Let's Celebrate the New Year Together

"Want to celebrate the New Year together tonight, Iver?"

After lunch, Isabel immediately extended an invitation to Iver.

Tomorrow is the Candle Holder Festival on January 1st. A few days ago, when Bishop Mathers came to the Silver and Tin Palace to move Queen Sophia's coffin, Iver returned the Key to St. Genevieve Chapel to him.

Otherwise, Bishop Mathers wouldn't have been able to open the chapel door at all, let alone allow Queen Sophia to stop there first.

Tomorrow, Bishop Mathers will invoke the apostles of the Crown Prince, as well as the deceased members of the Du Lac Family, to bless Avalon. It is the most important festival in Avalon, and therefore will be presided over by this bishop, who holds the highest rank, status, and holy order in Avalon.

After the Candle Holder Festival, Queen's Funeral Sofia's funeral will take place.

According to Avalon custom, the burial should take place seven days after death. However, because the Day of National Funeral coincided with the Candle Holder Festival, the Queen's funeral had to be postponed by one day.

In most countries around the world, the Candle Holder Festival is the grandest day of the year and also marks the beginning of the new year.

Although the Candle God has been Pillar God Dedication Path since before the Dragon Era, most people don't know exactly what sacrifices the Pillar God made to secure his position as a pillar deity since ancient times.

In the version circulating in Avalon, the Candle God is said to be the primordial god who created the world and illuminated it in a world without sun or moon; while in the legends of the Stibnite Person and the Iris People, the Candle God is the origin of all intelligent life; and the mages and monks of the Path of Wisdom believe that the Candle God's greatest achievement was finding the source of the Dream Realm River and distributing the other eight to other gods.

In short, everyone has their own opinion.

But that's normal.

After all, all the true knowledge directly concerning the Nine Pillar Gods is the highest level of mystical knowledge. Whether it's the Beast Lord falling in love with Constant Self or the Crown Lord defeating the Supreme Heaven, these are secrets that could never be written down and are only passed down orally among a very few Human World.

Even so, people still respected the Candle Master. Iver even knew that the other Celestial Masters on the Dedication Path also held the Candle Master in high esteem. Neither the Candle Heaven Holder nor the Dawn Angel had any interest in the position of Pillar God. Even the Flame Angel, who possessed transcendent power and ranked second on the Dedication Path, harbored no hostility towards the Candle Master.

For this reason, Iver believed that the church's version was the closest to the truth.

The Nine Pillars God Church believes that the Candlelight ignited a great fire in the cold, barren Dream Realm, which was covered in sinful thorns, illuminating the eternally dark Dream Realm and allowing the nine Dream Realm River, which had been drained by the sinful thorns, to flow again. From that moment on, Material Realm life with "souls" began to emerge in this world.

Of all the Pillar God Iver knew, they all became Pillar God later than the Candle God. Only the Hourglass and the Twin Mirrors were uncertain... Assuming the Candle God was the original Pillar God, then all of this would make sense.

Because customs differ from country to country, the content of the Candle Holder Festival also varies. In any case, the candlelight master doesn't care about these things, and won't even blame you if you don't perform it.

This is simply a festival where people politely express their respect for the Pillar God —or rather, to show their reverence for the candle-bearing spirits.

In Avalon, people try to return home the night before the Candle Holder Festival; if they cannot do so, or if they have conflicts with their family, they go to stay with their friends.

Just like Sherlock.

Even the poorest people would try their best to prepare a good meal on this day, indulging a little extravagance. This was not only to pay respect to the candle keeper, but also to reward themselves.

The most important ritual on the eve of the Candle Holder Festival is to cook a large pot of hot soup.

Any kind of soup will do. The rich have their way of making it, and the poor have theirs. In the end, it's just boiling a pot of water.

After the soup boils, each family member can throw in something they like, and then the family shares the soup together. This soup contains the candle keeper's blessings for people... even the seriously ill and dying will be kept on Human World for a couple more days.

Although the Candle Master doesn't care about people's respect for him, he will still offer special protection to believers who pray to him for peace on this day. If there are homeless people, they only need to light a candle or even just strike a match, and the Candle Master will share some strength with them, so that the flame can continue, their bodies can gradually recover, and they can avoid freezing to death in the cold wind, but instead see the morning sun in peace.

For this reason, even the most ruthless assassins will not kill on this day.

It is not only a constraint of conscience, but also a reverence for the Pillar God.

And clearly, Edward won't be working overtime either.

If Iver stays at the Silver and Tin Palace, then only Yulia and Edward will be left at home; if Iver brings Yulia with him, then only Edward will be left at home.

—Isn't that a bit too lonely?

"Yulia is definitely fine," Iver, "But what about Edward ... can I bring him along?"

"Anyway, I have no objections."

Isabel shifted her position slightly nervously, then sat up straight and said nonchalantly, "I also want to see Brother Edward."

"He should only dare to call you Your Her Majesty the Queen."

Iver teased, "I wouldn't dare call you my sister."

After saying that, the two looked at each other and smiled.

Ligeia held her hot beer, sipping it slowly, and stared at the two of them with deadpan eyes.

After that spontaneous kiss, the atmosphere between the two underwent a subtle change.

Most obviously, Isabel has become much bolder.

Previously, she clearly didn't dare to joke with Iver or act coquettishly. She only dared to approach Iver when discussing serious matters... At other times, she waited for Iver to come to her.

Iver had previously maintained a respectful yet distant relationship with Isabel. They were more like an elder or teacher than friends.

Although they haven't officially confirmed their relationship verbally, the atmosphere and way they interact have already changed.

Ligeia noticed this change in atmosphere very easily.

She's had her share of relationships when she was younger. Looking at Isabel's smile, I just felt a pang of sympathy.

—Tsk, there's too much lemon in this beer, it's making my teeth ache. Ligeia thought to herself.

Meanwhile, Iver also had some work piled up, waiting for Isabel to handle it.

After the New King ascends the throne, he tours the country for five days, and upon his return, he will inevitably have a lot of work to do.

The half-day I spent returning early was used to deal with these backlogged tasks.

The contract with Grandet, the matter with Emma, the new Minister of Trade killed by Iver, the pressure on Camelot Minister, the gifts those ministers gave her... Iver had originally reserved all these things for Isabel.

Because, in Iver's view, the relationship between him and Isabel as ruler and subject had to be maintained.

Isabel trusts Iver enough, so Iver can't afford to squander that trust. Therefore, while he can act on his own initiative, any necessary follow-up procedures still need to be completed.

... But now, Iver feels he can keep busy for a while longer.

Those matters that, in principle, require Isabel's approval and signature, he can also finalize and sign off on them in advance. For example, the business contracts with Grandet.

The main reason is that Iver has started to feel sorry for Isabel.

This is, after all, the last day before the New Year, so let's give her half a day off... We'll be busy for the next two days.

Let her rest well this afternoon. Once she's completely free, I'll give Isabel a summary and report.

"Lily," Iver instructed, "Go to the Inspectorate later. Tell Edward to come directly to the Silver and Tin Palace after work... or you can give him a call. But I'll just call him directly, so you don't have to make another trip."

"Okay," Lily nodded in agreement.

"Lu Lu, have you decided where to go this afternoon?"

Iver turned to Isabel and reminded her, "However, we're still in Mourning Period, so it'll be difficult to see any entertainment like operas. And with the New Year just around the corner, there probably won't be many orchestras left on Glass Island."

"Need not."

Isabel shook her head slightly and said obediently, "I want to keep the teacher company."

"Master Agnes..."

Iver suddenly realized. "Speaking of which, where did she go today?"

He suddenly realized that he hadn't seen the always boisterous elf today.

You can always hear her cheerful yet elegant laughter in her paintings.

Today he even kissed Isabel in the bedroom... Normally, Yanis would have peeked out with a smile on her face.

She didn't even show up for lunch.

After the funeral the day after tomorrow, Master Agnes will be leaving.

Now, especially before the New Year... she's not in the Silver and Tin Palace, so where has she gone? "I don't know."

Isabel shook her head. "But I guess... she should be where she first met her Grandmother. It should be in the Red Queen District, but I don't know exactly where."

"Then I'll go with you to look for it."

Iver chuckled and extended his hand to Isabel: "While you're at it, go and visit the teachers..."

"But you're not suited to walking around with this look. Besides, when you went to investigate those people, you weren't wearing this face, were you?"

"Of course!"

Isabel puffed out her chest smugly, as if seeking praise, "I have mastered the power of [Resilient Illusion]... My appearance can be changed at will."

As she spoke, a green light shone in her pupils.

Isabel placed her hand on her face, a pale pink glow blooming between her fingers. As she gently wiped her face, Isabel's appearance transformed completely.

Under the influence of the illusion, Isabel's hair turned white and her pupils turned blue. She also appeared several sizes smaller.

—Apart from the fact that her eyes are blue instead of red, she looks very similar to Yulia.

Iver tentatively reached out and patted her head. Isabel smiled and leaned her head closer for Iver to pat her.

It was amazing; there was no clipping or touching of the invisible head in the void.

Iver did indeed feel the same sensation as Yulia's hair from a position lower than Isabel.

It is obvious that Isabel was able to perfectly transform into Yulia because she had enough contact with her.

"... Is this the Resilient Illusion?"

Iver sighed, "If I hadn't been watching you use the illusion, I probably would have been fooled for a moment."

The reason it's described as a fleeting moment is because Yulia would never be so charming, with her eyebrows arched and Little Cat- like, coquettish smile.

"I deliberately left a flaw," Isabel, somewhat unconvinced. "If I were to become the complete Yulia and focus on acting, I don't think you would be able to see through me—I'm an ' All-rounder.' Acting is also one of my strengths."

But as she said this, Iver suddenly realized. "Then whose appearance were you using when you were questioning me earlier? It couldn't have been Yulia, could it?"

"... Heh?" Isabel suddenly started to play dumb.

"Could it be me?"

Iver immediately guessed what was going on.

Isabel argued, "I did make quite a few changes! If they run into you later, they'll at most think you look familiar, but they definitely won't recognize you!"

—If this were in the past, she would probably be apologizing very cautiously by now. She wouldn't have the energy to argue with Iver like she does now.

But this way of getting along actually makes Iver more relaxed.

Then Iver smiled and reached out to ruffle Isabel's hair, who was playing the role of "Yulia": "Then we're even."

Isabel clutched her head, and in a twisting motion, she reverted to her original form. Her hair was now disheveled.

"...Hmph." Isabel wrinkled her nose, but couldn't help laughing.

She's not usually this cheerful, but today she couldn't stop laughing. It was like seeing a bright, sunny day; she felt completely relaxed and happy.

"I'll use your face again next time!" Isabel thought viciously, clutching her head.

Another update of nearly 7,000 words, update complete!

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