Chapter 608
The Mask of Secrets Grimoire
Isabel gazed into the darkness, stories appearing in her heart, flashing past like fleeting phantom bubbles. Her consciousness grew sluggish within the illusion, as if dreaming, unable to precisely control her thoughts.
“…Does this question truly have a correct answer?”
Such doubt arose in her heart. But clearly, this sentence wasn’t an answer. After hesitating for a long time, Isabel still cautiously opened her mouth and replied, “Mask of Secrets… who is it?”
“This is… the Mask of Secrets?”
Subsequently, she removed the mask. When Mycroft began to speak, Isabel had already taken out the silvery white harp. It was another “Isabel,” wearing the exact same clothes and having the exact same face as Isabel! The only difference was that the “Isabel” wore bright red lipstick.
“—You are me.”
Under Isabel’s gaze, the blood-stained mask gradually began to twist and deform, finally transforming into Isabel’s appearance with downcast eyes.
At this moment, Isabel pushed open the wardrobe door and jumped out of the study’s wardrobe.
“Heh.”
The mask fell on its own. The pitch-black, profound space turned into an altar in a vast expanse of yellow sand.
“Anastasia, may you be safe and sound…”
“What are your orders, Her Majesty the Queen?”
“To put it more precisely…”
Beneath the mask was a short-haired elf girl nicknamed “Ke’er.” Isabel felt a prickling sensation in her scalp: “What in the world is all this…”
Mycroft Hermes knocked on the grand door and, after receiving permission, walked into the Queen’s study with his briefcase, fluently taking a seat opposite the Queen. This man, who was as carefree and plump as a blubbery seal, appeared somewhat anxious at the moment.
“Oh, that’s not it. The main thing is that you never used to have a habit of drinking, but after Minister Eivass left, you started drinking every day.”
However, although he guessed Isabel’s motive, he looked up and examined her closely. After pondering for a moment, he still shook his head: “I can’t tell, at least there are no obvious signs of incongruity. Or, could you be more detailed? Specifically, which part should I observe for incongruity?”
“So beautiful!”
Mycroft was somewhat displeased: “Minister Eivass hasn’t been away from Avalon for long, and those guys have started becoming active one by one—The struggle in the Round Table Hall is becoming more intense. Or, are you planning to maintain the political image of ‘you and Minister Eivass being enemies’?”
As he spoke, he placed his entire briefcase on the desk and pushed it over.
“Try wearing this mask.”
—But in her hand, the pure white faceless mask still lay quietly. A side of the mask was stained with fresh blood, and there was also a short, shallow curved scar on the left cheek of Isabel, a result of a knife cut.
Mycroft said, taking out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat: “My personal advice: you’d best not drink too much in public.”
At that moment, an unspeakable fear arose in Isabel’s heart. She suddenly gasped and jolted awake. Originally, she would probably have subconsciously asked, “Who is Anastasia?” But Eivass had already recounted his experiences to her in a dream last night.
Isabel was stunned: “I remember Grandmother often drank with the common people, and everyone liked her… Is my image not relatable enough? Or do I look too young, not yet of drinking age?”
When Isabel looked down in a daze, she only saw a thick, large snake tail. Isabel was drenched in sweat.
The deep, low laugh came from afar: “It’s neither good nor bad.
“You need to show them some color.”
Mycroft immediately guessed why Isabel asked.
“…What is it?”
—No, that’s not right!
Isabel suddenly started. A short-haired elf girl, appearing about the same age as Isabel, walked over.
Compared to these matters, it would be better to offer a few more prayers for Eivass—perhaps the Silver Crown Dragon would hear them! She looked up and smiled at Mycroft: “By the way, do you see anything unusual about me?”
“It won’t be hidden for too long, will it?”
Isabel smilingly beckoned to one of them: “Ke’er, come here for a moment.”
Ke’er waved generously at Mycroft, revealing a cheerful smile completely different from Isabel’s. She looked at Mycroft and said comfortingly, “Don’t worry, Lord Hermes. I have already finished reading that Grimoire, and I will deal with the backlog of documents as soon as possible.”
She whispered softly: “I am you…”
As it fell, a phantom fine thread suddenly appeared, connecting it to Isabel’s right middle finger. “Minister’s gift is also inside—it’s an Elven harp.”
Isabel, sitting opposite the desk, took the briefcase and looked up: “What about what I asked you to get for me?”
The only one without a mask was the snake-person queen standing before Isabel. Isabel murmured softly. She emulated the snake-person queen in the illusion and gently loosened the mask.
“If you are me…”
Therefore, Isabel simply sighed: “The girl’s wish has been fulfilled. After all, this is probably the place with the most Gryphons in the world…”
As the fine threads in the snake-person queen’s hands merged, the surrounding dark scene contracted again. Isabel smacked her lips, giving up her overthinking. He rubbed his scalp, which was already starting to shed hair severely, and complained: “Your Majesty, you should do something—I think you still need to look at these documents yourself; I’m not quite sure about them.”
“—Don’t worry, I will handle these documents properly. Thank you for your trouble.”
It was also inlaid with an amber-colored jewel the size of an eyeball. Near the jewel was a blue and white silk ribbon. Around them, densely packed snake people stood in silence, each wearing a mask.
“There are no major issues among the common folk; in fact, the reception has been quite good. As you predicted, rather than focusing on complex political struggles involving many interests, the public prefers romantic love stories with artistic and easy-to-understand language and simple, straightforward plots—your novel, anonymously written with you and Minister Eivass as prototypes, has passed the review. Without knowing your identity, several editors have given quite good reviews, and it is now being prepared for printing.
Isabel said, reaching out to touch her face. It turned out everything around her was an illusion. Isabel read out the Elven Language. The small, silvery white harp also had decorations of leaves and vines. Between the leaves and vines were two red flowers—deep red like roses. They were entirely carved from a single piece of gemstone.
“…It’s fine, whatever. Anyway, when Eivass returns, everything will be clear. Didn’t you say that only the knights thought we had a conflict, while the public was spreading rumors about us? Then you can have the newspaper office boost the effort. As for the argument… let them argue. They always need someone to argue with. Arguing for this ridiculous reason is better than arguing over difficult-to-solve problems.”
She was holding countless fine threads, and these threads were connected to the masked figures with downcast heads. The Isabel in the illusion subconsciously felt doubt: “Then who am I?”
Her fingernails traced across Isabel’s face, the sharp nails breaking the skin, moving from Isabel’s forehead all the way to the base of her left ear. It was as if she were trying to peel off her face along the outline of the mask.
Just like the answer Isabel gave, a human form appeared in the darkness. She couldn’t help but exclaim.
—It was precisely the alluring and enchanting snake-person queen from the initial story! Mycroft reluctantly stood up and saluted.
“You have insight, but not enough madness; you have discernment, but you are too sober. You are not fit to inherit all of me.”
There was no snake tail, no white robe, no golden crown, and no red eyeshadow.
“…You can notice that she is not me?”
Her expression contorted as she pondered for a long time, unable to think of how to refute the rumors. Seeing the genuine astonishment on his face, Isabel’s lips curved slightly upwards. From the very beginning, all the stories told “in the future” and revolving around her were under her control. Beneath the mask was another Isabel. At that moment, Isabel felt a mysterious connection with this mask. Her smile remained alluring, full of confidence. She looked up in a daze and found herself still sitting at the desk. She had not transformed into the snake-person queen, nor had she ever left Avalon.
“…Are you using some kind of illusion?”
Isabel said briskly: “Let’s leave it at that for now—when I officially ascend the throne, everything will be clear. I remember you said that only the knights thought we had a conflict, while the public was spreading rumors about us? Then you can have the newspaper office boost the effort. As for the argument… let them argue. They always need someone to argue with. Arguing for this ridiculous reason is better than arguing over difficult-to-solve problems.”
Update complete, meow!
(This chapter is finished)
