The Second Life's

LXXIV - Goodbye

“Now Charlotte is already a Queen,” says Ava.

Isla looks happy. “Really?! Ah, it's a pity that I couldn't attend Miss Charlotte's coronation ..”

I clasped Isla's hand and tried to smile. “Come, Isla. Let's go back to the West. We met your father.”

“I ... I can't meet Dad,” said Isla. “I'm afraid ..., I'm afraid that Dad will be sad. After Mom died, we became dependent on each other. But ..., now ... just ... I'll catch up with my mom.”

Isla's sobbing sounded faintly. I know what it's like to be an Isla. There was a heart-piercing feeling often seethed in my heart when I was on the edge of the horn. How my father felt when I left this world. Including leaving him alone. Lonely? Saddened? Getting angry? Vacuous?

Being alone is fun, but sometimes it makes us lonely. This feeling is a bit suffocating in my heart. I feel so guilty. I want to curse myself for putting Isla in this situation. I ... indirectly killed Isla and made Isaac lose the only family he had.

Really very ...

“I'm a coward,” said Isla, breaking my daydreams. “I don't have the courage to talk directly to my own father. But, I can't muster up my courage despite having thought for a long time.”

“Do you mind if Ava calls Isaac to come here?” my many.

Isla shakes. “Daddy definitely understands—at least, that's what I believe.” Isla looked bright, then smiled. “My time is running out. Before it's too late, I want to tell you something important about Concubine Sienna.”

“The black magic obtained by him came from a forbidden book stolen from the Imperial Library. It was a book that Mrs Ava saved and had lost first,” explained Isla.

“Ballest book?” Ava scrunched her forehead. “You mean the Black Magic book I got from the ruins at Bevram?”

“True, Mistress. It was a book belonging to the Sect that worshipped Evil Spirits. The sect was already extinct due to the influence of the Holy Tower in Vanhoiren. Leave the book alone,” said Isla. “Does the Madam remember, how the Madam lost the book?”

“Eva borrowed it years ago,” Ava said. “That's what I know.”

“Uhuk!” Isla was coughing up blood. He forced himself. “Intinya, the magic power of Consort Sienna could only be obtained from how many collisions he gave to the Evil Spirits he worshipped. The magic power is pseudo.”

I kept quiet and let him talk.

“And for Emperor .., uhuk! Uhuk! Uhuk!” Isla's blood cough did not stop. He clasped my hand with all his might and immediately convulsed. His body broke out in a cold sweat, and Ava instantly took out Isla's mana core from within his body. “Congratulations .. stay ...”

Those were the last words spoken by Isla, before finally breathing her last breath in my lap. A few moments quiet. I'm still digesting everything.

“Come away,” take Ava a few minutes later. He opened a portal towards the Magic Union Tower from the basement of Concubine Sienna. Ava makes Isla's body float for easy carrying. I entered the portal feeling agitated.

My thoughts were filled with questions about Isaac's response to Isla, about my guilt towards both of them, and about Consort Sienna who was still free to wander around after committing so many sins.

We arrived at Ava's private room. Isla was laid down on the long sofa that was in this room. I stood still as Ava called Isaac. My heart rate was pounding more and more as I heard the approaching footsteps. I saw a mirror hanging on the wall. Ava's shape-shifting potion is over.

Ava appeared along with ... Isaac. My breath's choked. I can't think clearly anymore. Especially when Isaac smiled sincerely at me. Oh Goddess, do I deserve Isaac's good treatment?

“Nona?” Isaac looked at me confused. “Not usually Miss comes here without being told by Madam Ava before ...”

Ava walked beside me. “Isla we have found,” said Ava, to the point. He even pointed at Isla's body lying on the sofa. “Sorry, Isaac. We're late.”

Isaac's face turned tense. He turned his head towards Isla and walked slowly closer to his son. When he arrived beside Isla, Isaac crouched down and stared fixedly at his son's face. After which, Ava's room was filled with Isaac's somewhat restrained roar.

Ava and I chose to get out of the room to give Isaac some privacy. I don't want to bother Isaac in the least. Ava took me to the waiting room to talk.

“It's my fault,” I said break the silence. “From the beginning it was my fault. I'm the one who got Isla carried away in this matter.”

“Bla bla. I don't want to hear your babble right now. Stop whining and listen to me,” scold Ava. “The problem now is about Sienna. He was still running away and was definitely collecting collages to strengthen himself. We have to get ready.”

Even though Ava said that, still I can't do anything. I am useless and very sinful. A thousand sorry will never be able to return Isla. I ... don't know what to do.

Brak!

“Charlotte?!” Lucas came by kicking the door hard. I could hear Ava clucking in annoyance. I haven't had time to respond to his call, I've been hugged by Lucas. “No need to hold back, later you can get sick.”

Although it's unclear, I know exactly what Lucas meant. Because he said that, I poured my tears in his arms. Ava immediately left us with a face to vomit.

“How about Isla?” ask Lucas. He whispered to calm me down.

“In Ava's room .., being with Isaac,” I said sobbing.

Lucas tightened his embrace. “So ..., she's gone, huh?”

I opened my mouth with great difficulty to speak. Something stuck in my throat. “Y-ya.”

“This is not your fault. Don't feel guilty,” Lucas said. “Isla certainly wouldn't want you to be like this. You understand?”

“Not .., this is my fault. It's all my fault. Don't say anything wrong to cheer me up, Lucas.” I pushed her body and wiped my tears. “I hate sweet lies.”

Lucas approached me and grabbed me. “I'm not lying!” exclaim Lucas. “Start, Charlotte. You'll never imagine how Ava felt when she saw Isla gone. I beg ..., do not say anything that makes you and Ava hurt.”

“King, stop,” reprimand Ava who is already in the doorway. “Don't concern linking anything else about me.”

I can see Ava's puffy eyes. She ... finished crying. But, because of Ava's high prestige, she hid it from all of us. I didn't realize from the start that Ava was also devastated by Isla's departure.