Chapter 461
Reunion of Two
“If only George were here,” Shafiya thought.
If possible, it would be best for the Grand Guardian to escort Isabel to the Church while she herself attempted to steal the Queen’s Blood. If successful, all would be well; if she failed, at least Isabel would survive safely.
But the Grand Guardian George was not on Glass Island at all.
Due to the recent unrest on the border, the Grand Guardian was stationed at the southern fortress, commanding the navy to set up defensive lines.
Furthermore, if the Grand Guardian were present, they might not lose even when facing two Fifth Tier powerhouses with home advantage. At least they could definitely rescue the Queen’s corpse… George also knew about the Shadow of Avalon.
Or should she take a gamble?
Hide Isabel somewhere, and then go to steal the corpse herself.
After obtaining the Queen’s Blood, immediately proceed with the Shadow of Avalon ritual. She would gamble that she could resurrect Lancelot before Isabel was found…
This seemed to be the only way, Shafiya mused.
The most dangerous, most prone to disaster, yet also the choice with the greatest reward.
“If Meg were still alive, would she choose this way…”
Shafiya murmured softly.
At this moment, she was actually a little lost.
It was already her limit to react and rescue Isabel in the first instance.
However, under the triple pressure of time, formidable enemies, and family, Shafiya’s scalp tingled just thinking about it. She even felt her breathing tremble slightly.
If she was too late, or if the Queen’s corpse had already been destroyed or transformed into an Undead, or if she took too long and Isabel was captured… Avalon would fall completely. They might have also set a trap around the Queen’s corpse, waiting to capture her, and she might even be framed by the Round Table Hall for aiding betrayal, which could even implicating her husband and daughter.
Even without being killed or captured, failure meant she couldn’t obtain the Queen’s Blood in time.
At this moment, the pressure accumulating in Shafiya’s heart was immense.
But she had to remain strong—as an elder, how could she show her confusion and powerlessness in front of a pitiable child like Isabel?
Shafiya took a deep breath and asked slowly, “Little Isa… do you have any close, absolutely reliable friends? Someone who can take you in for a few days and would absolutely not betray you.”
Her voice was hoarse with nervousness.
Originally, Shafiya had just asked casually, intending to hide Isabel at Hermes Manor… At least Lord Arthur was a loyal subject worthy of trust.
But she hadn’t expected that Isabel would actually provide an answer.
“…Can you send me to the Moriarty family?”
The soft yet resilient girl said in a small voice.
“Professor Moriarty’s family?”
Shafiya frowned slightly. “But he has close ties with the Lloyd Society… I don’t recommend you going to their home.”
Although Professor Moriarty had not directly appeared at this banquet.
There was another possibility. It was that Professor Moriarty already knew that the Knights were about to engage in a free-for-all. As a scholar, he was too weak and lacked combat power, thus choosing to avoid the conflict.
The Moriarty family usually had a relatively close relationship with the Dross family.
The ancestor of the Moriarty family was the Modred family, and Modred’s own son had once betrayed Avalon. This was not without precedent.
Now, Shafiya’s nerves were taut—she felt that none of these founding families could be trusted.
Among the twenty founding families, there must be those who had received advance notice.
Had none of them stepped forward to issue a warning?
…Or did the founding families feel that the descendants of Lancelot had ruled Avalon for too long, and they wanted to return to the age of the Round Table?
But the timid and soft girl showed her a heartbreaking expression: “But, I can only…”
As she spoke, she seemed on the verge of sobbing, “The only person I can trust is him… If even he betrays me…”
She couldn’t help but cry at this point, sobbing uncontrollably.
Seeing Isabel’s intense and seemingly genuine sorrow, Shafiya felt shaken.
She realized that her refusal had seemed to be the last straw that broke the camel’s back. She subconsciously regretted her words, but at the same time, she felt doubt and curiosity.
“Who are you talking about?”
“…Eivass.”
Isabel said softly. “Actually, he and I are pen pals… We’ve known each other for many years.”
“Pen pals? Really?”
Shafiya was a little surprised. “That famous Bishop?”
So this reclusive Princess actually had her own friends…
Seeing Isabel lower her head, Shafiya knew she had guessed correctly.
“But, just pen pals…”
Shafiya still felt it was unreliable.
After all, Isabel had no social experience. Such a pure and untainted girl was too easily deceived.
Although the young Bishop Moriarty had a good reputation in the capital’s circles, everyone said he was a devout, gentle, and solemn person, and many young girls were infatuated with him. But he had rejected all confessions, and there were even rumors that he was in love with his non-blood-related sister.
As an Extraordinary of the Path of Devotion… it seemed there wasn’t much of a problem…?
Originally, Shafiya had intended to find fault.
But the more she calculated, the more reliable Eivass seemed.
To reach the Third Tier of the Path of Devotion at such an age, to pass the church’s assessment and become a bishop. Even brushing against the edge of the Fourth Tier, and being invited by the Church to study abroad… With such an affinity for the Path of Devotion, he couldn’t be a bad person.
But thinking of this, Shafiya found it even stranger.
How did Little Isa know this Lord Bishop?
From her words, it seemed she trusted Eivass very highly. So much so that if Eivass betrayed her, she would be heartbroken to the point of despair.
And Isabel said firmly, “He’s already read my diary.”
“…I see.”
Shafiya understood.
Isabel probably liked Eivass.
She knew what Isabel’s “diary” was, and what fears it recorded.
That diary, passed down in the royal family, was the most desperate and softest part of Isabel’s heart. If she was willing to share it with someone, it meant she truly trusted that person more than anyone besides her family… Even Shafiya and Meg had never seen her diary.
“Alright, I’ll take you.”
Shafiya made up her mind. “But he is, after all, just Professor Moriarty’s adopted son. His opinion may not be decisive. If Professor Moriarty does not wish to take you in… I will find a way.”
Compared to the loyalty of the House Hermes, Eivass, who could soothe her heart’s pain and fears, was indeed a better choice.
Isabel lowered her head slightly.
She clenched her fists slightly.
— It had to be said that she was actually gambling.
Because she couldn’t be 100% sure that if she had transmigrated into “herself,” Eivass had also transmigrated into “Eivass.” At least Shafiya did not match Isabel’s perception of Eivass.
It wasn’t Minister Moriarty but Bishop Moriarty.
Fortunately, Isabel reacted quickly and adjusted in time.
…But if “Eivass” wasn’t Eivass, would her lie be exposed?
Isabel was a little worried.
Because upon realizing that Avalon was facing an extremely dangerous situation, she subconsciously wanted to seek Eivass’s help. Mainly because she knew she absolutely could not go to Hermes Manor… as she knew York Hermes was a traitor, and by the looks of it, he hadn’t been discovered yet.
…She would take it one step at a time.
If Eivass wasn’t him, she would find a way to deceive him…
Isabel still had great confidence in her acting skills.
If she could play the role of the cold and correct Queen, she could also calmly play the role of her past reclusive and weak self.
— Regardless of past or future, that was her.
On the other side, Eivass was sitting with James.
“…Little Key?”
Eivass murmured softly, frowning.
He thought of many possibilities, but none provided a definitive answer.
A key should be for opening a door, but what door required him to open it?
Seeing Eivass’s reaction, James suddenly burst into laughter.
The old man reached out and made a shushing gesture with composure.
“Is this something that cannot be spoken of?” Eivass pressed.
“It seems your progress is insufficient.”
James grinned broadly, his crow’s feet creasing with laughter. “Then I won’t say anything.”
Undoubtedly… James was testing Eivass to see how much he understood about himself.
And Eivass’s lack of reaction to this keyword revealed some information about him.
— For example, from which period Eivass had returned. And, to what extent his plan had been completed.
“Then how about we ask one question for one answer?”
James asked gently, “And why are you so wary of Father?”
Hearing this, Eivass clarified two points—
James had indeed realized that there was another Eivass beneath “Eivass”‘s skin; and he was aware of Eivass’s caution and wariness towards him.
Since he could so keenly detect Eivass’s thoughts in many different timelines with such subtle details… Eivass’s foster father must see even more clearly.
— …Was his departure because of this?
Because he sensed Eivass’s wary thoughts towards him, he simply faked his death and escaped, then went into hiding…
“I have seen the guests off, Master.”
Oswald returned as he said this.
Eivass subconsciously looked up at Oswald, and Professor Moriarty waved his hand, signaling Oswald to leave.
After Oswald nodded and left, Eivass said softly, “Father, I don’t wish to answer this question.”
“Then don’t answer.”
James smiled and nodded, saying very peacefully, “If I don’t want to answer the question you ask me, then you don’t have to answer the question I ask you. Our relationship is equal, Eivass.
“You don’t need to compromise, and I will do my best to help you.”
“…Because you want me to live, right?”
“Yes.”
James gave an affirmative answer.
The Professor must have had further plans for Eivass, and Eivass, who didn’t know what “Little Key” meant, had certainly not completed his mission. To help his other-world self complete the plan, the Professor would not let Eivass die in the Dream Realm.
Eivass vaguely sensed this, but needed to ask to confirm it.
— In other words, James’s ultimate goal must transcend personal interests.
He knew he was in the Ascension Ritual, a simulated soul created by the Pillar Gods, yet he was trying his best to maintain the stability of this Ascension Ritual. And he was trying to help his other “real self” hide information.
If he were serving himself, he wouldn’t need to stand so firmly with his true self. To him at this moment, it was, after all, another individual.
“Then it’s my turn.”
James asked, “Are you a Sacred Entity now?”
“…I’m not 100% sure, but I should be.”
Eivass replied seriously after a moment of silence.
This was not a lie, but the truth.
Because even if he told the truth, the real Professor Moriarty would not know. But Eivass had a chance to get information from James, who had more information—Every question from Professor Moriarty must have meaning.
By carefully excavating his perspective, the purpose of his questions, and his reaction upon receiving the correct answer, one could get some feedback.
But Professor Moriarty stopped asking.
He simply leaned back in his chair, resting comfortably on the sofa. “I have no more questions. I can answer your last question, or help you complete one task.”
“…May I borrow Mr. Oswald?”
Eivass asked after a long period of contemplation.
“Certainly.”
James replied without hesitation.
He didn’t even pause to think; the moment Eivass spoke, he immediately responded.
At this moment, Oswald suddenly returned quickly.
“Excuse me, Master. But…”
The old Elf hesitated, his expression strange. He glanced at Eivass, then hesitantly looked at James.
“What is it?”
James asked.
Before he could respond, Shafiya, holding Isabel’s hand, stepped out right behind Oswald.
She had brought Isabel here, directly infiltrating Moriarty Manor.
Oswald clearly knew what was happening at the Silver and Tin Hall at this moment, so seeing Isabel escape directly and arrive here, he instinctively assumed it was Professor Moriarty’s arrangement.
But Eivass, sitting on the sofa, met Isabel’s gaze, which was fixed directly on him.
In just an instant, a look filled with emotion, they recognized each other’s identities.
— This is him.
— This is her.
Seven thousand five hundred words, update complete!
