Last Moments of Lucidity

This was the first time Isabel had ever seen Iver so well-behaved and quiet.

Of course, Iver isn't usually a very outgoing or lively person. And just recently, Iver was confined to a wheelchair every day.

He always looked at others with that calm and serene gaze, listening quietly with a slight smile while others chatted. Occasionally he would chime in, but he almost always followed the conversation. It made everyone feel comfortable and relaxed, and anyone would want to hang out with him.

... But Isabel always felt that while Iver always brought ease to others, he himself did not live such an easy life.

She always felt that Iver had many things on his mind that he couldn't let go of.

While Iver wore a smile, Isabel sensed a slight frown on his brow. While the others laughed and joked, Iver sat quietly, his gaze fixed on something that seemed to be looking into the distance.

It's like someone about to move to a faraway place, so they don't intend to leave any trace in front of them; or like someone returning from the future, already knowing that their current friends are just passersby, so they don't intend to invest any real feelings.

Isabel didn't know what Iver was worried about. He was already so outstanding, even admirable to her... yet on the other hand, she felt that Iver was more immature than she was.

He enjoyed taking risks and being recognized and praised by capable people. However, he also had a strange, Isabel sense of pride that made him unwilling to accept these expectations. Therefore, no matter how proud he was, he would never willingly let others praise him.

Iver very young, yet he refuses to accept his identity as a young person.

... like a big boy who is already sensible but never really grows up.

Perhaps it's because of his past life, Isabel thought.

She had heard Yulia say that he and Yulia grew up in Orphanage before Iver was adopted. The two were orphans and depended on each other for survival... and the fact that Professor Moriarty had adopted Yulia first, but then adopted Iver as well because of Yulia's strong reaction to not wanting to leave Iver, seemed to have stirred something within him.

That seems to be the only explanation.

Iver lost his parents and relatives shortly after he could remember. His adoptive father and stepbrother were both very busy men, and his adoptive father had never married. After being adopted, Iver mostly stayed at home with Yulia.

Iver was quite lonely during that time, and spent most of his free time reading at home. Looking back now, Iver's erudition may have stemmed from that reading habit.

Isabel had previously asked Sherlock to investigate Iver's experiences during his high school years out of curiosity.

She then learned that Iver had once been a sports enthusiast. He was skilled in many types of sports.

Because of his outstanding athletic achievements and his increasingly tall and straight posture, Iver finally began to be widely liked by his classmates. After gaining a lot of recognition from others, Iver, like a plant that has been nourished, gradually became cheerful, confident, and dazzling.

Now, he stood quietly by his Grandmother's bedside, looking completely relaxed.

Even with Ligeia and Isabel present, they barely spoke, letting Her Majesty the Queen ramble on about meaningless everyday matters.

Iver seemed to be her own grandson. He stayed by her bedside, gently echoing the old lady's words. His smile wasn't the usual bright and warm one, which always seemed fake because it was too perfect... but a serene smile, reminiscent of moonlight on water.

Isabel knew, of course, that her Grandmother had been ill for a long time. But now, Queen Sophia was not only laughing heartily, but her voice was also becoming clearer, as if she had fully recovered.

She vaguely sensed something.

Therefore, she did not interrupt the conversation, but stood quietly behind Iver, listening to her Grandmother's voice almost greedily.

This seemingly meaningless yet heartwarming chat lasted for nearly two hours.

Iver a great conversationalist, especially good at talking to the elderly.

They ultimately didn't even go to the Banquet Hall for dinner, but instead had the servants bring the food directly to their room. Sofia, unusually, ate a seafood fried rice, a bowl of Creamy Mushroom Chicken Soup with bread, and some fruit.

After dinner, she said she was sleepy and wanted to go to bed. She then sent Iver and Isabel away.

Iver and Isabel did not go very far.

At the door, Isabel gently tugged at Iver's sleeve and cast a questioning glance at him.

Iver shook his head slightly.

He had previously glimpsed Queen Sophia's physical condition through the priest's divine vision.

Even without using Illumination Spell, by channeling healing light into her body to assess her condition, Iver could roughly sense that her life force was completely exhausted. Treatment and recovery alone were no longer sufficient to maintain her condition... If he wanted to extend her lifespan further, he would have to use a ritual to increase her maximum life force.

"Even for the average elderly person, their body shouldn't be this depleted at this age."

Iver sighed, "Not to mention the Queen of Avalon."

"Because she was really tired."

Yanis's voice sounded softly from the side.

It's not in the painting, it's the person himself.

She walked over and casually patted Isabel's head. Then she put her hand on Iver's shoulder, gesturing for the two of them to follow her.

They soon arrived at the study.

This is where Her Majesty the Queen works. Ligeia, however, had already arrived and was drinking beer alone.

Isabel, however, slowly took her seat in the main position.

She fiddled with the pile of documents on the table, organizing them. Although she seemed somewhat inexperienced, this was clearly not her first time.

"Sofia's personality is such that she likes to do everything herself. Even with small things, she likes to ask questions. But she rarely expresses her attitude directly to others, and even her closest friends don't know what she's thinking... You just find that everything is changing according to her ideas without you even realizing it."

Slightly drunk, Ligeia spoke in a childish voice.

It sounded like a mockery, yet also like a nostalgic reflection. "In that respect, she was certainly not suited to be a Queen. But from another perspective, there was no one more suitable to be a monarch in Avalon."

Isabel pursed her lips, her eyes slightly red.

She moved the documents from left to right, then back again. She seemed very busy, but she didn't even know what she was doing. Her mind was in turmoil... so turmoil that she couldn't think clearly.

Iver also sighed.

If nothing unexpected happens, she should be the only one who fully knows the background of Iver and Aleister. But clearly, even her closest friends Ligeia and Yanis, don't know these things.

Iver originally thought that Her Majesty the Queen's final conversation with him meant that she had something to tell him.

For example, about Avalon, about Isabel.

It could also be about the Round Table Hall, or about Lloyd's.

That ordinary sweater deeply touched Iver's heart.

This was also the first time that Iver had a clear idea of "wanting to continue Avalon".

Prior to this, Iver had attempted to eliminate the threat of Avalon simply because it was the country where he and his friends lived. He had no feelings for Avalon itself, nor any obsession with it.

Because Iver has lived here since he was a child, he has adapted to life here.

Because the Moriarty Family's assets are here, and because he doesn't want to adapt to a new environment.

Because Sherlock is loyal to the Queen, because Isabel is the future Queen, and because his friends cannot live without Avalon—

Otherwise, Iver might have chosen to destroy Avalon and rebuild it directly. Perhaps that would have been cleaner.

Her Majesty the Queen had received intelligence from the Crown Prince. She might know Iver better than Iver knew herself. Even if she didn't know Iver's future goals, she certainly knew of his talent and abilities that had caught the attention of the Pillar God.

If she makes a request, Iver will definitely listen carefully.

But no.

—Even as she fell into a deep sleep, Queen Sophia said nothing.

Iver instinctively clenched his fist.

He opened his mouth slightly, but ultimately said nothing.