Chapter 672
Overbearing Isabel
“The Cardinal’s clothes have been delivered,” Lily’s voice came clearly from the entrance. “Do you want to try them on first?”
“Yes.” Eivass agreed and got up to open the door.
As the door opened, a familiar figure suddenly pounced into his arms like a little cannonball. Isabel, dressed in a short, elf-style skirt that was easy to move in, leaped nimbly. She wrapped her arms around Eivass’s neck, using the momentum of her jump to lift herself so her toes were briefly off the ground.
“Did you miss me?” Isabel said with a smile. After her leap, her white leather shoes naturally slid down and lightly landed on Eivass’s feet. However, Eivass didn’t feel much weight from Isabel. She stood lightly on her tiptoes, her charming and cute appearance like that of a fey. Even without seeing wings behind her, it was as if she could rest on a blooming flower like this.
He reached out with some surprise, subconsciously caressing Isabel’s cheek. Yet, even then, he didn’t feel any trace of the mask adhering to her face. Isabel didn’t dodge; instead, she pouted and brought her face closer, allowing Eivass to examine the details more carefully. She teased, “If you could tell just by touching, then the Mask of Secrets Grimoire would be useless.”
Eivass looked at Lily by the door, who was quietly holding the Cardinal’s robe, her presence as faint as a fleeting illusion, and suddenly realized, “This is… Selene?”
“She was too restless. I turned my back for a moment, and she gnawed through half the ham in the kitchen. The same goes for the sausage—what’s most infuriating is that she only takes one or two bites of everything. Once she’s drooled on it, it can’t be stored, and no one else can eat it.” Lily’s expression was solemn, half-scolding and half-complaining. “It’s better to let her be quiet for a while.”
It was clear that Lily’s separation from Selene was different from Eivass’s arrangement with the Ring Heavenly Envoy. Their memories were mutually accessible. This meant Selene would definitely know common sense; she wasn’t an innocent, ignorant child. She had clearly, knowingly gnawed through everything in the kitchen, behaving much like a child who licks an entire ice cream cone to prevent a friend from taking a bite. Once she’d eaten from them, they were only fit for her.
“Can’t we let the child eat more?” Isabel stepped back a couple of paces, lightly jumping off Eivass’s feet. She gently patted Eivass’s chest and complained in a low voice, “I remember you said that child even called you Dad… We can’t let the child go hungry, can we?”
The patting of his chest looked like a small reprimand. But Eivass knew she was actually just curious about the true feel of the giant jewel on his chest. In the Dream Realm, it was merely a phantom, and Isabel hadn’t truly touched it yet.
—Yes, they had met again during a dream last night. Amidst their joy, Eivass and Isabel had each shared what had been happening on their respective sides. Eivass was quite pleased with Isabel’s growth. Avalon seemed to no longer require his management. The fully awakened Isabel, as a capable queen, was already quite impressive.
Ministers, as political beings, were highly sensitive. They were as acute as animals before an earthquake, sensing any gust of wind before others. Speculating about their ruler was also a crucial part of their nature—in simpler terms, they bullied the weak and feared the strong. They were acutely aware of the ruler’s attitude and determination. Once Isabel became completely firm, her opinions no longer met any resistance. This was a common trait among Extraordinary beings of the Path of Authority, as the essence of the Path of Authority contained traces of the Transcendent Path.
Eivass encouraged Isabel and also learned about her progress in cultivating the Mask of Secrets Grimoire. Upon learning that Isabel was very confident, he invited her to watch the Pope’s succession ceremony together. This was a genuine spectacle that occurred “once every few centuries.” Although almost the entire Church could watch a “live broadcast,” the live broadcast and being there in person were certainly different. Just as the Spring Festival Gala, even if it had become extended, watching it live would still be very interesting and prestigious. Eivass particularly enjoyed such spectacles and was keen on dragging those around him along. Sherlock had clearly stated he wasn’t going; he intended to bury himself in his studies and delve into more grimoires—such spectacles were a pure waste of time for him. Isabel had accepted Eivass’s invitation and “teleported” to the Church through the mask that had been sent over by the Church earlier.
“I didn’t let her go hungry…” Eivass shook his head, momentarily having the strange illusion of a wife returning from a business trip and scolding him for letting their child starve. Seeing Isabel still reaching out to try and slip her hand under his collar to caress the giant emerald jewel, Eivass couldn’t hold back any longer and gently pushed her hand back.
“What’s wrong,” Isabel persisted, “Aren’t you going to try on the clothes?” Since confirming her relationship with Eivass, Isabel had become increasingly bold and passionate.
Eivass simply reminded her, “But you’re using Selene’s body right now… Your consciousness, your mask, has descended into that child Selene’s body. So, is this considered you, or is it Selene?”
“It’s undoubtedly me,” Isabel replied without hesitation. Her eyes sparkled like stars, without the slightest waver.
“…And what if you made a mask for someone else, and then let that person descend into your body? Would that be considered a different person from you?”
“No, that would still be me.” Isabel said with a smile, her narrowed eyes reminiscent of a cunning kitten. “Whether it’s my body or my consciousness—that is undoubtedly me. Because I am Isabel, the Queen of Avalon… because I am the controller of these masks.”
The imposing aura she exuded surprised Eivass. Was this… the adaptability of the Path of Authority?
“That’s quite biased,” Eivass joked. Isabel just grunted and snuggled closer to Eivass. “Unhum, do you like it?”
“I do.” Looking at Isabel, whom he hadn’t seen in half a month, Eivass felt a sense of pride at her increased assertiveness, yet her continued devotion to him. —This child, I raised her myself!
“Right. If I wear your mask, or you wear mine… then it could be either of us.” Isabel whispered in Eivass’s ear. “You could play me… or I could play you.”
