When the plot-skips players into the game world

December 25th.

It was Ligeia's birthday and also David's.

But clearly, they were in no mood to celebrate.

For just a few days after Queen Sofia had fallen into a coma, calls from the Hall of Silver and Tin went out to all the ministers.

"At 7:15 p.m., the dragon arrived at Lake Island."

It was a code.

Designed to prevent deliberate spreading of royal family member's deaths, in an era where it was inconvenient to refute rumors, causing chaos by spreading false news. The death of a royal family member was substituted with the word "dragon." And the closer the dragon was to the center of Glass Island, the more significant the deceased.

And Lake Island was the little island where the Hall of Silver and Tin was located.

In fact, many had guessed it even before receiving the message—

For right above the Hall of Silver and Tin, which always shimmered with resplendent silver light, a magnificent and clear rainbow appeared in the evening sky out of nowhere, mirroring itself in the air. The drizzle fell alongside the night, and with it, the rainbow faded away.

Then, a beam of silvery-white brilliance emanated from the palace, piercing the sky and lingering for a long time.

Four Knights, riding Pegasus, holding the Holy Sword, clad in silver armor, descended from the column of light and entered the palace.

Many bore witness to this scene.

It was undoubtedly a spectacle.

Not all monarchs at the time of death were personally greeted by knights sent by the Silver-Crowned Dragon.

In two hundred years, Queen Sofia was the first.

Straightaway, black obituaries were posted on the gates of the Hall of Silver and Tin, and the national flag atop the hall was lowered to half-mast. All the Gryphons on Gryphon Bridge donned black scarves.

The ministers who received the news made calls to their respective departments one by one. They issued obituaries that, while varied in detail, were similar in content and succinct:

"My dear colleagues, it is with sorrow that I inform you the Queen has passed away."

Within half an hour, the news reached all the newspapers through various channels. The subsequent morning's newspapers urgently revised their headlines and began printing.

But even before seeing the newspapers, the people of Glass Island already knew.

—The towering column of light was simply too grand to conceal.

The people of Glass Island spontaneously gathered, umbrella in hand, making their way to the front of Gryphon Bridge. Most were not permitted to cross the bridge, so they simply stopped at the entrance, gazing at the silvery-white column of light piercing the sky.

It was bright enough, yet not blinding. It was after sunset, and yet it cast the surroundings as if it were early morning.

Almost reflexively, people began piling flower baskets in front of Gryphon Bridge.

Then, gradually, some emboldened spirits crossed Gryphon Bridge, delivering the flower baskets deeper still.

Perhaps only today, the snow-white Gryphons of the bridge would maintain their silence.

They were draped in black silk scarves, like sashes, quietly watching the people pass by their sides, taking the flower baskets toward the Hall of Silver and Tin.

Not three hours after the news had spread—before midnight struck, Gryphon Bridge was blanketed in flowers.

The people neither wept nor made a fuss. Without any rehearsal or call to gather, they simply placed the flowers in empty spots on the bridge of their own accord.

Meanwhile, inside the Hall of Silver and Tin, Isabel, a bit pale, was already wearing the crown and holding the scepter, with a Demonic Painting personally drawn by Yanis.

Her hands rested on the handle of the scepter as though supporting a sword, and the three-eyed serpent head, shaped like a pyramid, coiled around Isabel's wrist, resting on the back of her hand.

To her left and right were two portraits. On the left was her grandmother, Queen Sofia, and on the right was her father, Prince Albert.

But at this moment, her father was not in the Hall of Silver and Tin, nor on Glass Island. Hence, he couldn't partake in the ceremony of his own mother's death and his daughter's succession.

Aiwass stood beside Yanis, observing how the Demonic Painting was being drawn.

Soon, he was given a nudge by Yanis.

"Stand aside."

Yanis whispered, "Stand to the side, behind Her Majesty."

Aiwass raised an eyebrow, "Is it... appropriate for me?"

This painting would later be published in the Glass Staircase Daily as proof of the new Monarch's image.

The royal power of Avalon was continuous and had never been interrupted; as soon as the old Monarch passed away, the new Monarch was, in fact, immediately succeeding the throne. It was just that the coronation ceremony had not yet been completed.

After all, there would be a week of national mourning, followed by the Queen's funeral. The royal period of mourning would continue for another week, during which Isabel would tour all the important cities of Avalon, allowing people to get acquainted with the new Queen.

And the coronation ceremony, the most solemn rite for the new Queen's accession, could not logically be prepared in advance while Queen Sofia was still alive. Nor could it be hastily arranged—hence, coronation ceremonies were usually not held immediately after a new Monarch ascended but took place several months or even half a year later.

After Queen Sofia herself ascended to the throne, it took her more than half a year to be formally crowned.

"According to tradition, Her Majesty's relatives, closest siblings, and trusted direct vassals should all stand together. Sherlock should have come as well, but being conveniently absent, he did not," Yanis explained.

Strictly speaking, Sherlock was not currently suitable to have his image captured in any form of photography or by drawing techniques. For "little Sherlock" would last only for a while before he quickly returned to a young adult stage; soon after, he would age to middle years or even become an elder.

With thrice yearly maturation, the pace of photo updates simply couldn't keep up with his growth.

"Should I say something?"

Aiwass asked softly, "Or make some gesture?"
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"There's no need. But you can encourage Her Majesty," Master Yanis spoke.

Yet Master Yanis' voice today was somewhat hoarse.

The passing of a close friend of sixty years had deeply affected her. But this was the destiny of the Longevity Species, something she had long since adapted to. Not to mention Queen Sofia's body had been in gradual decline... She had died of old age, not a sudden misfortune. The others had made their mental preparations well in advance.

However, even so, sadness was inevitable.

Compliant, Aiwass walked over and stood behind Isabel. Isabel herself was rather silent out of sadness—no matter how well prepared psychologically one might be, facing the reality still caused her eyes to redden.

He gently patted Isabel's shoulder, and the young Queen turned to look Aiwass in the eye.

She nodded slightly, quickly steadied herself, and then raised her head to look forward. Aiwass too lowered his hand and, with his hands clasped behind him, looked towards Yanis.

Yanis was quick at creating Demonic Paintings, possibly even faster than the printing technology of that era—within less than three minutes, a moving Demonic Painting was completed.

Afterward, the painting would be sent to Glass Staircase Daily and preserved.

After the Demonic Painting was finished, Isabel, with eyes still rimmed red, extended her ringed right hand to Aiwass.

"The first will be you, Aiwass," she said softly.

"Yes, my Monarch," Aiwass replied softly.

He knelt on one knee, took hold of Isabel's hand, and gently kissed the Silver Dragon's head on the dragon-head ring.

"I vow my loyalty to you, my Queen."

But then, Isabel did not withdraw her hand.

Aiwass looked up at her with surprise.

Seeing Isabel's cheeks turn a faint red, yet she avoided his gaze, Aiwass' lips curled upwards in a silent smile. He pulled her right hand again and kissed the back of her hand softly.

Isabel still did not pull back her hand. Instead, she turned it over and gently caressed Aiwass' cheek and earlobe, bowing her head to look at him.

"I accept your loyalty, my Knight," she whispered.