the public’s praise doesn’t even do you justice. You’re far more impressive than what’s said online. With how well you know Central Lineage culture, it’s no wonder you hold such influence in academic and cultural circles. 

“I’m afraid my grasp of interstellar history is fairly limited. As for the era you mentioned earlier, I only heard of it recently when Mr. Mett brought it up. Asnio said my temperament suited a silk dress, and that was how I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Mett in the first place. He designed this piece specifically for 

1. me. 

“A civilization with five thousand years of history is certainly something to admire. It’s a pity ancient Terran vanished so long ago. As for my appearance, I never knew my biological parents. 

“Perhaps I simply looked different at birth–different enough to be abandoned. Or maybe it’s nothing more than an old genetic echo. After all, today’s emerging humanity still traces its origins back to ancient Terran.” 

Tylissa opened her control panel once more and checked Ava’s attributes. She wasn’t lying. Even her heartbeat showed no abnormal fluctuations. 

Maybe she really had been wrong. There couldn’t possibly be so many time–displaced survivors in one world, could there? And if there truly were another one, how could they have stayed completely unnoticed all this time? 

She had already dangled enough bait–if Ava truly came from the same timeline, there was no way she would’ve been able to hold back. Tylissa knew all too well how tempting her current identity was. A fellow survivor would never have resisted acknowledging her. 

Regardless, as long as there was no conflict of interest, Tylissa was perfectly content to keep her distance from Ava and leave each other alone. 

Seeing that she wouldn’t get anything more out of this, Tylissa finally let the matter rest. Since the Morren sisters clearly didn’t like her, she had no intention of forcing herself on people who were cold toward her. Her grandfather was the Head of State–her status far surpassed that of the Morren sisters. There was no need for her to lower herself just to make conversation. 

290 

0 

መ