Chapter 433
Secrets After Drinking
“…Mmm.”
Eivass groggily pulled himself up from the bed, emitting a meaningless grunt.
Lily immediately leaned over, supporting Eivass’s back with one hand and offering a cup of water at a comfortable temperature with the other. “Drink some water, Young Master.”
As Lily gently fed him warm water, Eivass’s consciousness, stiff and dry like an unlubricated machine, rapidly recovered.
…Did I black out?
His last memory was of Isabel leaving with Edward. The memories after that had vanished into thin air.
How strange.
A Third Tier Transcendent on the Path of Devotion, getting this drunk?
“I’m feeling much better… Hand me a candle, Lily.”
Eivass tilted his head back, finishing the last sip of water, and then said in a slightly hoarse voice, “Is it time for dinner yet?”
It was then that he suddenly realized that the room was filled with lit candles.
Lily handed him a candle and then got up to draw the curtains.
Looking outside, Eivass blinked. “It’s already the next day?”
Holding the candle, Eivass quickly understood. “Is it because I was making ‘that’ Illusion Card?”
His memories and reason gradually returned.
Eivass recalled that the final step in creating the “Lust” Illusion Card required the card maker to fall into a state of complete, uncontrolled drunkenness amidst surging passion.
At that point, he would use his own will to drip blood with a high alcohol content onto the card. This would simultaneously sacrifice a small portion of his most recent memories to Hengwo… The end result would be like “getting drunk and blacking out.”
…But was the consumed memory that much?
He couldn’t even remember if he had eaten.
Eivass began using Fire Worship Magic to restore his physical condition and asked, “Did I have dinner with you all yesterday?”
“You did.”
Lily, while pouring water, gently explained, “You performed the final step of the ritual around ten in the evening yesterday.”
As she spoke, she showed Eivass the Tarot card on the table, which Eivass had sealed between two crystal plates. It was now submerged in blood.
It was currently flickering with a hazy, illusory light, causing the card’s surface to become blurry, distorted, and constantly shifting.
It looked like the distorted scenery seen through the air above a barbecue grill.
Seeing that the card had been completed, Eivass finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“…Did I say anything while eating? I mean, after I got drunk.”
But then, Eivass suddenly became somewhat worried. “And when did I get drunk? Was it while eating with everyone? Or after that?”
Creating this card required him to enter a state of complete excitement and intoxication. Such a state was far too dangerous.
—There was a considerable risk of death, both physiologically and socially.
The people who had welcomed the New Year with Eivass last night were basically the ones he could trust the most in this world. At most, Sherlock and half of Haina… He trusted Haina not to betray him, but he didn’t trust Haina’s brain.
If Eivass didn’t dare to make this card while with them, under their supervision… then he certainly wouldn’t dare to do so under other circumstances.
This card was a necessary tool to completely “kill” the succubus Emma.
Without the seal of the Illusion Card, even if Emma were killed, she would be reborn.
At that time, Eivass’s secret might be leaked, and it might even attract the attention of a Fallen Heavenly Envoy. Therefore, killing her required sealing her as a means to silence her—or rather, before the Fallen Heavenly Envoy was brought down, all high-level Phantoms Eivass killed using the Beast of Sin had to be eliminated in this manner.
Although he knew this was unavoidable, and that the card had been completed.
Eivass now felt a renewed sense of anxiety.
To get Eivass drunk with ordinary wine, he most likely used the Banquet Master’s ritual to ensure he entered a chaotic state. After that, he lost about four hours of memory.
…Both excitement and drunkenness.
Although Eivass was confident in his rationality… he still couldn’t be 100% sure he hadn’t acted like a madman or said things that made no sense.
Eivass looked at Lily expectantly, pressing his question. “What did I do then? Or rather, what did I say?”
Based on Eivass’s understanding of Lily and himself, no matter what, Eivass would definitely have kept Lily by his side before losing control. This meant Lily had surely witnessed the entire process.
But Lily simply shook her head with a smile.
For the rare time, she didn’t answer Eivass’s question, only comforting him. “Young Master, you didn’t get drunk at the banquet, nor did you act like a madman. You got drunk after the banquet finished, in your own bedroom, and only had time to say some drunken things.
“Her Majesty the Queen and Miss Lixia were drinking with you then. You used a special ritual to get yourself drunk quickly… and the second person to get drunk was Her Majesty Isabel. However, after both of you got drunk, Miss Lixia took Her Majesty away.
“As for what you said… you should ask Miss Isabel.”
Lily’s lips curved slightly, as if holding back a laugh.
…Huh?
This was the first time Eivass had been explicitly refused by Lily.
But Lily’s words somewhat reassured Eivass. He definitely hadn’t said anything he shouldn’t have. Otherwise, Lily and Isabel would not have reacted this way.
But this only made Eivass more curious. “Can’t you just tell me, Lily?”
“That was your own command at the time,” Lily said seriously. “After you completed the ritual, you had a brief moment of sobriety. You personally said that this matter did not need the sober you to know, and told me—unless Her Majesty Isabel was willing to tell you, what you said had to be kept secret.”
“…Hmm?”
Eivass became even more curious.
“You can’t tell me what I said… but you can tell me what I *didn’t* say, right?”
He had to confirm indirectly. “Did I not say anything overly excessive or rude?”
“No.”
“And I didn’t say anything about another world or the future?”
Eivass’s words actually revealed something.
Lily glanced at Eivass with a hint of surprise and confirmed, “No.”
“Then…”
Eivass hesitated. “Did I confess to Isabel?”
“…No.”
Lily paused, as if thinking for a moment before answering with certainty, “Yes, no.”
What else could I have said?
And why did it have to be Isabel’s consent that I needed to be told? Lixia heard it too, didn’t she?
Eivass felt that his brain, which had just sobered up, had not fully recovered—or rather, his mind had not gone in that direction at all.
“It wasn’t anything bad, right?”
Eivass confirmed one last time. “It won’t affect my relationship with Isabel either…”
Lily’s lips suddenly curved upward for a moment. She answered crisply, “Definitely not—rather, your relationship might even become better. At least, that’s how it seems to me.”
So it *was* a confession, wasn’t it? What else could I have said? But Lily said it wasn’t a confession…
…Could it be that I went crazy in front of her?
That’s unlikely.
Eivass couldn’t come up with an answer for a while.
However, since Lily said it wasn’t anything bad, Eivass decided to let it go for now.
Isabel would definitely tell him—at worst, he could sincerely coax her!
He could just treat it as having said some flirtatious words, and then sobered up and felt it wasn’t appropriate for Lily to relay…
…But if that were the case, Lily’s suppressed laughter would seem strange again.
Strange, what else could I have said?
Although Eivass was still somewhat confused, he finally relaxed and said with some regret, “It’s just a pity I forgot how Edward behaved at the dinner table… Speaking of which, where is Isabel now?”
“Outside, it’s the Candle-holding Ceremony, and Her Majesty has gone to watch the ceremony,” Lily replied earnestly, folding her hands in front of her.
Eivass frowned deeply. “She’s alone? That’s too dangerous… Didn’t she bring Miss Lixia?”
Yesterday, Eivass had praised Isabel’s performance and told her that on January 1st, she could go out in Yulia’s appearance. That way, she wouldn’t have to worry about assassins.
But Yulia herself was a beautiful and delicate young lady… Although Isabel was quite strong herself, Eivass was still very worried about her.
—What he meant yesterday was that they would switch to Yulia’s appearance when they went out together!
“She’s using Miss Yulia’s appearance; at least Young Master Edward couldn’t tell the difference. Very few people know Miss Yulia, so no one would want to harm her,” Lily said softly, looking at the uneasy Eivass. “And today is the Candle-holding Ceremony, so there will definitely be no problems. Besides, Her Majesty hasn’t gone far, just to the Red Queen District to watch the ceremony… Bishop Mathers is also there.”
The ceremony venue for the Candle-holding Ceremony was the Great Cathedral of the Candle Holder. It wasn’t too far from the Silver and Tin Hall, well within the Gryphon’s one-minute response range.
Moreover, Bishop Mathers knew Yulia—he had helped “illuminate” her when she had health issues before. With him watching, it should be fine.
But even so…
For some reason, Eivass felt a sense of disquiet.
…No, I still need to go and see. He made up his mind.
“I won’t have breakfast.”
He rubbed his stomach. He was a bit hungry, but it wasn’t a big problem.
When he found Isabel, they could find a place to eat outside together.
And he could ask her what he had said at the time…
“—Let’s go, Viness.”
Eivass called out casually.
The crow, resting in the corner like a gargoyle, suddenly opened its crimson eyes, flapped its wings, and flew onto Eivass’s shoulder.
“If Yulia wants to go out, remember to accompany her. Keep an eye on her wherever she goes. If she doesn’t let you accompany her, follow her in the shadows, understand?”
Eivass instructed. “Of course, if Edward wants to go out, you don’t need to worry about him.”
“I understand,” Lily nodded calmly. “I will protect Miss Yulia.”
Eivass let out a satisfied sigh.
Fortunately, with Lily there, he wouldn’t be in a situation where he didn’t know whom to take care of…
As he passed by the table, he casually picked up the Illusion Card he had completed and put it in his pocket.
At this moment.
Elsewhere, Isabel, who was enthusiastically watching the ceremony outside the Great Cathedral of the Candle Holder, suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder. At the same time, a strange, sweet fragrance, like boiled rose mead, rushed over.
Isabel turned around in confusion and saw a beautiful woman with golden-blonde curly hair smiling at her.
The woman held up a finger and made a “shushing” gesture at Isabel.
Isabel immediately understood her meaning and nodded earnestly and obediently.
“Don’t make a sound.”
She smiled gently and said softly, “Follow me.”
With that, the woman looked up and nodded kindly at Bishop Mathers not far away, showing a charming and friendly smile.
She waved her hand and then gestured, indicating that she was taking “Yulia” away.
Then, she took Isabel’s hand. Isabel, also very obedient, did not resist at all.
Mathers smiled and nodded, signaling that he understood. He then shifted his gaze away from “Yulia” and continued to preside over the ceremony.
“Let’s go, Yulia. I’ll take you to play.”
The woman said with a gentle smile, and then pulled “Yulia” away from the Great Cathedral of the Candle Holder.
However, she didn’t notice that upon hearing the word “Yulia,” the “Yulia” behind her suddenly froze.
Isabel’s pupils instantly cleared.
—The back of “Yulia” was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
But her face showed no abnormality, her steps didn’t falter, and the hand being pulled didn’t tremble. She continued to follow the woman obediently.
Seven thousand words, update complete!
On New Year’s Day, double monthly vote and requests for votes~
