Chapter 191
Eivass’s Invitation
Initially, Eivass might have been the only one wanting to seek out Isabel, but the group grew.
First came Lily and David, then Yulia and Master Nobel—after that, they encountered Master Janis.
Eivass was even worried that Isabel might suffer social anxiety again, meeting so many people at once.
However, upon seeing Isabel himself, he realized he was overthinking.
Or rather, he had underestimated the severity of the problem.
Isabel seemed to have regressed to her original state—a secluded state that Eivass had never witnessed firsthand, only heard about in conversations with other classmates.
She responded when they knocked and even opened the door to let them in. But upon entering, they found Isabel huddled in a corner of the room, not greeting anyone, with no smile on her face.
She appeared engrossed in painting, as if focused and unable to be distracted.
But Eivass could tell at a glance that Isabel wasn’t actually painting—she was merely doodling meaninglessly. She would draw something and then cover it with other colors.
It wasn’t sadness, but confusion and fear.
Eivass could see immediately that Isabel’s mind was in turmoil. Her brain had practically shut down.
Princess Isabel was clearly not as optimistic and strong as she usually appeared. She had merely been trying hard to forget her nightmares… and now, with Prince Andrew’s curse-induced death, the nightmares had returned.
It was like being harassed and attacked long ago, with the attacker intending to kidnap or murder. Then, moving far away. Many years passed, and she even thought she had forgotten and moved on, only to suddenly encounter that person again at a street corner—and realize they had seen her.
Isabel’s experience was far more painful than this.
She had personally witnessed, and even experienced, this random death ritual.
Queen Sophia had just said that the Shadow of Avalon ritual was only one person short of being filled, meaning twenty people in total, including the prince. Eivass didn’t know if any royal bloodlines murdered before this had been incorporated, but there should have been at least a dozen relatives—perhaps even more.
Family members like Isabel’s mother, who were not of royal blood but still died from the curse, were not counted among the “twenty people.” Including these completely innocent collateral victims, the number had already reached a staggering amount.
There had been no curses in recent years, and the events began over a decade ago. This meant that, on average, about three people died each year, and it appeared completely random…
Given the continuous pressure and fear from this random, selective death, Eivass could only attribute the royal family’s ability to avoid madness and indiscriminate killing to Her Majesty the Queen’s excellent upbringing and the high average moral standards of the Du Lac family.
“May I speak with Isabel alone? Is that possible?”
Eivass said softly, looking at Janis.
Isabel’s father was absent for long periods, making Master Janis her de facto guardian.
Out of politeness and respect, Janis had also changed into a light black veil—even though she knew Prince Andrew was not innocent, as the Queen’s close friend and guest, and also a master elf from the Church, her attitude towards the royal family directly influenced the attitudes of other knights and ministers towards the royal family.
Hearing Eivass’s request, Janis was somewhat surprised.
Based on her understanding of Eivass, she had expected him to gather the crowd and forcibly involve Isabel in social activities to distract her.
Because that was the safest and most efficient method. It would absolutely not go wrong.
There would be no room for missteps—as there would be no need to say anything to resolve the issue directly, while also allowing others to witness his close relationship with Isabel.
From her covert observations of Eivass during this period, he seemed to favor these “off-the-books” tactics of resolving issues from outside the immediate situation. The more he was pressed for a clear answer, the more ambiguous and evasive he would become.
Unlike his gentle, obedient, and composed appearance, Eivass strongly disliked being drawn into others’ rhythms or playing by their rules. He didn’t like defending by countering moves; instead, he would step forward and launch a sneak attack before the battle even began. Only after creating a sufficient advantage would he engage in a “fair fight.”
A cunning little fox, but she didn’t dislike him.
However, it seemed Eivass himself had changed somewhat now… a change that was visibly apparent.
Most notably, he dared to enter the fray.
He had previously been afraid to approach unfamiliar territories… cautious, like a stray cat fending for itself. But now, for Isabel, he dared to venture into them.
He was actively trying to change.
“Humans are wonderful,”
Janis murmured softly, saying with satisfaction, “Especially young people.”
Discontent with their current state and attempting to change—this was perhaps Eivass’s ambition to transcend, she mused.
She tried to analyze from her own experience.
The biggest difference between humans and elves was the speed of their psychological changes. Corruption could happen in an instant, and enlightenment could happen just as quickly. Within a few short years, a person could become completely different from their past self… a situation that would never occur with elves.
Life in the Eternal Holy Kingdom was peaceful and serene, like a static utopia.
People woke up at standard times, worked at standard times, got off work at standard times, and slept at standard times.
Rituals were fixed, policies rarely changed, and the number of holidays remained constant. Decades of work would yield no variations, and any hobbies could be pursued for decades, even centuries.
They lived with sufficient money, got married and had children, day after day. They lived happy lives without natural disasters, man-made calamities, or accidents. From Janis’s birth until now, the Holy Kingdom had not changed. By the standards many people in Avalon lived by, it might even be considered paradise.
But Janis disliked that feeling. She couldn’t stand the pervasive sense of tranquility in the air… it stirred something within her. A desire to destroy it all… She felt an instinctive aversion and wariness towards the power of the Way of “Twilight.”
However, traveling in the human world was different.
She had seen countries that underwent twelve coups in one month, generations engaged in back-and-forth revenge, and incredibly tense life dramas stemming from the chaotic bloodline relationships between several families. Human lifespans were short, and precisely because of this, changes were visible.
Like herself. Although she had only been away for a few decades, Avalon was completely different when she returned than it had been the first time she visited.
Elven lifespans were only five times that of humans, yet the changes in the human world occurred more than ten times faster than in the Holy Kingdom.
And the essence of these changes came from these young people. Each individual’s transformation had the potential to change the world at some point in the future.
Janis focused on observing these “changes”; the world rapidly transforming before her eyes gave her a strong sense of satisfaction. That was the beauty she pursued.
—Eivass was the “protagonist” she had chosen.
With that, Janis nodded slightly and obediently led the others out of the room.
However, she didn’t go far, nor did she respond to the curious, doubtful, wary, or contemplative gazes.
She simply raised a finger and silently gestured “shh,” then tiptoed sideways, pressing her ear to the door, demonstrating for Yulia.
Yulia’s eyes lit up instantly.
She readily followed suit, pressing her ear to the door. Lily then crowded over.
Janis moved aside, signaling that David could also listen. But David saw that the two girls were already blocking most of the door, and he hesitated, not joining them. Because if he pressed closer, he would definitely bump into them.
—Taking advantage of girls was not in line with the way of a knight.
David stated firmly in his heart.
Mr. Eivass would never do such a thing.
Janis then nodded to Master Nobel, her pupils suddenly turning into the color of blue sky and white clouds—or rather, it was a painting she had created with a sky of blue and white clouds as the background, now hanging in Isabel’s bedroom. Though there was no window, the painting seemed to bring in fresh air like a window.
As soon as her gaze entered the room, her eyes lit up.
She saw Eivass leave his wheelchair and stand behind Isabel.
He placed his hands on Isabel’s shoulders.
Realizing that this was an action impossible to perform while sitting in a wheelchair, Isabel’s hand, which had been aimlessly doodling, paused for a moment. Her brain subconsciously began to process this.
Isabel even subconsciously wanted to ask Eivass—but the heaviness and fear in her heart extinguished the words before they could be spoken and her interest, causing her to open her mouth but say nothing.
“I know,” Eivass said softly, “You’ve actually been listening all this time…”
His voice was low and gentle.
It felt like the afternoon sun in autumn, casting a lazy, fluffy warmth.
“But don’t worry. The curse is over.”
Eivass said softly, “I swear to you…”
Her Majesty the Queen had asked him to look after Isabel, wanting him to convey this information to Isabel.
Feeling a slight tremor from the shoulder his fingertips touched, Eivass paused slightly before continuing:
“—You are safe.”
“Did you resolve it, Mr. Fox?”
Isabel’s voice trembled slightly.
If Eivass had admitted it, he was certain that the Queen and the Grand Guardian would not have pointed out his lie.
But he still refused.
“I don’t think so,”
Eivass said softly, looking down.
Because that kind of method was too despicable—claiming credit and fabricating achievements were the actions of the incompetent.
Actually, Eivass didn’t know why Prince Andrew had suddenly died… according to the game’s sequence, he should have lived for over a year more.
But it didn’t matter.
It didn’t matter who cast the curse—he wasn’t Sherlock.
Moreover, he had the help of “Miss Alistair,” so he didn’t need to be concerned with evidence.
Just beat them all up.
Whether it was Noble Red, or the assassins with Eagle Eye. Or those corrupt knights and officials, or the rebellious merchants of Lloyd Society…
Everyone knew that Miss Alistair was a ruthless killer.
If all the destabilizing factors were resolved, Isabel would naturally be safe as well.
Rather than comforting her, appeasing her, encouraging her, or distracting her… it was better to solve the problem from its root.
Of course, Eivass actually had an even better method…
“So, Miss Lulu,” Eivass’s voice was calm and reassuring, “if you’ve slept enough, it’s time to wake up from your nightmare.
“As a morning exercise… shall we go kill someone?”
Eivass invited with a smile.
Taking Isabel along to eliminate those who wished her harm would both aid her growth and soothe her spirits. The only issue was that the person saying this might not quite fit the persona of “Mr. Fox.”
But fortunately, Isabel didn’t take it seriously.
However, Eivass knew she probably wouldn’t.
Isabel merely thought Eivass was joking and immediately became a little flustered: “That’s not necessary, though…
“Never mind… I’ll show you, Eivass. It’s hard to explain…”
“Show me what?” Eivass asked curiously.
“My diary.”
Isabel replied, “Or rather, a final will.”
“…Yours?”
“No! It’s mine… left by my family members.”
Isabel first retorted slightly loudly, then sighed, “After you read it, you’ll understand why I’m so sad and fearful…”
Today’s update is over seven thousand words.
