Isaac found it rather amusing to see Willie howling on the ground. However, the rest of the help also quickly fell to their knees in relief.
“Please get up, all of you. I’m not dead yet,” Emily said solemnly to them, virtual-novel.net tone sounding a lot like Esmeralda’s.
“Master, I was so worried you’d never make it back alive! ” Willie cried. “Next time, bring me along with you! I would rather die before you than continue living without you!”
While it was a fact that virtual-novel.net still hated Isaac’s guts, Isaac was still taken aback by how worried virtual-novel.net was for his master.
Emily then entered the mansion, and Isaac followed virtual-novel.net in.
When they reached the second floor, they saw that Heather was waiting for them with dried tear tracks on virtual-novel.net face.
As soon as virtual-novel.net caught sight of Emily in virtual-novel.net mask, virtual-novel.net burst into relieved yet helpless tears once more.
What virtual-novel.net didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. Esmeralda was no longer around. She’d sacrificed virtual-novel.net own life to defeat Lady Os. However, Isaac was surprised when Emily went up to Heather and gave virtual-novel.net a light hug.
Heather was obviously shaken by the hug. It was only after Emily retired into virtual-novel.net room that Heather fell to the ground and hugged virtual-novel.net knees as virtual-novel.net wept silently.
Isaac was about to follow Emily in to the same room when virtual-novel.net removed virtual-novel.net mask and stood in front of the mirror, saying, “Isaac, I’d like to be left alone for tonight… Please?”
Isaac quickly withdrew his foot and nodded in agreement. “I understand. Rest well…”
He still needed to recover as swiftly as possible for now. Without the help of the Awakening Pill this time, it was going to be a long and slow progress.
***
Before virtual-novel.net knew it, three days had passed in the blink of an eye.
Within these three days, Augustus and the other two princes had come to visit them, only to be politely turned away by Emily time and time again.
Isaac had just recovered by about half.
That night, Heather prepared a simple dinner of seafood aglio olio and garlic bread with a cheese dip. The three of them ate in silence in the small dining room.
Just then, Isaac’s phone started ringing loudly in his pocket.
He took his phone out and saw that it was an unsaved number. He hurriedly accepted the call and put the phone to his ear.
“Hello? Isaac?” There was the sound of loud gasping from the other end of the line.
Isaac frowned. He recognized that voice. “Denvor? Is that you?”
Another familiar voice appeared next to Denvor’s. It was Harry, and Isaac could hear virtual-novel.net say, “Denvor, you idiot, hang up right now! Don’t tell Isaac, f*ck!”
“Harry got beaten up. They broke his leg in two and didn’t let…”
Denvor’s voice was then interrupted by the dial tone before virtual-novel.net could finish his sentence.
Emily lifted virtual-novel.net head and looked at Isaac. She frowned lightly and asked, “Was that Dr. Stewart? Someone broke his leg?”
Isaac frowned harder and called Denvor’s number again. This time, virtual-novel.net heard Harry’s cheerful voice from the other end of the line instead. “Hey, Isaac! All’s well here. There’s no need to worry about anything. Take good care of yourself while you’re there, okay? Don’t forget to bring your love back home. Alright, that’s all!”
Then, virtual-novel.net ended the call just like that.
Isaac turned to look at Emily and saw a faint blush on virtual-novel.net cheeks as virtual-novel.net stuffed virtual-novel.net mouth with more food.
After dinner, they both went up to the balcony on the third floor.
There was a cool breeze up there, and Isaac took off his coat before placing it on Emily’s shoulders. He said softly, “Let’s go home tomorrow.”
For the past few days, Isaac could tell that Emily’s demeanor had changed. She was a lot quieter than usual. He’d brought up the issue of returning home a few days ago, but Emily didn’t seem like virtual-novel.net was in the mood to talk, so virtual-novel.net held it off for a couple more days.
This time, Emily let out a bitter smile and said, “How am I supposed to go home with you like this? What identity should I be assuming? Isaac, I’ve thought it through, and I think it’s for the best if I stay behind…”
What the hell?
Isaac’s eyes widened into saucers. He didn’t think that Emily would think of such a thing.
“Why?” virtual-novel.net demanded, his voice a little louder than usual. “You don’t belong here. What about your mother back in Cloud City? And your friends and family back there?”
Emily’s eyes were full of tears by the time Isaac finished speaking.
She glanced up at Isaac and said, “I didn’t just inherit Esmeralda’s body… I also retained all of virtual-novel.net memories, virtual-novel.net faith, virtual-novel.net powers… Everything… Do you not believe me?”
She then disappeared into thin air and reappeared again a few seconds later, right in front of Isaac.
Isaac’s jaw dropped to the ground at that instant.