Chapter 371 The Last Moment of Lucidity

This was the first time Isabel saw Aiwass so well-behaved and quiet.

Of course, Aiwass isn't usually a very lively person. Not long ago, Aiwass was confined to a wheelchair every day.

He always looked at others with that calm, indifferent gaze, smiling softly as others chatted, listening quietly. He would occasionally chime in, but he usually continued the conversation. It made people feel comfortable and relaxed, and anyone would want to hang out with him.

...But Isabel always felt that although Aiwass always brought a sense of ease to others, he himself did not live such an easy life.

She always felt that Aiwass had a lot of things in his heart that he couldn't let go of.

While Aiwass had a smile on his face, Isabel could sense a slight frown on his face. While the others were laughing and playing, Aiwass sat there quietly, his eyes looking somewhere but seemingly into the distance.

——It’s like he is about to move to a place far away, so he doesn’t plan to leave any traces in front of people; it’s also like he is a person who has come back from the future, and he already knows that his current friends are just passers-by, so he doesn’t plan to invest any real feelings.

Isabel didn't know what Aiwass was worried about. He was so outstanding that she even admired him...but on the other hand, she felt that Aiwass was even more childish than she was.

He loved showing off his prowess and doing risky things, and he also loved being recognized and praised by powerful people. But at the same time, he felt a little awkward—a strange sense of pride, one Isabel hadn't figured out where, that made him unwilling to acknowledge his own expectations. So, no matter how proud he was, he wouldn't take the initiative to let others praise him.

Aiwass is obviously very young, but he still doesn't want to identify himself as a young person.

...like a big boy who has grown up but has never grown up.

Perhaps it was because of his past life, Isabel thought.

She had heard from Yulia that he and Yulia had grown up in an orphanage before Aiwass was adopted. The two had grown up without a parent, dependent on each other for survival... The fact that Professor Moriarty had adopted Yulia first, and ultimately adopted Aiwass as well because of Yulia's intense reaction to not leaving Aiwass, seemed to have irritated him.

It seems that this is the only explanation.

Aiwass lost his parents soon after he could remember. His adoptive father and adoptive brother were both very busy, and his father's family didn't have a wife. After being adopted, Aiwass mostly stayed at home with Yulia.

At that time, Aiwass was very lonely and could only read books at home. Looking back now, Aiwass's erudition may have benefited from his reading habits at that time.

Out of curiosity, Isabel had once commissioned Sherlock to investigate Aiwass's experience in middle school.

Only then did she realize that Aiwass had once been an athlete, skilled in many types of sports.

Thanks to his outstanding athletic achievements and his gradually improving physique, Aiwass finally began to be widely liked by his classmates. After receiving widespread recognition from others, Aiwass, like a plant receiving nourishment, gradually became cheerful and confident, becoming a dazzling figure.

And now, he stood quietly beside his grandmother's bed, as if he had relaxed completely.

Even though Ligeia and Isabel were there, they hardly interrupted, letting Her Majesty ramble on about meaningless gossip about life.

Aiwass seemed like her own grandson. He stayed by the bedside, softly responding to the old lady's words. His smile wasn't the bright, warm one he usually wore, the one that always felt fake because it was so perfect... but a quiet, gentle smile that reminded one of moonlight.

Isabel knew that her grandmother had been listless for a long time, but now, not only did Queen Sofia burst into laughter, but her voice became clearer, as if she were fully recovered.

She vaguely felt something.

Therefore, he did not interrupt the conversation, but stood quietly behind Aiwass, listening to his grandmother's voice almost greedily.

This meaningless yet heartwarming chat lasted nearly two hours.

Aiwass is good at chatting, especially talking to the elderly.

They didn't even go to the banquet hall to eat, but had the servants bring the food directly to their room. Sophia ate a rare seafood fried rice, a bowl of cream of mushroom and chicken soup with bread, and some fruit.

After dinner, she said she was tired and wanted to go to bed, so she sent Aiwass and Isabel out.

Aiwass and Isabel didn't get far.

At the door, Isabel gently pulled Aiwas's sleeve and gave him an inquiring look.

Aiwass shook his head slightly.

He had previously glimpsed Queen Sophia's physical condition with his priest's divine vision.

Even without using illumination magic, Aiwass could sense her life force was completely depleted by channeling healing light into her body to monitor her condition. Treatment and recovery alone were no longer sufficient to maintain her condition... If he wanted to extend her lifespan, he would have to use a ritual to increase her life force.

"In fact, even ordinary elderly people shouldn't be so depleted at this age."

Aiwass sighed, "Not to mention the Queen of Avalon."

"Because she is really tired."

Janice's voice sounded softly from the side.

Not in the painting, but in person.

She walked over and touched Isabel's head, then put her hand on Aiwass's shoulder and motioned for them to follow her.

They soon arrived at the study.

This was where Her Majesty the Queen usually worked. Ligeia had already arrived here, drinking beer by herself.

But Isabel slowly sat down in the main seat.

She fiddled with the pile of documents on her desk, sorting them out. Although she looked a little awkward, it was obviously not her first time.

"Sophia's personality is such that she likes to do everything herself. Even if it's a small matter, she likes to ask a few questions. But she rarely expresses her feelings directly to others. Even those closest to her don't know what she's thinking...but before you know it, you'll find that everything is changing according to her ideas."

Ligeia, who was a little drunk, made a childish sound.

As if mocking something, but also as if reminiscing about something: "From this point of view, she is indeed not suitable to be a queen. But from another perspective, there is no one in Avalon who is more suitable to be the monarch than her."

Isabel pursed her lips, her eyes a little red.

She moved the documents from left to right, and then from right to left. She seemed very busy, but she didn't know what she was doing. Her mind was in a state of confusion... so confused that she couldn't think straight.

Aiwass also sighed.

If nothing unexpected happened, she should be the only one who fully understood the background of Aiwass and Aleister. But apparently, even Ligeia and Janice, who were closest to her, did not know these things.

Aiwas originally thought that Her Majesty the Queen pulled him aside to chat at the end because she must have something to ask him.

For example, about Avalon, about Isabel.

Or maybe it was about the Round Table, about Lloyd's.

That ordinary sweater touched Aiwass' heart deeply.

This was also the first time that Aiwass had a clear idea of ​​"wanting to continue Avalon".

Before this, Aiwass tried to eliminate the hidden dangers in Avalon simply because it was the country he and his friends lived in. He had no feelings for Avalon itself, let alone any obsession.

Because Aiwass has lived here since he was a child, he has adapted to life here.

Because the Moriarty family's assets are here, and because he doesn't want to adapt to a new environment.

Because Sherlock is loyal to the Queen, because Isabel is the future Queen, and because his friends cannot leave Avalon—

Otherwise, Aiwass might have chosen to simply destroy Avalon and rebuild it. Perhaps that would have been cleaner.

Her Majesty had received intelligence from the Crown Master. She understood Aiwass perhaps even better than Aiwass knew himself. Even if she didn't know Aiwass's future goals, she was certainly aware of his talents and gifts that had caught the attention of the Pillar God.

If she made a request, Aiwass would certainly listen carefully.

But no.

——Until she finally fell into a deep sleep, Queen Sophia still said nothing.

Aiwass subconsciously clenched his fists.

He opened his mouth slightly, but ultimately said nothing.

(End of this chapter)