Chapter 1078
The Missing Clown and Bard
In the original timeline, Yulia’s death was related to Noble Red. Noble Red was a subordinate organization of the Rose Cross, which in turn followed the orders of Anna Sprenger, a secret Apostle of the Ring Heavenly Envoy.
Before that, Anna Sprenger had also created James. The medicine James bought to delay the outbreak of the Phantom Demon Egg after adopting Yulia was also obtained through Anna.
In other words, the Ring Heavenly Envoy had been paying attention to Yulia.
Given this situation, Eivass could not consider her death a pure accident.
It could only be a conspiracy.
Yulia might have been intended as a replacement for the Candlemaster—the Butterfly was very likely cultivated by the Ring Heavenly Envoy as a substitute to burn away Sin Thorns and replace the Candlemaster!
But for some reason… perhaps to appease the Candlemaster, perhaps because they discovered the Butterfly could not burn Sin Thorns, or perhaps for some other reason, the Ring Heavenly Envoy suddenly destroyed Yulia.
—All of this was done by the Ring Heavenly Envoy!
” …This is the first time I’ve seen a mastermind so comprehensively cover all their bases, big and small,” Eivass grumbled. “They’ve truly taken responsibility for everything.”
He even felt that if he encountered any more accidents, all he’d have to do was shout “Damn the Ring Heavenly Envoy!” and he’d likely hit the culprit directly…
The Ring Heavenly Envoy truly did their work and truly took the blame!
For someone who had speed-run through nine cycles of reincarnation, they had essentially scoured every resource node, quest point, and serendipitous encounter clean. There was barely any room for other masterminds to operate…
“—I just hope he doesn’t interfere with my wedding.”
Eivass sighed.
Hearing this, Isabel’s expression became hesitant. “Mm…”
“What is it, my dear?” Eivass keenly noticed Isabel’s reaction. “Is there something else?”
“Yes… or rather, no. But at least it’s certain we don’t have time anymore…”
Isabel shook her head, lowering her head with a complicated expression. “My father… Prince Albert, he hasn’t returned yet.”
“Hmph!”
Suddenly, the Old Duke let out a loud sound.
He hadn’t understood the previous conversation about Heavenly Envoys and Pillar Gods. But he was extremely displeased with Albert. This incredibly vindictive old man was still exceptionally unhappy with Prince Albert.
Eivass had no doubt that the old man’s visit to Avalon had at least a thirty percent purpose of confronting Albert directly, asking him if he knew what he had done.
Eivass thought for a moment and directly brought up Albert: “What about that Bard, Yunus? Has he returned to Glass Island?”
Eivass had mentioned it once before to Isabel. Prince Albert was currently out and about, using the alias of the Bard Yunus to perform heroic deeds. However, the Old Duke was certainly unaware of this. Isabel might have forgotten, so Eivass reminded her again.
But Isabel clearly hadn’t forgotten.
She cared more about her father than she let on. “I’ve already sent people to investigate his whereabouts. About a month ago, I had the ‘White Gloves’ of the Inspection Department help track him. Although he’s been abroad, the Inspection Department has overseas agents as well…”
“…But about half a month ago, the inspectors lost him. This was precisely when the Fallen Heavenly Envoy descended, so I didn’t have the energy to deal with it.
“And not long ago, my inspectors received the investigation’s conclusion: he was captured by the Fey.”
“…Ah?”
Eivass let out a nonsensical sound of inquiry. “He’s already so old… Why would the Fey invite him?”
The Fey were supposed to only like children with childlike innocence—although Eivass did know that Yunus had a Fey friend.
However, it was difficult for such a “soiled” adult to enter the Fey realm. The Fey’s criteria for “soiled” could basically be summarized by words children used to complain about their parents, such as “ugly,” “meddlesome,” “vulgar,” and “fierce.”
Those like Merlin and Eivass, who were “good-looking and elegant,” could understand what they were thinking and were willing to play with them, were considered “good adults,” similar to a “confidante.” The Fey scholars and doctors who could use Fey magic were like this.
“It seems the Fey are holding a banquet… inviting many poets and clowns, and Yunus is one of them. Afterwards, they plan to invite many children.”
Isabel replied.
“A banquet of the Fey…”
Eivass was somewhat puzzled.
He had never heard of such a thing… This might also be one of the butterfly effects he had caused.
But at least one thing was certain—if Prince Albert had truly been captured by the Fey to attend a banquet, he likely wouldn’t be able to get out.
Much like the legend of “Lan Ke Ren.”
This world also had similar stories. Once someone accidentally entered the Fey realm and ate Fey food, they would become a temporary resident of the Fey realm. When they returned to the Material Realm, decades or even centuries would have passed. No one knew how long a Fey banquet would last… it could be months for the short ones, and a few years for the long ones. Mortals within the Fey realm had no way of knowing the flow of time in the outside world.
Eivass remembered it clearly.
He had given Prince Albert an ultimatum—he didn’t return when the Old Queen died, nor did he return on the day of her state funeral. If he still didn’t return for Isabel’s birthday, coronation, and wedding, then he didn’t need to return at all.
He had agreed then and promised to come.
But given the current situation… he probably wouldn’t be able to return.
Being captured by the Fey wouldn’t pose a mortal danger, but there would be some strange dangers.
This was because Fey food had some special effects. Some would turn people into children, some would turn them into animals, and some might even shrink them… These childlike effects were permanent.
Although he had met with an accident, it was unclear whether this promise would still hold for Isabel… after all, he truly hadn’t returned.
“How about I make another trip?”
Eivass frowned and said, “I can ask Merlin to teleport me to the Fey realm. If Yunus is truly there…”
“—No, there’s no need.”
Isabel refused without hesitation. “I haven’t told you because…
“…I think, if he doesn’t return… it might be better.”
Hearing this, Eivass was stunned.
Why?
Was it because if Yunus didn’t return, Isabel would have someone to resent?
It didn’t seem right… She had only learned the truth about the royal curse today. Then why hadn’t she told Eivass about this a week or two ago?
“Because I want to give Avalon to Yulia. That way, Hrasal might truly have a chance to be revitalized in our hands.”
Isabel looked at the white-haired girl beside Eivass. “But if he returns… as a pure-blooded Du Lac with higher inheritance rights than me, his very existence might become a catalyst for unrest in Avalon.”
This was also the reason Prince Albert hadn’t returned for so long.
In the outside world, he was believed to be long dead. Since he was dead, his reappearance would cause trouble for Isabel. After all, she had one-quarter non-human blood, wasn’t an Authority, and couldn’t even use Avalon’s scepter and crown. Although Prince Albert was also an Extraordinary of the Path of Beauty, he had an affinity for the Path of Authority.
He didn’t want to trouble his daughter, so he buried the identity of “Albert.”
…It seemed he had buried it too deeply, to the point where it couldn’t be resurrected.
“So… does what we said before still stand?”
Eivass looked at Isabel hesitantly.
“Then… let’s consider it void?”
Isabel wasn’t very sure.
She said hesitantly, “After all, he also met with an accident…”
Hearing this, Eivass understood—although Albert had abandoned her for over a decade, she still had feelings for her father.
She was not, after all, a true Authority and could not be completely ruthless.
Isabel was worried that he had truly not returned, or was unwilling to return… Thus, being captured by the Fey became a better outcome. At least it was due to some uncontrollable force, and she could comfort herself.
“Then, after the wedding, I’ll go to the Fey realm.”
Eivass made up his mind.
Regardless, he was her father-in-law. Even if Isabel wanted to acknowledge him but didn’t, he couldn’t just ignore it…
“Then…”
Isabel suddenly spoke. “At that time, I’ll go with you.”
Honeymoon trip?
A trip to the Fey realm?
“That would be nice.”
Eivass’s eyes lit up, and he nodded. “There’s a Grand Banquet happening then… that would indeed be a good choice!”
“It’s just a pity…”
The Old Duke sighed. “I can’t throw a punch at that brat this time. My daughter has been a widow waiting for her husband all this time, her life ruined. He’s at least one-third responsible!”
“Father!”
Annie stopped him, annoyed. “What do you mean ‘widow waiting for her husband’—”
That night, the Silver and Tin Hall held a pre-wedding banquet.
Amidst everyone’s laughter, the night of May twenty-first quickly passed.
(End of Chapter)
