When the plot-skips players into the game world

Avalon, Glass Island.

Noon had passed on May 21st.

Isabel sat alone in the pavilion of the Hall of Silver and Tin.

By the end of May, it was already early summer, and the midday sun became glaring. Even if it didn't directly shine on her, its heat could still make one drowsy.

Avalon's Griffin Minister was resting in this backyard... It was here that Aiwass first learned horseback riding.

She stared blankly at the lush flowers and grass in the courtyard, reaching out to them slightly.

Her pale and slender fingers resembled the baton of an orchestra conductor, orchestrating the Voice of Miracle—

A rainbow-colored shimmer appeared—a magnificent giant flower sprouted from among the flowers. It had red and purple petals, looking like a grand, enormous rose. From any angle, it seemed like a real thing.

But Isabel sighed softly.

As Isabel's fingers curled, it shattered like a glass pane and vanished into the void. And the pieces of glass on the ground gradually dissipated, like ice melting under the sun.

This wasn't a real flower that Isabel gave birth to, but rather an illusion she conjured through magic.

"...The real can't be faked, and the fake can't become real."

Isabel's lips curled slightly as she murmured to herself, "I truly can't be the 'Queen of Vanhua.'"

People tend to overthink when anxious. And she recalled what Aiwass had mentioned offhandedly at her bedside not long ago—that he had seen another possible future.

If Star Antimony successfully invaded Avalon, Isabel would have to flee overseas with Aiwass. Avalon would become desolate due to the arrival of the Shadowy Celestial Marshal. The Isabel in that timeline would sacrifice her ability to bear children to gain the legacy power known as Vanhua to restore Avalon's land.

—That was the legacy from her mother, the half-elf Inielis Vanhua.

As the Queen of Vanhua, her power rivaled that of an Earthly Heavenly Official. She could even rejuvenate the land tainted by the Shadowy Celestial Marshal... But as the price for all this, she must sacrifice her "love." Without love, how could she love Aiwass?

Isabel couldn't fathom how she, in that timeline, would accept such a choice.

In that possibility, did she not love Aiwass? Or would she consider Avalon even more important than Aiwass?

Isabel absolutely did not believe, nor did she agree—on any timeline, she should love Aiwass.

During the Fifth Power Level promotion ceremony, Isabel endured unprecedented hardship—she was transported back to the time before the founding of the Helasal Empire, joining as a pregnant woman. In that ceremony, she gave birth to a girl named "Ales," raising her with great effort... That was when Isabel practiced early on how to be a good mother.

She was once a princess, and now Isabel is a queen. No matter her status, such laborious tasks should not fall on her. But through that promotion ceremony, she truly understood the troubles that ordinary people face in daily life... It was from then on that she truly matured.

—Although her child had yet to open her eyes to see her, Isabel already knew how obedient and cute the child would be.

Ordinarily, an expecting mother would worry about whether her child is healthy, cute, or if she would love them... But for Isabel, who had already experienced it, she had no such worries. She only wished to meet her child sooner... to see her once again.

At this moment, Isabel was already three months pregnant, and when she looked in the mirror before sleeping, she could see a slight bulge in her abdomen. As a Fourth Level Transcendent, she didn't experience the nausea and vomiting other pregnant women did. However, she felt obvious fatigue, drowsiness, and sleepiness.

Everything she had already been through. Even then, she was still all alone.

Now Isabel had honed a strong and calm heart, and during that promotion ceremony, she eradicated her fear and timidity.

It was a definite "promotion." The elevation was not just of her energy level, but also of her spirit.

Because of this, she could now calm her mind and quietly await Aiwass's return. Еnjоy thе stоry by rеаding оn М|V|LЕ%МРYR.

And at this moment, Isabel's pointed ears slightly moved. She heard someone approaching.

"Yulia?"

Turning around to see who it was, Isabel's lips curved, happily waving for Yulia to come and sit.

Once Yulia obediently sat beside her, Isabel smiled and hugged her gently, tenderly stroking her soft and warm long white hair. It was as if she were cautiously using bent fingers to gently touch a white cat.

And when Yulia sat beside her, Isabel suddenly felt that time had flown by... The girl who used to be half a head shorter than her was now nearly as tall as Isabel when sitting beside her.

That adorable girl who always hugged a teddy bear, quietly tucked herself in the corner, and dared not look at her, had now become a vibrant and youthful young woman.

Though Yulia hadn't celebrated her birthday yet this year, if calculated from January 1st, the Society of Candle Master day, she was already sixteen.

After all, it was typical for a girl of fifteen or sixteen to suddenly grow up.

Feeling uncomfortable in this "buried in Isabel's arms" position, Yulia adjusted her skirt, turning over to lay on Isabel's lap.

"Isha," Yulia gazed at Isabel's eyes, softly asking, "Aren't you afraid now?"

"Afraid of what?"

Isabel replied casually, "That Aiwass might not return?"

"Yes, I worry about him a lot."

"You should have more faith in your brother, Yuli."

The Queen of Avalon, without a shred of doubt in her gaze, said: "I have never doubted he would be in danger because I believe he is the strongest."

"I believe too, it's just..."

Yulia gently tilted her head, carefully leaning towards Isabel's abdomen, trying to listen to the sound of the baby inside, but ultimately failed—at three months, the fetus would make no sound at all.

She wasn't sure if the child at this stage could hear the outside world. So Yulia didn't dare to speak too loudly, fearing she might disturb the little one.

"...I'm just worried, why hasn't he come back yet? Tomorrow is the 22nd... your wedding process is so long, and don't you have to take a boat to the Holy Nation?"

She felt that as a family member, she was more anxious than the person involved.

"Just have faith."

Isabel said softly, "I trust him."

She no longer looked down at Yulia but raised her head to gaze at the brilliant Sun.

Because even if he were late... she wouldn't say anything.

Isabel already vaguely knew some secrets.

Wall of Dusk, Doomsday Clock...

Pillar God Amber of the Path of Dusk was actually a wall that resisted the apocalypse. And beyond the wall, there were powerful enemies capable of destroying the entire world. They were stronger than the Celestial Marshal, even surpassing the Pillar God.

The Helasal Empire believed that this world possessed a Doomsday Clock—whenever "certain events" occurred, the clock's hand would advance a bit. And just as time doesn't flow backward... the hands, once moved forward, would not reset upon resolving the events. Once the accumulated issues were enough, when the clock completed a full circle back to its starting point, the end of the world would have arrived.

——What Aiwass was dealing with was a problem of this magnitude.

Just like when Isabel was little, sometimes she couldn't understand what she was reading. For example, when encountering unfamiliar words or not comprehending a sentence's meaning. But she never dared to ask her grandmother... because Isabel, being sensible from a young age, knew that what her grandmother was busy with was far more important than her own concerns.

"As long as I don't hinder, I've already been of help to Aiwass."

Isabel closed her eyes slightly, speaking softly.

Even so, she still felt lonely.

Just like when Aiwass went on adventures and couldn't take her... Previously, it might be said her capabilities were lacking, and dangers were everywhere. But now she was a Fifth Power Level Transcendent; Avalon and Star Antimony were at peace and stable, without her intervention, and reasonable policies were smoothly implemented.

——But she still couldn't go anywhere.

Isabel could only offer this small kind of help to Aiwass.

"If only you were the Monarch, Yuli."

Isabel heartfeltly said: "You would certainly do better and fairer than me. You've read so many books, possess so much knowledge... and I know nothing. I can only sing, dance, paint, write... these are indeed difficult skills to learn, but they don't help Avalonians lead better lives.

"As a result, no matter how hard I work, I can only rely on the ministers' assistance to carry out decrees... and if it were you, it wouldn't be like this."

"——But you've clearly worked very hard too, haven't you?"

Aiwass's gentle voice sounded from behind: "From knowing nothing to being unanimously recognized by Avalonians as a qualified and excellent queen... and it only took you a few months, Isha. You are a genius, a hardworking genius."

Yulia's eyes brightened immediately, and she flipped over off Isabel's lap: "Brother!"

And delight was revealed in Isabel's eyes too.

No matter how much she trusted Aiwass, seeing him return with her own eyes was unmatched.

She rose and walked briskly towards Aiwass, embracing him.

——That warm and bright feeling was like hugging the Sun itself.

"You'll never guess who I brought back this time."

Aiwass whispered softly in Isabel's ear.

"Who?"

Wasn't he supposed to bring Sherlock back? Did he encounter someone?

Isabel asked instinctively, "My... father?"

——Prince Albert, who had not yet returned to Avalon.

"No, it's my mother. The mother whose blood flows within me."

"?... Ah?"

Isabel was stunned for a moment, her eyes widening: "What? Who?"

Wasn't Aiwass an orphan? Weren't his parents killed?

For a moment, Isabel felt as if an image of the universe's creation flashed in her mind.

Her brain instantly went blank for a moment.