Diary of Guarding Monster Girls

At that time, Teresa made a new wish.

She hoped to adapt well to her new identity and become a noble maiden in the eyes of others.

Teresa did not crave a life of riches, she simply hoped not to endure more pain.

If possible, she wished to meet an admiring knight who could marry her, and they together would have a harmonious and happy family.

But this wish did not come true.

After boarding the trading caravan’s carriage, she encountered a more tragic fate.

Teresa became a slave, transformed into a special commodity avoided by others due to a curse, yet deemed exotic.

The future of a noble maiden vanished, leaving only a tragic ending as a slave.

At that moment, the girl truly felt what despair was.

Completely devoid of hope, only able to watch herself step into the abyss, with no means to struggle or escape.

Those who claimed they couldn’t see the future were the ones who truly saw it.

And in that most despairing and dark time, Teresa made a wish.

Perhaps it couldn’t be called a wish—it was more a helpless plea of a dying person.

She prayed to all divine beings, bowed to the pitiful and hateful destiny, hoping to gain a sliver of life in despair, not to meet such a miserable end.

At that time, she hoped to be rescued.

She no longer sought those non-existing knights, nor believed in the absurd stories.

Teresa did not pray to any specific person, just hoped someone might rescue her.

Anyone would do.

Be it divine or not, it did not matter.

But precisely this wish that held no hope became her only wish that came true.

Yes.

This wish... was fulfilled.

The knight she had dreamt of countless times since childhood finally emerged from the story into reality without warning.

At the brink of despair, that gentleman appeared before her, severing the evil reaching for her, pulling her out of the abyss.

He was like a beam of light tearing through the darkness, its eternal radiance etched in her soul.

Though Teresa knew well in her heart she was just an ordinary one among many rescued by Lord Herbert, merely a pitiful animal saved on a whim.

But does that matter?

No matter how Herbert regarded her, she was rescued by him.

The truth was, she was saved by the knight she had always hoped for, gaining a new life.

At that moment, Teresa greedily made another nearly impossible wish.

She hoped she could stand by his side.

In whatever identity, just to stay by him was enough.

After a moment in daze, Teresa seemed to finally comprehend what her wish was.

"My wish is..."

Yet, at the instant she wanted to speak, seeing Herbert’s eyes, she suddenly fell silent.

And now, what is her wish?

Is that truly her real wish?

Is that the only expectation deep in her heart?

Is it the longing to be more, to luckily become his companion, then like the end of a story, bear children for him, becoming a gentle mother.

If possible, Teresa certainly would not refuse such a beautiful future.

But...

If, if there really exists another possibility.

Would this greedy villager wish for more?

Not to be a pet confined in a cage, but to stand honorably by his side with her own strength, able to offer him help.

But in truth, Teresa always knew deep down what was lacking to shed the vase identity.

It’s strength.

She always lacked strength.

Teresa was clear about it.

The root of every tragedy she suffered had only one reason—she lacked strength.

She was too weak.

Facing that cruel and pathetic destiny, she had no power to resist!

Only enduring destiny’s whimsical manipulation, drifting along without resistance.

To escape all this, she must possess her own strength.

Yes.

She needs strength.

She... craves strength.

Ah.

Upon realizing this, understanding the ambition suppressed within her heart, Teresa felt as if she had broken free of shackles, escaping a heavy shackle binding her soul for an unknowably long time.

"Hah..."

Finally, after a long yet brief self-analysis, the girl released her clenched hands, exhaling a long breath of turbid air from her lungs.

"Lord Herbert."

Teresa lifted her head, gazing at the knight whose smile remained unchanged, no longer did her eyes evade with unease, remaining only with the determination of realization.

"I crave strength."

She said:

"I wish for the strength to overcome all difficulties, to grasp control of my own destiny."

Teresa no longer wished to feel so helpless and painful.

Didn’t want to curl under blankets escaping reality, didn’t want to rely on future fantasies bestowed by others.

Though she had already been rescued once.

But this time, she wanted to live a bit more greedily.

Teresa... wants to hold destiny in her own hands.

Though somewhat greedy, this indeed is the real wish hidden within her heart for an unknown length of time.