Chapter 1083 Your Dad is Here
After giving the gifts, Morgan left the forest with the fairies.
Isabel carefully held the golden apple in her hands, looking at it and sniffing it for a long time. She turned back to look at Aiwass expectantly. Only after he nodded did she feel relieved and took a light bite.
"What does it smell like?"
Aiwass asked curiously.
“…very sweet.”
As Isabel spoke, she handed the golden apple to Aiwass as if presenting a treasure.
Looking at Isabel with shining eyes, Aiwass lowered his head curiously and took a bite of the golden apple.
The texture of the golden apple was more like a peach than an apple. It wasn't crisp, but rather soft... like resilient flesh. It didn't even have a core, but it had an unforgettable sweetness that lingered in the mouth.
He felt a surge of vitality flooding into his body... It was similar to the feeling of using Fire Sacrifice to replenish his vitality after using Illumination too many times in a row, causing a serious loss of vitality. Even his soul was infused with it... If it was a transcendent whose soul was severely damaged during the Ascension Ritual, it might even be possible to heal it with a bite of the golden apple.
——There is nothing wrong with the stuff, and it is indeed a good thing.
Aiwas closed his eyes and felt for a while, then opened his eyes and looked at Isabel who was expecting him, and immediately smiled.
"No problem, it's delicious...you can eat it."
He was somewhat worried that if he took a few extra bites, the "medicinal effect" wouldn't live up to his expectations. So, he just watched Isabel slowly devour the golden apple, bite by bite. Anyway, he'd already tasted it, and his curiosity was satisfied.
Compared to that...
Aiwass was a little curious about what the gift from the Fairy Queen was...
It wasn't a treasure, but it wasn't food or drink either - which was a good thing. Aiwass was a little worried that if the goblins shared some of the food from the banquet, would there be any problems if he ate the goblins' food.
It was a somewhat thin cat.
In terms of breed, it's a close cousin of the British Shorthair, an orange-white breed. It appears to be less than a year old. However, its pupils aren't the typical golden color of British Shorthairs, but a clear emerald green.
It looked well behaved, but it was trembling as if it was afraid of something. After receiving the gift, Aiwass kept it on his lap because he was worried that the cat would shed its fur or its claws would damage Isabel's wedding dress. That was why Aiwass could clearly feel it trembling all the time.
There's no reason for the Fairy Queen to suddenly send a cat.
Unless there's something special about this cat.
Thinking of this, an idea suddenly came to Aiwass.
He held the cat, looked at him suspiciously for a long time, and asked tentatively, "Your Highness?"
The cat shuddered violently upon hearing this.
It suddenly raised its head in disbelief and looked at Aiwass in shock.
Looking at its rather human expression, Aiwass's guess came to fruition.
The corners of his mouth rose slightly, and he chuckled affirmatively and said, "Long time no see...Father."
"……Um?"
Isabel, who was sitting in front of the unicorn and eating the golden apple, turned around with some confusion.
"I didn't call you."
Aiwass patted Isabel's head in annoyance.
Isabel shrank her neck, swallowed the last bite of the golden apple, and came over with a smile: "Do you want me to call you... Dad?"
"You could call it that."
Aiwass said this, pointing to the cat in his arms, which was quietly and seemed to be asleep.
“…Huh?”
Isabel was stunned for a moment, then looked down at the cat curled up in Aiwass's arms.
Her movements froze for a long time, as if an entire universe was created in her mind.
"Your father is here."
Aiwass pulled the cat out of his arms, lifted it up like Simba the Lion King, and showed it to Isabel.
——No eggs.
As he lifted the cat, Aiwass took a quick look to confirm it.
If it weren't for the strange effect of Aiwass's aura, the cat wouldn't even be able to get on the unicorn's back.
Isabel was a little amused and helpless.
She quickly figured it out: "So... the Fairy Queen's gift is to send... my father back?"
When Isabel actually said it, she realized how unfamiliar she was with the word. Even the way she lip-synced with it seemed so awkward and stiff.
She had already learned from Aiwass that Prince Albert, a renowned clown and poet, had been captured and taken to the Fairyland during the Fairies' once-in-a-century banquet. He was said to be desperate to return, but once he'd eaten the Fairies' food, he wouldn't leave until they'd had their fill.
"...Could it be that as punishment for escaping the fairy kingdom, I became... a cat?"
Isabel murmured.
But she had to admit that she wasn't actually mentally prepared to actually meet Prince Albert. So when she learned that Prince Albert had been captured in the Fairy Kingdom, although she felt a little disappointed, she was actually relieved.
A father who had abandoned me for ten years, never returning home once...never even contacted me once. Rather than longing for him or hating him, I felt more unfamiliar and alienated.
Albert and Isabel had a close relationship—before Albert ran away from home, he was Isabel's sunshine. Isabel's mother died young, and it was Albert who brought her laughter and joy. And Prince Albert was indeed a man who was good at making people laugh, which is why he later disguised himself as a clown.
If their relationship had been bad, there would have been no need to hesitate. But it was precisely because Isabel had longed for him to come back for so many years that she seemed at a loss now.
She no longer needed to miss the sunlight she had bathed in during her childhood.
She already has the sun that shines on her all the time.
Now that her father has returned in the form of a cat, Isabel's resistance is not as strong.
"...My guess is, probably not."
Hearing this, Aiwass shook his head.
Although the Fairy Queen possessed the power of a Celestial Master, she was not one. Therefore, she would not be pulled down during the Tail Ring Ritual, and therefore had no requests for Aiwass.
And with her innocence and simplicity, she probably wouldn't even consider such far-reaching interests.
If Aiwass guessed correctly, it was probably like this:
Prince Albert was unaware that time flowed differently in the fairy kingdom, so when the fairies "invited" him to a banquet, he certainly didn't resist. Only after he had eaten did he learn of this and realize he would be late.
But he wanted to leave anyway—an act that would anger the goblin. It was like a group of children having a great time, and then one person clamored to go home. This would undoubtedly spoil the fun for everyone, diminishing the overall joy of the party.
In the past, the goblins would have chosen to punish such people. Although the possibility of being killed by goblins was small, it was definitely not zero - this possibility came from here.
But Prince Albert knew this was his last chance, so he fought tooth and nail to get back. Perhaps because of his persistence, the kindness of the fairies, or just some coincidence...he was fortunate enough to meet the Fairy Queen.
Fortunately, the Fairy Queen did know Aiwass and had a good impression of him... So when she learned that Aiwass was about to get married, she sent fairies to deliver gifts.
Aiwass's face is useful even in the fairy kingdom - and that is why Prince Albert has the opportunity to come back.
"And if I'm not mistaken... Father must have told the Fairy Queen his entire past."
Aiwass took the cat back into his arms and did not hand it to Isabel. "But he certainly doesn't know... his story will anger the goblins again."
Hearing this, the cat's face showed a very human look of annoyance. It curled up into a ball, and its ears disappeared.
"Because fairies have personalities similar to children, and they have many child friends, 'parents abandoning their children' is considered a grave sin by fairies. Children may be able to endure the betrayal of their friends, or loneliness, but they cannot endure the deception and abandonment of their parents. What kind of terror and despair would that bring?
"And your parents, though clearly all was well, never returned to visit... not even a letter, not even a single one home. This is an unforgivable crime under the laws of the fairy kingdom. Your return alive must have been a testament to the Queen suppressing the fairies' discontent.
"This is undoubtedly a harsh punishment. A flawless, permanent, malicious transfiguration... This must have been cast by the Fairy Queen herself. It's like the curse that transformed the prince into a frog... Without a cure, it would be difficult to transform back into a human."
Aiwass delivered the verdict.
"……It was my fault."
The kitten suddenly opened its mouth and uttered a childish voice, as if it were seven or eight years old: "Her Majesty's punishment is right."
Isabel's eyes suddenly widened.
She realized that was about the same time her father had left her... her own age.
"Her Majesty declared that I must know the horrors you have endured, the loneliness and terror of survival. Therefore, she transformed me into a frail kitten... Only after experiencing the time I spent away from you could I become human again.
"...And, Her Majesty the Queen forbade me to return home. She said that since I enjoyed wandering, I should wander as a cat. She wanted me to learn what true wandering meant. What the strong called wandering was nothing more than a leisurely journey; and what the rich called running away from home was merely a momentary rebellion, with the possibility of returning to a life of plenty at any moment."
The kitten curled up cautiously and whispered, "This is all retribution for my past actions. I couldn't control my own desires, so I became a cat that couldn't control its desires even more. I abandoned Isa... leaving her alone to endure the loneliness and fear of death, and now I've become a cat that could die at any moment. I once chose to run away from home as a transcendent, wandering around various cities... and now I'm going to become a true wanderer."
"...and a real stray cat. She wants to let me know what desire, fear, and wandering are..."
Having said that, the kitten raised its head and looked at Isabel.
Its pupils were the same emerald green as Isabel's.
"But even so, I'm glad I can come back here again."
The kitten whispered, "Happy wedding, Isabel. Happy birthday too... I hope I didn't spoil your day. I'll be leaving soon...
"—I'm sorry, Isabel. Nothing I say now will make any difference... If I can pass the trial and return alive as a human, then I can truly say I understand you. Then, I will return. And bring my most sincere apology."
Hearing this, Isabel covered her mouth.
Her pupils were sparkling with tears, but she remained silent.
"I didn't expect that Her Majesty the Queen is quite philosophical."
Aiwass, on the other hand, said softly, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth... In this way, you can understand Isabel's pain; it can also help Isabel resolve her heart knot, and you can also relieve your inner pain through this method of self-judgment.
"Compared to her childish appearance, she is surprisingly wise and fair."
But as he spoke, Aiwass grabbed Albert.
"--But there's no need to wander around. It would be hard to find you then. You might be under the wheels of a carriage. What if I leave Isabel with regrets then?"
Aiwass said calmly: "Now that I'm here, how can I sit back and watch others suffer misfortune? Since you intend to repent, why not follow the wishes of Isabel, the person involved?
"Apologies, ultimately, should be made in a way that satisfies the person involved, right? Not in a self-indulgent or self-punishing way."
"...You are talking about that, Aiwass."
Albert lowered his head and responded.
"Well...Father."
Isabel spoke softly, her voice a little hoarse.
She did not use the more intimate "Dad", but instead called him "Father", which she rarely used before.
But at this moment, her eyes were bright.
Although there was some complexity and sadness, there was also nostalgia and touching moments. There was absolutely no hatred or anger in it... because she was a kind girl who made Aiwas feel distressed.
"When the wedding is over...you will return and stay in the Hall of Silver and Tin."
At this point, Isabel's mouth corners slightly raised.
The tears reflected the iridescent glow of the unicorn, but she had a beautiful smile on her face.
"——And I am about to leave Avalon and go on adventures outside.
"You kept me back then, and now I...keep you. That's only fair, isn't it...
"……dad."
Update completed! Thanks to the Silver Alliance for the reward!
The wedding won't be delayed for long. I recently combined chapters mainly to control the number of chapters. Old readers of Mao know that, just like how I control the release and completion of the tower on the same day, Mao has obsessive-compulsive disorder in some strange places!
Of course the wedding has to be stuck in Chapter 99 meow!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
