New Grand Arbitrator Ligeia

Isabel eventually helped Ligeia change her clothes.

Although the newborn Ligeia was somewhat reluctant to wear such little girl clothes, she eventually went to look in the mirror with a happy smile after being dressed in them.

"I rarely wore skirts when I was a child; I always wore trousers."

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

"Sometimes we would go fishing, sometimes we would steal bird eggs. We traversed mountains and valleys, reaching very high peaks, and then couldn't get down—some people even accidentally fell and broke their legs. By the time we slowly slid down, our clothes and pants were already tattered."

"I've also gotten up in the middle of the night to sneak out of the house and go exploring the cemetery with my friends in the early hours of the morning. I've also secretly smashed church windows with stones, just because the pastor was usually very mean to us..."

Those were stories she had never told anyone when she was Meg. But now that "Meg is dead," she's started talking about them endlessly.

It's as if it's reminiscing about something, or commemorating something.

—After all, starting today, we'll never see Meg again. Only the newborn Ligeia will remain.

That's why Ligeia doesn't want Meg to be completely forgotten—although Meg is respected and valued as the strongest in Avalon, few people really know what kind of person Meg is.

In most people's minds, Meg is just a guardian, an invincible symbol.

She left no descendants and had long since lost her family. Her old friends, partners, colleagues, and even her first love had almost all passed away. The remaining friends, those still alive, were all very old.

She no longer has anyone to commemorate her.

Therefore, at least "Ligeia" herself must never forget that Meg once existed.

The contract she made with the Ring Angel was etched into her heart, constantly reminding her—she must never stop because of contentment. From this moment on, she will be reborn again and again, gradually shedding all traces of her old self, until even her human form completely disappears.

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

... Perhaps she had developed a strong tendency to Path of Transcendence without realizing it.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have fallen in love with and married the demon while serving as an observer...

Ligeia quickly composed herself—after all, she had once been "Meg," a woman of strong and resilient spirit.

"Let's go, let's go see Sofia first!"

Ligeia's face once again broke into that carefree, uninhibited smile, "I'll treat you to something delicious later!"

Compared to before, this smile held an added touch of pure innocence. Ligeia was clearly adapting quickly to her new body.

"Let me make this clear," Iver, sitting in his wheelchair with a hint of helplessness, "I don't eat fried chicken in the morning."

He still has to maintain a facade in front of outsiders... This has saved him several times already.

"Oh, you're making it sound like all I know is fried chicken."

Ligeia said with dissatisfaction, "I usually stroll around Glass Island when I have nothing to do. I can guarantee that most people can't eat as well as I can."

"I know by heart where to buy good food and good wine—although I don't smoke myself, I occasionally buy cigarettes for Arius. I also remember his several privately owned tobacco shops."

As she said this, Ligeia with some worry, "But with this kind of body, it might be inconvenient to buy alcohol or cigarettes. I wish I could be seventeen or eighteen years old..."

"Maybe after a few more ceremonies, you'll be older."

Iver casually offered some words of comfort.

Ligeia was incredibly talkative. At first, he would politely respond, but when he realized that Ligeia could talk on and on even without him responding, he decided to stop and take a break.

Meg used to have a loud voice, and now Ligeia has inherited that trait. Children's voices are sharper and more penetrating, audible from a great distance. Therefore, guards and servants had already come to check on the situation.

To those who spoke politely, Ligeia would simply point at Isabel and tell her to deal with them; but to those who came over aggressively, she would simply say, "Get out of the way, this is none of your business," and send them away.

She had absolutely no intention of concealing her identity; rather, the idea of her reverting to childhood was simply absurd.

The all-too-familiar Dragon Blood Law Decree silenced the protesters—it was pointless anyway. Among the guards who tried to stop them was even Fourth Level arbitrator. But Ligeia glared at him, called him out by name, and chased him away.

The other party was initially worried about the Queen's safety, suspecting that Isabel and Iver might have been kidnapped. However, after tasting the familiar Dragon Blood Law Decree and being scolded in the familiar tone, they immediately understood Ligeia's identity. Their furrowed brows relaxed instantly, and they released her with a smile.

Thus, a strange sight appeared within the Silver and Tin Palace: a little girl whom no one recognized, accompanied by Princess Isabel, who rarely left her room, roamed freely throughout the palace, and no one dared to stop her. Most strangely, she even had two horns on her head, making her appear unlike a human.

Queen Sophia is very old, and her sleep is shallow and short.

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

Ligeia barged into the Queen's office without an appointment or knocking.

But Sofia remained calm. Upon seeing Ligeia, the Queen's gaze immediately fell upon the dragon horns on her head.

Queen Sophia looked at Ligeia with some hesitation, then at Iver and Isabel, who followed closely behind in and were in wheelchairs, and Lily was slowly following at the back.

Guess who I am?

Ligeia grinned.

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar smile on the girl's face—that wicked and arrogant smile that was impossible to dislike— Sofia smiled helplessly, "You've become younger... Meg."

"Tsk, how boring. How did you know it was me? Is it because little Isabella is here?" Ligeia, somewhat disappointed.

"You can still see traces of your youth in your eyes and brows."

The old lady smiled kindly and gently, "Come here, girl. Let me hold you?"

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

Ligeia muttered softly.

She herself has forgotten what she used to be like.

There were no cameras in that era, and she couldn't afford an artist to paint her portrait. What's past is past; it will never come back.

Somewhat surprisingly, Ligeia did not resist Sofia's request for a hug.

She leaned over and hugged Sofia tightly.

"Now I can smell the old man's odor on you, I couldn't smell it at all before... Is it because my own smell is too strong?"

Ligeia said softly, "It's like an old book taken out of the basement, or an old house covered in dust. There's an aura of being watched by amber."

"This is what old age is like. This is the smell of death."

Queen Sophia spoke calmly, her eyes lowered.

Her eyes were swollen and purplish, and the skin on her face had lost its elasticity.

"How should I address you?"

Sofia said gently, "Still Meg?"

"Ligeia".

Ligeia replied, "My current name is Ligeia —given to me by Iver. He was the one who performed the ceremony for me... In terms of the grace of rebirth, he can be considered the parent of this body. It is perfectly reasonable to be named by one's parents."

"It's a very nice name, Ligeia. Much nicer than your old name." Sofia nodded.

"Meg" means pearl.

The treasure born from suffering is indeed fitting for Meg's life. But sometimes Sofia also feels that perhaps it was precisely because of her name that Meg suffered such a fate.

Aren't you envious?

Seeing Sofia so calm, Ligeia felt a little regretful. "I was originally going to try to stop you."

Sofia simply held Ligeia, patting her back gently and whispering, "I don't really not want to die. Death is just the Qidian of another journey... The Crown Prince has decided to elevate me to the rank of Apostle. I remain in the Material Realm only because I can't let go of Avalon."

"It still has so many problems, and Isabel is still too young and completely unprepared. I'm not at the point of death yet; I can hold on a little longer."

"—But it's just a matter of holding on; the priests' healing can prolong his life as much as possible. If the means and the result are reversed, it would be a foolish act."

"That's great."

Ligeia a mixture of envy and regret. "It seems we must part ways eventually."

"I think you can also be promoted as an apostle of the Crown Prince."

Sofia said earnestly, "You are the only person I have ever met who has received the blessing of the Silver Crowned Dragon. You are His favorite... and now, you even have dragon-like characteristics."

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

Ligeia sighed and hugged Sofia tightly, "If I die, Star Antimony and Iris will probably make a move immediately. That's why I wanted to advance before. But now is a better opportunity."

"Spread the word, Sofia. Say that Meg is dead... she died of old age, and Ligeia has succeeded her as the Grand Arbitrator. That should make them want to make a move."

"Good, this plan is feasible."

Sofia nodded in agreement, "Give them a good beating, and they'll quiet down a lot."

"Then I will announce your death today... When would you like to hold your funeral?"

"Don't hold a ceremony. Keep the death a secret. That way, it will be more believable."

Ligeia laughed, "Watching your own funeral, that's outrageous... I don't know how that Sherlock managed to keep it to himself."

"... But will the Stibnite Person believe it?"

Isabel couldn't help but ask her Grandmother, "Meg... oh, Miss Ligeia told me. The enemy they were facing wasn't strong to begin with."

"It's not a question of whether they will believe it or not, but rather that some of them will 'hope' it's true."

Sitting next to Isabel, Iver shook his head and said softly, "Even if the smart ones among them know it's a trap, they can't stop those who want to die."