Chapter 580
Don’t Come Back
Yunus personally opened the wine bottle for Eivass.
As he poured the wine into the crystal cup, its fragrant, sweet, and intoxicating aroma filled the not-so-large bedroom.
The midday sun shot in from the side, illuminating the clear red liquid and casting a colorful, blood-red spectrum onto the tabletop.
Eivass sat opposite him, propping his chin with his left hand. His right-hand fingers gently traced circles, touching the cold cup wall.
A cool chill seeped through the crystal to his fingertips—this was clearly a bottle of wine just taken out of preserved state.
“Mr. Yunus, is this the wine you brought?” Eivass asked.
Yunus chuckled merrily, “Of course not… how could it be? This is Mr. Maxim’s collection—of course, it’s not stolen, this is with his permission.
‘He readily agreed when I said I wanted to use it to entertain you. It’s truly an honor… thanks to you, I get to drink such fine Elven fine wine.’
“I remember one of the reasons why the ‘Sacred Tree’ series of wines is so delicious is that the grapevines themselves are connected to the Sacred Tree itself. In a sense, this can be considered wine brewed from the fruits of the Sacred Tree—and in another sense, Elves are merely children of the Sacred Tree.”
Eivass said with a smile, “So what we’re drinking can also be considered the blood wine of the Elven race.”
“…Oh my, you…”
“—Then, cheers.” Eivass interrupted Yunus.
He raised his wine cup, his eyes slightly narrowed and gaze deep, “Your Highness.”
Yunus slightly restrained his smile, picked up his wine cup, and gently clinked it against Eivass’s, producing a clear sound.
He raised his head and took a sip of the wine.
And when he put the cup down again, some messy, dull golden hair naturally fell from his temples.
—The man who had originally looked comical, clumsy, and kind, with a bald head, had now completely transformed into another person.
He was at least half a head taller than Yunus and more powerfully built. His facial features were deep-set, and his somewhat decadent face looked like it should have been quite handsome. One could faintly see traces of Isabel’s appearance.
However, his hair was not only dry and lacking luster but also had a mixture of white and light gold hairs… looking like a long-haired stray dog that hadn’t been groomed in a long time.
His beard was scraggly, not full, but just a circle around his mouth. The roughness of his skin was a given, far inferior to Yunus’s fair and tender skin like a baby’s. His pores were so large they looked like a drunkard’s. His cheeks were even slightly sunken, and noticeable dark circles could be seen under his eyes… his eyes were even slightly red. This was not from crying but from lack of sleep.
If his skin and hair weren’t relatively clean, he might have been mistaken for a homeless person on the street. But even so, his demeanor would only lead people to believe he was a farmer or a hunter.
The only thing that felt odd was his still calm and deep-set, oily green eyes.
Those eyes were not cloudy but felt quite young.
“This has the right flavor.”
Eivass was not surprised in the slightest, only raising his wine cup again, “This is more like a decadent poet who would play and sing on the street. Or rather—you look like you’re about to become the Lich King. That frightens me a little.”
“…When did you find out?”
Yunus—or rather, Prince Albert—was silent for a moment before asking.
His voice was deep, hoarse, and magnetic, a rare baritone.
That rough texture immediately indicated he had been a smoker for quite some time.
Eivass took out his necklace from his collar as he spoke softly, “You looked at it far too many times. And your gaze never once hid.
‘A bard shouldn’t know what this treasure looks like. Even less should they have any memories associated with it.’
“So it was for this reason?”
Prince Albert pondered for a moment, “It seems I’m still not mature enough…”
“—Of course.”
Eivass interrupted him.
Seeing Prince Albert raise his head in surprise, Eivass smiled with a foxy grin, “That’s a lie—an excuse made specifically to fool you.”
“…And the truth?”
“I knew from the beginning that Yunus was Prince Albert. I also knew that the real Yunus died while saving you.
—’Albert Du Lac’ died after that day.”
Eivass said with deep meaning.
What died that day was not only the identity of “Albert Du Lac,” but also the lazy and rebellious young prince.
He had gotten into completely unnecessary trouble due to his arrogance, and lost his original advantage due to his carelessness, falling into imprisonment.
Given Prince Albert’s personality, even if he died due to his own oversight, at most he would have stubbornly said, “I admit I lost today,” and would never have admitted any fault, even unto death.
But ultimately, it was not he who paid the price, but his most cherished friend. That always cheerful, carefree, yet insightful but clumsy poet, Yunus.
In that instant, he knew what regret was.
Suddenly, Prince Albert laughed.
Because his teeth were somewhat yellow, this smile was not attractive, even looking crude like a village woodcutter.
But he let out a steady voice with a Glass Island accent:
“…A prophecy? That’s really unreasonable.”
“Something like that. It can also be considered a prophecy.” Eivass nodded.
Prince Albert looked up, “Just like those incredible things you usually do? Because you saw the future, you intend to change it?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Aren’t you afraid that the future you changed might become worse?”
Prince Albert picked up his wine cup and retorted, “Whether they are prophets or astrologers, they can foresee the future but dare not change it.”
“It’s because the changed future is entangled with too much karma, like a matter involving many powerful individuals. What was originally clear would become unclear. And someone accustomed to discerning the future would naturally become fearful if they suddenly lost that ability.”
Eivass said calmly, his tone clear.
“…That’s how you see it.”
Prince Albert looked at Eivass for a long time, then gave a bitter smile and leaned over to pat Eivass’s shoulder, “You’re stronger than me, kid.”
“—Of course.”
Eivass did not accept this compliment, but replied without hesitation, “Of course I’m stronger than you.
“At least I would never miss my mother’s funeral—if I had the chance. And I would never abandon my own daughter alone and go out to be a vigilante.
“Even if I were cursed to death, I would die before my daughter. Because even if just my life were used to block one curse for her, it would be valuable.”
He gazed at Prince Albert and said, word for word, “So, why run away?
“You should know Isabel’s personality. If she hadn’t become strong now, if I hadn’t cleared her enemies… If Star Antinomy hadn’t attacked at that moment, giving us a chance to fight back. Leaving her to rule all of Avalon by herself, have you considered the pressure she would bear?
“When she was lost in her childhood, you didn’t strengthen her resolve; when she feared the curse, you didn’t stay by her side to encourage her; when she embarked on the path of the extraordinary, you didn’t impart experience and skills to her. Her mother died, the kingdom was without a ruler, and you still didn’t return. You handed Avalon over to your introverted daughter, who was only nineteen, along with those covetous rebel factions—and even me.
“You just gave up on your daughter and came to the Church to care about other people’s daughters. What, do you feel this is righteousness?
“…Or do you think this is ‘Devotion’?”
Faced with Eivass’s questioning, Prince Albert remained silent.
He merely lowered his head to pour himself more wine, then poured some for Eivass as well.
Lowering his head to watch his movements, Eivass’s tone softened slightly, yet his words became sharper:
“Isabel said she will ascend the throne on her birthday.
“—I shouldn’t need to tell you when her birthday is, right? If you’re not there that day, you don’t need to come back ever again.”
At that moment, Eivass saw Prince Albert’s pupils finally tremble.
(End of Chapter)
