The Machine Head's perilous light swept over them, instantly beginning its calculations.
The left Herta smiled smugly. "Sparkle, we're already before Machine Head, and you still won't admit you're the fake?!"
The right Herta crossed her arms and flicked her bangs with triumphant arrogance. "Heh. Even now, you're forcing a smile. You really think that having some of Yu Qingtu's memories and being blessed by the Aeon of Elation makes you the real thing? In my eyes, you're nothing but a fool from the Fool's Club."
The left Herta froze, then glared at her. "Fine, Sparkle. Just wait. Machine Head will reveal the truth to everyone. No one in this universe can save you!"
As she finished speaking, Nous's perilous light slowly settled on the right Herta.
The right Herta froze, then looked up at Nous in disbelief. "Machine Head! You! What do you mean?! I am the genuine, real Herta! Are you doing this on purpose?!"
Nous gave no response. The left Herta sneered. "Heh. A fake is always a fake. Even before Machine Head, you still try to impersonate me."
The right Herta gritted her teeth, staring at Nous. She truly wished she could replace this being right now, but her power was insufficient.
Ruan Mei stepped forward, and her cold, ethereal gaze reflected Herta's shadow.
Herta panicked. She truly panicked. She had never expected Machine Head to declare her the fake. She quickly grabbed Ruan Mei's hand, her voice tinged with an uncharacteristic sob and urgency.
"Ruan Mei, I am the real Herta! I'm not Sparkle! Please believe me, alright?!"
The left Herta pulled Ruan Mei away, sneering disdainfully. "Hmph! Machine Head said you're the fake. Are you still going to pretend you're real?!"
A look of unprecedented loneliness appeared on the right Herta's face. Her eyes held a confusion and helplessness that didn't belong to her. It was hard to imagine such an expression appearing on the great Madam Herta.
"Ruan Mei... you... I... I really am Herta. Please believe me, alright?! Last time on the Luofu, when you confessed to me, I ran away. I truly know I was wrong. I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please give me another chance. Come to my side. Believe that I am Herta."
Tears streaked down her face, rippling with emotion. Regret, despair, and bewilderment appeared for the first time.
Meanwhile, the Herta beside Ruan Mei crossed her arms, smug and arrogant, like a victorious conqueror. "Sparkle, you're quite the actor! Only now that everything is about to end do you regret it and admit your mistake. Heh, Machine Head has already judged you. Why don't you just surrender?!"
Herta wept, tears streaming. Ruan Mei slowly approached and gently wiped the tears from the corner of Herta's eye with a handkerchief.
"Are you alright, Herta?"
Both Hertas froze. One smiled through her tears, the other was stunned and horrified.
"Ruan Mei! What's wrong with you?! Comforting a Masked Fool? Have you lost your mind?! Come back to my side, or I'll lock you in Herta City forever!"
Ruan Mei ignored Sparkle. She simply smiled gently at the Herta before her.
"Herta, I don't know how many Amber Eras I've known you, but this is the first time I've seen you cry. It's still beautiful. Even more beautiful than Idrila, the Aeon of Pure Beauty."
Herta froze. Instinctively, she reached to pull down her magic hat to hide her expression, but Ruan Mei took it away.
Caught off guard, Herta could only stammer, her voice weak but tinged with pride. "G-give me back my hat! And... I... I wasn't crying and throwing a tantrum! It's just that Machine Head used some unknown Path power, so my eyes hurt and watered."
Ruan Mei gently stroked Herta's head, as tender as a big sister next door. "Yes, I know. The great Madam Herta would never cry."
Herta just lowered her head, saying nothing.
Ruan Mei also noticed Herta's excessive tsundere value. It was now only 120%, a drop of nearly 500 points.
After a while, Herta took a deep breath and slowly raised her head to meet Ruan Mei's eyes.
"Madam Ruan Mei... I... I, Herta, want to confess to you. Is that alright?"
Ruan Mei's lips curved into a faint smile, then it vanished. She nodded with her usual calm composure. "Yes."
"Then... Ruan Mei, could you give me that sleeve pendant first?"
Ruan Mei handed her the pendant directly. Herta carefully accepted it, treasuring it like a precious jewel. It was a big Herta puppet pendant, set with several brilliant, dazzling diamonds. Some people said that once you were a genius, who cared about these carbon-based stones? But Herta had never seen such flawless diamonds, and besides, they were from Ruan Mei.
"Thank you, Ruan Mei."
Ruan Mei smiled faintly. "Now that you've received the pendant, it's time to tell me that confession you mentioned."
Herta's eyes darted away, unable to meet Ruan Mei's gaze. But this time, she didn't summon her magic key to escape.
"Ruan Mei, do you remember when you asked me if I had someone I liked?"
Ruan Mei nodded. "Yes."
Herta carefully tied the puppet pendant to her sleeve. "Actually... there is. She's Genius Society member #81. A genius with a personality just as strange as mine, just like me."
A look of quiet understanding crossed Ruan Mei's usually unreadable face. "Then tell me who she is."
Herta gritted her teeth and finally whispered the two words. "Ruan Mei."
"Oh. Then when did you start liking Ruan Mei? When did you first notice her? And why do you like her?"
These three questions made Herta spin around, turning her back to Ruan Mei. "You! You're impossible! Unbelievable! When... I can't remember. It's been several Amber Eras, anyway."
"When did I notice you? When Yu Qingtu first introduced us, I noticed you. Because she said you were just as strange as me."
"Why do I like you? How should I know all the whys?! I study the Simulated Universe, Aeons, and Paths. I don't understand human emotions at all!"
As she said this, her excessive tsundere value dropped to 100%.
Ruan Mei stepped forward, handed Herta a violet orchid cake, and whispered in her ear, "The Simulated Universe could use a new event. Let's call it 'The Language of Violet Orchids.'"