When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 754: Chapter 137 Albert’s Story_2 Chapter 754: Chapter 137 Albert’s Story_2 “My mother—you know, Queen Sofia.

She is actually quite a stern person, who insists on having her children do things according to her wishes.

She is not only the monarch of Avalon, but also the ruler of ‘Du Lac.'”

Prince Albert sighed as he spoke.

…

I didn’t get that impression.

Aiwass thought to himself.

All he felt was that Queen Sofia was a quite amiable old lady…

she even knitted a scarf for Aiwass.

It was a very soft and warm scarf.

“…

I never felt love from my mother, only pressure, constant nagging.

As if I could never do anything right…

as if I were stupid.”

Prince Albert gave a bitter smile, “Of course, it later turned out…

I indeed wasn’t that bright.”

“But Innie was different.

She was gentle…

younger and more beautiful than mother.

Maybe because of the aesthetic I developed as a child, I think half-elves are more beautiful than both elves and humans.”

“Later…

we became involved.

Just once.”

Prince Albert’s fingers tightened slightly around his glass: “Generally speaking, half-elves do not have strong fertility.

But that time…

perhaps it was too much of a coincidence.

Or maybe it was fate…

Just that one time, and she became pregnant.

As I said, half-elves have poor reproductive capabilities, so she wanted to keep the child.”

“I think…”

Aiwass seemed to understand something, “That child is Isabel, right.”

“Yes.

Anyway, for the sake of the Du Lac name, we had to get married hastily.

I was fond of Innie, but I was too young at the time…

I was only sixteen or seventeen, still in high school.

My friends all knew Innie, knew she was my teacher, and that she would become my wife.

“They would tease—perhaps out of jealousy, because Innie really was beautiful.

And at that time, I was very face-conscious, and a bit foolish…

I felt ashamed rather than proudly open.

So, in front of others, I would pretend…

not to be so familiar with Innie, even deliberately cold to her.

“…

It was much later that I realized this hurt her.”

Albert spoke softly, pouring himself another glass of wine.

He lifted his glass and downed it in one go.

Then he poured himself another drink, and with a hint of drunkenness, said, “But by the time I realized it, it was already too late.

“—Ten years ago, she died.

“Just as I had anticipated, the curse was certainly not carried out along the Du Lac bloodline, but one of my brothers or sisters wanted to kill the others.@@novelbin@@

So a long time ago, I renounced my right to the throne…

but that person still wanted to kill me.

“I was originally supposed to return to the Hall of Silver and Tin, but got delayed by some matters and arrived three days late.

However, when I did return, Innie suddenly burst open in front of me.

“—In the moment of our embrace, she burst open like a flower, turning inside out.

She lost her breath in an instant, blood gushing out like a fountain.

I felt warmth, yet also a cold that chilled to the bone.

“Such an uncanny death, one could tell at a glance…

she was cursed to death.

And the cursing sorcerer was very powerful, to curse a fourth energy level Transcendent so silently.

“At that time, the curse had not yet begun to ‘spread’ to relatives.

Innie was the first of the non-direct relatives to die, but her death was not classed as part of the royal curse.

Instead, it was judged that she was accidentally killed by the cursing sorcerer who was trying to assassinate me while taking advantage of the ‘royal curse.’

“Because I had not returned to the Hall of Silver and Tin for a long time, the assassin must have thought I had already come back and came to steal hair.

Instead, they killed Innie.

Because our hair color and length are quite similar.

And only an outsider wouldn’t know I hadn’t returned at that time…

This erroneous curse also exempted the cursing sorcerer, or the person connected with the cursing sorcerer, from being considered amongst the royal family members.”

“At that time, Little Isabel was only nine years old, and me?

I was only twenty-five years old—I was still continuing my studies and hadn’t graduated from university.”

Albert’s voice was hoarse, “Back then, I was even two years younger than today’s Detective Sherlock.”

“So, you’re not going to seek revenge?”

Aiwass retorted.

He slightly curled up the corners of his mouth, “I didn’t even know who my enemy was.

Even my mother, who was so wise and brave, was at a complete loss; what could an incapable person like me do?

I was just a student, I wasn’t even a Transcendent at that time.”

“So you chose to escape.”

“…You could see it that way.

Indeed…

I ran away, because of fear and confusion.

I just wanted to escape the slow death of that quagmire…

even dying under the sunlight would have been better.

I just wanted to do something, anything to stave off death, only to realize I hadn’t had the chance to do anything at all.”

“—I was only twenty-five years old!

Up to that point in my life, aside from studying, it was taking care of Isabel.

I hadn’t even seen the world outside Glass Island…

At least, I wanted to go out and see it.

Even if it meant dying out there, even if it meant helping one person…

I didn’t want to continue with my meaningless studies anymore.

Death could come at any time; what was the point of learning?”

“So I planned for two years, dedicating myself to learning Extraordinary Skills.

When my preparations were perfect, I eloped with my good brother Yunus.”

“…But I indeed…

I indeed neglected Isabel.

Or rather…”

Albert paused, then replied, “Because seeing her, I’d think of Innie.

I’d think of how I hadn’t even had a chance to say I’m sorry…

it would be very painful.”

“Perhaps the person who cursed Innie was indeed a bungling assassin, but there truly was a curse entwined around Isabel.

It would have been better if I died before her, but what if she died before me?

The curse doesn’t strike in order…

I would dream of Isabel suddenly splitting open before me whenever I slept and then wake up in shock.”

“…If I couldn’t do anything, at least…”

—At least I didn’t want to see it.

Albert poured himself another drink, only to find he had already finished the bottle.

His cheeks were flushed, and his voice low and laced with a hint of a sob, “I wasn’t here to help others find their daughter…

I just saw Anastasia and was reminded of Isabel.”

“But I also didn’t dare to go back…

Facing the curse, I chose to flee; when the curse was lifted, I returned.

So, I…”

Albert’s speech choked up at this point.

After a long silence, he said softly, “I came to Holy Nation, actually to find Innie’s mother.

To say sorry to her…

With you taking care of Isabel, I feel reassured.

So I thought…

perhaps I could die.”

“If she blames me, I can also offer my life as compensation.

Maybe in the Dream Realm, I will have the chance to see her again…

Of course, someone as useless as me would probably just become a stepping stone for the world.

But I think she might become a Songstress of the Song Celestial Marshal, or maybe an Angel Envoy of the Gemini Mirror.

She’s also good at painting; she might be sent into the Forest of Amber, or become a Memory Imprint carved by the Spirit Amber Celestial Marshal.”

“I just…

want to say I’m sorry to her.”

Innie’s mother?

Aiwass’s eyes widened slightly, a strange premonition suddenly arising within, “Her Highness Queen Inielis…

What’s her surname?”

“—Vanhua.”

Prince Albert answered without hesitation, “Her full name is Inielis Vanhua.”