When the plot-skips players into the game world

Isabel eventually changed clothes with Ligeia.

Although the reborn Ligeia had some resistance to dressing like a little girl, after the change, she happily went to look in the mirror. Explore new worlds at empire

"I rarely wore skirts when I was a child, mostly trousers,"

wearing Isabel's pale yellow nightgown, Ligeia walked between them, "Mainly because I was very active at that time. There were no girls among my peers, and I often played with the boys in the village.

"Sometimes we went fish-touching, sometimes egg-poaching. We would climb mountains and reach peaks so high we couldn't come down—there was even someone who accidentally fell and broke a leg. By the time we slid down slowly, our clothes were already torn and tattered.

"I have also sneaked out of the house in the middle of the night, gone on graveyard adventures with friends at dawn, and even secretly threw stones to break the church windows, all because the priest was usually very harsh on us..."

These were stories from her time as Meg, ones she had never mentioned to anyone. And now, "Meg is dead," yet she began to talk endlessly.

It was as if she was reminiscing something, or perhaps commemorating something.

——After all, starting today, Meg would no longer be seen. Only the reborn Ligeia remained.

That's why Ligeia did not want Meg to be completely forgotten—although Meg was respected and valued as Avalon's strongest, very few people truly understood who Meg was.

In most people's minds, Meg was just a guardian, a symbol of invincibility.

She left no offspring and had long lost her family. Her old friends, companions, colleagues, and even her first love had almost all passed away. The remaining, still living friends were also aged.

She no longer had someone to remember her by.

So, at least "Ligeia" herself, could not forget that Meg once existed.

The contract she signed with Serpent Celestial Marshal was imprinted in her heart, constantly reminding her—she must not stop due to contentment. From now on, she would be reborn time and again, gradually shedding all traces of her old self, until not even a human outline remained.

Unexpectedly, she didn't feel nervous or sad about this. On the contrary, she was somewhat eager to try.

...Perhaps she had developed a strong inclination to transcend Path without realizing when it had started.

If not, she wouldn't have fallen in love and married a demon in her role as an Inspector all those years ago...

Ligeia quickly got over the subtle emotions—after all, she was once "Meg," strong and steadfast of heart.

"Come on, let's go show Queen Sofia! "

Ligeia's face once again bore that carefree, unconcerned smile, "I'll treat you to something tasty later!"

Compared to just a moment ago, her smile now had an added touch of pure innocence. Ligeia was clearly adapting quickly to her new body.

"Just to clarify," Aiwass got into his wheelchair, somewhat helplessly, "I do not eat chicken in the morning."

In the presence of outsiders, he still had to maintain his false image... it had saved him several times already.

"Oh, you make it sound as if I only know about fried chicken."

Ligeia grumbled discontentedly, "I usually stroll around Glass Island when I'm free, I bet most people don't enjoy food as much as I do.

"I have memorized where to buy tasty food and good wine—even though I don't smoke, I occasionally buy cigarettes for Arius. I remember a few of his personal favorite tobacco shops."

Saying so, Ligeia became a bit wistful, "But with a body like this, it might be inconvenient to buy alcohol and cigarettes. It would be nice to be around seventeen or eighteen..."

"Maybe after a few more rituals, you will age a bit,"

Aiwass comforted her offhandedly.

Ligeia was really too talkative. In the beginning, he would courteously respond, but when he realized that Ligeia could keep talking nonstop even without any response from him, he decided to rest for a bit.

The old Meg had a loud voice, and now Ligeia had inherited this trait. A child's voice is sharper and more penetrating; you could hear her from far away. Therefore, guards and servants had long come to check on them.

To those who asked softly, Ligeia simply pointed at Isabel to handle them; to those who came over aggressively, she just dismissed them with a "Stand aside; this doesn't concern you" and sent them away.

She had no intention of concealing her identity; in fact, reverting to a younger age was quite astonishing in itself.

That very familiar Dragon Blood Edict made people stop barring her way—not that stopping her was of any use. Among the guards who came to stop her, there was even an Energy Level four Arbitrator. Ligeia glared at him, scolded him by name, and sent him away.

The person was initially worried about the queen's safety, suspecting that Isabel and Aiwass might have been taken hostage. But after tasting the familiar Dragon Blood Edict and being scolded in a familiar tone, he immediately understood Ligeia's identity, his furrowed brows relaxed, and he smiled and let them through.

So within the Hall of Silver and Tin, a strange sight appeared: an unfamiliar little girl, taking Princess Isabel, who rarely left her own room, through the palace unhindered, with no one daring to stop them. The strangest thing was that she had two horns on her head, not looking like a human at all.

Queen Sofia was getting on in years, her sleep shallow and short.

At this time, she had already finished breakfast and had started working in her study with her glasses on.

Ligeia didn't make an appointment or knock, directly barging into the queen's office.

But Sofia wasn't alarmed. Upon seeing Ligeia, the queen's gaze immediately focused on the dragon horns on her head.

Queen Sofia looked hesitantly at Ligeia, and then at Aiwass and Isabel, who followed in and sat in a wheelchair, as well as Lily, who trailed at the back.

"Guess who I am?"

Ligeia grinned and said.

Looking at the girl's face, that familiar yet unfamiliar smile—the kind of wicked and arrogant smile that was somehow likable—Queen Sofia smiled helplessly, "You've become younger... Meg."

"Tch, boring. How did you know it was me? Was it because Little Isabel is here?" Ligeia felt somewhat disappointed.

"Within your brows and eyes, I can still see traces of your youth."

The elderly lady smiled kindly and gently, "Come, girl. Let me give you a hug?"

"You actually still remember what I used to look like..."

Ligeia murmured softly.

She had forgotten what she used to look like herself.

In that era, there were no cameras, and she also couldn't afford a painter to create her portrait. What had passed was gone, never to return.

Surprisingly, Ligeia did not resist Queen Sofia's request for an embrace.

She leaned in and hugged Sofia tightly.

"Now I can smell that old person's scent on you, I couldn't smell it before... Is it because my own scent was too strong?"

Ligeia whispered softly, "Like an old book taken out from the cellar, or like a dusty old house. There is a sense of being watched by amber."

"That's what getting old is like. It's the scent of death."

Queen Sofia's eyes drooped as she spoke calmly.

Her eyes were somewhat swollen and a bit purple, and the skin on her face had lost its elasticity.

"How should I address you?"

Queen Sofia asked gently, "Is it still Meg?"

"Ligeia."

Ligeia answered, "My name is now Ligeia—given to me by Aiwass. He was the one who performed the ceremony... Considering the rebirth I've received, he could also be considered the parent of this body. To be named by one's parents is surely a very reasonable thing."

"A very nice name, Ligeia. Much prettier than your previous name," Sofia nodded in approval.

"Meg" means pearl.

A treasure born from suffering, which did coincide with Meg's life. But sometimes Sofia thought, perhaps it was because of that name that Meg had such an experience.

"Aren't you envious?"

Seeing how calm Sofia was, Ligeia felt a bit regretful, "I had actually planned on stopping you properly."

Sofia just held Ligeia, patting her back softly and said in a low voice, "I'm not so unwilling to die. Death is but the beginning of another journey... The Crown Lord has already decided to promote me to Angel Envoy. I am still in the Material Realm only because I can't let go of Avalon.

"It still has too many problems, and Princess Isabel is still too naive, utterly unprepared. It's not my time to die just yet, I can hold on a bit longer.

"—But that's all it is, just holding on. I can extend my life to the utmost with the priests' healing. If I were to invert means and ends, that would be a fool's errand."

"That's nice,"

Ligeia said with a mix of envy and regret, "It seems we are destined to part ways after all."

"I believe you could also be promoted to Angel Envoy by the Crown Lord."

Sofia said earnestly, "You are the only one I've seen who has received the grace of the Silver-Crowned Dragon. You are His favorite... and now, you have even acquired draconic traits."

"Because I also can't let go of Avalon... it's like my child."

Ligeia sighed, hugging Sofia back tightly, "If I die, Star Antimony and the Iris Flower will likely act at once. That's why I wanted to advance before. But now is a better opportunity.

"Spread the word, Sofia. Say that Meg is dead... She has died of old age, and Ligeia has assumed the position of Grand Arbitrator. That should make them want to move."

"Good, this plan could work."

Queen Sofia nodded in agreement, "Hit them hard, then they should quiet down a lot.

"So I'll announce your death today... When do you want the funeral?"

"Don't bother with it, keep it secret. That will make it more believable."

Ligeia laughed, "Watching one's own funeral, that's just too absurd... I wonder how Sherlock managed to hold back."

"... But will the people of Star Antimony believe it?"

Isabel couldn't help but ask her grandmother, "Meg... oh, Miss Ligeia told me. The enemy they're facing isn't that strong."

"It's not about belief, but a part of them will 'hope' it is true."

Sitting next to Isabel, Aiwass shook his head, speaking softly, "Even if the smarter ones among them know it's a trap, they can't stop those who wish to court death."